Gettin’ Peachy With It
Chef’s Corner
by Mitch Samples
Exciting things are happening at the Chef’s Corner this Saturday. We’ve invested a little money and purchased a small grill so we can grill corn and make elotes, also known as Mexican Street Corn. . . *insert sound of a record scratching loud and painfully!*
Wait. What? What’s that you say? The weather hasn’t been cooperative. Too hot, too dry, too late in the season to provide enough corn. . .
Well shucks! Just like the seasons change, so too must our plans. We’ll just have to be adaptable and not let these things stress us out. Adapt and overcome as they say! Eat what is fresh and available, I say!
What’s available then? Peaches you say, and lots of them. And we have that new grill too. Let’s put them together and grill some peaches for your sampling pleasure then. We’ll be making some peach salsa as well and reserve what corn there is for our guest to enjoy.
Grilled Peaches
Ingredients:
Peaches
Neutral flavored oil
Procedure:
- Light and preheat the grill to medium high heat.
- Halve and pit the peaches, and lightly brush them with oil.Cling free peaches are easiest to work with.
- Grill cut side down, for 4 to 5 minutes, undisturbed until grill marks appear.
- Flip the peaches and cook until tender until the skins are charred and the peaches are soft, maybe 4 to 5 minutes more.
Note: Season peaches with cinnamon, sherry, whip cream, honey, or whatever your heart desires and serve. They go great with vanilla ice cream too. They also make a great accompaniment for grilled fish or pork.
Peach Salsa
Ingredients:
3 C diced peaches, approximately 2-3 peaches
1 small red onion, peeled and diced
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or Italian Parsley, basil works too
juice of one lime
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Honey to taste
Procedure:
- Dice all fruits and veggies to about the same size
- Combine in a bowl and stir in the lime juice
- Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper and honey
Note: You can use green bell peppers if you would like to make it less spicy. Mix and match other items in too. Tomatoes and avocadoes make a great addition if you have them on hand.