What to do with a load of peaches??

[blueberries]

Hi all, I just got a bushel of peaches (seconds) and I want to freeze them up for smoothies through the winter but I don't really want to screw them up like I did my strawberries I threw in the freezer earlier this year with .... dare I say it? ok, sugar! :eek: that was before I thought I would go raw. *sigh*

Anyway... I am wondering what other people here do with peaches, as far as recipes I can make right now while I have some fresh ones and the best way to freeze them for smoothies this winter (as I assume that is about all they would be good for after frozen). My friend, who doesnt even know what raw is (yet!), told me peaches arent very good frozen on their own, as they are hard to sweeten back up but I am thinking that she is referring to cooked recipes but not sure. Any tips or recipes anyone might want to throw my way I'd appreciate it once again!

Thanks

[Veganforlife]

WOW a bushel - my kinda gal!!
I wash them, slice them and then freeze them, skin and all on a baking sheet. Once frozen then I bag 'em...

[shine72]

Yep, what Lucy said! I'd be sitting over the sink sucking 'em down before half of them could even think about making it to the freezer. Gotta be over the sink though, I'm one messy raw gal!;)

[blueberries]

well that sounds simple enough :D

So do you both feel they are still nice and sweet when frozen?

Yes, I've already sucked up a few of them... over the sink too. They are so juicy and delicious!

Guess I better get busy washing, slicing and freezing then...

Thanks ladies!

[Veganforlife]

Oh yeah, I don't feel they lose any of their sweetness when freezing...be careful - don't add any protein to it like Sunshine did - she cut her pinkie, so be careful!!!

[Green Life]

Heck, send 'em my way!

I like to add them in my smoothies.

[fairygirl]

yummmy, u could make peach pie!
make a nut/date crust, slice up the peaches, mix with a touch of agave - into crust...and serve :)
simple and yummm!

id say lots of smoothies and eat em by themselves too!

I see ure in michigan...looked after seeing your name and avatar, lol. im just north of you - dont u love blueberry country?!?! :D do u pick lots?

[Bethanie]

That's a quickie pie for you:)
I can't wait to make one, we were sent two boxes of large juicy peaches yesterday.
Thanks for the idea.
B.

[blueberries]

LOL thanks veganforlife - I will be careful! ;)

fairygirl, good idea on the pie... if I keep at it, I might need to go get some more peaches! And yes! I love blueberries! I posted on another thread about blueberries that I had planned on picking around 50 lbs. this year as we did 25 lb. last year and my daughter ended up all them and they didnt last through the year. Anyhow, it ended up we picked 46 lbs. this month but the season isnt quite over yet I dont think... so we may make it yet :p

[RawSunflower]

Peach ice cream. Yum.

[shine72]

Oh yeah, I don't feel they lose any of their sweetness when freezing...be careful - don't add any protein to it like Sunshine did - she cut her pinkie, so be careful!!!

You poking fun at me funny lady?:) ;) She's right though. Only I would've been adding that protein to pooches' sweet potato chips, since that's what I was slicing!;) :p

[lytlsprout]

I love dehydrated peaches. I just slice them up and stick them in the dehydrator for a day. I don't know how your dehydrator works, so check them a few times until they're dry enough to keep.

[fairygirl]

Blueberries, thats so awesome! 50 lbs is a LOT!!!! im sure i could pick that much too, although dont have the time...went out a few weeks ago to pick and they were almost at prime so im thinking i should head out this weekend! :D

[JEN]

Rawkinlocs Peach Delight!!! It is just like SAD peach cobbler only better!!! Peaches also make the best green smoothies.


Peach Delight
by Cherie King
http://eatlivingfood.com

Crumbly Crust/Topping:
2 c. UNsoaked (or soaked/dehydrated) nuts of choice (I personally used a combination of almonds and walnuts)
1/4 c. raw agave nectar, honey (preferably raw) or soft, UNsoaked dates (preferably medjool)
1/2 c. ground oat groats or organic rolled oats (grind in Vitamix or coffee grinder) - If you object to using oats, you can use an extra 1/2 cup of nuts.
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. coconut oil (opt. but provides a slight "buttery" taste)
dash or two of cinnamon

Filling:
5-6 fresh peaches or nectarines (can substitute with apples if peaches/nectarines are not in season)
1 c. soaked and pitted dates (drained)
2 TBS. raw agave nectar or raw honey
2 tsp. cinnamon (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp. allspice or nutmeg (opt.)
2 tsp. coconut oil (opt. but provides a slight "buttery" taste)
1/2 - 3/4 c. water

Crust directions - Place all crust ingredients in a food processor and pulse until crumbly. Move from processor to a bowl and set aside.
Optional Step: If you want the crumbly crust to be kinda crunchy like a SAD crumb topping, dehydrate for a few hours or overnight.

