Fino Butter Poached Peaches With Ginger Pecan Crunch Recipes

Steps:

• Cook sugar, syrup and water until mixture thickens and bubbles (about 230 degrees). Add butter and pecans. Stir continuously and continue cooking until nuts begin to brown or start popping (290 degrees). Remove from heat. Add vanilla and soda and stir thoroughly. Pour quickly in several pieces on large buttered surface. Do not spread with knife or spoon. Allow to cool slightly. Stretch and pull with hands until very thin. (The thinner it is stretched, the more brittle it will be.) When cooled and hardened, break into small pieces. Store in airtight container.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter and shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork, until dough forms a ball., Divide dough into seven portions; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 1 hour or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out five portions of dough to fit a 5-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plates and trim to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plates; flute edges., In a large bowl, toss peaches with lemon juice. Combine the sugar, cornstarch, ginger and salt. Add to peaches and toss to coat. Transfer to pie shells. Dot with butter. Transfer pies to a baking sheet. , If decorative cutouts are desired, roll remaining pastry to 1/8-in. thickness; cut out with 1-in.cookie cutters. Arrange over pies. If a streusel topping is desired, combine remaining pastry with crystallized ginger and coarse sugar; sprinkle over pies., Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Add lemon juice and peaches. Simmer until peaches are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, and let peaches cool in the poaching liquid. Using a slotted spoon, remove peaches from poaching liquid, peel, discarding skins. Slice peach halves into 6 wedges each. Transfer peaches and poaching liquid to a bowl. Cover; refrigerate until chilled.