Chocolate Dipped Peaches with Sea Salt

There is something special about combining chocolate & peaches and this dessert beautifully marries the two into an easy yet elegant offering. I love the simplicity of the preparation. Melt bittersweet chocolate chips in the microwave, dip the cored peaches in the chocolate, sprinkle with sea salt, then eat. Delicious, easy, impressive looking. Perfect for your next Summer dinner party or a casual night with family. Eat using a knife and fork or use your hands and a large napkin. Peach juice dripping down your chin? That spells summer to me.

Chocolate Dipped Peaches with Sea Salt
(makes 8)

8 peaches, skin on
10 oz bittersweet chocolate chips (I use the Equal Exchange brand)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
sea salt flakes
1/4 cup chopped mint leaves, plus 8 whole leaves for garnish

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Core peaches to remove pits. I do this by running a small paring knife around the center of each peach ensuring the pit is included. Then, using your thumb, push down on the core from the top, so it drops out the bottom.. Set peaches on the prepared baking sheet.

Place chocolate chips and olive oil in medium sized bowl. Microwave for thirty seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Repeat for another 30 seconds. Continue this process at 10-second intervals until chips are completely melted, and chocolate is smooth, silky and very soft.

Using a tong to lift, dip one peach into the melted chocolate ensuring the bottom half is coated. It should look like this:

Set the peach on prepared sheet and sprinkle chocolate with the sea salt. Repeat with remaining peaches ensuring the sides do not touch.

Add one tablespoon of the remaining chocolate to the center hole of each peach. Move the sheet to a cool spot in your kitchen to allow chocolate to harden. On very hot days, place peaches in your refrigerator and allow to cool.

When ready to serve, sprinkle chopped mint leaves into the center hole of each mint. Garnish with whole mint leaves and serve.

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Summer means easy, breezy dishes made from fresh, just-picked produce and this week at Food Network's Summer Soiree we are celebrating Summer Peaches. Do you have a favorite peach recipe? Share in the comments section and/or link to your blog if you have one. And be sure to check out the delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network. 

Virtually Homemade: Mixed Summer Fruit Baked Oatmeal
Homemade Delish: Bite-Sized Peach Panini
The Heritage Cook: Grilled Chicken with Peach Chimichurri Sauce (Gluten-Free)
Weelicious: Peach and Ricotta Crostini
Creative Culinary: Fresh Peach and Bourbon Upside Down Cake
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Chocolate Dipped Peaches with Sea Salt
Red or Green: Summer Peach & Tomato Salad
The Mom 100: Sour Cream Peach Cobbler
Domesticate Me: Peach Crumble Smoothie
Daisy at Home: Creamy Peach Popsicles
In Jennie's Kitchen: Six Ways to Savor Peaches
Healthy Eats: 7 Healthy Ways to Use Peaches in Their Prime
Taste with the Eyes: Grilled Peach Salad, Over-The-Top Maple Bourbon Dressing
Swing Eats: Grilled Peaches with Greek Yogurt, Honey, Lime Zest, and Vanilla
Dishin and Dishes: Bacon Wrapped Grilled Peaches with Goat Cheese and Aged Balsamic
FN Dish: 8 Juicy Ways to Eat Peaches Before They're Gone

best,

diane

napa farmhouse 1885

red or green? 

California Girl in Taos

MoseyLove
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I have started sharing my newest blog "California Girl in Taos."  Please visit and let me know what you think.

does your dog celebrate thanksgiving?

happy halloween everyone!! i was sitting in my kitchen this morning trying to pick a thanksgiving memory to post as part of our thirty day thanksgiving memories series...i kept looking out the window and getting distracted by people passing by dressed up in halloween costumes...and noticed many were walking their dogs..also dressed in costumes. do you dress up your pets? i just cannot..not my dog...maybe a small dog..but, c'mon..a 115 lb golden retriever? i would not do that to him..(plus, i don't think i could find a costume that big). regular readers know that i often mention mose in my stories..after all, he is a big part of our family..see why mose?? ...many comments and emails from readers are directed to him..he is the most popular member of the family.i started thinking about people and their pets..and how many people ensure their dogs celebrate holidays along with their human family members. halloween costumes, christmas gifts, birthday parties..maybe we have all gone crazy..but i do not care (mose always gets a christmas and birthday gift!!)...this reflection reminded me of thanksgiving 2007. i told you in my last post about celebrating the holiday at a restaurant for the first time. i failed to mention the name of the restaurant..celadon in napa..one of my favorites here... celadon has terrific food, a really good wine list and beautiful design. we often sit on the patio..they have a massive outdoor fireplace..and enjoy their "global comfort food". if you visit napa, i recommend a visit...but let me tell you a story...as i said, we went last year for thanksgiving dinner. my last post..thanksgiving and pasta..gives the details...when we finished eating, my husband..yes my husband..mentioned that he felt bad that mosey would not get any turkey. he even went so far as to ask the waiter if he could buy a portion to take home...note...if you knew peter you would understand how great a departure this is from his "before mose" style. the waiter came back with a big take-home package of turkey..and announced it was "on the house"..and wished us a happy thanksgiving..how great is that? terrific food, great service..and above and beyond acts of doing what it takes to satisfy their customers...a true thanksgiving story...and a happy memory i really needed that day...

the patio at celadon

do your pets participate in holiday celebrations?..please tell me how in the comments section of this post.. and...again.. happy thanksgiving!!

i want to take a minute to thank all of you who commented or sent me a personal email in response to my last post...your kind words..support..and heartfelt thoughts about my aunt were so amazing...they meant a lot...you guys are so terrific...i thought i would thank you by posting another favorite wild mushroom pasta recipe...one of my favorites..enjoy!

