Seasonal Potluck: Vanilla Honey Peach Butter

Adios August! Thank you for being such an excellent month! Everyone is still talking about fall, but I’m thinking about September, after labor day, when all the tourists leave, and we get our town back while it still hot, sunny, and glorious! September is the best month in San Diego. I’ll be kicking off the month with a sure-to-be-raucous visit from our friend Krista this weekend. We already have a pool day, bar crawl, and trip to the track planned. I’m not sure my liver will make it, but I’m going to do my darndest!

To wrap up peach month for Seasonal Potluck, I made this vanilla honey peach butter which is TO DIE FOR!!! Not to neglect my pantry project, I also used up my bread flour and some yeast, and baked some homemade bread. The combination of the two is so delicious I almost can’t believe it.

For the bread I referenced and old post where I learned to bake bread. You can find that recipe HERE. Still as simple as can be!

Vanilla Honey Peach Butter recipe from Nutmeg Nanny

18 ripe peaches – peeled, pitted and cut
1/4 cup water
2 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup honey
2 vanilla beans – scrape the seed out

In and 8 – 10 quart heavy pot combine peaches and the water.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer cover, for 10 – 15 minutes or until peaches are tender. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Use a blender or food processor to puree peach mixture, in batches, until smooth.  (I used my smart stick to blend this, a kitchen MUST HAVE) Return peach puree to same pot. Add sugar, honey and vanilla bean seeds and empty vanilla pod.  Bring to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolve – reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until mixture is thick and mounds on a spoon, stirring often.

Take out vanilla pods and ladle hot peach butter into hot, sterilized half pint canning jars, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims, adjust lids.

Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes (start timing when water returns to boiling). Remove jars from canner, cool on wire racks.  (Makes 4 – 6 8oz. jelly jars of peach butter)

****NOTE I divided everything by 2 and made a 1/2 batch.

Seriously, I cannot tell you how awesome this stuff is. I gave a jar to my friend Jen, and she texted me that it was good on her pancakes too! If you don’t already know, September Seasonal Potluck ingredients are going to be apples and tomatoes! I’ve got ideas brewing already!

What does everyone have going on for labor day weekend? I hope to hear about some awesome parties and foodstuffs. I’m not sure I”ll be cooking all that much, but I think I’ll be able to bust out a drink recipe or two!