Filling directions -
Process all filling ingredients except the peaches (apples) into a creamy sauce using either a blender or food processor and adding small amounts of the water at a time to help it blend and get the desired consistency. Set aside in a bowl. Wash, peel and chop the peaches into desired size (cubes or slices) and mix with the sauce in the bowl. If using apples, peel and core the apples. Optional step: Allow to marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (overnight or 24 hours is even better!) This step (marinating) is optional, but makes the peaches soften up and absorb the flavors of the sauce better...but you can make this all at once without marinating and it's still good!

Assembly -
1. Sprinkle half of the crumbly crust mixture into the bottom of pie dish or pan of choice (or you can just skip to step 2 and simply put the filling in the pie pan and sprinkle ALL of the crumbly crust mixture on top!)

2. Spoon the filling on top of the bottom layer of crust (or pie pan) evenly. Sprinkle the remaining (or all of) crumbly crust on top of the filling. At this point, you can either (if you have a dehydrator with removable trays that allow tall items to fit) put the whole dish into the dehydrator for an hour or two OR you can serve right away.

Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator. You can also spoon out single servings onto dehydrator proctective tray (teflex, parchment paper, etc.) and warm in the dehydrator!

Serving suggestions: Serve dehydrator-warmed with Vanana-Banilla (basically, banana ice cream with 1 to 2 tsp. vanilla added) Ice Cream for pie ala'mode.
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[Frog]

yummmy, u could make peach pie!
make a nut/date crust, slice up the peaches, mix with a touch of agave - into crust...and serve :)
simple and yummm!

That's what I ws going to suggest! The peach pie I make is from Storm & Jinjee, The Garden Diet. Its similar though, make a crust with nuts and dates or raisins, chop up some peaches to leave chunky and blitz some others with some agava or honey if you use it, a dash of flax/hemp/olive oil, pinch celtic salt. Mix together with chunks and pour onto crust - it doesn't last long round here I can tell you! :o

[fairygirl]

Yummmm!!!! Im craving peach pie now! Wish we could pick those around here. Im planning on making raspberry, bluberry and strawberry crumble today though :D

[blueberries]

lytlsprout, yeah I didnt think of dehydrating... duh, I have excalibur too.

JEN! That recipe sounds incredible! I was just about to make a SAD peach cobbler for my family but maybe I can try this one instead... only problem is I have everything but the oats! I may have some organic rolled oats but I am pretty certain they arent raw (or are they? geez I dont know enough about this yet LOL) but your recipe states if I object to using oats, I can use extra nuts, so may have to do that. Why would I object to oats? Just curious. Ok time to print off this recipe and at least try it! Thanks so much for posting that.

I had a banana/peach smoothie for breakfast, it was yummy!

[blueberries]

Yummmm!!!! Im craving peach pie now! Wish we could pick those around here. Im planning on making raspberry, bluberry and strawberry crumble today though :D

fairygirl, is that recipe in Alissa's book? My copy is coming soon (at least I hope it is! I paid for it yesterday I think or the day before, cant keep track). If it's not is it from somewhere you can share or did you make it up your self?

[blueberries]

oops ok, I need to ask another dumb newbie question... on the peach delight recipe JEN posted above, it calls for 1 cup soaked and pitted dates in the filling. Ok, how long do you normally have to soak these?? I see them in alot of recipes and was just wondering how long before I can make this!!! :D Also I have medjool dates, how do you figure 1 cup worth of them? They are kind of big, I am guessing I could cram 3 or 4 in a cup?

Thanks everyone.

[fairygirl]

Blueberries, the recipe is one im going to create as i go along, lol. will share with you when im done! Ive just picked raspeberries in my yard, all set now to begin :)

As for the dates, its pretty flexible. sometimes i dont soak my medjools at all if they are super nice and moist. Otherwise even just an hour or so will do the trick.
To measure the medjools, pit them and pack them into the cup.

Happy "baking" hehehe

[blueberries]

thanks fairygirl. I already have everything made for the peach delight :) just trying to wait for it to marinade for a couple hours but I dont know if I can wait that long... kind of hungry! I did let the dates soak about an hour. I remember Alissa saying something in her video to the effect that you cant mess up a raw food recipe... so I took her word for it and jumped in. I will post later how it turned out... I'm kind of nervous because I will be serving to my SAD eating family... soooo we'll see.....

oh wow! I just went to your myspace page and looked at your flickr photos... OMG! you made all those? I will look forward to your announcement on your new book for sure.

[fairygirl]

OH pooey...went to make crumble and didnt have enough pecans!
So instead i made a tarte crust which ill made a fresh berry tarte out of.
but will post when its done.

thanks for the compliments! yup i made all of it myself - my total passion in life as im sure u can tell :D