What To Do With All Those Peaches!!

Since we had entire box full of peaches, I decided that we needed to do something with them. I mean the kids can't just eat that many before they go bad. So, here is what we did with them:

The first thing I made was peach cobbler. Jeff told me how they make it at scout camp, and it sounded so easy, that I was all for it. And I just happened to have all of the things I needed for it already too! 

Peach Cobbler: one yellow cake mix, one stick of butter, & 3 or 4 peaches. Cut up the peaches & pour enough sugar to coat them & let sit for 1/2 hour. Put the peaches in a dutch oven, cover with cake mix, and then cut up butter and out on top of cake mix. Since I wasn't going to make a campfire to cook this, I just stuck it in the oven (with the lid on) for 30 minutes at 350*.

 

It was so yummy too. This whole pot was empty fast!

I have been wanting to make peach sangria all summer, so I got a recipe off of Pinterest, and made Jeff go to the liquor store. :0)

Peach Sangria: peaches, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup peach schnapps, 1 bottle white wine, (I used Chateau St. Michelle Riesling) , 1 liter ginger ale.
Mix sugar & water in a saucepan & bring to a boil. Stir until sugar dissolves, take off heat, and let cool. Cut up 2 - 3 peaches into chunks, and place in pitcher. When sugar water (simple syrup) is cool, pour it, the schnapps, and the wine into the pitcher. Put in fridge & shill for at least two hours or overnight. When ready to serve, you can either add the liter of ginger ale to the pitcher & gently stir, then pour into glasses, or you can fill glasses 3/4 full, and top off with ginger ale. 

This also was super yummy!!

Since I made a drink for Jeff & I, I thought I should make a drink for the kids too; Peach Lemonade! (OK, I drank some of this also.) :0)

Peach Lemonade:
4 cups water, 3 - 4 cups chopped peaches, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup additional water.

In a saucepan, add peaches, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat & let simmer for 3 minutes. Carefully pour mixture into a blender (I had to do this in two shifts), and let sit for 20 minutes. Blend the mix until smooth, pour into large container & place in fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. After the puree has chilled, run it through a strainer to get the chunks out. Pour the juice into a pitcher, add lemon juice. (I used juice from a bottle, but if you use fresh lemons, it takes 6 - 8 lemons.) Stir & If it is too thick, add 1/2 cup water to help thin it out. Pour over ice & enjoy!

The kids loved this! (I did too!) They want me to make more!

Another thing I did with the peaches was freeze some of them. That way I can put frozen peaches in their lunches for school & they will be nice and cold and refreshing by the time they eat.

Frozen Peaches: peaches, fruit fresh, Ziploc freezer bag.

I just cut up peaches, added fruit fresh using the directions on the back, and put them in a Ziploc bag. So easy!

The last thing I made with our peaches were peaches & cream popsicles.

Peaches & Cream Popsicles: 1/4 cup & 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 2 -3 peaches cut up, 3 Tbs. heavy cream.

Place sugar, water, and vanilla in saucepan & bring to a boil. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool. Cut up peaches & place in a food processor. Add cooled sugar/vanilla water. Puree until smooth. Transfer to measuring cup, and whisk in cream. Pour into popsicle molds & freeze for several hours. When frozen, run hot water over the molds to help the popsicle come out easily.

The kids loved these as well!

I'm really happy with the way all of these recipes came out! Now, what do I do with the rest of the peaches I have.......