Ode to Peaches

But it's really about apples

As much as I love the changing of the seasons and the passing of the sun-drenched torch, I am also in mourning. Mourning for loved ones who are no longer here, the warm nights full of nothing to do, and my crown jewel, a beloved piece of produce that is only around for a good time, not a long time. The end of every season feels like a mild form of heartbreak, and this year, the compounding interest of loss has me extra in my feels for this exodus.

I mourn the succulent and velvety texture when it is perfectly ripe and melts on your tongue. I mourn its versatility. It can be eaten ripe off the tree, sliced and topped with a tart raspberry, baked into a pie, cobbler, crisp, or just topped with some very fresh and full-fat cream. It pairs great with whiskey or canned and preserved for a rainy day. There is no wrong way to enjoy this fruit. I mourn.

I had no intention of constantly writing and raving about the weather, but the weather is very connected to how I eat. When the produce starts to peak at the markets, I go into full take advantage mode and don’t want any uber-fresh piece of produce to be left behind because soon enough, we will be back to the mercy of the grocery stores. The horror.

I patiently wait in line for the BEST peaches. There is always a line because they are, in fact, the BEST. I make a promise to myself that I will eat a peach a day until they vanish. I will squeeze in a melon if I can; those leftover grapes only because I don’t want them to go to waste, I won’t even look in the direction of an apple until every last peach has been eaten. My whole heart is reserved for those summertime peaches. Who knows, I might get sick of peaches if I had access to them all year round. Blasphemy! I refuse to believe such a thing.

Farewell, dear peaches🧡

AND

Hellooooo Apples!!!

Crispy, tart, thirst-quenching, and substantial fruit that is highly packable. Toss it in a bag for a hike, pack it on a plane, and then back again cause you forgot to eat it, let it bang around in your purse for a week, and then nibble around the bruises, dare I say the most durable fruit at the market. A peach could never; she’s delicate, fragile, and demure. I love her.

Apple season is upon us. Actually, it has been here for a while, but if you have gathered anything from this I disregard them until the peaches are done. Apples come with a cute little sidekick, the pear. Love a pear, the end. It’s all about the apples for me. In the spirit of cuffing season and because we are fun and need a distraction from mourning, let’s play an apple dating game. Which Apple are you swiping right on?

We got the tried and true HONEYCRISP, very tart, obviously crisp, crunchy, satisfying texture, and extra juicy. All around great go to Apple, safe, trustworthy, satisfying. Applied for an Ivy League school and still wears their letterman jacket.

BRAEBURN’S are the best of both worlds, tart with a little touch of sweetness. Very versatile and up for anything, baking, snacking, juicing, bungee jumping, and moving across the country on a whim. Spontaneous but still pays taxes.

An apple that we have been duped into thinking is good because it was the ONLY apple around for a long time. RED DELICIOUS - picturesque exterior, but very tough to bite into. The inside does not reflect the outside, mealy and overly sweet, not much substance. Better to look and not touch. Probably will cheat on you.

GRANNY SMITHS were the cousin of the RED in terms of availability when I was growing up. The extreme tartness was a welcome flavor experience, but not always palatable to finish the entire apple. Bright green and round exterior with a crispy texture makes this apple best with the addition of lots of sugar and fat. Perfect partner to bring along to outdoor sweater weather activities.

GALA is an easy apple and will not offend anyone with its looks or flavor profile. Mild and sweet, reddish yellow skin, nothing to write home about or run off to France with, but solid. Mothers, sisters, fathers, that one picky friend will have no qualms with this apple. Can change a tire with ease.

Sweet and tangy with an effervescent finish, the PINK LADY is ready for action. An apple that can do most things, run a board room, get up on the first go when water skiing, great whipped up into a galette or double crust pie. Tastes like a freshly popped bottle of apple cider. Don’t let this one get away.

LUDACRISP deserves the top billing purely for the name. Crisp, juicy, and bursting with tropical fruit flavors and ‘dirty south’ raps. If you come across this apple, take a big ole bite! It’s luscious and sexy and a fresh face on the apple scene.

Let’s wrap this up with a fave around town, FUJI! Sweet yet firm, calm but forward. This apple has staying power and stores exceptionally well, so load up and keep in a cool, dark place, but not in an Ed Gein kind of way. Fun-loving and puts family first, always invited to the BBQ. Extroverted but has a soft spot for introverts.

Woowee, did I just get all hot and bothered for some apples? Maybe I did, and I can’t wait for the farmers’ market to resume in a couple of weeks! But which one will I choose? The answer is, it depends on what my apple goals are. Have you tried all of these varieties? If not, I challenge you to seek out some new apples this season. Get a few varieties and have yourself a good old-fashioned taste test! What apple texture do you like better? Do you prefer tart or sweet apples? Do you like them jumbo or snack-sized? Apples store great in the fridge, so don’t be afraid to stock up and have one for lunch every day, BUT only until the peaches are back😉

Please chime in with the Apple that suits your fancy! If it wasn’t listed, as there are approximately 679 varieties of apples (rough estimate), shout out your Apple of choice and tell us why you like it. (Uber local varieties encouraged).

Here is a cutie local apple I ate in the UK (cursing myself that I didn’t write down the name). Sweet with just a touch of tart, the one I had was mealy in texture, and it encouraged me not to eat the rest. Despite the skin being very red, it was easy to bite into. I was told that others in the bunch had a more pleasant texture, and none were wasted.

Cheers,

Nicole | Butter Cult