Until you have the experience of your own gardening glut, you really can't imagine how much pleasure you will get from an over abundance of your very own hand picked produce.
Our peach tree, self sown from the worm farm 7 or so years ago, has produced the most beautiful yellow peaches this year. A big thanks must be given to Hawkie, our latest garden addition, who we have been moving around with such success, he may get a girlfriend if he keeps playing his cards right. Not so much as a nibble from a bird on my peaches, unbelieveable! And I never used netting, just a fake easy to care for hawk with beedy eyes.
I must also admit, I'm not much of a jam eater. I've really enjoyed making jam this summer, but I wanted to stretch my kitchen abilities and come up with some other ways to extend my haul. I made peach leather that I'm just in love with. I will make it a bit thicker next time and I have purchased a dehydrator that I'm patiently waiting to arrive to give it another crack. I chose to peel the peaches like you would for tomatoes, scoring the skin and placing into simmering water for a few minutes. If your peaches are super ripe you don't even need this step. I also pureed them in my super bullet and froze a heap of it into ice blocks for my green smoothie addiction. And finally, we enjoyed some mixed with proscecco for some peach bellini's - heavenly delicious!
Now to patiently await my tomato glut...
Ciao, Jan x
wow! well done hawkie! what an amazing harvest!
ReplyDeletethe leather looks interesting
great post thanx for sharing
have a great day!
The leather is great! You have a great day too Selina :)
DeleteWow, looks like a very productive tree and "happy dance" for home grown food. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
ReplyDeleteMakes me so happy Kathy :)
DeleteYum Prosecco and peaches....sounds fantastic. We prosecco'ed our way around Italy a few years ago....How I would love a peach tree....have apricot but yet to get any fruit. Well done to Hawkie for keeping the local bird population at bay.
ReplyDeleteProscecco in Italy, now you are talking Suzie!!
DeleteI know what you mean, I mean peach jam is gorgeous but there's only so much you can eat! I like your ideas :D
ReplyDeletethanks Lorraine!!
DeleteOh, Jan, with all the snow on the ground right now, those pictures of the fresh peaches are making my mouth water! I'll have to wait about 5 months before getting them at the local farmer's market. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be devouring yours before you know it Susan!! x
DeleteOh, goodness! I am just slightly envious of all of your beautiful peaches! And I love the hawk. I wonder if it would work with our strawberry patch. As soon as they were ripe and before we even had a chance to pick them the birds had picked many of our strawberries. We did put nets up, but it is tricky to pick strawberries crouched under the net. But enjoy your abundance of peaches and all of the lovely things you are doing with them!
ReplyDeleteHawkie is definately helping all of our fruits - strawberries and tomatoes haven't been touched either - it's a miracle!! :) Worth his weight in gold x
DeleteJan, I am so jealous of your beautiful peach harvest! They look so healthy and delicious. The possibilities are endless...I'm so with you on the bellinis!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jem, the bellinis were de-vine! x
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