Aren't my friends good sports? |
This is a pie for peach season--I think any book club would be happy to devour it while discussing a Key West mystery! More on the discussion in a bit, but first the recipe...
I wait every year for the peaches in Connecticut. I buy mine at Bishops farm markets, a bushel at a time. You can also slice the peaches and add the sugar, and then freeze them in a 6 cup quantity. When you are ready to make the pie (when you're feeling sad that peach season is over,) warm the peach mixture over a low flame and then add the rest of the ingredients and proceed as written.
This recipe is based on one I found in the King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking Cookbook. I always use my father's pie crust because it's so easy. And I adjusted some of the flavorings, deleting the nutmeg and increasing cinnamon. I also added a quarter cup slivered almonds to the topping.
Ingredients for the filling
Six cups ripe peaches, sliced
Three-quarter cup sugar +1 tablespoon
1/4 teaspoon salt
One half teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon melted, unsalted butter
1 tablespoon cold water
1/4 cup cornstarch
Peel and slice the peaches. Stir the sugar and salt into the bowl. Let this sit for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix cornstarch with the almond extract, lemon juice, melted butter, and cold water. Stir until smooth. Stir this mixture into the peaches.
While the peaches marinate, make your crust.
I recommend this easy version of my father's crust.
Then on to the topping!
Topping ingredients
2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ground in food processor
1/2 cup rolled oats, whole
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
One half stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Pulse together all the topping ingredients in the food processor until crumbly.
Spread the topping over the pie. Place the pie on a baking sheet. Lay one sheet of aluminum foil loosely over the top. Bake at 375 for 50 to 60 minutes. Bake until the crust and topping are golden. I took the foil off for the last 10 minutes, going for that extra crunch
Let the pie sit for four hours at room temperature before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired. (Everyone did, even the chocoholics.)
Now, hmmm, which book to choose for the discussion? My friends and I had a very interesting chat about tarot card reading over pieces of this pie. Did we believe in tarot or horoscopes? How far should a friend go to protect another friend's confidence? (You'll remember that Hayley Snow's dear friend Lorenzo is a tarot card reader. Only he seems to have lost the ability to see his own future in FATAL RESERVATIONS.) Here's more on that book, a blog about the evolution of Lorenzo, and some of the recent reviews.
But if your book club meets around the holidays, DEATH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS would be a perfect choice--Christmas in Key West!
Near Valentine's Day? Try MURDER WITH GANACHE.
And here are book discussion questions for TOPPED CHEF, DEATH IN FOUR COURSES, and AN APPETITE FOR MURDER, which would be good choices for any time of year!
Leave a comment about which book you'd choose--I'll be giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter!
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Peach Pie? So good! All of the books are on my "must read" list, but I'll need to start at the beginning...I would choose "An Appetite for Murder." kat8762@aol.com
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe! I would choose: Death in Four Courses. Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Thank you for the peach pie recipe for the pie looks so yummy! Mmmm, if I had to pick one book, I would go with Murder with Ganache (for the chocolate theme). The cover art is delightful! Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemyrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I would choose Topped Chef. I have made your dad's pie crust before- it is SO easy and good!
ReplyDeletethe3beersus@yahoo.com
I love peach pie thank you for the recipe. I would choose An Appetite For Murder. Thanks for the chance. lhxp73@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI love peach pie thank you for the recipe. I would choose An Appetite For Murder. Thanks for the chance. lhxp73@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI loved them all! But Murder with Ganache was one of favorites
ReplyDeleteThis sounds divine! I love peaches.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip on prepping them and putting them in the freezer for a mid-winter doldrums lift! Utterly brilliant.
