Seasonal Spread: September Peaches

It's the last day of September. And thanks to the good crop in Utah this year, I have practically been gorging on peaches. We picked up a load when we were in Brigham City (famous for their peaches) for the new temple open house a few weeks ago. I love the fuzzy beauties fresh but have had fun finding other ways to use them. Like with french toast and cream... the cinnamon with peaches is scrumptious.

Even though we're pretty much through peach season, I wanted to share my very favorite recipes from this year. If you have a chance to pick up any more good peaches at your farmers market, stock up! Trust me, you'll want to try these.

Starter

Fresh Peach Freezer Jam

Freezer jam is great when you have a ton of fruit that will go bad fast. This was my first time making peach jam and it exceeded expectations. I thought it would lose some flavor after being frozen but it tastes just like eating them fresh! I know I'll enjoy this through the winter when I'm missing Summer stone fruits.

Follow this easy recipe, or use the recipe on a pectin package.

4 cups peeled and chopped peaches

1 1/2 Tablespoon sugar

3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 package fruit pectin powder (1 3/4 oz)

Freezer-proof jam containers

1. Blanch the peaches to remove peels easily. Finely chop and crush with a potato masher until you reach the desired consistency.

2. Stir in lemon juice and sugar. Then let stand for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in pectin and stir until mixed, then another couple minutes.

4. Pour into clean containers and leave about a half inch for freezer expansion.

5. Keep out for at least an hour, then freeze for up to two years!

Main Course

Peach Basil and Goat Cheese Pizza

Peaches and basil. I discovered it this season and it changed my world. Helped that I had lots of peaches and basil in the garden. I've put them together in salads and panini. But my very favorite is this pizza. We've eaten it for dinner four times in the last couple weeks... I can't stop.

Your favorite pizza crust recipe

Goat cheese, mascarpone, fresh ricotta or other soft cheese

1 large peach, thinly sliced

Parmagianno Reggiano shavings

Crumbled feta

Fresh basil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, reduced

First prepare your favorite pizza dough. Or if you are just too hungry, you can use store bought. The toppings make up for it. Spread your soft cheese over the crust. then layer peaches and other cheeses. Bake until crust is ready. While it's baking, create a balsamic reduction by lightly boiling the balsamic until it thickens. (Be careful not to burn it!) After you have removed the pizza from the oven, top with fresh basil and the reduction. Serve and enjoy.

After

Dreamy Peach Dessert

My mom has been making this dessert for years. It is such a treat and each Summer I desperately hope she'll make it. Well she's made it a few times lately and it's like a bite of Summer. It doesn't photograph very well, but that just shows how gooey and yummy it really is!

Crust

1 package Lorna Doone shortbread cookies

2/3 cups shredded coconut

1 cup blanched almonds

1/3 cup melted butter

Blend first three items in blender until a crumb consistency. Add melted butter. Press into a 9x13 pan or 2 square pans. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes until golden brown. Cool to room temperature.

Filling

12 oz. cream cheese softened

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 whipped cream or cool whip

Mix together first three ingredients and fold in whipped cream. Put on top of chilled crust and chill at least 2 hours.

Topping

3 fresh peaches mashed with fork

1/4 cup water

1 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring

1 Tablespoon butter

4-5 fresh peaches pealed and sliced

Boil peaches, water, sugar and cornstarch in a small pot and stir until clear. Add vanilla, almond flavor, butter and set aside. Add sliced peaches to sauce. Top the dessert and chill well. Then eat the whole pan by yourself. I mean... share with friends. Or not, you know.

*amber*

Seth's Birthday: Part 2 and a CLUE!

The Sunday before Seth's birthday, I decided I needed to throw a small party. He loves games and puzzles, so I thought it would be fun to have a CLUE themed murder mystery party. I've always wanted to do one, so this was the perfect opportunity.

WARNING: this post is photo heavy.

All of the guests surprised the birthday boy by showing up to the Boddy Mansion in character. 

There was Mr. Green, the childhood con artist who now works for the government and swindles his way to a very comfortable lifestyle.

See what I mean? 

Next came Colonel Mustard who served with Mr. Boddy in the war and is constantly challenging people to duels.

Then Mrs. Peacock arrived from next door. She is a high brow gentlewoman who has been through four wealthy husbands. 

Miss Scarlet, a flirtatious socialite, arrived fashionably late.

The scatterbrained nuclear mathematician, Professor Plum, barely remembered to come to the party.

