Summer Fruit in Wine

a pile of peaches and nectarines

Nectarines and peaches work quite well in this classy treat.

1 stalk lemongrass, outer layers removed
(You can also use lemon balm, mint, thyme, sweet woodruff or rosemary)
1-2 Tbsp. sugar or honey
1/2 cup water
Mixed summer fruit (peaches, nectarines, melons, apricots, and strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries), washed, pitted, cut up
White wine (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, etc.)
Mint or lemon balm sprigs
Edible flowers (nasturtium, pansy, mint, lavender, calendula, borage) for garnish

Chop lemongrass and boil with sweetener and water until sweetener is totally dissolved and blended. Let cool for several hours or overnight.

Place fruit into nonreactive bowl. Strain lemongrass syrup and combine with enough wine to barely cover fruit. Pour on fruit and chill for several hours.

Serve in large wine goblets or clear glass dessert bowls. Garnish with herb springs and flowers.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Summer Peach Tart

Nourish Restaurant in Sequim, WANourish, Sequim’s new garden-to-plate restaurant and gathering place, is featuring a series of meals created using items from Nash’s farm share boxes each week. We now have peaches and nectarines in from Sunnyslope Ranch in eastern Washington! Here’s one sweet way to enjoy them. You could make this tart with either peaches or nectarines–or maybe even both. Let us know how your tart turns out in the comments below the recipe.

Makes one 12″ tart

Crust
9 dates, pitted
1 cup toasted pecan pieces
1 cup almond meal
2 teaspoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt

Pulse all ingredients in food processor until crumbly. When you pinch some between your fingers it should stick. Add a tiny splash of water if it needs help holding (this will depend on the freshness of your dates). Press the mixture into an even layer the bottom of a parchment-lined 9″ or 10″ springform pan.

Nectarines from Sunnyslope Ranch, Wapato, WA

What do you think: does this recipe work best with peaches or with nectarines? Let us know in the comments below!

Cream
1/2 cup creme fraiche
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup muscavado sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
3 large or 4 small ripe peaches
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Toasted, chopped pecans for garnish

Tip: Powdered sugar helps set the creme fraiche to not puddle everywhere; a liquid sugar like maple syrup or honey will not work.

Whisk together the creme fraiche, powdered sugar, muscavado and corn starch. It will be loose but should hold shape when spread over the crust. If it looks too loose, add another tablespoon or two of powdered sugar. Spread the cream layer over the crust.

Halve and pit the peaches and slice them thin. Layer the slices in concentric circles, starting against the outer edge and then starting again with another circle inside that outer circle. Brush the top with lemon juice and garnish with chopped pecans. Refrigerate for at least two hours to chill completely. Remove the ring of the springform pan and cut the tart into slices. The colder it is, the easier it will be to slice. Enjoy!

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!