Bourbon Soaked Peach And Lardo Crostini Recipes

LARDO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Chop the lard very finely using a very sharp knife. Add the sage, rosemary and zest and season with salt and pepper. Mix well with the back of your knife or your hands. Alternatively, transfer the lard paste into a bowl and combine with a spoon.
• Serve on slices of unsalted Tuscan bread.

BOURBON PEACHES

Steps:

• Select your peaches, its best if you have a relationship with a particular orchard.
• I always buy my peaches at Gold's Orchard, in Stonewall, Texas.
• Lynette Gold gives me the heads up by email when to run on over and pick up those wonderful sweet perfect peaches that the family grows.
• Make sure that the peach is freestone.
• Bring a large pot filled half way with water to a boil, reduce the heat and keep just at a low boil.
• Place whole peaches in water for 2 minutes (this may vary, depending on the ripeness of the peach-the riper they are the shorter it will take) Remove from water, let cool until you can handle the fruit.
• Remove pit by slicing peach in half length-wise, then peel.
• Place fruit in clean hot jars (I use wide mouth jars for this).
• Pack tightly.
• Meanwhile, Take 4 cups sugar, 2 cups filtered water, 2 cups bourbon (I use Ira's Canadian Hunter) Cinnamon to taste, Nutmeg to taste and Allspice berries- about 10 or so- bring to a boil, stir until sugar is dissolved- let simmer while peeling peaches.
• Should be reduced by 1/3.
• Ladle bourbon syrup over peaches, leaving about 1 inch head space at the top of the jar.
• Use new seals and clean rings, screwing tightly down on the top of the jar.
• Place jars in boiling water bath for 45 minutes.
• When you remove the jars from the water bath, the bourbon syrup should still be boiling.
• Set jars aside, allow to cool.

PEACH-INFUSED BOURBON

Steps:

• Place the peaches and bourbon in a large covered glass container or cookie jar. Let rest for 3 days, then strain into the bottle. Store at room temperature. Will keep indefinitely.

BOURBON-POACHED PEACHES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath. Cut a small X into the bottom of each peach. Boil peaches for 1 minute.
• Transfer to ice-water bath. Let cool slightly. Peel and pit peaches, and cut into 3/4-inch-thick wedges.
• Bring 4 cups water, the sugar, and vanilla seeds and pods to a boil in a large saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add peaches and bourbon. Simmer until peaches are tender but still hold their shape, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Transfer peaches to a large bowl using a slotted spoon. Cook syrup over mediumheat until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Pour over peaches. Let cool completely.
• Divide peaches among five 12-ounce sterilized jars using a slotted spoon. (Jars can be sterilized by boiling in water, submerged, for 10 minutes.) Pour syrup over tops. Add vanilla pods to jars if desired. Seal jars, and refrigerate until ready to use.