peachy keen

i have a bunch of peaches that are a little old. i am sure they are perfectly fine to bake with, but with this heat i thought i'd try something different. something cooler, literally.

so, i looked through the book i mentioned a few posts back...


and found a recipe called:

Zesty Fruit Sherbet
(it sounds simple enough to make, looks delicious and refreshing -- and it's pretty HEALTHY!)

1 lb. peaches or strawberries
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. light corn syrup
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups low-fat buttermilk (you can turn regular milk into buttermilk by adding either some distilled white vinegar or lemon juice to it -- add enough so that when you stir, it starts getting lumpy and...voila! you got yourself some buttermilk. i used 2% milk.)

If using peaches, bring a saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil. Cut a shallow x into the blossom end of each peach. Immerse the peaches in the water for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a work surface. When cool enough to handle, slip off the skins. Halve and pit the peaches, then cut into chunks. If using strawberries, remove the stems.

In a food processor or blender, combine the peaches or strawberries, sugar, corn syrup, lemon zest and juice, vanilla, and salt. Puree until smooth, then pour the mixture into a large, shallow bowl. Stir in the buttermilk.

Cover the bowl and place in a freezer. As the sherbet begins to freeze, after about 1-1/2 hours, beat it vigorously with a whisk. Re-cover and return to the freezer. Continue to beat the sherbet every hour or so until it is fully frozen; this will make it smooth. It should take 4-6 hours in all, or possibly longer, depending upon the temperature of the freezer. The sherbet can also be frozen in an ice-cream maker; follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Makes about 5 cups; serves 8

**made it and it is really really yummy!! i only had a little bit of DARK corn syrup on-hand, so i used a little less than called for and it still turned out yummy! it doesn't' taste as peachy as i thought -- more like an orange creamsicle sherbet, due to the lemons and buttermilk. try it!!**