I’ll be the first to admit that when I saw that this week’s ingredient for Summerfest 2010 was stone-fruit, I was a bit thrown. I should like stone-fruit, right? I barely eat it, although plums and pluots are an exception, let alone cook or bake with it. What’s a girl to do? I almost passed on participating this week, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that.
The August issue of Better Homes & Gardens has a wonderful feature on peaches, 50 Ways to Eat a Peach, including recipes for Peach and Tomato Pasta, Blueberry-Peach Focaccia and a delicious Panna Cotta with Peaches in Lime Syrup. I toyed with the idea of making something from their offerings, and then I thought about perhaps making some sort of stone-fruit topping to go over ice cream or frozen yogurt. But an email arrived this afternoon from Beth that had this brilliant shade of purple in it, by way of a Blueberry Peach Smoothie. But of course!
For dinner, the kids and I packed up our picnic blankets, frisbee, soccer ball and our cooler of food and headed to the park for a little picnic. Something we haven’t done in awhile, and the perfect end to a summer’s day. And really, WHY IS IT that picnics get relegated to a weekend activity? I think we should work on changing that. Who says we can’t have fun during the workweek too? It was still warm outside, but not too warm. The kids can run around and get their crazies out. No worrying about crumbs or spilled food. Peace and tranquility served up with a big side of ahhhh.
And when we got back home? Blueberry Peach Smoothies all around. This was a new recipe for me, and I’m a little on the fence about it. It features Greek yogurt, and I haven’t made a smoothie with that yet. I’m still mulling over if I actually like it enough on its own, let alone mucking with our favorite protein smoothies. It’s not bad, but you really have to like Greek yogurt for this one.
Need more stone fruit inspiration? Check out the links from my fellow food bloggers below. In the meantime, a few pics from our picnic, and I’m off.
See that yogurt there? Two minutes after this shot, SOMEONE spilled it all over the blanket, just barely missing my phone and keys. What was I just saying about no worries about spills?
When Nick saw Madeline rolling around in the grass, he grabbed the camera, laid down in front of her and started shooting.
While Nick and I were playing soccer, Madeline perched herself on the cooler and played little cheerleader, alternating between cheering for either Nick or I. Then when she got out onto the field, we were ordered (and I do mean ordered) to do the same.
I have been trying, for a ridiculously long period of time, to get a shot of just our three heads together. It is painfully hard … between getting the three heads in the frame, all still, all looking the same way … apparently it’s enough to make a weird vein pop out on my forehead. Lovely.
Two heads? NO PROBLEM! Especially that head. He knows it’s easier to sit still for one or two shots, than to wriggle all over and suffer through 30. He looks so young here all the sudden. Hard to believe he’s going to be a third grader in just a few weeks!
More stone fruit goodness!!!
Food Network UK: How to Poach a Peach
Just a Taste: Peaches and Cream Cupcakes
White on Rice: Riesling Poached Pluots
Tea & Cookies: Making Peach Jam
The Gilded Fork: Dossier & recipes featuring peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums, cherries, almonds and coconuts
Eating from the Ground Up: Stone Fruit Slump
The Sister Project: A Summer Fruit Whatchamacallit (not a pie, not a crisp, but delicious)
Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: Gluten-Free Nectarine Blueberry Buckle
Sara at Cooking Channel: Savory Stone Fruit recipes
Margaret at A Way to Garden: What is stone fruit, anyhow? Plus: Clafoutis batter revisited
Caroline at The Wright Recipes: Ginger and Vanilla Poached Peaches
The FN Dish: Paula’s Perfect Peach Cobbler
Alison at Food2: Peachy Party Foods
Liz on Healthy Eats: Puttin’ Up Peach Pickles, Compote and More
Judy of Divina Cucina: Chocolate Amaretti Baked Apricots
Caron of San Diego Foodstuff: grilled peach parfait and coconut peach gazpacho
Tigress in a Jam: nectarine preserve with summer savory and white pepper
Marilyn at Simmer Till Done: Cherry Apricot Pie with Ginger-Almond Crunch
Blueberry Peach Smoothie
Recipe courtesy of (Never Home)maker
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen peaches (I added two fresh peaches as well)
1 cup Greek yogurt (I used peach flavored Greek yogurt, since we had it on hand)
10 raw almonds
Almond milk
1. Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until well incorporated.
2. Add almond milk to achieve your desired consistency.
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I’ll have to try this. Evan loves smoothies. I’ve just started eating Greek yogurt and I think i like it. I’ve been getting the plain 0%fat variety. I add some blueberries and a handful of granola and it’s breakfast.
As the Flexitarian Foodie, I’ve been going crazy with peaches this summer! If you visit http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com and do a search, you’ll find lots of great examples, but here are my two favorite recipes to share:
Strawberry-Peach Butter
http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com/2010/06/summertime-fruit-butter.html
Avocado-Tomato-Peach Salad (crazy good)
http://www.flexitarianfoodie.com/2010/07/savory-summer-fruit-salad.html
What a fun idea to have a picnic on a weeknight!
I can never think of anything (besides baking) to do with stone fruits either, but I love this smoothie recipe. The combo of peach and blueberries is a good one.
