Vanilla Poached Peaches With Whipped Minted Yogurt Food

MINTED POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• Using a paring knife, lightly score an X into bottom of peaches (this will help with peeling later). In a large saucepan, combine sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, mint, and water. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Add peaches and enough water to cover. Bring to a bare simmer, and cook, turning occasionally, until peaches are easily pierced with a skewer, 6 to 10 minutes, depending on ripeness of peaches.
• Remove peaches with a slotted spoon; let cool slightly. Using a paring knife, peel peaches; return to syrup. Serve with mint sprigs.

VANILLA POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• Put the kettle on, and fill a large bowl with iced water. Place the peaches in another large bowl and pour over enough boiling water to cover. Leave for 30 secs, then remove the peaches with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the cold water. The skins should now peel away easily.
• Place the wine, honey and vanilla pod in a pan large enough to hold all the peaches, then gently heat until the honey has dissolved. Lower the peaches into the pan, cover and simmer gently for 15-20 mins until tender but not overly soft. Using two wooden spoons, turn the fruit 3 or 4 times while cooking and frequently baste with the syrup. Remove the cooked peaches from the pan and set to one side in a large bowl.
• Boil the syrup hard until it has reduced by half (this will take about 10 mins). Spoon over the peaches, then set aside to cool. The peaches will keep for up to 2 days, covered and in the fridge. Serve the peaches and syrup at room temperature, warm or chilled with spoonfuls of clotted cream, if you like.

ZINFUL (SINLESS) POACHED PEACHES WITH CARDAMOM YOGURT

Steps:

• Mix the cardamom into the yogurt and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
• Toss the peaches with the lemon juice so they won't oxidize. Put the Zinfandel and sugar into a stainless steel pot over medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Add the peaches and simmer for about 15 minutes, covered. Remove the peaches and reduce the Zinfandel by about half, down to light syrup. Spoon the sauce over the peaches and serve with the yogurt.

POACHED PEACHES IN VANILLA SYRUP

Steps:

• To peel the peaches, plunge them into boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. remove and remove peel; cut peaches in half
• Bring water, sugar, vanilla and lemon slices to a boil. Add the peaches and simmer until tender. Remove the vanilla bean from the syrup and reduce the syrup by a third.
• Pit the peaches and cut them in quarters. Set them in a bowl, add the grapes and cranberries and pour hot vanilla syrup over them; chill until ready to eat. Eat as is chilled or as a topping for frozen yogurt or pound cake

POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Add lemon juice and peaches. Simmer until peaches are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, and let peaches cool in the poaching liquid. Using a slotted spoon, remove peaches from poaching liquid, peel, discarding skins. Slice peach halves into 6 wedges each. Transfer peaches and poaching liquid to a bowl. Cover; refrigerate until chilled.

POACHED PEACHES WITH VANILLA

Steps:

• Bring first 5 ingredients to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into syrup. Return bean to syrup. Cover and continue simmering 5 minutes. Add peaches and poach until just tender when pierced with tip of sharp knife, about 4 minutes. Transfer mixture to bowl and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.)
• Remove vanilla bean and any loose pieces of peach skin before serving.