Month: August 2022

Breakfast · Cakes · New Favorite

Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Peaches are one of my favorite summer treats. Living in Colorado, we are lucky to get juicy Palisade peaches in August, assuming there isn’t a hard spring freeze on the western slope. My daughters and I order a box of peaches from a local high school each year and they are always amazing. While I made my favorite peach recipes of peach salsa, peach raspberry cobbler, Dutch Baby Pancake with Peaches and raspberries, and others, I love trying new recipes. This recipe was delicious and I enjoyed it for breakfast/brunch and for an every dessert. You could top it with whipped cream or ice cream or even a dollop of Greek Yogurt.

Next time, I will substitute fresh raspberries for the blueberries, a fruit marriage blessed by the Gods! Perhaps I’ll also substitute almond extract for the vanilla. Now that’s living on the edge.

Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 oz butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla (or almond extract)
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 peaches sliced into wedges
  • 6 oz blueberries (or raspberries)
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Use 9×3-inch springform pan.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Grease the side and the bottom of the pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom of a 9×3-inch springform pan (or 9 inch round cake pan) with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper too.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, together into a medium bowl.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugar, and 2 eggs until very light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes on high speed. Add vanilla and Greek yogurt and continue beating until very creamy and light in color, for about 1 more minute.
  5. Keeping the mixer speed low, mix in the flour mix until combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Transfer the cake batter to the springform pan. Top with sliced peaches, and scatter blueberries evenly on top in the spaces between the peach slices. Sprinkle the fruit with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
  7. Bake until cake turns golden, and the tester comes out clean in the center, about 1 hour, depending on your oven. Midway through baking, I like to put some extra peach slices and extra blueberries on top of the cake for prettiness, and return cake to baking.
  8. When the cake is done baking, let it cool (still in the baking pan) on a wire rack. After cake has cooled for about 40 minutes, release the cake from the springform pan. At this point, if the cake is cool enough, you can slide your hand under the cake, between the parchment paper and the bottom portion of the springform pan and move the cake with the parchment paper attached to its bottom onto a cake plate easily.
  9. If using a 9 inch round cake pan, cook in pan for about 40 minutes or more (up to 1 hour, depending on your oven), then invert onto a plate.

Recipe slightly adapted from Juliasalbum.com

Garden · Meats · New Favorite · Salads

Balsamic Steak and Peach Salad

cathysmaha1 Comment

Grilled Steak with fresh peaches, gorgonzola and caramelized onions…oh my gosh. Every bite is a flavor explosion. For those that don’t like Gorgonzola, Goat Cheese would probably be equally as good (maybe with a few chopped pecans?) or just skip the cheese. You’ll love it, too!

Balsamic Steak and Peach Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1-1/4lbs tri-tip or flank steak, cut into easily grillable pieces (could use any cut of steak, really!)
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 cloves crushed garlic
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 jumbo or 2 smaller sweet onions, sliced thin
  • 2 large ripe peaches, chopped
  • 4 oz. gorgonzola cheese crumbles
  • 9 oz. mixed greens

For the Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:
  1. Combine 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and lots of salt and pepper into a large Ziplock bag then squish to mix. Add steak then marinate for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
  2. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, season lightly with salt, then saute until caramelized and soft, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and turning heat down slightly if onions begin to color too quickly. Stir in remaining 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar then set onions aside to cool – can be done up to a couple days ahead of time.
  3. Preheat a well-oiled grill over high heat for at least 10 minutes then turn heat down to medium-high. Add steak then grill for 3-4 minutes per side, depending on how thick your steak is, then let rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain – can be done 1 day ahead of time.
  4. For the Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette: Add ingredients into a blender then blend until smooth.
  5. Divide lettuce, steak, caramelized onions, peaches, and cheese between bowls then top with vinaigrette and serve.
  6. Serves 4.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats

Salads · Vegan · Vegetables · Vegetarian

Broccoli Bacon Almond Salad

cathysmaha1 Comment

Broccoli Salad has always been a favorite of mine, a regular staple at a local restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes. During the hot summer months, this is a great side to BBQ, sandwiches, or really anything. I was so excited about making this salad, I forgot to photograph it WITH the dressing. OOPS! That’s why I’m not a professional blogger. I’m just a woman with a passion for good food!

Broccoli Bacon Almond Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • ½ pound bacon
  • 2 heads fresh broccoli
  • 1 small red onion 
  • ¾ cup raisins (I used craisins)
  • ¾ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (I used olive oil mayo–also vegan)
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
DIRECTIONS:
  • Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool and crumble.
  • Cut the broccoli into bite-sized pieces and cut the onion into thin bite-sized slices. Combine with the bacon, raisins, and almonds and mix well.
  • To prepare the dressing, mix the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad.
  • Let chill before serving, if desired.

Recipe from AllRecipes

Desserts · Family Favorites · New Traditions

Peach Ice Cream

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Fresh Peach Ice Cream is a summer dream come true. I’ve made it in the past but never cared for the icy chunks of peach in the ice cream. This recipe appealed to me with the blended peaches, allowing the peach flavor to permeate the ice cream. I added a bit of lemon juice (noted in the recipe below) to add a little citrus kick to the creamy goodness of peach ice cream. I served with fresh raspberries, my favorite combination with peach!

Peach Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 cups chopped peaches (peel removed)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar (divided)
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • optional: 1/2-1 tsp fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
  • Mix chopped peaches with 1/2 cup sugar in a medium sized bowl. Allow to set for about 15 minutes so the peach pieces release their juices. 
  • Blend peaches up in a blender or food processor until nice and smooth. (Add 1/4 cup of your whole milk if you need more liquid to blend it up)
  • In a large bowl combine peach mixture with heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla extract, and remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Set aside.
  • Get out your freezer bowl and start running your ice cream maker. Pour the peach mixture into the running ice cream maker. And allow to run according to manufactures instructions (Mine is about 25-30 minutes.) 
  • Serve now for soft serve ice cream. 
  • For scoopable ice cream, scoop the peach ice cream into a bread loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the freezer for 6 hours up to overnight. Then scoop and serve.

Recipe slightly adapted rom LikeMotherLikeDaughter