I'd love to join you in Fatal Reservations. Must keep up with Lorenzo.
libbydodd at comcast dot net
I'll have to try your peach pie recipe--it sounds delicious. I'd choose An Appetite for Murder. Thanks for the contest.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Roberta/ Lucy - you know I love peaches! Love the pic at the top. Nice book club! :)
ReplyDelete~Daryl / Avery
The peach pie recipe sounds wonderful. I would choose An Appetite for Murder. That way I could start at the beginning of the series. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteelainehroberson@gmail.com
I have two peach trees. I love recipes for fresh peach pie, will have to try this one it sounds delicious. I would choose "Topped Chef"
ReplyDeleteYum, to the recipe! I've read all the series, except Fatal Reservations. Hope to read that soon. patucker54 (at aol dot com)
ReplyDeleteThe peach pie looks heavenly! I would love to win Murder with Ganache. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love any of the titles-thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeletekaren (dot) Kenyon (at) rogers (dot) com
Great recipie . Would love to win Topped Cheft
ReplyDeletexzjh04@ Gmail.com
I would love to read Death in Four Courses. Always wanted to go to Key West.
ReplyDeleteb5sycop@nefcom.net
I love peach pie, it's one of my favorites (like I have a pie that I don't like, LOL). I love the topping, I have got to try this. As for the book I would have to go with Murder With Ganache...I'm trying to catch up, don't ask me how I got so far behind, I don't know, but I am having fun catching up.
ReplyDeletemomzillasteel at gmail dot com
Would love to win a copy of Death with all the Trimmings! Thank you for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful combination of peach pie and peach cobbler -- both my favorites! I've read all of the Key West Food Critic Mysteries, and loved them all~
ReplyDeleteMurder With Ganache is next on my list. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletedoward1952@yahoo,com
Would like to win a copy of FATAL RESERVATIONS. thank you for the recipe. Thanks for the giveaway .
ReplyDeleteThank you for the peach pie recipe, it looks delicious! Thank you for the chance to win. Would love to win the book Fatal Reservations. crossxjo @hotmail(dot) com
ReplyDeleteAn Appetite for Murder sounds good to me. The photo of the peach pie looks yummy.
ReplyDeletebluedawn95864 at gmail dot com
This is just cruel. The last peaches I bought looked beautiful but were horrible and mealy. I'm coming to your house. You don't mind, do you?
ReplyDeleteNo come right over:)
DeleteI like to eat white peaches just by themselves. No pie for me. Is that too boring?
ReplyDeleteI'd love a copy of AN APPETITE FOR MURDER.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I enjoy peaches as is. What a delectable recipe, I would love to read Fatal Reservations. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYour recipe is perfect for this season. Love it. Murder with Ganache would be great. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI'd pick DEATH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS. I love peach pie.
ReplyDeletepmettert@yahoo.com
I might pick the latest one, Fatal Reservations. Haven't read any of them. I don't think I could wait four hours for the pie! I sometimes make peach cobbler (the Bisquick recipe).
ReplyDeletecatbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Lucy! I'd pick Murder with Ganache since it next on my list - I just finished Topped Chef and am hoping that you're feeling better and that you'll reschedule the discussion soon! :-)
ReplyDeletenicolev.girldetective@gmail.com
thanks so much Nicole, I will definitely reschedule!
DeleteI need to start at the beginning so
ReplyDeleteAn Appetite for Murder would be great!
Ycats6263@yahoo.com
I would pick Death With All The Trimmings. I LOVE holiday themed mysteries - especially Christmas and Halloween . Bonnie (bmalic610@yahoo.com)
ReplyDeleteI love fresh peach pie. It tastes so much better than the canned pie fillings. Hard to choose which book, but since our book group has a Thanksgiving Feast, I think the book, An Appetite for Murder would probably fit the bill best. dbahn@iw.net
ReplyDeleteFresh peach pie is one of my favorites, along with apple and blueberry. I also love anything chocolate so the book I would pick would be Murder With Ganache! Thank you so much. dblaser(at)windstream(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThe peach pie looks good! I would love a copy of Death With All The Trimmings!
ReplyDeleteLisa
hseaside5@aim.com
I'll take any one or all of them. (Ha! Ha!) I think I'd prefer Appetite for Murder if I must choose.
ReplyDeleteI'll take any one or all of them. (Ha! Ha!) I think I'd prefer Appetite for Murder if I must choose.
ReplyDeleteThat peach pie looks fabulous! Must make.... If I have to choose a book, I think it would be Appetite for Murder... but any would do!
ReplyDeletejrobinson12(at)austin(dot)rr(dot)com