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Easy peach, almond & ginger cobbler recipe

by Jeanne Horak on February 27, 2013 34 Comments in Dessert, Fruit

Peach Almong Ginger Cobbler title © J Horak-Druiff 2013

I grow old … I grow old … 
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

From The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock – T S Eliot

I have  always marveled at how the human brain works – how it remembers to breathe for you, even when you are totally absorbed in other tasks; how it allows you to understand that the sounds “apple”, “manzana” and “pomme” sound different but all refer to the same object; and how it somehow manages to be far more efficient at remembering information presented in some sort of pattern rather than information that is randomly organised. Ask me to recite the principles of South African property law that I studied in 1989 and I will draw a blank.  Ask me to recite the lyrics of Billy Bragg’s A New England that I first heard that year and I will be word-perfect.

 

Peach 1 © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

The history of this anomaly, as it turns out, lies in our long tradition of passing down oral histories from generation to generation.  Human memory is particularly fallible over time and prone to distortion, so those seeking to pass along accurate oral traditions developed forms of verbal organization and strategies over the centuries to make use of the strengths and avoid the weaknesses of human memory – thus minimising the changes that our imperfect memory might inflict on the tales being passed down.  Strategies include describing concrete actions rather than abstract concepts; the use of powerful visual images; singing or chanting the stories rather than telling them more informally;  and most importantly, they are told using patterns of sound: alliteration, assonance, repetition and, most of all, rhyme.  Research has shown that when two words in a ballad are linked by rhyme,  students remember them better than non-rhyming words.

I have always been a fan of memorising poetry – I thank my mother who carried me in her belly to the final few months of her Honours degree in English Literature, and then read to me incessantly and instilled in me a lifelong love of words, often rhyming ones.  The first poem I ever partially memorised was TS Eliot’s wonderful Macavity  and from there I progressed to learning Cargoes, Tarantella and Jabberwocky off by heart.  But it was only at university that I discovered the unknown pleasures of Robert Frost’s Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening; Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach, and TS Eliot’s The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock, a poem that breaks my heart anew each time I read it.   When interviewed recently, author Jean Sprackland (who helped assemble 130 poems for a new poetry memorisation and recital competition Poetry by Heart) said that a poem known by heart becomes a part of you, and lives with you forever. How right she is: it’s very seldom that I pick up a peach without momentarily contemplating it and inwardly reciting some of TE Eliot’s lines quoted above: do I dare to eat a peach? Just reciting those words make me smile inwardly, as if my mom (who knew the poem even better than I did) is gently reaching back into this world and giving my hand a squeeze.

 

Peach diptych © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

On this occasion, the peaches in question came as a valentine’s gift from South African Fruit.   In South Africa, a third of a million people are employed in the deciduous fruit industry alone and for every farm worker there are, on average, 4 dependents that rely on the fruit industryto provide education, housing, health and social care. And because growing fruit is a very labour intensive industry that can never be totally mechanised, an increase in the demand for our fruit almost inevitably means an increase in job creation in the growing, packing and supply chain in South Africa – something which the country badly needs.  Earlier this year, there was a wave of labour unrest the Western Cape and as a reaction, there were calls from some quarters to boycott South African fruit. But the flip-side is that  as European shoppers become more demanding about how their food is produced, this in turn places pressure on South African fruit farmers to improve ethical farming practices, particularly in relation to uplifting the working conditions and rights of farm workers. Surely, then, engaging is a better strategy than disengaging?

But I digress.  A big red box arrived unannounced at my desk on the 14th, filled with the most gorgeous crimson Flavorking plums; nectarines that literally are as sweet as nectar; and these delectable Scarlet Red peaches. In addition to being fuzzily tactile and beautifully dappled, they were also perfectly ripe – that small window of opportunity between being too hard, and too squishy.  After greedily eating the first one for breakfast, I scraped together enough self-restraint to save another two for making a dessert.  I have written before about cobblers – this one is an American style one and is so simple, a child could make it. The end result is so much more than the sum of its parts – caramelly, spicy and studded with sweet bites of peach flesh, their flavour intensified by baking.

