If you’ve bitten into a peach or nectarine lately, you already know this year’s crop is exceptionally delicious and flavorful. With supplies good and prices affordable, many of us of are not only bringing home peaches and nectarines for eating out of hand, but for using in recipes, too – especially for things that are sweet. Aside from the usual jams, cobblers and ice cream, peaches and nectarines are also delectable in cakes, pies and tarts. Full of the taste of summer and spiced just right, you will marvel at just how easy it is to put together Nectarine Buttermilk Coffee Cake and Peach Crostata. The crostata, a free-form kind of rustic tart/pie, is especially fun to “play” with – so much so that you might choose to make a crostata out of your fruit pies from here on out. None of the recipes here requires more than three or four peaches or nectarines, and more than likely, everything else you need is already on hand. When purchasing peaches and nectarines, select fruit that is neither hard, nor mushy and yields slightly when pressed. In addition, give your fruit the “sniff” test – no smell means no flavor. Peaches and nectarines should smell as you expect them to taste, peachy.

Sue Ade is a syndicated food writer with broad experience and interest in the culinary arts. She has worked and resided in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since 1985 and may be reached at kitchenade@yahoo.com.