Poached Peaches In Sparkling Wine With Basil Vanilla Recipes

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.

BRANDIED POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• Bring sugar, orange juice, water, zest, and vanilla bean to a boil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add peaches, stem ends up. Cover pan and reduce heat, then poach peaches at a bare simmer 8 minutes. Turn peaches over and continue to poach, covered, until tender, 7 to 8 minutes more.
• Transfer peaches with a slotted spoon to a bowl or shallow dish to cool, reserving poaching liquid in saucepan. Lift out vanilla bean pod and scrape seeds into poaching liquid, then boil liquid until reduced to about 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour syrup through a sieve into a small bowl or glass measure and cool. Stir in brandy (to taste).
• Peel peaches and serve whole with syrup.

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.

PEACHES POACHED IN WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Cut orange and lemon half into thin slices and remove the pits.
• Place the peaches in a single layer in a casserole. Add the water, wine, sugar and vanilla pod and cover with the orange and lemon slices. The liquid should barely cover the fruit.
• Cut a round of wax paper the same size as the casserole and make a small hole in the middle. Bring the fruit to a boil, then skim any foam that rises to the surface.
• Lower the heat so one single bubble breaks at the top, then place the wax paper over the top and simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the peaches cool in the syrup.
• Remove the peaches from the syrup with a slotted spoon. Slip off their skins. Place the peaches in a glass bowl and top with the orange and lemon slices. Strain the syrup over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least six hours.