Do you dare to eat this peach?  I absolutely insist that you do.

 

Peach almond & ginger cobbler 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2013

 

DISCLOSURE:  I received the peaches as a free sample from South African Fruit – they are available in all major UK supermarkets till the end of March.

 

5.0 from 4 reviews
Peach, almond & ginger cobbler recipe
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
55 mins
Total time
1 hour 5 mins
 
This spicy caramelly baked peach dessert is delicious - and so simple, a child could make it!
Author: Jeanne Horak-Druiff
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 40g granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp ginger (ground)
  • 50g slivered almonds, divided
  • 2 ripe peaches, unpeeled buc cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 120g cup flour, sifted
  • 60g granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 small egg, beaten
  • 65ml evaporated milk
  • 40g butter, melted
Instructions
  1. Mix sugar, ginger and half the almonds. Place the chunks of peach in the bottom of a lightly greased oven-proof baking dish. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the fruit.
  2. Sift the dry ingredients together. Mix the egg, milk and melted butter and stir into the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
  3. Pour the mixture over the peaches and sprinkle the top of the dish with the remaining almonds. Bake at 170C for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and set in the centre
  4. Serve hot, with cream or ice-cream.
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  1. Andrew says

    February 27, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    Been contemplating what to make this coming weekend – this is going to be it!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 11:59 am

      Trust me, you won’t regret it!

      Reply
  2. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    February 27, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    I only wish it was the season over in my part of the world for peaches, they are one of my favorite things about summer.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 12:01 pm

      I know peaches are not in season… but I could not resist these beautiful babies from South Africa, and I always love supporting the South African export industry! Will be going home to South Africa in a few weeks and will be overdosing on peaches and plums while I am there 🙂

      Reply
  3. Kit says

    February 27, 2013 at 7:25 pm

    My daughter told me that she had to learn ‘Tyger, tyger burning bright’ yesterday and immediately the rest of the first verse came back to me – it was the first one I remember having to learn at school… and a very tricky one at that, now I’ve looked it up again!
    Now my peach poem memory would be Each, peach , pear, plum, I spy Tom Thumb – could probably still recite the whole of that book, having read it to the kids many many times in years past.
    I’m going to have to go and look for those peaches in our supermarkets here, but I have a sneaking suspicion that all the best ones go to you over there! Haven’t had a good peach in a month or so.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 1:08 pm

      Aaah – Blake! I love “Oh rose, thou art sick” – think I know that one off by hear too, now that I think of it… I have to say, though, that even the worst fruits in SA seem to be more flavourful than the ones in sale in most UK supermarketes…!

      Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 1:08 pm

      Aaah – Blake! I love “Oh rose, thou art sick” – think I know that one off by hear too, now that I think of it… I have to say, though, that even the worst fruits in SA seem to be more flavourful than the ones on sale in most UK supermarketes…!

      Reply
  4. Monica Shaw says

    February 27, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    Ah, the SA Fruit strikes again! I was also grateful to have received said fruit but managed to eat them all before getting around to actually turning them into a recipe. This looks marv, and I’ve been feeling the urge to “cobble” lately. I’m from America but fruit pies and cobblers weren’t in my family tradition (we were more the pumpkin pie and pecan pie sort of family) but I’ve always wanted to acquaint myself with the humble cobbler (I may just be sick of crumbles!). A good excuse to make some ginger ice cream, too (one of my all time favourite ice creams to make, with fresh ginger-infused cream!).

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 2:59 pm

      I know what you mean!! The temptation was so huge just to eat everything fresh… I didn’t realyl grow up with crumbles or cobblers at home – apple crumble at restaurants was about as far as my experience went. I also pictured a cobbler to be the UK version, with blobs of scone/biscuit dough dotted about on top of the filling – I was rather surprised when the first cobbler recipe I tried was closer to clafoutis! Bow I love the American cobbler style – and yes, much as I love crumbles, I am all crumbled out right now. Your ice-cream sounds TO DIE FOR!

