Mix it up with Mani

Everythings' coming up peachy... or nectarines?!?

I headed off to the Berkeley farmers market the other Saturday, the low-key cousin to the flashy San Francisco Ferry Plaza market. Less crowded, live music, great coffee (Blue Bottle), crispy cinnamon danish (Phoenix Pastifico) and salumi (Fatted Calf) . The tomatoes, corn and fruit all bursting with summer flavors.

While the rest of the country is smitten with celebrity chefs, here in the bay area we have other priorities. We have celebrity farmers. Farmer Al from Frog Hollow grows legendary fruit. After a week of tasting ripe, juicy peaches, I had it on my mind to buy a full flat, about 18 ripe ones, and really pack in the taste of summer. Bake a few desserts and freeze a bag of the sliced fruit for autumn.

But the unexpected happened... the Frog Hollow nectarines were sweeter than the peaches! So with that Berkeley-bred mentality (local, sustainable, go with what the fields and farmers offer you), I switched my plans to nectarines.

The first recipe will explain how to peel the fruit for baking, and the best way to freeze any extra. Works equally well with peaches or nectarines. And either fruit will work in these recipes. Just choose whatever tastes best to you.

Be sure to refrigerate any extra muffins within a day of baking, or wrap airtight and freeze. Same goes with the cobbler. They both reheat beautifully. (You couldn't pay me to reheat a dessert in the microwave. Pop it in the oven or a toaster oven to reactivate the texture of the crust for some fresh baked flavor).

As for the freezer full of nectarines? I have to go back to the farmers market for another flat. After my day of baking, every last piece of fruit has been eaten.

How to prepare peaches and nectarines

Nectarine Upside-Down Bran Muffins
A tasty way to get more fiber and whole grain goodness in your diet. Standard muffin tins will yield about 18 of these muffins. (If you have one of the larger style tins available these days, you can get about 1 dozen). Baking times will vary.

 

Nectarine Cobbler with Corn Meal Biscuits
-no sugar added-
Anyone that loves fruit desserts will appreciate this. The agave or fruit juice concentrates allow the natural fruit flavor to predominate. No overpowering sugar taste here. Perfect as is, even better with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. And leftovers...I have this for breakfast!