Peaches! And, boy, they are sweet and juicy!

About 90 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona, is the small historic farming town of Wilcox. When I go to our Tucson farmers market, I find much of the best produce comes from Wilcox, especially the tomatoes. When you dine at a restaurant here, chefs proudly announce that, “this evening you will be enjoying fresh Wilcox tomatoes.”

And, while the tomatoes are good and ripe in Wilcox these days, it was the Peach Mania festival that got me and my friend Luisa out early last Sunday for a road trip to Apple Annie’s!

I had feared fewer peaches than usual this year due to the bad frosts in our region this past winter. Farmer John (Apple Annie’s husband) shared that this was, indeed, true. The frost hit just after blossom time and several varieties bore really small fruit this year. We tried the Glow Havens (nuggets, they call them, only an inch in diameter), and they are definitely sweet, packing heavy doses of sugar.

Luisa picking perfect peaches in her new purple hat!

John showed us the large fans he uses to make temperatures in the orchard 4-5°F warmer when frosts are forecast. Funny, when I arrived I saw the huge fans and assumed they were harvesting wind power!

He steered us to three rows of one of his favorite varieties – Crest Havens. About two rows further down were the Suncrest variety – “Sweeter,” he said, “but lacking a touch of acidity that really brightens the flavor of a peach.” We started by picking a dozen or so Crest Havens at his recommendation but, ever curious, I had to try a Suncrest.

Don’t ever doubt Farmer John. It was a bit sweet and, had I not just had a Crest Haven, I would have thought it a perfect peach. But in comparison, the flavor was a bit flat. We also tried a J.H. Hale variety – large and juicy, they are just about ripe. Attendees this weekend might be in luck to pick the Hales!

Following our picking adventure, we hit the weigh station, paid for our fruit (we picked some apples, too) and packed them in the car. Then we went back in for lunch…. Main course: a slice of peach crumb pie. Dessert: their homemade peach ice cream. Talk about getting all the major food groups into one meal! The only thing missing was chocolate.

If you live near Tucson, Peach Mania continues this weekend and next. They also have a lot of fun upcoming events, as well as a great store with peach and apple products – nut butters, vinegars, homemade butter and ciders to name a few. Their farm stand (about 6 miles further up the road) abounds with great produce – a good opportunity to get some of those Wilcox tomatoes!

As for the peaches I brought home? Two things… I just made a peach frangipane tart (so good!) and will be making some peach jam later today… The tart is based on a recipe from Gourmet magazine years ago for individual little peach tartlets. Frangipane is an almond-flavored paste used in many pastries. I made a few changes to the recipe (my own tart crust, blind-baking the crust to prevent sogginess, reduced butter and sugar content). I think you’ll like it!

Life is peachy, isn’t it?

~ David

Peach Frangipane Tart


2½ ounces ground almonds
¼ cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon sugar (divided)
5 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
1 recipe tart pastry (below), blind-baked
2-3 large peaches, halved, pitted and thinly sliced



Preheat oven to 375°F. In a food processor, combine the ground almonds, ¼ cup sugar, 4 tablespoons butter, egg yolk and almond extract and process until a thick paste forms. Spread almond mixture on the prepared crust and top with concentric circles of peach slices. Sprinkle peaches with remaining tablespoon of sugar, dot with remaining tablespoon butter and bake for 35 minutes, or until bubbly.


Serves 8-10.



Tart Pastry


1⅓ cup flour
pinch salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces
1 egg, separated
ice water



Preheat oven to 400°F. Place flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to blend. Add butter and pulse 12-15 times, or until bits of butter are about the size of small peas.


Place the egg yolk in a ¼-cup measure (reserve egg white) and add ice water to fill the measure; stir with a fork to break up the egg yolk. Drizzle the liquid over the dry ingredients and then pulse to distribute. Then turn on the processor and run until dough almost forms a ball around the blade. Pastry may be rolled or pressed into an 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Prick the pastry all over with a fork.


Line the tart pastry with aluminum foil, then fill with pie weights (or dried beans or rice) and bake for 12 minutes. Remove foil and weights immediately, brush crust with reserved egg white and fill per recipe instructions above.

9 Comments

  1. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen

    August 12, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    I´ve come to realize that frangipane goes with any stone fruit and many others too. This is my kind of tart! Ripe peaches and tomatoes right from the tree/plant are really another dimension in flavor. I would love to have either of those now! The best part was your pie and ice cream lunch, jaja!

    Reply
  2. Cocoa & Lavender

    August 12, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    When I ate a peach off the tree, warmed by the sunshine, it was the most amazing peach I have ever had. I think almost any vegetable or fruit that has just been picked is amazing. And you are right, frangipane goes with almost any fruit. One of my favorites (and almost impossible to get in the U.S.) is a tart made with frangipane and gooseberries! Had it in Germany, made it once in the States and that is it. Can you get gooseberries in Buenos Aires?

    Reply
  3. john@heneedsfood

    August 12, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    The last time I ate a peach fresh off the tree was when I was about 10. Delicious! The blushed colour of the sliced peaches on your tart is just beautiful and I just know it was amazing with that lovely frangipane. I can't wait for our stonefruit season!

    Reply
  4. Cocoa & Lavender

    August 13, 2012 at 12:33 am

    John – I think that is the saddest thing I have read. Not since you were 10? Unless you just turned 11, I think you need to come to Tucson next year for the peach festival. I know it is far from Sydney – but I would say worth it!

    Reply
  5. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen

    August 13, 2012 at 11:00 am

    We have amazing berries in the south (patagonia), but not many make it to BA fresh unfortunately. This summer I´ll be waiting for the appearance of fresh fruits with a different interest. It´s what happens when you start a food blog!

    Reply
  6. Cocoa & Lavender

    August 13, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Paula – I know what you mean. I know go to the farmers market with a completely different eye as to what I will be buying. Food blogging has made it more interesting, really!

    Reply
  7. Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy

    August 14, 2012 at 1:47 am

    What a divine looking tart David. You are so lucky to have access to amazing stonefruit!

    Reply
  8. Susan

    August 14, 2012 at 3:24 am

    David,
    These are particularly good photos…gorgeous colors! Your pie crusts always look so professional….mine look like a patchwork quilt! Good peaches are hard to find here in NH, so I have to confess that I indulge myself by ordering them from Red Cooper. I recently received a wonderful box of Georgia peaches in perfect form–if they are not, they will give you your money back! It is http://www.RedCooper.com…Ask for Amanda–she is great!

    Of course if you live near Tucson, I know where you are going!!

    Reply
  9. Cocoa & Lavender

    August 14, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    Thanks, Anna! Peaches and apricots are the only stone fruits that grow well here, so we are lucky to have them in abundance this year!

    Susan – I have to check out Red Cooper, especially for our years when the frost really takes its toll on the peach harvest! Glad you liked the photos. The updated recipe is really quite good, and I am glad I made the adjustments!

    Reply

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