Just Peachy

When I think of August and summer fruit harvesting, I think of peaches.  After all, August is National Peach Month.  Biting into a super ripe peach, juices dripping down my chin, on my hands, over my wrist and all the way to my elbow.  It's all part of the love for my favorite fruit.  While nothing beats a freshly picked peach, the recipe choices are abundant.  Everything from appetizers, salad, main dishes, desserts and even beverages.  Peaches are plentiful in August and so are the ways to use them.

If you want to start your morning with peaches, consider Peach Pancakes.  This simple recipe from the folks at food.com will certainly bring a smile to the faces of the peach lovers in your home.  Make sure to save some peach slices to top them with, too.

By now, most of us have tried that pre-made Peach Iced Tea, but when peaches are plentiful then it's time to make it fresh.  Not trying this made from scratch recipe from Food Network would just be wrong!

If Iced Tea is not your drink, then a peach smoothie might be just the thing to tempt your taste buds.  Taste of Home's recipe is delicious and the small amount of effort is more than worth it.

Need that adult kick in your beverage.  Crank it up a notch with this Peach Mojito recipe from MyRecipes.  That perfect blend of peaches, mint and rum will make you feel like you're in Cuba, relaxing by the Caribbean.  

If you're hosting a little get together and Peach Mojitos are the drink of the night, why not whip up a batch of  Fresh Peach Salsa and tortilla chips to completely keep the peach theme going.  Southern Living's recipe will have your guests liberally tossing out the compliments.  

Peaches have a perfect spot in salads.  One of my favorite salads is a good caprese.  The Refined Chef has a great caprese salad, smartly referred to as Georgia Caprese.  Try it out for a new take on a well known favorite.

The flavors of peaches and pork mingle well together.  This Roasted Pork Chops and Peaches dish from Real Simple is sure to be a hit during peach season.

Seafood, particularly fish, also compliments a good peach.  Real Simple is on target once again with this Gingery Salmon with Peaches recipes.  Your grilling skills will most assuredly win kudos when this recipe makes an appearance on your table.

And now for dessert!  Can I just say that I LOVE peach cobbler.  A warm bowl of cobbler topped with a cold scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream may just be my favorite dessert in the entire world.  An August without it is just incomplete on so many levels.  This recipe is from Big Red Kitchen and it's easy, quick and delicious.  (You're on your own with finding the right vanilla ice cream.)

It's National Peach Month. Celebrate! From the words of those Classic Rock favorites, The Allman Brothers, Eat a Peach!