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.