All of last week I was daydreaming about soft fresh peach slices
nestled between thick layers of vanilla ice cream. As a reward to myself for
finally getting over a month-long summer cold, I decided to dive into
indulgence.
Peaches are everywhere this time of year but once I got to the store,
all I could find were extremely firm ones – not at all the ripe fruit with
yielding flesh of my dreams (mmm... that sounds a bit naughty, yes?). So I modified my
dessert daydream of fresh peach slices to caramelized ones, which actually
turned out even more scrumptious ladled hot just out of the pan onto cold ice
cream and drizzled with brown sugar syrup.
For a slightly healthier version of this, substitute vanilla honey
yogurt for the ice cream (recipe follows).
Caramelized Peaches and Cream with Brown Sugar Syrup
Makes 2 generous servings
Ingredients:
4 very firm peaches (don't use ripe, soft ones ready to eat, as they
will simply fall apart before caramelizing)
1/2 c golden brown sugar
3 tbsp butter
Vanilla ice cream
1. Peel the skin and slice each
peach into eighths.
2. On a plate, coat each slice
with brown sugar.
3. Melt the butter on a skillet
over medium high heat
4. Once melted, place peach
slices onto the skillet.
5. When sizzling, lower the heat
to medium-low and cover for 3-5 minutes until the peach juices and butter start
bubbling and thicken to a syrupy consistency.
6. While the peaches are still
cooking, take a large spoon and start spooning out all the liquid onto a cup.
This lovely peachy concoction will serve as your brown sugar syrup.
7. Once all the liquid has been
reserved, turn the heat back up to medium and brown both sides of the peach
slices.
8. While browning, prepare your
scoops of ice cream on dishes. Once the peaches are done, place on top of the
ice cream, drizzle with your brown sugar syrup and prepare to be transported to
peach heaven!
Healthier version
Follow steps 1-7, above.
8. Allow the peach slices to
cool for about 10 minutes (I know, hard!) before layering with vanilla honey
yogurt (see below) as a parfait . If straight out of the pan, the yogurt will
turn into soup.
Vanilla Honey Yogurt
16 oz. plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp of vanilla
2 tbsp of honey
Mix all ingredients well until well combined. Put back in the fridge to set and cool for
about 15 minutes before eating with dessert.
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