The peaches have been so sweet and delicious this summer and there is nothing like a ripe fresh peach! I bought a few more peaches than we could eat last time I went to the farmer’s market so I decided to make a peach cobbler with the really ripe ones and just the smell of it baking brought back so many memories for me!
When I was a little girl, we traveled to Hartwell, Georgia often to see my grandparents. It was a long drive but we went at least once a month, if I’m remembering correctly, because my grandfather (Pops) had Parkinson’s Disease and wasn’t doing well. My main memories of him were lying in bed and I don’t remember the year he died, but I wasn’t even 10.
That is a sad memory, but there are fond memories as well! My grandmother, we called her Big Mama, (she was tiny), was a great Southern cook! I remember her picking greens (turnip, mustard, etc.) from the garden and making a big pot along with cornbread and pinto beans. I still love that meal to this day! She made a fabulous pound cake and she canned everything. I have memories of eating oatmeal with her canned pears on top and I can still remember the taste of those pears, but I’ve yet to find a recipe that tastes the same.
When we were there in the summer, sometimes all my cousins would be there as well and it was a house full of people! The adults wanted the children outside as much as possible and I have memories of Big Mama giving us whole peaches, peel and all, and sending us outside to eat them. They were so sweet and juicy and the juice ran down our faces as we devoured those peaches. Of course, we had no cellphones and her television was not the greatest (she mainly used it to watch football games), so we found things to do and I don’t ever remember being the least bit bored! It was certainly a simpler time in many ways.
I’m sure my Big Mama made peach cobbler although I don’t remember…my mother made the peach cobbler I remember eating and the recipe I’m sharing today is very similar!
“The history of peach cobbler as a Southern dish dates back to the early 1800s when African Americans started to combine fruits like peaches with spices and flour to make a sweet, tasty dessert. This combination was then covered with a biscuit-like topping and baked.”
My cobbler recipe doesn’t have a biscuit topping (I’ve made those and don’t like them as well), it has more of a sweet batter that cooks with the peaches and has the most amazing flavor. It’s crunchy on the edges and soft and bread like on the inside. It is indescribably delicious! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ll feel like you’re in food heaven!
When this cobbler came out of the oven, I realized that I had no vanilla ice cream but I wasn’t about to take the time to go and get some! We ate it right away! There is still a small serving left that I’ve hidden in the back of the refrigerator and I’ll eat it when I can sit on the front porch and savor those last few bites!
There can be so many good memories associated with food, especially if you grew up in a household where food was regularly prepared and you ate as a family! I think that it’s very important and hopefully families are trying to make it a priority. My mom made lunch every Sunday after church and we ate dinner together almost every night. We also went to her mother’s house at least once a week to eat a meal! We rarely had a “fancy” dinner, but believe me when I say that it was always good and summer dinners with garden fresh veggies and homemade cornbread were my favorites!
I am partnering with our local potter, Haand, who actually is global but based here in Burlington. The pink plates I served the cobbler on were made at Haand and they are some of my favorites! Haand makes an assortment of dishes in a variety of colors, as well as vases, coffee and espresso cups, and hand blown glasses! The holidays are around the corner (how can that be), and a handmade gift is always appreciated and dishes are something everyone uses. You can use my code CRAZYBLONDELIFE to receive 15% off your order. Haand is also having a seconds sale (you will never find the flaws) right now. Unfortunately you can’t use the code for seconds but if you buy a combination, the first quality pieces will be discounted!
