Summertime in the Texas Hill Country

Other than our amazing selection of Texas Wine's, great Texas Country music,  and our amazing hill top views, we have some of the sweetest peaches here in the Texas Hill Country.  It was one thing that I would always make a point to stop for when we would visit the Hill Country before we moved here.  We have been here for five years now and I feel pretty certain that I have eaten my weight in peaches since then!  I have also (IMHO) perfected the peach margarita and now a peach pie!  

I remember when I was growing up that I was not a huge pie fan.  I would get so disappointed if pie was served for dessert for any occassion. I much preferred cake or cookies.  While I will choose a warm chocolate chip cookie over most anyting, I think pie has become a one of my favorite summertime desserts, along with it's fraternal twin sister, the cobbler.  I love a good cobbler too, but I have not found my perfect cobbler recipe yet.  I will have to keep on practicing...all while sipping my jalapeno peach martini!  🍸 

Now...Don't get me wrong. I'm not starting a food blog!!  I just thought I would share a little sweetness with y'all today and make you drool a bit.  I also am now forced to have to do a Peach Cocktail recipe to share on Cocktail Hour and on here!!  

Pie Crust:

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup (very cold) butter 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tbs sugar
• 4-6 Tbs ice water
• Hope you have an amazing Summer!!

In a food processor, mix flour, salt and sugar and pulse a few times to mix.  Cut the very cold butter into small cubes and add to flour mixture.  Pulse several times until butter is incorportated and mixutre looks like sand. Place mixture in a mixing bowl.  Add 4 tablespoons of ice water and gently combine into flour with a rubber spatula.  This will start to form a ball.  If you need to add more ice water, do so one tablespoon at a time until the ball forms.  Do not over mix, as the crust will be flakier if you don't mess with it too much.  Divide into two equal parts and flatten into about 2 inch disks.  Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least 1 hour, but up to 2 days.  Can be frozen for up to 6 months.  When ready, flour a clean surface and roll the crust into a 1/8 thick circle to fit your pie plate!

Peach Pie Filling:

• 6 cups of fresh peaches, peeled and diced
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 2-3 Tbs of flour (use less if your filling is less watery or more to thicken)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup or more white sugar (this is to taste according to how sweet your peaches are)
• 1/4 tsp of ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1tsp salt

Mix all ingredients, in no particlalr order, in a mixing bowl!  Pour into your prepared pie crust.  

I like to make a lattice pie crust for my fruit pies, but you can certainly do a solid crust too if you like.  (just be sure you vent it with a hole in the top!) I usually do a little egg wash on top with a sanding sugar to make is sparkly! If it's pretty, it just tastes better!  :). If you are in Texas, you have to serve with some Blue Bell Vanilla Bean ice cream...if not, you are on your own!  😂

Hope you LOVE this pie!

XOXO,

Rhonda