We are on the Grill!

One of the things we've enjoyed most about creating events in Santa Barbara has been working with all sorts if wonderful local chefs, sharing in creating and enjoying the unique flavors and recipes each gifted cook brought to our table. That's why we've decided to kick off this season by sharing a few of these wonderful recipes each month with you at home.

After the first afternoon cooking with my dear "foodie"  friend and cook Nicole Hernandez, we both were so inspired by our Sunday spent cooking together we playfully dubbed this new ceremony among friends as our "Sunday Sessions." We're both excited by the prospect of more of these days to come... enjoy!

-Amy

Grilled peaches:

My friend Nicole commented, "California peaches are absolutely irresistible.  I have always been a fan of Colorado Peaches (my hometown)… but California’s just blow me away!  It is almost impossible to go through the summer farmers’ market without a bag of peaches and I have found that I am always looking for great peach recipes.  I often throw them in a simple tart or soak them in sugar and lemon and top with whipped cream.  But on a warm beautiful Sunday afternoon, Amy and I just wanted to be outside. So, grilling peaches sounded like a great way to savor the day. Plus, the thought of the nice grill marks on the peaches seemed visually enticing to us both." After tasting the firm, white peaches at the farmers’ market, we fell in love and bought a bag.

INGREDIENTS:

3 white firm peaches, halved
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 teaspoons cinnamon
½ cup crème fraiche
2 Tablespoons honey (plus extra for drizzling)

DIRECTIONS:

We cut 3 peaches in half and brushed the open side with olive oil.  Grill peaches for about 4 minutes each side (we had firm peaches that needed, a ripe peach may take less time so keep an eye on them.)  We recommend the slightly firm peaches because the crispy texture was perfect once warm. Remove from the grill then sprinkle with cinnamon.  Combine a ½ cup of crème fraiche with 2 teaspoons honey and spoon on the open side of each peach and then drizzle with honey. The honey and cream start to drip giving a beautiful pattern to a decadent dessert that is actually very light and perfect for a warm picnic on the patio.  A nice surprise was that the grill darkened the outside colors of the peaches to a deep, rich hue.

Stay tuned for more recipes from July's Sunday Session in the coming days!