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January is a traditional time for new starts – and orchards are no
exception.
 This
time of year, grafting crews are working in some local orchards.
Grafting allows growers to change an orchard to a new variety
of peach, plum or nectarine without uprooting the trees.
A new variety, which will make up the top of the tree, is
grafted to the existing bottom of the tree, which is called
a rootstock.
The
crews move from tree to tree quickly but with great care,
carrying bundles of “scions,” which
are small lengths of wood from trees of the desired variety.
First, notches are cut in the rootstock’s branches
just the right size to slip the new scions into. Then a skilled “budder” on
the crew cuts the end of each scion to match up exactly with
the parent branch and fits it into the notch. A perfect fit
is needed for the tree’s nutrients to flow
into the new scion and help it grow into a branch.
These
freshly grafted scions, which were taken from trees of the
desired new variety, will grow to the size of the branch
they’re added to within three to four years.
By the second year after grafting they’ll be producing
a good crop of fruit of the new variety. |
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Healthy
Oat Peaches and Cream Muffins
Warm-from-the-oven
muffins are a cozy wintertime treat any time of day.
These peaches-and-cream muffins, made with California
peaches, whole-grain oats, walnuts and a filling of
low-fat cream cheese, add a healthy twist. |
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Ingredients |
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| 1 |
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cup flour |
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| 3/4 |
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cup quick oats |
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2/3 |
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cup plus 1 tablespoon firmly packed
brown sugar, divided |
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1/3 |
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cup oat bran |
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2 1/2 |
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teaspoons baking powder |
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1 |
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teaspoon cinnamon |
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1/2 |
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cup low-fat cream cheese |
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| 1 |
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cup peeled, chopped peaches, divided |
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| 1 |
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cup skim milk |
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| 3 |
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tablespoons vegetable oil |
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| 2 |
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teaspoons vanilla extract |
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| 1 |
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egg |
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| 1/3 |
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cup toasted, chopped walnuts |
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Preparation
Prep
time: 15 minutes
Cook
time: 20 to 25 minutes
Preheat
oven to 350°F and spray 12 muffin tins with non-stick
cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in a medium
bowl, reserving 1 tablespoon brown sugar; mix well
and set aside. Stir together cream cheese and the
reserved 1 tablespoon brown sugar. When well blended,
fold in 1/4 cup peaches. Add milk, oil, vanilla and
egg to dry ingredients, mixing just until dry ingredients
are moistened. Lightly stir in remaining peaches
and walnuts. Spoon 3/4 of the mixture into prepared
muffin tins. Place a teaspoonful of the cream cheese
mixture in the center of each then spoon remaining
batter over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or
until a toothpick inserted into the center comes
out clean.
Makes
12 muffins |
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Peaches and cream is a flavor combination so classic, it seems
to transcend recipes.
This
delectable match doesn’t
always have to be rich and decadent, though – low-fat
dairy products provide just as much calcium, and eating
them with fruit is a great idea. Nutrition research shows
that vitamin C, in which peaches, plums and nectarines
are rich, helps assist the human body with calcium absorption.
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