Book of Days Tales

The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Day in the U.S. commemorating the life and work of MLK as a tireless worker for civil rights for African-Americans, and the abolition of segregation and racist policies that had persisted since the Civil War. King was murdered in Memphis, TN, in 1968 when he was supporting a strike there by Black sanitation workers.

King was born in Georgia, and always saw the state as his home. Georgia is called the Peach State because of its abundance of peach orchards, so a peach recipe is called for. It could be peach ice cream (long a favorite of mine and my late wife), peach pie, or peach Melba, but the Georgia classic is peach cobbler.

Ingredients

5 peaches , peeled, cored and sliced (about 4 cups)
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ tsp salt

For the batter:

6 Tbsp butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup milk
ground cinnamon

Instructions

Put the sliced peaches, sugar and salt in a saucepan and stir to combine.

Cook on medium heat for just a few minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and some of the juices from the peaches begin to flow. Remove from heat and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350º F/175º C. Slice the butter into pieces and add them to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to allow the butter to melt. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, just until combined. Pour the mixture into the pan, over the melted butter and smooth it into an even layer.

Spoon the peaches and juice over the batter. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.

Bake at 350º F/175º C for about 38-40 minutes. Serve warm, with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.

Some cooks put the peaches in first and pour the batter over them, then bake until the batter is golden.  You decide.