When I was growing up my mom used to make special dinners when Dad wasn't going to be home for dinner. If it was early summer, she made big bowls full of strawberry shortcake. Yep, just shortcake and strawberries. We spent the morning picking fresh berries at my great-aunt's fruit farm. My five brothers and sisters and I would pick as many as we wanted, eating our fill, while being careful not to step on the plants.
But that isn't the recipe I'm going to share with you. My favorite "sinful dinner" was peach cobbler with homemade biscuits. Mom would take the biggest pan she had in the cupboard and fill it with a special peach filling, and then top it off with homemade biscuits that were soft and fluffy with a crisp brown top. Add a little bit of whole milk, and that, my friend, was supper. That was it - no meat, potatoes or vegetable, just peach cobbler. We had the coolest mom in town.
Now, mind you, she didn't do this very often. Our dinners usually involved the five basic food groups. But every now and then Mom's sweet tooth kicked in and we reaped the rewards. The six of us couldn't wait till it was cool enough to dig in.
Article Photos
Peach cobbler is shown in this photo. When I was growing up, my mom used to make special dinners when Dad wasn’t going to be home for dinner. My favorite “sinful dinner” was peach cobbler with homemade biscuits.
The recipe came from an old Better Crocker cookbook.
This particular recipe called for canned peaches and whole milk. Back then the only choices were whole milk or buttermilk. I use skim milk to cut the fat and calories. They probably called for peaches in heavy syrup as well. I use peaches in light syrup and add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of cornstarch.
After it is just cool enough that it doesn't blister your tongue, add milk or vanilla ice cream.
Fact Box
Peach Cobbler
Fruit or berry mixture:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 can of berries or fruit, 2 1/2 cups
Cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
Stir berries, sugar and cornstarch together in a 3 quart sauce pan. Bring it to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and dot with butter.
Biscuit mixture:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup milk
Mix dry ingredients together. Add shortening and cut with pastry cutter until it is a soft meal texture. Add milk and mix until smooth. Add by the spoonfuls to top of fruit mixture. Put in oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Using fresh fruit or berries:
3 cups fruit or berries
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup water
You can use your favorite berries. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, any canned or fresh berries will work. Mix together in 2 quart sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes and pour into a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
If you like peaches, this is the perfect dessert.
Hint: If you have trouble keeping track of your favorite recipes, get them published! The next time you're asked to include recipes in a cookbook give them all your favorites. When the book is published, purchase a copy of the cookbook. Now you have all your favorite recipes in one place and you are less likely to lose a cookbook than a recipe card.