Can you even believe this exists?! August: National Eat Dessert First Month!
What?!
My mother was actually the first person to implement this eating strategy. Yes. The originator of the idea–my mom. I say this as humbly as I can, if you’ve read my blog post about her, you must recognize that she’s brilliant. I mean, the woman went back to college and got her undergraduate, master’s, AND doctorate in less than six years. Who does that?!
Plus, if you tried her sourdough bread recipe, you realize she knows her way around an essential carb.
So, it makes sense to follow her lead. Right?
You've Gotta Try This!
Fresh is Best
I always enjoy going to an orchard or farm to pick fruit myself. But I rarely have time. I never dreamed I’d be so busy at this age. When I was rearing our boys, I thought when I got in my 60s, I’d be relaxing with a good book every day. Don’t I wish?!
No, not really. I LOVE the fullness of life at this age. I’m definitely enjoying what I do and who I do it with more than ever.
Like eating dessert first if I want to!
I have BEAUCOUP recipes for desserts. So, when I first learned of this month, I was overwhelmed. What recipes should I share with you, my friends? Which recipes are worthy of being eaten BEFORE the meal?
These are the questions I ponder. (And you thought I just rattled these posts off with no rhyme or reason.)
I used to say anything chocolate was my favorite dessert–and it still ranks right up there–but somewhere along the line I started to appreciate other goodies just as much.
Since I’m a sucker for the Farmers’ Market and all Mom and Pop Produce stands…
And since we western Kentuckians have access to the BEST fresh strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, watermelons, blackberries, and peaches in the entire world. No, I do not exaggerate. I believe this with all my taste buds…
I have developed a love affair with the region’s fruits. This has been the summer of blueberries and peaches for me. Oh my. I have gone bonkers for them.
So, the first dessert I can recommend eating first is this fabulous recipe my friend Roxie gave me years ago.
The second one is a recipe from my friend Jill–Peach-Blueberry Crisp. Both of these recipes are at top form when you use fresh fruit…from a region near you!
Roxie’s Baked Peach
Roxie brought us this fabulous dessert right after we had our first son. It was so delicious, I asked her for the recipe. So, I’ve been making this scrumptiousness for about 35 years.
Ingredients
1 Pillsbury Pie Crust
4 fresh peaches
1 stick butter
1 t vanilla
1/4 t nutmeg
2 C powdered sugar
1 unbeaten egg
Directions
1. Set crust out at room temperature for about 5 minutes, then unroll it and cut it into quarters.
2. Rinse peaches and dry, then wrap each peach in one quarter of the crust. (Note: I don’t peel my peaches.)
3. Bake the wrapped peach in a buttered pan for 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees or until brown.
4. While the peaches are baking, melt the stick of butter in a saucepan.
5. Add vanilla, nutmeg, and powdered sugar. Stir until it is smooth.
6. Add the egg last. Blend it in well.
I put the baked peaches in bowls then pour a generous amount of sauce over each one. They’re best served warm, fresh out of the oven.
Also, I cut the crust depending on how large the peach is–sometimes I cut one of the dough circles into thirds so the peach is totally covered.
True Confession: On the peach pictured above I used a HALF a pie crust to cover the gloriously large orb of fantastic-ness. I wish I’d made a cute little peach leaf out of a portion of the crust!
A dollop of vanilla ice cream or a dash of cream would not be out of order on either of these delicious desserts.
My Other MUST-HAVE Peach Dessert
There used to be a restaurant in our little city that served great food and AMAZING desserts! Funny story–my grandmother, who didn’t much care for cooking–made a habit of finding the “bests” in town. She knew Holman House served the best pies. So, she went there to buy a pie for an upcoming family event.
When she asked to buy a whole pie, the person in charge that day told her they only served pies by the slice. She asked how many slices were in a whole pie and this unsuspecting person said, “Eight.”
My grandmother said, “Okay, I’d like to buy eight pieces, but don’t bother slicing it.” She got her whole pie!
I don’t remember what kind of pie she was purchasing, but I do remember my favorite pie Holman House used to serve! Here’s the recipe:
Holman House Peach Pie
Ingredients
4-5 Peaches, peeled and sliced
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 C powdered sugar
8 oz Cool Whip
1 C sugar
3 T peach Jell-O
4 T corn starch
10 oz. 7-Up
Crust (*see Tip!)
1 stick butter
1 C flour
1 C pecans, chopped
Directions
1. Mix together the butter, flour. and pecans, and press into 13×9″ dish or into two 8″ pie plates. Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown.
2. Mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and Cool Whip. Spread over baked crust.
3. Slice peaches and sprinkle with Fruit Fresh.
4. Blend together sugar, peach Jell-O, cornstarch, and 7-Up. Bring this to a boil and cook until it thickens and starts to clear. Pour over peaches.
5. Refrigerate for several hours. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
(*Tip: I make a crust and a half because I like having a thicker crust and I like the way it balances all the sweetness of the filling.)
Permission To Eat First
Give these scrump-dilly-icious peach recipes a try! You’ll thank me (and Roxie and the legacy of the Holman House!)
And, check out some of my friends’ favorite dessert recipes. My friend Jill ADORES this olive oil cake by Emeril. Brenda ranks some amazing cookies at the top of her list. Molly’s sharing a crowd-pleaser this month, too, so be sure to check out that post in a few weeks. And Tonya says one of her favorites is Keto-friendly. I was skeptical that a Keto-friendly dessert deserved to be on anyone’s favorites list…Until I ate it!!
Of course, I can vouch for the choices I gave my Dad on Father’s Day. If you missed them, take a look here.
Yep, I’d say any of these qualify for Eat Dessert First Month!
Do you have a favorite recipe you think belongs on my eat-first list? Please share it with the rest of us!
Ann Boyd
I’m going to try Roxie’s recipe! Yum! The Holman House peach pie is already a staple at our house.
Tracey Buchanan
You’ll love Roxie’s recipe!!
Leslie Watkins
Oh, my goodness! It’s been years since I made Roxie’s baked peaches! One of my very favorites. Decadent! I remember taking them to a Paducah Symphony picnic on Walter Jetton lawn. And oh, how we miss Holman House. Thanks for sharing these two keepers! They are certainly “dessert first” month worthy!
Tracey Buchanan
You need to make them every peach season!! They’re so good!!
Maury
I love desserts !!!!
Tracey Buchanan
Me too!!!