Greek yogurt was definitely an acquired taste for me. It took peanut butter and raisin and cinnamon additions to win me over. and now I can eat it plain!
For Summer Fest: The peaches from our CSA just seem to get eaten – they are so good. No opportunities to cook with them.
Since blackberries and stone fruits are both members of the rose family, I thought I would share my blackberry recipes.
I have two pies made by different methods.
No. 1 is good for making and eating right away.
http://purplecook.blogspot.com/2010/08/blackberry-pie-no-1.html
No. 2 is good for freezing.
http://purplecook.blogspot.com/2010/08/blackberry-pie-no-2.html
I also made blackberry ice cream.
http://purplecook.blogspot.com/2010/08/blackberry-ice-cream.html
This looks great and adorable photos. See my recipe this week for Pork and Plums see http://www.ingredientsinc.net/2010/08/summer-fest-and-stone-fruits-pork-and-plum-skewers/
I tried to make some peach frozen yogurt yesterday, but it didn’t really freeze well. Maybe I”ll thaw it and turn it into smoothies!
This week, I made peaches baked with blue cheese: http://4seasonsoffood.blogspot.com/2010/08/peaches-baked-with-blue-cheese.html
This smoothie sounds delish! And I agree, why should picnics only be for the weekend? They can be anytime!
i love greek yogurt. LOVE it. there are 3 of them in my work fridge for the rest of the week along with some blueberries to stir in. because i only eat the plain non-fat one, i have to add some sweetener to it or use it as is in my smoothies. i’m totally addicted to it. no intervention needed.
Looks like a lot of fun at the picnic. I’ve never had greek yogurt…..
Enjoyed the pictures.
Oh, I’m so obsessed with smoothies — I’ve been making them in lieu of dessert lately with low-fat ingredients, so let’s hope that’s a smart move for my waistline!
Such fun photos, as always. Looks like a great evening, and you’re right: why should picnics be a strictly weekend activity?
Dead easy and delicious Nectarine (or Peach) Souffle Pie http://thepolymathchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/08/parlor-and-kitchen-pie-in-sky.html
I love your pictures. Smoothie sounds yummy!
I cooked up some Brandied Vanilla Apricots at It’s The Way She
http://itsthewayshe.blogspot.com/2010/08/put-summer-in-jar-summer-fest.html
Very cute post and photos. I love smoothies.
I poached peaches and cape gooseberries in anise hyssop tea with honey. Was really delicious and beautiful.
http://blog.healthy-green-lifestyle.com/anise-hyssop-and-honey-poached-peaches-and-cape-gooseberries.html
This is such a cute post! Your peach blueberry smoothie sounds delish. Looks like you guys had a great time in the park.
Here is my contribution to this weeks Summer Fest:
Peach Pie Enchiladas
http://su.pr/2GQnfW
Isn’t Summer Fest wonderful? I’m loving looking around at all the different stone fruit posts . . . If only I could eat more than 2 or 3 desserts a day!
Here is my contribution: Peach Crisp. It’s lovely served hot out of the oven with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
http://www.dollopofcream.com/2010/08/summer-fest-peach-crisp.html
We love smoothies at our house too! They are great for the little ones . . .
My entry into Summer Fest this week is my newest favorite cold dessert
Nectarine Sorbetto, my version is made with raw honey
http://heartlandrenaissance.com/2010/08/nectarine-sorbetto/
and a favorite I’m saving up for cold wintry mornings,
Ginger Peach Pineapple Fruit Butter
http://heartlandrenaissance.com/2010/07/ginger-peach-pineapple-fruit-butter/
Thank you for hosting! I can’t wait to dig into all the other recipes posted!
Best,
Sarah
Aaaaaah…I love smoothie season :). Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Hope you enjoy my Summer Fest contribution :)
http://achanceofsprinkles.blogspot.com/2010/08/sweet-n-spicy-peach-cantaloupe-salsa.html
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wonderful post and awesome recipe :)
My first time joining the fun for Summer Fest! Took some liberties, though. My contribution is Key Lime Cheesecake Bars, that uses almonds, blueberries (are they in the same Rose Family as the other berries?) and limes (we only have citrus trees growing in our yard). These bars are unbelievably good!
http://www.wineimbiber.com/index.php/2010/08/celebrating-summer-fest/
A blueberry smoothie? Is there really anything better on a summer day?
Your babies are so cute! I know the feeling of the time lapsing so fast. My oldest is a sophomore at Berkeley, and her little chubby face when she was 1 year old is still with me:(
And for her I will make this smoothie – her favorite is strawberry-banana-yogurt, but I am sure that blueberry-peach-yogurt will be acceptable (even though she always complains that farmed blueberries cannot compete with the wild ones – and I have to agree).
My contribution for this week’s Summer Fest is Damson Plum jam Spiced with Rum (or Cinnamon).
http://bibberche.com/2010/08/plumjam/
Thanks for the smoothie idea!
Here’s my contribution to Summer Fest for the week:
Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar Over Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
I love the smoothie idea. You can never have too many smoothies during the summer.
I made an Almond-Plum Buckle for Summer Fest this week:
http://flavorsings.blogspot.com/2010/08/summer-fest-almond-plum-buckle.html