Nana Cooks

The peaches that remained on the Little Peach Tree after the Big Grab have doubled in size. They are beautiful like the ones at farmer’s markets. They are also calling to the area yellow jackets. And the jackets have come–in droves. For me to go out and collect any that may fallen off  during the night is a fearful endeavor. The fallen peaches are quickly covered with the jacket brigade. and if there happens to be a blemish on a still hanging peach– a jacket is soon to follow.

 I understand that it is important to keep the ground under the tree clean. I tried to pick up, claim, or throw away any fallen fruit.  Hard to do when there’s this thing that can fly really fast and is kinda’ drunk on nectar and is always mad at the world–and it can HURT you! Fear is not an emotion I want connected with The Tree.
I’ve had a run-in with jellow jackets before. While cutting grass I ran over a yellow jacket’s nest and saw a few jackets–and thought, ‘is that a yellow jacket’s nest?’ so I ran over it again!!
HA! At that point–they started to run over me! I’m wearing a sun dress–they swarmed under it, I started running, screaming, and yanking that dress off faster than a run-way model and headed for the camper! Bruce helped me swat the  jackets away, and I got inside with only a baker’s dozen stings. I have a high regard for the power of yellow jackets.
BUT, there are these lovely, full sized, sweet peaches on The Tree. This called for covert action. So, after it got really dark–really dark, and all those nasty creatures had gone to their nest to sleep it off, out we went–ladder, flash light, containers, and combat clothing–long pants, long sleeves and gloves. I’m gonna’ get my peaches tonight.
And we did. Only one very drunk jellow jacket was seen, and the peaches were ready. We climbed up, picked up, and saved up about 5 dozen lovely peaches. It will take one more midnight raid to get the rest, and I’ll leave the top most for the birds to enjoy. But I am a happy woman.
These are the peaches you can eat out of hand–maybe over the sink. Sweet and juicy and almost too pretty to believe. Inside their slightly fuzzy, lovely skin they contain the goodness of summer. It is easy to believe that everything really is going to be OK, when you’re eating a summer peach.

It is also easy to freeze peaches. And here is my recipe for the day.

Freezing peaches

Peel

Slice

Use  something like Fruit-Fresh to keep fruit from browning. Lemon juice also works.

Place in freezer bags

Put bag of peaches in freezer

note: no need to sugar peaches

Use later for all sorts of good dishes

Sometimes you do need to make an effort to avoid stings, but the reward is at hand. 

Enjoy your summer.

 

I have excuses.  Yes, I know I have been away from my post for far too long, but hey, things happen. There were the trips [all wonderful], the visits [all fabulous] , the computer problems [all awful], and the lack of a “wholesome discipline” [all mine]. But I am once again, as my friend Zeke once said, ” at the ready.” And in front of the now working computer

I have been thinking about many things on my off time.  My wonderful peach tree is one thing. Gratitude, and some of my favourite things, are two more.