wild mushroom pappardelle "bolognese"

3/4 oz. dried mushrooms (i use a mixed wild blend)

3/4 cup boiling hot water

1/4 c extra virgin olive oil

1 carrot

1/2 white onion

2 shallots

1 cloves garlic

2 portobello mushrooms

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

3 tbsp tomato paste

1/2 c dry red wine

1 lb dried pappardelle

1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano

soak mushrooms in hot water for 10 minutes. pour mushrooms through a strainer, reserve liquid. chop mushrooms (large dice). set aside.

heat olive oil in large skillet over med heat. finely chop all remaining vegetables and add to pan. add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. saute until vegetables are very tender (stirring occasionally. (10-12 minutes) stir in mushrooms and tomato paste to pan and cook for 1 minute. add wine and reserved mushroom soaking liquid and cook until liquid is reduced by half. meanwhile, cook pasta in a large, well salted pot of boiling water and cook until al dente. drain and add to bolognese sauce. stir well. if needed, add up to 1 cup of water from pasta pot for a saucier dish. add 1/2 cup cheese to pan and stir well to allow cheese to melt. serve immediately. use remaining cheese for serving.

celadon

500 main street,

suite g

napa, ca 94559

best,
diane

napa farmhouse 1885™
"live a green life of style"™

follow me on twitter

am i an "experienced" blogger??

when i started blogging earlier this year, i had absolutely no idea what i was doing. i knew i wanted to write about my post corporate life, but website design, hosting, html code etc were foreign concepts...i am by no means a "techie". i did a bit of research and found out there were a number of blog hosting companies that allowed a sort of "plug and play" concept. i actually launched the blog in an afternoon..

i wrote my first story..an overview of my life and reason for the blog...and really thought it would just be read by family and close friends..i was shocked when i started getting comments from complete strangers. the first few comments were terrific..warm, friendly and complimentary... i also received a number of direct emails asking for additional details about my life, my experiences and especially questions about living in the napa valley. i kept writing and found i really enjoyed telling stories..and emphasizing the important things in my life..family, friends, "giving back", cooking, gardening and my journey with starting a small business. i also write about my dog, mose, and he is by far the most popular subject..people all over the world comment or email me about my golden retriever..the happiest dog that ever lived...

i began to research everything possible about blogging..how to promote, market, link, and share my blog. i discovered a ton of helpful sites that provided tips, help and advice. i began to explore social networking sites in earnest..and have met many fellow bloggers.. the professional ones who do this for a living..and, without fail, have found this community to be selfless in their willingness to teach a "newbie" the ropes. i learned a lot..but spent a ton of time with my research. throughout my learning process i kept wishing there was someone or someplace that i could get tips, advice, feedback and be able to ask questions..a one stop resource..it would have made the first 6 months of blogging so much easier.

my twitter friend kristen at dine & dish has started a terrific program to help new bloggers..i so wish i knew her when i started...she matches up experienced bloggers with people just starting out so that they have a mentor to coach them during their first three months. kristen asked a bunch of us if we would be willing to help. i laughingly volunteered..would not consider myself "experienced"..but kristen took me seriously and paired me up with a very nice person named sarah. she just started blogging..her site is sarah's sweet somethings..and i have the pleasure of acting as her mentor...but i think true mentorship is a two way benefit..i suspect i will learn as much from sarah as she will from me..i envision this exercise as being more about brainstorming sessions than anything else...having someone who will listen to your ideas and goals..and then asking the proper questions so you can figure out the answer yourself...

so here goes...a three month mentorship. i am really looking forward to this..and i will post updates to my blog regarding what we learn. i would love to have all of you help us out...if you have a blog now, please share any learnings, tips or experiences you have had...if you don't currently blog..but have always wanted to..what questions would you like answered to help you get started? please share your thoughts, ideas, suggestions or feedback in the comments section of this post...and thanks in advance for helping us out.

best,
diane
napa farmhouse 1885™
"live a green life of style"™

follow me on twitter

February 14th, 2008

welcome to my first post. this one will be a bit long so please bear with me. as i stated in my intro, i am almost one year in to a "retired" life. i always seem to use quotes around the word retired because it is hard to believe this has really happened. i spent 30+ years in the specialty apparel retail business and always experienced 60-80 hour work weeks. needless to say i never had the typical home/family life....coming home at night..cooking dinner..eating with the family etc. i rarely was home before 8:00 pm and traveled a minimum of two weeks per month. i worked really hard saving..investing...planning..so that i could retire early and experience a different kind of life. i have been married for 25 years to an amazing man, have a massive, adorable, energetic golden retriever and really wanted to spend lots of time with both of them. my strange realization after this year is that, although i had periods where i really loved my jobs and was quite successful, i never really had the passion for fashion required to truly be satisfied with my career. this year has been one of discovery and, as cliched as it sounds, searching for my bliss.

ok..just realized spell check does not work..kinda in a panic with this as i type faster than my brain processes spelling...will try to correct errors but if a few slip through please forgive me....

i have spent the past year focusing on what i love...family, cooking, recipe development, gardening, non-profit work, etc. so many opportunities have opened up that i am always busy. people constantly ask me so many questions... if i am bored, how i spend my time, how to make this work financially...how to get involved in non-profits, etc that i thought i would start a blog and share my life, my experiences and my journey. i hope to make this a 2 way dialogue with readers so please, if you read my blog, please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions.

all for now,
happy valentine's day!

napafarmhouse1885