just peachy

Oh mid august. That time when it's still very hot out and the sun is shining but it's just starting to get a little cooler in the mornings. When you can actually get to work in the morning with a hot coffee and not look like a very stylish (yet completely impractical) marathon runner! The start of sweater weather! Sorry christmas but this is the most wonderful time of the year!

This is usually when I start thinking of baking comfort treats, Generally in the summer I'm all about ice cream and popcicles and cookies (for the making of smores and ice cream sandwiches of course!) but when those crisp mornings begin it's time for pies! ...and scones... and turnovers..and muffins... you know the drill right? right!

So here's my perfect mid august just-starting-to-smell-like-fall bourbon peach crumble!

Bourbon Peach Crumble Pie

for the dough:

1 1/4 cup pastry flour

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup salted butter cold and cut into cubes

3-4 tbsp ice water

1. In stand mixer with paddle attachment add all dry ingredients and mix

2. add butter cubes all at once and mix briefly (you still want butter cubes showing!)

3. add water until just combined, you should be able to see little butter cubes in your dough, this is what makes it flaky and delicious!

3. wrap dough tightly in a disk with plastic wrap and refridgerate for at least 4 hours, you want your dough to have time to rest or else it will be too sticky and will shrink when you roll it out, trick of the trade, the rounder and flatter the disk the easier it will be to roll afterward!

4. after a minumum of 4 hours resting (you too... maybe have a coffee or have a taste of that bourbon.. you do you!) roll out the dough into your favorite pie dish, I like to fold over the edges and make cute little ridges but you can very well do whatever you please in terms of decoration!

5. now the fun, super delicious, aromatic part.... the peaches! Trust me after this part your house will smell like heaven!

For the Peaches:

10-12 peaches cut into 1 inch slivers (I usually use ontatio peaches but any kind will work!)

1/4 cup lemon juice + 1tbsp pure vanilla extract (or one vanilla bean if you have access to this!)

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp corn starch

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp all-spice

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup kentucky bourbon (jim beam works just fine!)

1. In a small bowl mix all of your dry ingredients

2. In a deep dish pan brown your butter. This takes patience but I promise it makes a huge difference! So... to brown butter you put your heat on at just above medium and let your butter melt. Then with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula you just keep it moving. Your butter will start to brown and there will be a layer of light brown foam lingering on top. You want your butter to be a very light caramel color, do not go past that. Though it looks like caramel it won't be as good as a darker bitter caramel if it burns!

2. Once you reach that perfect foamy brown butter add your peaches as well as the lemon juice and vanilla and let those cook down a little bit

3. Once the peaches are a little juicy add your bourbon and simmer

4. Add your dry ingredients and mix well until it becomes shiny and smoothe

5. Set the mixture aside in a bowl and let cool for a little bit before adding into the pie shell

For the granola here's my little secret.... I freaking love Natures Path Honey Nut Granola! I very rarely make my own granola since I discovered this stuff! Shame maybe... but I don't care it is incredible! I usually just top my crumbles with this delicious mess (sometimes I make a streusel recipe and add it to the mix!) and save myself the headache of making my own! But if you want to make your own granola feel free to do so and please share your recipe I would love to give it a try!)

Once the filling is a little cooler fill your pie shell, and top the pie with the granola. egg wash your pie dough (1 egg and a splash of cream brushed on lightly will do!) and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. Your pie should be bubbling and the crust should be golden brown. And your house will smell like.... for lack of a better expression.... freshly baked heaven! Get used to my cheesiness it will be prominent!

Let cool and serve with vanilla bean ice cream or chantilly and share with those you love and they will absolutely love you for it! I'm serious the first time I made this for my boyfriend he just about did a happy dance, there was some Chris Stapleton on and it was a good night! Maybe this will qualify me as wife material one day? maybe? A girl can wish... and bake pies...

Stay Sweet!