Preserving Peaches & Peaches for Baby

IMG_2052.JPG

So many peaches, so many different uses, we hope you like some of the following ideas that will help with your preserving your peaches.

There is no set amount of peaches to use, adjust to how many peaches you have.

Note: We Blanched all the peaches with all the following peach preserving ideas listed below. We removed the peach skins by bringing a stainless steel stock pot of water to boiling stage and added our rinsed off ripe peaches (5-6) into the boiling water (You can make an X cut in the bottom of each peach before placing them into hot water to help with skin removal) 1-2 minutes or until skins loosen. Remove peaches with large wire draining spoon or slotted spoon, having a bowl ready with cold water and some ice to cool off peaches quickly, remove skins, stone/pit and slice or purée.

See BHG for step by step pictures for blanching peaches.

Also see Preserving Peaches and Peaches for Baby Food

IMG_2053.JPG

Sliced Peaches for Freezing

Slice skin free peaches and add them to a bowl of lemon water (2 tablespoons lemon juice with around 5 cups water) this helps the peaches to not turn brown. Drain off lemon water from sliced peaches and place on a parchment paper covered half baking sheet or baking sheet of your choice. We Layered each baking sheet with 3 layers of sliced peaches, adding a piece of parchment paper between each layer and placed the peach sliced filled baking sheet flat in the freezer overnight or until peaches are completely frozen.

Remove frozen peach slices from the freezer and place the amount of sliced peaches desired in freezer bags. We double bagged a generous two cups of the peach slices.

Usually around 4 cups of sliced peaches are used for a 9 inch pie.

When peaches are frozen separately they are easier to use in portion amounts for smoothies, yogurt and etc….

Note: We used wax paper but parchment paper probably would be less messy and wouldn’t rip as easily. Freezer paper would probably work well too.

IMG_2054.JPG

Drying Sliced Peaches with Dehydrator

Follow the above freezing recipe except after draining peach slices place them on dehydrating trays and place trays in your Dehydrator and follow the directions with your Dehydrator. Ours took about 2 1/2 days to dry this depending on thickness of your peaches etc….

We bagged our dried peach slices in a Ziploc bag with a food safe moisture packet or you could remove all the air with a Vacuum food sealer.

IMG_2056.JPG

IMG_2057.JPG

IMG_2076.JPG

Puréed Peaches and Bagged Sliced Frozen Peaches

Puréed Peaches

Purée peaches in the blender adding Fruit Fresh produce protector if desired for preventing browning, following the directions on container.
Place in containers desired and freeze. We used quart sized bags and two cups of puréed peaches to use for sauces, smoothies and etc……

IMG_2072.JPG

Bagged and Sliced Frozen Peaches

We used Quart Ziploc Bags adding 4 cups of peaches; you can also add Fruit Fresh (following direction on container) or lemon juice to prevent browning.

Puréed Peaches for Baby Food

We (blanched peaches and removed skins and stone/pit) puréed peaches in blender and poured purée in ice-cube trays, freeze and when frozen remove frozen peach cubes, double bag in gallon sized bags and place back into freezer still frozen until ready to use or you can keep frozen cubes in the freezer up to 3 months.

Note: Do not re-freeze thawed baby food and check with your doctor the appropriate time to introduce peaches into a baby’s diet.

IMG_2073-0.JPG

IMG_2079.JPG

IMG_2058.JPG

IMG_2078.JPG

IMG_2077.JPG

IMG_2080.JPG

IMG_2075.JPG

IMG_2074.JPG

IMG_2052.JPG

Enjoy your Harvest!

Lindy and Jessica

Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies

IMG_1770-1.JPG

Sinickerdoodles have been a family favorite. This recipe is a little darker in color than regular Snickerdoodles and is a softer version of the traditional Snickerdoodle cookie recipe, but I think they are a great combination with a Rolo in the center for a yummy twist on the Snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

Also see Sand Dollar Snickerdoodles

IMG_1772-0.JPG

IMG_1771.JPG

IMG_1773-0.JPG

IMG_1774-0.JPG

IMG_1775.JPG

IMG_1776.JPG

IMG_1778.JPG

IMG_1779.JPG

Soft Chewy Snickerdoodles

Cream together in Stand Mixer:

*1/2 cup Butter, room temperature
*1/2 cup Brown Sugar
*1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
*2 teaspoons Vanilla
*1 Egg, room temperature
*2 tablespoons Whipping Cream

Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl:

*1 cup All-purpose Flour
*3/4 cup Bread Flour
*1 teaspoon Baking Soda
*1/8 teaspoon Sea Salt
*1 package Rolo-Minis, optional

Cinnamon and Sugar mixture:

*1-2 teaspoons Cinnamon
*1/8 cup Granulated Sugar

Add slowly the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture on medium speeduntil ingredients are combined, the dough will be slightly sticky before refrigeration (add a bit more flour if needed). Refrigerate until dough is completely chilled about 3-4 hours. **Use a 1 or 2 ounce scoop and scoop out the cookie dough and roll the scooped dough into balls, then roll dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture and then place onto cookie sheet. Cookies don’t need to be pressed down.

**(Use a 1 ounce scoop for small cookies and 2 ounce scoop for large cookies, also use a Silpat lined 1/2 baking sheet or parchment paper works well too.)

Bake in a pre-heated 350*F. oven for 8-10 minutes.

*Hint: For best results make sure the cookie sheet has cooled after each batch of cookies.

*If you are wanting to make two batches of cookies, make batches separately because this recipe doesn’t do well when doubled.

Rolo option: Press the cookie dough balls flat and place the Rolo in the center and enclose the Rolo with cookie dough, roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture and place the Rolo dough balls onto cookie sheet.

Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks

IMG_1777.JPG

IMG_1770-2.JPG

Enjoy!

Jessica and Lindy