Distracted Homemaker

I live in Northern Utah. If I take a 30 minute drive through a canyon, I am in Brigham City. Some people say that Brigham City is a bad place to stop on the way to somewhere better… but not in September! Right now in Brigham City it is “Peach Days”. The MOST delicious peaches can be found at numerous roadside stands along the old highway. Last year I bought bushels with my girlfriend and we made peach jam, peach melba jam and frozen sliced peaches. It was so nice to pull out a Ziploc of “fresh” peaches in December and use them to top off a Belgium waffle! Here is the recipe I use to freeze my peaches… when you defrost and use them in the middle of the winter they actually taste like you just got them fresh from the fruit stand. Nothing could be better!

(click title to download and print recipe)

Freezing Fresh Peaches

• 1 Can frozen orange juice concentrate (12 ounces)
• 1 Can frozen lemonade concentrate (12 ounces)
• 1/2 to 1 can pineapple juice (46 ounces)
• 2 Bushels of peaches

Mix all of the juice and concentrate together in a giant bowl (DO NOT ADD WATER). Add sliced peaches (peeled or unpeeled, both are fine… it is really what your preference is) Then divide your peaches and liquid among quart size freezer Ziploc bags. Leave enough room in the bag so that you can close it and lay it flat in the freezer. This makes them easier to store. You can add a thickener like ultra sperse if you want the peaches to be more saucy when you defrost them.  If you want to add a bit of Fruit Fresh you can, but it isn’t really necessary… when you thaw these in January and use them you will swear it is September!

• Tips and Tricks: This is kind of a “wing it” recipe… I usually put all of the juice into a large bowl and slice my peaches right into that very bowl. I just stand over it and slice away! Then when the bowl is full I scoop up the peaches into ziplock freezer bags with a slotted spoon and then start again to slice into the liquid. I just do this until it is all used up. Some times I put a 1/4 cup of the liquid into each bag of peaches at the end so I don’t waste anything!