Look for a new recipe every Thursday!


RECIPE OF THE WEEK #417

Peach Brown Betty

7 or 8 medium-size ripe peaches
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/4 cups soft fresh bread crumbs
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick)
unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water
Vanilla ice cream or heavy cream, for serving (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Dip the peaches in a large pot of boiling water for about 15 seconds. Transfer them to a colander and cool under cold running waters. Use a paring knife to slip off the skins. Halve the peaches, remove the stones, and slice them thickly into a mixing bowl, tossing the slices with the lemon juice.

Toss the bread crumbs with the melted butter set aside. Toss the sugar with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest set aside.

Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole or soufflé dish. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the bread crumb mixture into the dish. Top with half the peach slices sprinkle with half the sugar and spice mixture. Top with the remaining peach slices and sugar mixture. Pour the orange juice and water over then cover with the remaining crumbs in an even layer. Cover the dish with a sheet of foil.

Bake 15 minutes. Uncover and bake until the crumbs are lightly golden, about 30 minutes longer. If you like, run the dish under the broiler briefly to brown the crumbs further. Cool on a wire rack.

Serve warm.