And finally, Mrs. White, the maid of Mr. Boddy until recently, scurried in.

We started the evening by "mixing our poisons" at an Italian soda bar.

Each room in the house became a room from the game.

For dinner, we were presented with lemon chicken costaletta, garlic baby reds and asparagus. This is Seth's favorite meal at the Cheesecake Factory. 

After dinner and introductions, the game started and the quest to find Mr. Boddy's murderer commenced. 

We used giant dice to help us progress through the game.

Each guest started out suspicious of all the others.

And then it got a little crazy.

The mystery was solved. It was Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with the candlestick.

They we had some photobooth fun.

I made this faux frame wall with cardboard (a structural feat!) and covered it in a frame print wallpaper I made with contact paper. 

The whole gang.

Then it was time for cake.

28 candles?!

A BIG birthday wish.

Even the strawberries dressed up for the event.

Lots of presents.

Every year, I give Seth a present wrapped in red. There is a family video of him on a birthday when he was younger saying, "I wanna open the wed one." So now, he has to say that every year.

At the end, we watched Clue the movie. Have you seen it? It's delightfully terrible. If you have, our favorite parts are, "I am your singing telegram, Bang!" and "Flames, flames at the sides of my face!"

Happy Birthday again love. I hope you enjoyed it and we kicked off a good 28th year!

*amber*

Seth's Birthday: Part 1

My lover boy's birthday was last Saturday. Which was good and bad. I was excited to have a whole day devoted to birthday celebrations. At the same time, I felt a lot of pressure to fill the whole day up with activities and make sure every aspect was perfect for his birthday.


Well, I am not even close to perfect. But I AM lucky to have a husband who would be happy spending his birthday in bed reading and after being hounded for gift ideas said, "just give me a Snickers bar." So at least I had low expectations to work with.



The morning of his birthday, I got up and made breakfast while he slept in. Which is one of his favorite things. We had some leftover ciabatta bread and peaches, so I made french toast and peach kebabs, served with whipped cream and warm maple syrup, little ham/cream cheese/ basil leaf rolls and fresh orange juice.

When Seth woke up, we feasted. When we were too full to eat any more, we went and got massages. Rough day so far, huh?

After that, we came home and I sent him downstairs to watch football while I made some preparations.   After Seth's birthday last year, I had said I wasn't throwing another party for him for at least another year. But you know me... I just can't help myself! Giving a party is the ultimate way for me to show that I care.

So up next: Seth's birthday surprise.

*amber*

Friday Finds

Good morning and welcome to Friday! This week has kicked my trash thanks to midterms and countless other things to do. After my last test this morning, I plan to relax and enjoy the weekend. I thought I'd share some of my favorite links from the week to send you off into yours.

{via}

Any other bloggers out there find a stunning image but just can't find the original? (Thanks tumblr and Pinterest...) Victoria explains how to find them here. 

This refreshingly simple botanical wedding inspiration is right up my alley. 

Speaking of weddings, here's how to tell if the celebration is a Hipster affair. It made me giggle.

And speaking of hipsters... hehe! Ridiculously cute, I'm dying.

I found these chairs I am in love with. Now I just need a house and dining room to put them in.

I plan on making some of these to decorate for Fall this year.

Really longing for this cozy sweater for the chilly months, but it would require some serious fundraising.

For a Fall menu, this sounds delicious.

Dreaming of alternative camping, especially up in a tree house. Trying to find some options in Utah, but all I can find is yurts. 

From the archives: I am feeling like I really need to make these again.

Have a lovely weekend!

*amber*

I CAN NOT WAIT

Is everyone as excited about this as I am?? I just keep watching over and over while trying not to show everyone on campus that I'm crying. If you haven't seen this yet, WATCH. December can't come soon enough at this point.

*amber*

This Time of Year

I'm back to school for my last semester of school ever. The air is starting to get a chill and the leaves are changing. I am eating up this time of year. So much so that this blog has gone to the wayside. Between moving to a new place, commuting, classes, a few good books and a variety of family and friend events, I'm booked. I promise I've had good intentions and have several good posts planned. It's just finding the time to get around to them and, truthfully, I'm months behind. I've had days where I've said, "I'm just going to stop blogging altogether." But I keep being drawn back. So my question for you is, what would you like to read about? I'm going to do my best to get things on here when I have the time, but I would love to know what topics interest you most. 

{via}

Have a happy Monday and a lovely week! If you're not, treat yourself to a pumpkin bagel from Einstein's. Yes, we are to that time of year people!

*amber*