Peach on the Beach Pie

Peach on a Beach

“Life is better than death, I believe, if only because it is less boring and because it has fresh peaches in it”
Alice Walker


Vacation. Nothing like it. Every August we head down to Sunset Beach, NC for a week. It does take a while to get there, but most good things take time.

Those that know me know that I am not too fond of hot weather. The cooler the better. If I had a choice, I’d wear shorts year round (Cara thinks “It’s not becoming of a doctor to go to Kroger in shorts when it’s snowing outside.” I disagree, one look at my legs in the winter and you’ll be that much more appreciative of me when I wear pants in the office…) My previous experiences with the beach involve getting sand stuck in my (insert noun unbecoming of a doctor here), my eyeballs turning red from irritating contacts, and sunscreen that said it was 45, when it probably was tan intensifier – yeah picture a human sized lobster – now give it hands and blisters… that’s me. I still remember one of my crazy great aunts ripping off an aloe leaf and trying to spread aloe goo over me – the intention and motive was pure, but the end result was a large blistered, sticky, lobster-human.

That didn’t happen this time. No crazy aunts around, just crazy in-laws and crazy miniature Schnauzers! Nah… I love my in-laws, they rock. They allow their son-in-law to stay up late and sleep in (ok til noon, but I AM on vacation here…). They call me the night watchman… and I’m ok with that.

This year was one of the most relaxing times I have had. No pressure from work to get grants done, no studying for boards, nada, zilch, zero. I thought of not one Western blot, not one ELISA, not one test tube… it was great – very refreshing.

I did think of one of my patients, LW, who passed away the Monday I returned. I was privileged to spend time with her prior to my vacation. She was the only one in the hospital who noticed I wasn’t wearing my glasses (got new contacts). I thought of her every day…

Thought of Dad, too.

Sigh…

They have peaches in heaven, too.

Peach on the Beach Pie

6 cups sliced fresh peaches (if you use any canned, so help me…)
2/3 cup sugar (I thought about adding more, but didn’t)
3 Tbsp Minute tapioca (thickening)

Add above to bowl and let sit for 15-20 min.

Make your dough (if you used store bought, so help me… ok ok, it’s ok once and a while)
My resources were, let’s say, past their prime… nonetheless the dough came out fine.

3 cups AP flour (the flour at the beach house I think was stone ground by crabs 40 years ago, but it did the job)
1 tsp salt

Cut into the flour and salt mixture ¼ cup butter (cold) and 1 cup margarine (cold)
Add just enough liquid until dough comes together. (my liquid of choice was apple juice and water)
Roll it out and place in pie pan…

Bake at 400 degrees until crust is GBD (golden brown and delicious) about 45 min.

(Note I used my braiding skills!)

Note to family… the other blog “we” have states that “we” have been bad bloggers. “We”?? “I” think “we” ALL know who “we” is referring to…

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psst... it's salsa time!

Anti-dentite souffle

JERRY: So you won't believe what happened with Whatley today. It got back to him that I made this little dentist joke and he got all offended. Those people can be so touchy.
KRAMER: Those people, listen to yourself.
JERRY: What?
KRAMER: You think that dentists are so different from me and you? They came to this country just like everybody else, in search of a dream.
JERRY: Kramer, he's just a dentist.
KRAMER: Yeah, and you're an anti-dentite.
JERRY: I am not an anti-dentite!
KRAMER: You're a rabid anti-dentite! Oh, it starts with a few jokes and some slurs. "Hey, denty!" Next thing you know you're saying they should have their own schools.
JERRY: They do have their own schools!
KRAMER: Yeah!....

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Catherine is going to her first dental appointment next week.
Yes, yes, ok, ok… I know she should have gone sooner, but she didn’t – it’s fluoride under the bridge, ok?!

I got to thinking… Remember how mom always said, “Hey we’re going to the dentist, make sure to brush your teeth!” Uhhh, yeah ok. The frantic, enamel removing, tractor-trailer loaded pile of toothpaste brushing you do 15 minutes before you see the dentist will REALLY help you out there. As if that final tooth brushing will prevent any cavities in the tense ride up SR 39 to the dentist’s office. We also used to floss til our gums bled prior to going to the dentist – spitting up blood prior to jumping in the car almost became routine – our yearly (or bi-annual) blood letting.

I also remember going to the dentist and mom bringing them 2 strawberry pies. I realized we lived in the country, but I thought we had given up on bartered goods for services when Abe Yoder got sick off the Yum-Seti he got for shoeing Jonas Beachy’s horse… It also struck me as odd that we were giving a calories infested, sugar loaded, enamel stripping strawberry pie to a the very person we were entrusting our teeth to. Sort of like giving your oncologist a pack of smokes… (“Thanks for the chemo doc, I got you methanols, your fav!”). Ok… maybe not quite like that, but you get my drift…

Here’s a pic (or two) or a chocolate soufflé I made… recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton (look it up at foodtv.com). I think it could use a little tweaking (granted I didn’t use the best chocolate I could get, but since when do you have Lindt or Valrhona chocolate laying around the house… oy!)

I’ll let you know how the tweaking is going… also, I promise I will try to post my sourdough yeast homemade pretzel recipe… Auntie Anne – watch out! Uncle Trent is in town!

T