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    Review: The Peach Truck Cookbook Brings Summer to Your Kitchen

    Those of you in tune with the fresh produce community have probably had this week marked in your calendar for awhile – it’s the first week The Peach Truck comes through Columbus. The Peach Truck is scheduled to make stops throughout and nearby Columbus on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29, and then will come back through on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20.

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    This year brings something more than just the delicious fresh Georgia peaches. Jessica N. Rose and Stephen K. Rose, cofounders of The Peach Truck, are releasing their first cookbook, The Peach Truck Cookbook, 100 Delicious Recipes for All Things Peach, today, June 25, 2019.

    Fresh Georgia Peaches. Photo by Eliesa Johnson.
    Fresh Georgia Peaches. Photo by Eliesa Johnson.

    The Peach Truck Cookbook falls into the category of the more boutique-style of cookbook instead of a more instructional guide like something like Betty Crocker’s Best of Baking. 

    These cookbooks weave the sharing of fond memories and favorite stories, not only at the beginning, but throughout the pages, offering something special before digging in to the recipe. I enjoy this style of cookbook because it creates a relationship between you and the author, a shared connection over one of the most shared human experiences, creating food for others. And if you are creating food just for you, it adds an extra feeling of warmth.

    I sat down on a rainy afternoon (of which we’ve had far too many this year, although fear not! The Roses have assured that the weather is yielding their largest peach crop yet!) to get to know this cookbook. 

    As someone who likes to bake, I have a majority of the requisite ingredients in my pantry, although I did look for the White Lily flour they specifically mention. Everything else I was able to easily find at Kroger. 

    Like Stephen, I grew up enjoying peaches; so much that I was really excited when we had space in our backyard now to grow a self-pollinating Elberta peach tree. When we are able to beat the squirrels to the peaches, there is nothing like biting into the sunshine of a peach fresh off the tree.

    Since The Peach Truck isn’t visiting Columbus until Friday, I purchased organic yellow peaches to try out a recipe from The Peach Truck Cookbook. Only these had the soft fuzzy skin and were closest to being ripe. 

    This cookbook is beautiful. Filled with photography by Eliesa Johnson, just paging through this book makes you excited to get to the kitchen and create a meal. Filled with feelings of summer, friendship, and joy, it will look beautiful on your shelf and in your hands as you find your next recipe to try.

    Recipe to try: Peach Coffee Cake

    For testing a recipe, I chose the Peach Coffee Cake. It’s something easy to make on a weeknight to have a delicious breakfast the next morning.

    Trying the Peach Coffee Cake recipe from The Peach Truck Cookbook. Photo by Anne Evans.
    Trying the Peach Coffee Cake recipe from The Peach Truck Cookbook. Photo by Anne Evans.
    Trying the Peach Coffee Cake recipe from The Peach Truck Cookbook. Photo by Anne Evans.
    Adding peaches to the batter. Photo by Anne Evans.

    This recipe says hands-on time of 30 minutes and a total time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. I had most of the ingredients, but did have to buy cardamom, heavy cream, and pecans, in addition to the peaches. It also requires a springform pan, which may be something not readily available in a home kitchen, but you can pick one up for under $10. What can be used instead of a springform pan? If you don’t own one, you could use a cake pan lined with parchment paper or foil.

    If you do not wish to mix the streusel with your hands, a pastry blender makes quick work of the task. If you do not have a pastry blender, cross two butter knives throughout the mixture until you have the desired sandy texture.

    recipes from The Peach Truck Cookbook
    Ready for the oven. Photo by Anne Evans.

    Following the recipe was easy, although my hands-on time was closer to an hour and I am an experienced baker. The book stayed open to my page, which is always a nice touch when your hands are busy. The pecan streusel is wonderfully aromatic and the hour of baking time filled the home with a rich scent. I haven’t been so excited to eat a ‘fruit’ of my labor from the kitchen in awhile!

    Finished Peach Coffee Cake. With a topping so tasty and crunchy, you could eat it by itself!

    In addition to the stories, throughout the cookbook are tips on storing your peaches, how to blanch and peel peaches, a Nashville Food Guide, and more. The recipes in the book are organized as you would plan meals throughout the day.

    The Peach Truck Tour Information

    Stephen K. Rose and Jessica N. Rose, authors of The Peach Truck Cookbook. Photo by Eliesa Johnson.
    The Peach Truck Cookbook. Photo by Eliesa Johnson.

    For more information on when The Peach Truck will be visiting Ohio, visit thepeachtruck.com. A 25 lb. box of peaches will be $42, a bag of pecans (10 oz. shelled and halved) will be $10, and the new The Peach Truck Cookbook will be available for $25. Payment is by credit card only.

    The Peach Truck Cookbook Tour will be stopping at The Book Loft on Friday, June 28, 2019 at 7 p.m. Hear the story of The Peach Truck Cookbook. There will also be a Q&A with the Roses. In order to go through the signing line and meet the Roses, The Peach Truck Cookbook should be purchased from The Book Loft. The book will be available for $28.

    The Peach Truck Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes for All Things Peach, published by Scribner and sold for $28, is available on Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

    Columbus Underground received an advance copy of The Peach Truck Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes for All Things Peach for review. All opinions are the author’s own.

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    Anne Evans
    Anne Evanshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-evans/
    Anne Evans is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations for The Metropreneur and Columbus Underground. She regularly contributes feature stories on both sites, as well as Mega Weekend each week. She has started and grown businesses, created experiences, forged community partnerships, and worked to create opportunities for others. She loves meeting new neighbors and those making an impact in our community. Want to connect?
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