Movin' to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches...

I was listening to NPR today and the weather person mentioned that it might actually start to feel like the end of summer this weekend (as opposed to feeling like, I don't know, the inside of my oven).

It has been an unbearably hot summer, hasn't it?

And that's saying something for me. I usually welcome the heat. I guess even I have a breaking point.

Well, so I was thinking about the end of summer, about September specifically - my anniversary month - which led me to thinking about our wedding, and the North Carolina farm where we got married, and that led me quite naturally of course to thinking about peaches. (Georgia peaches may be famous, but the Carolinas will give them a run for their money- as Stephen Colbert himself will tell you.)

Yes, there's something about peach season that sends a lot of people into reverie, and I think I'm one of them. My summer would not be complete without the pure pleasure of peach cobbler, peach delight, peach jam on my biscuits in the morning. Mmmm....

Last weekend, Jake and I visited my grandmother in South Carolina. She is a true southern cook and one of the best, and for dessert she whipped us up some delicious peaches and cream. It's amazing how something so simple can be so amazing. Yes, I just said 'amazing' twice.

I loved my grandmother's peaches and cream so much that I was inspired to play around and come up with my own recipe. It's a little different from hers - she serves her peaches chilled, which I highly recommend, but I thought I'd change things up a bit and try them heated.

Y'all are gonna thank me for sharing this. That's all I'm sayin'. 

This dessert is a total breeze to make (I don't do complicated.), yet it's wonderfully impressive and good. I think the warming spice blend nicely compliments the sugary sweetness of the peaches, and the coconut ice cream is a total must - the temperature contrast is key. 

{And speaking of ice cream, apparently peaches and September are a recurring theme for me, because last September I shared with you all a recipe for homemade peach gelato. And it doesn't even require an ice cream maker, so you have no excuses, people.}

So, anyway...

We may or may not be getting relief from this steamy, sticky heat any time soon (I hope we are!), but I say, look on the bright side and take advantage of the peaches while they're here! Gather some friends together, pull up chairs around the table on the back patio, listen to everybody chatter away as they devour some good ol' fashioned Peaches and Cream, and smile to yourself at how good it all is. 

 Peaches 'n Cream Deliciousness

The yummy stuff inside...

4 or 5 ripe peaches

1/2 c. water

2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

2 whole cloves

1 Tbsp. vanilla

pinch sea salt

sprinkling of blueberries - optional

coconut ice cream to serve

To make...

1. Wash and pit the peaches, then slice into wedges.

2. Add the peaches and all remaining ingredients (except ice cream, of course) to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer on low for ~ 20 minutes.

3. Let cool slightly. Ladle peaches into bowls and add a scoop of coconut ice cream. Serve immediately and enjoy! 

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