      Reply
  5. bellini says

    February 28, 2013 at 10:04 am

    As I was reading this post I was conscious of the slight fragrance of peaches. Then I realized it was not only the prose but the empty glass of peach juice I had had earlier. The mind really does work in mysterious ways.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 3:01 pm

      Damn – and there I was thinking I’d inadvertently invented smell-o-vision on my blog! 😉 The human mind is a surprisingly easily fooled thing sometimes 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jamie says

    February 28, 2013 at 10:35 am

    How lucky to have peaches in the dead of winter! And to turn them into such a luxuriously winter dessert as a warm cobbler. Beautiful! And I am absolutely no good at remembering poetry but I can remember and recite entire conversations I have had with people years, even decades ago. Or so my poor brain thinks. I do remember being a guniea pig for a psychology student’s project where I was given a long list of paired words, asked to memorize them and then regurgitate the pairs later which I did. The student was shocked and said I was the only person able to do it and she asked me how. Who knows, right? The brain works in mysterious ways. Now pass the peach cobbler, please.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      February 28, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      LOL – the brain does indeed work in mysterious ways. In addition to remembering poetry and song lyrics, my other superpower is being able to tell you where and approximately when I bought practically every item of clothing or shoes I own. Fact! :o)

      Reply
  7. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    February 28, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Torture – how I long for ripe fruit. Agree about memorising poetry – at least one passage of Shakespeare should be compulsory – I’m sure our world would be richer for it.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      Sorry ;o) I know peaches are not yet in season here, but I do love supporting S African fruit farmers… I agree 100% that every child should be made to memorise some poetry – it is life-enriching!

      Reply
  8. simply.food says

    February 28, 2013 at 11:01 am

    wow this looks amazing and tge clicks are so beautiful.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Thanks so much – glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply
  9. Sue Mills says

    February 28, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Just what I’ve been looking for with all our lovely peaches at the moment. Thank you Jeanne!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      Always glad to be of assistance!

      Reply
  10. Rosa says

    February 28, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    Memories get easily distorted as people experience events/things differently…

    This cobller looks wonderful and so do those peaches! Aaahhh, so summery.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  11. The Norwegian Girl says

    March 1, 2013 at 4:51 pm

    So happy that I found this site! I`m always in search of new food inspiration:-)

    Reply
  12. Krista says

    March 2, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    I’ve been pondering the importance of stories in our lives too, Jeanne, of oral histories, poetry, songs, dances, art, all those things that help us express ourselves and hear the voices of others. This cobbler looks so beautiful. What a wonderful surprise gift that gorgeous fruit must have been. 🙂 I stopped by a grocery store this week that I rarely get to, and on that day were buckets of perfectly ripe white peaches and white nectarines for only $3 each!! YIPPEE! I was a happy camper, I tell ya! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:18 pm

      I am a huge believer in keeping alive oral histories, especially within families. There is something tremendously bonding about the telling and retelling of a familiar story over many years, and I fear it is an art that is getting lost gradually. The fruit was the best Valentine’s present I could have received! Wildly envious of your buckets of perfectly ripe peaches… Very hard to find perfectly ripe fruit in UK supermarkets!

