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August is National Peach Month! Take a break from the hustle-bustle
of back-to-school and savor the sweet taste of summer by
biting into a juicy California peach. Still in season, these juicy treats
have been soaking up the hot California sunshine all summer long, creating
the savory sweetness that makes them one of nature’s treats.
One
of the best parts of summer, aside from fresh California
stone fruit, is the inevitable glow your skin gets from the
many days spent outside. Just as we can tell who the “sun
babies” are from the suntan
they wear, the same goes for peaches and nectarines. Did
you know that the red color or “blush” on a peach or nectarine
is essentially a California suntan? The red blush is intensified
when exposed to sunlight, so depending on the variety—and how much
shade from the nearby leaf it received—the blush may cover 10%
or 100% of the peach or nectarine’s surface. Just remember, the
red color doesn’t
indicate ripeness, it just means that piece of fruit spent
a little more time sunbathing.
To
celebrate National Peach Month, cool off with a Peach
Pie Smoothie or heat things up with a Chipotle
Peach Salad. With
so many delectable ways to enjoy fresh California peaches,
plums and nectarines it’s hard to decide, but there’s always
the simple favorite of enjoying them just the way nature
intended…right
out of hand! |
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Mini
Vanilla-Almond Peach Cupcakes
Who
says desserts are off limits! These mini-delights are
filled with sweet peach surprises, topped with a delicious
peach-puree frosting, and finished off with sprinkles
of diced peaches and mint leaves.
Watch
Jackie Newgent on PPN TV as she shows just how easy it
is to make these sweet treats. Click Here. |
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Ingredients |
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| 2 |
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cups flour |
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| 2 |
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teaspoons baking powder |
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3/4 |
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teaspoon salt |
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| 1/4 |
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cup unsalted butter, softened |
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1 |
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cup + 2 tablespoons sugar |
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2 |
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eggs, at room temperature |
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| 1 |
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teaspoon vanilla extract |
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| 1/2 |
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teaspoon almond extract |
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| 1/2 |
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cup low-fat milk |
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| 1 |
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fresh California peach, pitted and
diced |
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Frosting |
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| 1 |
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fresh California peach, divided |
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| 1 1/2 |
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tablespoons unsalted butter, softened |
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| 1 1/2 |
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cups powdered sugar, divided |
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| 1/2 |
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teaspoon vanilla extract |
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Tiny mint leaves (optional garnish) |
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Preparation
Prep
time: 30 minutes
Cook
time: 15 minutes total
To
prepare cupcakes, preheat oven to 300°F and line
36 mini muffin tins with paper wrappers; set aside.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a medium
bowl. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric
mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or until smooth.
Gradually add sugar and beat for 2 minutes more or
until fluffy. Add eggs and extracts, beating well
after each addition. Stir in half the dry ingredients,
then half the milk; repeat and mix until well combined.
Stir in diced peaches and spoon batter into prepared
muffin tins (they will be very full). Bake for 15
minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center
comes out clean. Cool in tins for 10 minutes, then
remove and let cool completely on a wire rack before
frosting. To prepare frosting, peel and mash or puree
half the peach. Beat butter and 3/4 cup powdered
sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until
smooth. Blend in 1 1/2 tablespoons peach puree and
extract, beating for 2 minutes or until smooth and
creamy. Gradually add remaining sugar, adding more
peach puree if a thinner consistency is desired.
Spread equal amounts over each cupcake. Dice remaining
peach half and sprinkle over cupcakes. Garnish with
mint leaves, if desired.
Makes
36 mini cupcakes
Nutritional
analysis per cupcake: Calories: 80; Fat: 2g; Saturated
Fat: 1g; Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 15mg; Sodium:
85mg; Carbohydrates: 16g; Fiber: 0g; Sugars: 10g; Protein:
1g; Vitamin A: 2%; Vitamin C: 0%; Calcium: 2%; Iron:
2% |
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Back
To School
Beat
the back-to-school blues with fun Summer C™ activities. With the Summer C™ activity
poster kids can learn the history of California stone fruits,
go on a fun cyber-hunt, master a PPN crossword puzzle,
and learn how to make three easy-delicious after school
snacks. Download it today—it’s Free!
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