I want to write about the peach tree first. It’s young.  Probably 3 , maybe 4 years old.  This year it decided to join the ranks of the BIG producers. I  refer to it as the one who thinks its working for Del Monte. After blooming beautifully, it set out peaches.  and how. You think, “how can such a little tree work so hard?” The books, and my friend Shealy, said that after the June drop, when nature wisely drops many small peaches off the limbs, you are suppose to thin the number to something like 1 per every 6 inches.  I tried.  Honest, I did try.  But it was so hard to pull off something that wanted to grow.  I mean, it was something that wanted to grow in my yard.  But many, and I’m talking hundreds, stayed on the slim branches. I propped up two low branches and tried to feel safe about the tree.  Checking on it this week, I could tell it was under stress. OK, I’ll admit, I talk to the tree–in a low voice.  Not that I think the tree needs me to speak softly, but I’m hoping my neighbours don’t hear.People tend to worry about old people taking into the air. The tree and I decided water was needed.  So it got a good soaking.  There was a small rain storm that night with some winds..the next morning as I snuck outside at 6:30 in my pajamas- there was the peach tree with its top branches nestled in the tomato plants. oh good grief. I did change clothes, got paper bags, and started stripping almost ripe peaches.  Did I mention that there are also two rose bushes in with the tomato plants?  After many scratches, and shaky trips up  a step ladder, I had two large paper grocery bags nearly full.  The top of the tree began to lift.  Three days later it remains bent, but is about 5 feet above the now grateful tomato plants and rose bushes.  I wiped off the peaches and separated them into 3 groups–those that might ripen, those with less chance, and those with almost no chance of making it. I’ll try to see if I can at least save some to freeze for cobblers. Maybe I learned something. If that wonderful tree gives me another chance, I’ll try to remove  more fruit next time.  I know I learned that you really do need an orchard ladder.  Step ladders are scary things on uneven ground. Orchard ladder is on my ‘get list.’ I will also keep taking to my tree,  I love it

I think maybe we all love many of the same things.  And as it turn out–they usually are little things. OK, the tree isn’t little, but you know what I mean.  And since I love to make lists, here is a partial list of little things I love.  I’m going to show you mine; if you’d like, you can show me yours.

Small things I love:

Lists–all kind of lists

Newspapers

Notebook paper

Quiet mornings

Hooting owls

Open windows

Tablecloths

Cloth napkins

Clean bathrooms in restaurants

Homegrown tomatoes

Peaches

Emails from friends

Texting

Animals –maybe all animals

Books

Making hot tea

Honey

Small seedless cucumbers–who  knew they could be so good?!

Birds greeting the new day

Hugs from a grandchild–if this is still not in the works for you–    just you wait!

I know this type of list can go on and on.  Just sometimes I forget to keep it in the back of my head.  And when I forget these things, I forget gratitude. When I get too far away from gratitude, I get way off track.

But I have another list–favourite kitchen things–small things, not big like the dish washer which may actually be number 1 on my kitchen list.  But little things that I enjoy using and in some cases, just discovered.

So here’s the kitchen list:

Pastry blender–wonderful small gadget

Silicone stirrer/scraper thing-how did I live without this and how many plastic ones did I melt? Actually, I was even late in getting plastic scrapers–Moffett once commented that as a kid, she thought they were things that other people had , but not us.

Cast iron corn bread skillet- the very best!

Metal scraper for chopped vegetables - this is my new love. I can chop onions, green peppers,-whatever, and scoop it up quickly

Pretty dishes- they  make it more fun to be in the kitchen

A meal with people you really like

 

And on that last item – I had a wonderful simple  meal in Seattle.  Hart and Tessa had all of us over for a meal.  It consisted of a sandwich, asparagus,chips,wine, and  conversation among friends. 

 It’s a wonderful  lunch or dinner and meets many criteria for good meal: simple, inexpensive, and good for you. One item is best bought at your local Trader Joe’s.  The others are found anywhere.

Here it is–Thanks to Hart and Tessa

A Continental Lunch

Ingredients:

Smoked Herring from Trader Joe’s–in the green tin

1-2 cloves of garlic

Mayonnaise

Juice from one lemon

Butter or bibb lettuce

Soft baguette  almost like a hoagie roll

Salt and pepper

Mince the cloves of garlic and sprinkle on some salt. Use the side of the knife to make  the garlic and salt into a paste, mix that with some mayonnaise, and lemon juice. [You are making aioli here]

Spread the aioli on the bread, put down the lettuce, and place the herring in the middle.  And there you have it. It’s great.

Serve with asparagus-fixed anyway you like–and put out mini pickles/cornichons and salt and vinegar potato chips. Beverage of your choosing.

Excellent!

 

 Small things are important in my life.  Really big things occur only so often.  But little ones, they are so  abundant, they fill my days.  I hope your days are filled ’till they runneth over.