Peaches are plump, flavorful and at their peak now. It’s time for Peach Melba, our FFWD recipe for this week. Before I served it to others, I enjoyed my own personal taste test. Wow. Just, Wow.
Last Summer I ordered some lovely outdoor furniture, a settee, two large arm chairs and a table, for my back patio. When the UPS lady delivered it, in four lean and long boxes, I thought a mistake had been made. You know where I’m taking this story, don’t you?
My order arrived in pieces. Hundreds of bolts, screws, washers, doohickeys and thingumbobs in small plastic bags. There were sixteen flat brown wicker parts which looked familiar to what I had ordered. Oh, yes, included also, the hefty directions manual written in several different languages. It was all Greek to me. That was when I asked myself, “How far can I push the goodwill of my neighbors?” In the end, Ray and Dominick, my go-to guys who live nearby, spent an entire Saturday afternoon, stuck in my garage, putting together my new wicker furniture. Let me mention it was a 100-degree summer day in Nevada. Sweat poured off of them.
My Mitey Shopping Cart, waiting to be built.
So, you understand that when I had a teeny-weeny put-the-parts-together project before leaving for Colorado, I was hesitant to call on them. I had ordered a Mitey Shopping Cart to take with me to Aspen. I walk everywhere here and wanted to use the cart for the Farmers Market, grocery store, library, it’s just a handy thing to have. I had hoped it would arrive intact – no such luck. When I called Ray and he answered his phone, I was blunt. “Here’s the bribe,” I said, “I will trade you a Peach Melba for one Mitey Cart with wheels attached.”
“You’re on,” he replied.
As you’ve already guessed, Peach Melba is our French Fridays with Dorie recipe choice this week and was a perfect and tasty bargaining tool to use with those guys. It is drop-dead delicious. Peaches. Raspberries. Ice Cream. Whipped cream. Crème de cassis. Those are just the major ingredient players. The little guys, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla beans and toasted sliced almonds, also add to the makings of this dessert.
Glenn, another friend, Ray and Dominick (Lto R) presenting me with the finished project, a Mitey Cart with wheels. Time to bring on the Peach Melba.
While Peach Melba is not a difficult dessert to make, it is a multifaceted and timely process. It involves poaching, making two syrups, pureeing, straining seeds, toasting, and, if you wish, making your own ice cream and whipped cream. Since the late and great Auguste Escoffier , a French culinary icon, created the elegant Peach Melba for opera singer Nellis Melba, you’d expect the flavors to be complex and intense.
The good news is that Dorie’s recipe directions are, as usual, carefully and clearly written. We’re currently in the midst of peak peach season so I urge you to link to her recipe here and enjoy this yourself.
What I love about these guys is that they take their taste testing seriously. Before moving to Nevada, Ray and Dominick owned and operated a successful New York deli so they appreciate good food and are honest critics. As for Glenn, a wine connoisseur, he pulled all the various flavors from this dessert and tried to guess (correctly, I might add) the processes used to make them.
The taste testing trio – do you see how seriously they take their assignment? I adore this picture. As you can see, these are guys, so I traded the elegant cut-glass goblet for plain white bowls – it was really all about the dessert not the dish.
Not only was this a win-win situation for all of us, it was a wonderful farewell evening together with good friends before my departure to Colorado. Thanks, guys.
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is competing in Colorado this week. Tuesday the route was 130.5 miles, involving two 12,000 feet ascents over Cottonwood and Independence Pass, and ended in Aspen. This morning I watched as they headed back over Independence Pass, destined for Beaver Creek.
I love this post, now I’m wondering if I can bribe someone with a bowl of my peach Melba?
What a fun post, Mary – and so nice of your friends to help out.
The peaches were much better the second day after I’d sliced them and let them sit in the sauce.
Hi Mary,
The faces on those guys are priceless. I wish I had a handyman trio. My husband is a classic WASP. How many WASPs does it take to screw a lightbulb? Two, one to make the martinis while the other calls the electrician.
I used Chambord I wonder how differently they taste??? Have a good time back in cooler Colorado.
