Peach Melba Cooler Food

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Bring the pan to the boil and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a fast simmer.
• Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them, if not then you can get them out later. Poach the peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft, and then remove them to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• When all the peaches are poached, peel off their skins and let them cool (then you can remove any remaining stones). If you are making them a day in advance then let the poaching syrup cool and then pour into a dish with the peaches. Otherwise just bag up the syrup and freeze it for the next time you poach peaches.
• To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice in a blender or a food processor. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug.
• To assemble the Peach Melba, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop or 2 of ice cream. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each.

CLASSIC FRENCH PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Using a deep, wide skillet, heat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 2 cups water to boiling.
• After sugar dissolves, add peaches in a single layer. Reduce heat to just under simmering and poach, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Using tongs or a slotted spoon, gently turn all the peaches over, cover, and continue poaching for 3 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and allow peaches to sit in hot syrup for an additional 4 minutes.
• Stir in vanilla extract. Chill peaches in syrup for at least 1 hour.
• Push raspberries and juice from thawing, through a fine-mesh sieve, and then discard seeds and solids; set aside. Bring 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and zest . Stir simple syrup (sugar mixture) into a seedless raspberry puree and chill for 30 minutes.
• Layer peaches and raspberries over ice cream in frosted dishes and serve.
• Enjoy.

CHEF JOHN'S PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Combine raspberries, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, water, and balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until sugar dissolves and berries collapse, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a bowl. Cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
• Combine 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and split vanilla bean in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Place peach halves with cut sides up in the syrup and simmer until tender, 5 to 8 minutes per side, basting with the syrup occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool in the syrup. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 4 hours.
• Remove peach skins and serve each peach half on top of a scoop of ice cream in a bowl. Spoon the raspberry sauce over the top. Garnish with toasted, slivered almonds.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Reserve 4 peach slices for garnish.
• In a blender or food processor, purée remaining peaches along with the reserved peach syrup and lemon juice.
• Spoon the purée into each of 4 dessert dishes.
• Add scoops of ice cream or sherbet.
• Garnish each dish with ¼ cup of the raspberries and a peach slice.

NOT-SO-CLASSIC PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Make the raspberry sauce: Put 1 cup raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a blender and whiz to liquify. Pour through a fine-meshed strainer and into a medium bowl. Keep cool.
• Using a paring knife, peel and halve the peaches. Slice the halves into half-moon pieces about 3/8-inch thick. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 teaspoons sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Toss to coat.
• To serve, arrange peach slices in the bottom of 6 dessert bowls. Top each serving with a scoop or 2 of vanilla ice cream. Splash raspberry sauce over each portion. Garnish with a few raspberries if you wish.

PEACH MELBA COOLER

Steps:

• Add water to drink mix in large plastic or glass pitcher; stir until mix is dissolved.
• Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
• Stir in seltzer when ready to serve. Use a 1/4-cup scoop to add sorbet to each of 8 tall glasses. Add prepared drink.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, prepare syrup.
• Bring sugar, water, lemon juice and zest to a boil.
• Lower to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Poach peaches until tender.
• Let them cool in the syrup.
• To prepare the raspberry sauce, in a blender combine raspberries, sugar and lemon juice.
• Process to a puree.
• Remove fruits from syrup.
• To serve, in a small bowl place a scoop of vanilla ice cream, place the fruit on top and cover with raspberry sauce.
• Garnish with whipped cream and toasted almonds.
• For Apricot Melba, use 12 ripe, firm apricots, pitted and halved (no need to skin).

QUICK PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Pour schnapps in a microwave-safe pan or pie plate large enough to hold peach halves in a single layer. Place peaches, cut side down in pan. Microwave on high Pour schnapps in a microwave-safe pie plate large enough to hold all peach halves in a single layer. Place peaches cut side down in pan. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Turn peaches over and microwave about 2 minutes longer, until the fruit is tender when poked with a sharp knife. Let peaches cool, then peel. Refrigerate. for 3 minutes.
• Transfer jam to a microwave-safe measuring cup; microwave on high 1 to 2 minutes until partially melted. In a food processor, puree jam and raspberries. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl; strain sauce to remove seeds, pressing with a rubber spatula. Discard seeds. Refrigerate.
• Put 1/2 cup ice cream in each of eight shallow bowls, then a peach half, 2 Tbs. sauce and 1 Tb. almonds. Serve.