Peaches explained, MMMM
A peach is a round juicy fruit with downy yellowish-red skin and a rough stone. It's a very healthy and nutritional fruit. Peaches have originated from china. The Chinese have developed an incredible amount of peach of races. Fresh peaches are seasonal, but peaches can be enjoyed canned or frozen all year round. Ripeness is indicated by a peachy aroma and some softness, so choose a peach that gives slightly to palm pressure.
Types of Peaches:
- Clingstone: In this the flesh clings to the stone.
- Freestone: This can be loosened from the pit with relative ease.
Nutritional Value:
- Low in calories, one cup of sliced peaches has only 60 calories.
- Peaches are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.
- Peaches are rich in iron and potassium.
- Peaches are high in fiber and in Vitamins A, C, and E.
- They also contain calcium.
- They are also rich in phytochemicals which act as antioxidants.
Health Benefits:
- The dose of fiber in peaches acts as a gentle laxative, aids digestion, and may also help combat cancer.
- The fruit is rich in cancer-fighting vitamin A in the form of beta carotene,
- Peaches have the immune-boosting vitamin C, which also protects against heart disease.
- Rich in iron so good for anemia.
- Lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids found in peaches, help guard against blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration.
- Helpful in the removal of worms from the intestinal tract.
- Helps improve the health of the skin and adds color to the complexion.
- Peaches are good for Asthma patient too.
How they grow: Correct positioning and soil type is the key to growing peaches successfully.
- The ideal site is a south-facing wall (house walls are best) protected from wind.
- The soil should be well-dug to a depth of 75cm (2ft 6in) a couple of months before planting with plenty of compost being added.
- Stake your new peach tree once you plant it and it reaches a foot.
- Fertilize your tree using fertilizer spikes to boost its growth.
- Maximize the quality and size of peaches on your tree. The more peaches on a tree, the smaller each peach grows. By removing a few baby peaches in early season, the ones left on the tree grow larger.
- Remove any peaches damaged by insects. Again, this leaves room for existing peaches to grow larger.
- Apply a dormant oil fruit tree spray before buds open each spring to kill a wide array of insects.
- They do not ripe well after they have been picked so they have to be picked ripe. Store the peaches in a dry, dark, cool place.
How to store: Peaches are sensitive souls. They bruise easily, and should be handled with care.
- If they aren't ripe, store them in a paper bag, but please don't pile them on top of each other or, yes, those bruises will appear.
- If ripe, they may be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week depending on the degree of ripeness.
- For full succulence, bring them to room temperature and then enjoy both flavor and aroma.
Peach recipe: Peaches can be dried, canned, made into jams, jellies, and preserved, used as filling for desserts. Surprise your kids with peach Ice Cream, too tasty.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups milk
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons vanilla
- 4 cups whipping cream
- 2 1/2 cups crushed or pureed peaches, sweetened to taste
Method
- Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in top of double boiler; gradually blend in milk.
- Cook over hot water, stirring occasionally, for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until thickened.
- Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs, then return egg mixture to pan with remaining hot mixture.
- Cook over hot water, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes, until it is about as thick as pudding.
- Chill thoroughly, about 3 hours. Stir vanilla and cream into the chilled mixture.
- Pour into a 1-gallon ice cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
- Remove dasher and stir in crushed or pureed sweetened peaches
- Repack ice cream freezer with 1 part rock salt to 6 parts crushed ice and let ripen for 2 hours.
(Sources: thefruitpages.com, hubpages.com/hub/Health_Benefits_of_Peach, dvorkin.com, thefoodpaper.com, ehow.com, inmamaskitchen.com/, southernfood.about.com)