A fabulous bribe…I loved this dish and so did Bill! And just look at those satisfied faces on your lucky friends. I’m certain your mitey cart will come in very handy 🙂
PS…let me know when you’re ready for your cookies…no rush, of course~
Love the bribe and aren’t you brave to try something on “foodies” – I am always so nervous. Hope the furniture is working out well!
Ummm I’ll come over and do some housework if you make ME this dish! Lovely post Mary – and happy 100th!! (also, I want one of those carts!!)
I believe the guys really enjoyed your peach melba:) How cleaver of you, they got a great tasting dessert and you got an assembled cart. Way to go!
Mary, I wish that my tool bucket and I lived in your neighborhood. For treats like that, I’d read some directions 🙂
Happy 100.
Mary, what a great post – I agree, the expressions on the faces of your “foodie helpers” are absolutely priceless! I am know to bribe people once in a while with food too, does not always work as well as it seems to have worked for you…maybe I should go with the Peach Melba next time instead of Cantuccinis…
Enjoyed your post very much and wishing you one wonderful weekend!
Me again, Mary – just wanted to let you know that I have added the recipe for the Pumkin Seed Brittle to my Peach Melba post, if there are any questions left, please do let me know.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
I have a friend whom I also bribe from time to time when I need things done around the house. It´s the perfect deal. I couldn´t make anything with peaches because it´s winter, obviously, but I made the ice cream and served them with chocolate cookies. I´m so glad you got rave reviews from this, it sure looks fantastic! Have a great weekend!
Love it! Very happy to see that I am not the only one who uses Dorie’s recipes as bribery:-) Every time we need help around the house (last time it was hooking up the wall mount for a new flat screen TV) we invite over a good friend who served as best man at our wedding and bribe him with home cooked food. As he is still a bachelor and can’t cook himself, this works remarkably well.
Aww, those guys seem like sweet, fun neighbors! Maybe they can visit you in Colorado! Win-win!
I think I remember those guys? I think they’ve helped by tasting things before, right? So nice that they are such good friends. Delightful. Your dessert looks fabulous. Have a safe trip!
Mary, I could be bribed with one of these…of course I’m not much good at putting things together with lots of parts! How wonderful to have friends that are so willing to lend a hand…and how nice to be able to treat them to your beautiful peach melba!! Nice post! Happy Friday!!
LOL – it looks like the guys thought they got a fair deal. Well done! And good luck with the move.
Mary, I’d take this peach melba for a bribe too! It looks delicious and raspberry/peach is one of my favorite flavor combinations.
Love your cart, my daughter bought me one of these for when I’m in London as I always go crazy at the farmer’s market right down the street from her. Can’t wait to fill it up with goodies!
You might just have to repeat this dessert here in Colorado, since we are flush with peaches this year. They are peaking in the North Fork Valley as we speak. Your three musketeers looked pretty happy with the trade! Good to have you back!
Those guys are so cute.
And your peach melba looks fabulous.
Hope you’re having a great trip Mary. Love Aspen in the summer 🙂
LL
Oh, I see now that you’ve moved back to Colorado, not just taking a trip. Wishing you much joy and happiness there…
LL
Hi Mary, Sounds like win-win for everyone. I really liked this one. It brought lots of memories, but also a new discovery of something good to eat now. Hope you had a safe trip to Colorado. Looks like you are surrounded by wonderful friends in both your homes. Lucky lady!
yay for helpful and friendly neighbors!!! 🙂 enjoy aspen! are you going for the food & wine classic?
I frequently use food bribes but I kind of just build mine up over time by bringing tons of stuff to work and sharing with the mailman, UPS, and Fed-Ex guys as well as my co-workers. Then when I ask for a favor, they think of all the times I’ve fed them delicious things and can’t help themselves! 🙂 Your Peach Melbas look great in either dish!
How fun Mary! Looks like a great time! Lucky and helpful friends.
What a smart idea, and what great friends. I’d choose making peach melba any day over building things 🙂 Have a great trip to Colorado!
What a delicious bribe! Yum!