Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: Peach crème brûlée

Barb Macfarlane

Guess what arrived at Marczyk's today? Ela Family Farms peaches, which, according to Barb, are the best Colorado-grown peaches in the state. "This batch is not freestone, which means the pit comes away from the flesh easily," says Barb, adding that "Freestones make for prettier slices." Make sure you buy ripe peaches, she stresses. "When you push down on the top of the peach -- do it gently -- it should give a little. Don't squeeze it all over, because that just wrecks it."

"I wanted to do a peach crème brûlée, because I love peaches with that burnt-sugar taste" says Barb, who also includes an easy recipe for crème Anglaise from Allrecipes.com.

For the peaches

5 ripe peaches
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons butter

Directions

1. Slice the peaches fairly thick, and arrange in concentric circles in a round pan (not glass) that can withstand the heat under the broiler.
2. Sprinkle the peaches evenly with sugar, and broil the fruit until it starts to brown at the edges and the sugar starts to form a crust.
3. Remove the peaches and let them cool to room temperature.

For the crème Anglaise

1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup white sugar

Directions

1. In a small, heavy saucepan, heat cream and vanilla until bubbles form at the edges. Do not boil.
2. While cream is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until the mixture is smooth. Slowly pour 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly.
3. Gradually add egg yolk mixture back to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly. 4. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove the pan from the heat, and continue to stir gently until the mixture slightly cools.
5. Drizzle crème Anglaise over the peaches and serve.

For more from Pete, Barbara and Marczyk Fine Foods, visit the market website. And be sure to check out Pete's blog.