      Reply
  13. Simone says

    March 4, 2013 at 5:57 am

    I’ve always been quite amazed at my ability to remember songs from decades ago and being able to literally tell you the words of those songs while, indeed, the stuff that I should have remembered is lost forever. I’m not a big fan of poems but songs are in essence a kind of poem right? Plus they go with music, making the remembering part even easier. Give me the tune and ill tell you the words!
    Loving this beautiful peach cobbler. Had already seen it pass by when I was in Laos and you made me crave it there ( no peach in sight ofcourse )

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      Funny, isn’t it?? I can remember song lyrics I learnt in the early 1980s, but ask me something I learnt in high school Biology and I will draw a blank! I often say I cleared all the useful stuff out of my brain years ago and retained only the song lyrics LOL! Hope you get to try this peach recipe in the summer – it was a total hit in my house 🙂

      Reply
  14. Kitchen Butterfly says

    March 4, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    I love the prose and verse and the wonderful almond-peach cake, with ginger, how delicious.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 11, 2013 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks, lovely! Do try the peach cobbler in the summer – I suspect it will be a hit with children and adults alike at a summer lunch 🙂

      Reply
  15. Denise | TLT says

    March 6, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    Those juicy sweet peaches remember me of summer. Can’t wait for Spring to arrive…! Love the look and sound of this comforting cobbler, great idea to add some ginger too.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 15, 2013 at 4:33 pm

      Thank you! The warmth of the ginger turned this into a proper winter treat 🙂 Lovely to have a surprise gift of summer fruit in the middle of winter 🙂

      Reply
  16. Laura says

    March 6, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    I adore The Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock!
    Gorgeous recipe and beautiful photography.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      March 15, 2013 at 7:10 pm

      Thanks so much 🙂 TS Eliot is my all-time favourite poet.

      Reply
  17. Lady Pikkler says

    March 9, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Wow this looks amazing, I’m going to try this for mothers day. I will keep you posted!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      April 10, 2013 at 3:21 pm

      What a great idea to make this for mother’s day! Did it turn out a success?

      Reply
  18. Faye says

    March 21, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    This cobbler recipe looks wonderful!

    Reply
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Here's to making new memories in 2021, and wishing you all a year of abundance x
So how was your Christmas day yesterday? In this So how was your Christmas day yesterday? 

In this year that has been so hard on so many people,  I hope you had somebody to share it with; enough food to feel replete; and warm place to eat. I know it was  not the Christmas that we all wanted, but it was definitely the Christmas that reminded us to count our blessings. 

One of the blessings at my table was one of the best Brussels sprout recipes I have ever had - roasted sprouts with chorizo, hazelnuts and thyme - and with only 4 ingredients, so simple to make! Trust me, you want to bookmark this one 🔖

For 4 people you need:
* 500g trimmed Brussels sprouts 
* 75g chorizo, chopped
* 15g hazelnuts
* sprig of thyme
* vegetable oil

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Halve each sprout lengthways and toss the sprouts in enough oil to lightly coat. Arrange on a baking sheet, cut side down. Roast for 15 mins or until outer leaves start to brown, then turn over and roast till cut sides just start to colour (about 10 mins). 

2. While the sprouts are roasting,  toast the hazelnuts in a large dry pan over medium heat till light brown, remove and roughly crush.

3. In the same pan, fry the chorizo  till it starts to release its oil, then remove sprouts from the oven and add to pan. Mix well.

4. Tip sprouts into a serving bowl and top with hazelnuts and thyme leaves. Serve hot.
"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoug "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius

I think we can all agree that 2020 was not the year that we ordered and was a really difficult year for almost everyone (other than maybe Jeff Bezos...).

I could so easily dwell on all the things I have found hard this year - being separated from my family in South Africa and no realistic hope of seeing them anytime soon; no travel since Oct 2019; the social isolation of living alone in a pandemic; having friends fall ill with Covid; and the huge anxiety brought on by the uncertainty of everything and the complete inability to plan anything (hard for a planner and control freak!).

But as the quote says, think dark thoughts and your soul ends up dark. So I have chosen to dye my soul in the bright colours of things I am grateful for instead: a rewarding job that i can do remotely; amazing friends to Zoom or call around the world; a house of my own that I love; a beautiful running route minutes from my door; and a strong, healthy body.

What colour are you dyeing your soul in this Christmas?

🎄🎄🎄
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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