Peachesinsauternes Recipes

PEACHES IN SAUTERNES

Steps:

• Combine sugar, lemon peel, and vanilla bean with 3 cups cold water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until sugar is completely dissolved, 8 to 10 minutes. Uncover, and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and let stand about 10 minutes. Stir in Sauternes, and set aside.
• Place peaches in a large pan of boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to an ice-water bath with a slotted spoon. Peel peaches, place in a canning jar or serving bowl, and pour Sauternes syrup over. Drape cheesecloth over peaches to keep them submerged, and set aside until cool. Leave cheesecloth in place, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally to keep peaches from browning.

PEACHES IN SAUTERNES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and immerse the peaches for a minute or two, until the skins come off easily; remove them with a slotted spoon and place them in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. (My peaches probably weren't peeled as prettily as Ina's, but I just skipped this process and went ahead and peeled them.).
• Peel the peaches, then slice into wedges off the pit and into a bowl.
• Stir in the sugar, Sauternes, and orange liqueur.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
• Serve cool, but not cold.

FRESH PEACHES IN SAUTERNES SOAK WITH ANGELICA AND LAVENDER

Steps:

• Arrange the peach slices into the bottom of a large serving dish. Sprinkle over the lavender heads and then add the angelica leaves.
• Pour over enough dessert wine to cover the peaches. Turn the peach slices over a couple of times to coat them in the liquid, then cover the dish and chill the mixture in the fridge for at least four hours, or preferably overnight.
• To serve, spoon a portion of peaches in Sauternes into each of six serving bowls. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche.

POACHED PEARS IN SAUTERNES

Steps:

• Using a small, sharp knife, score a zigzag pattern in the skin around the top of each pear, working downwards from the stalk.
• Leaving the zigzag skin at the top in place, peel the rest of each pear very thinly so as to preserve their shape.
• Remove the core from the base, using a corer or a small melon baller.
• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan big enough to hold everything, including the pears.
• Set over a medium heat until the liquid comes to the boil, then reduce the heat so that it is barely simmering.
• The cooking time will vary according to the ripeness of the pears.
• Very ripe pears will only take 5 minutes; much less ripe fruit will need up to 15 minutes.
• As soon as they are ready, turn off the heat.
• Transfer the pears with their poaching syrup to a bowl and leave at room temperature until needed.
• Serve one or two pears on each plate with a little orange zest and some syrup.