It’s summer here in Australia and we’re approaching Australia Day on the 26th of January. It’s celebrated much like the American 4th of July but not so much flag waving. Every year about this time I think about the celebrations of independence and nationhood. I suppose it’s because I’m in love with both countries and their journeys.
When I was growing up in Maine, there was always a parade on the 4th of July. Whether we were at Ocean Point or at home in Winslow, we went to the parade. Most children had a little flag to wave and the marching bands played their patriotic songs and old soldiers and baton twirlers were always included. It ended with the biggest fire trucks available and then it was picnic time.
There was one year that my brother and I were in the 4th of July parade at Ocean Point. It’s my claim to fame, paradewise. I was in other parades as part of the marching band but the 4th of July parade was just my brother and me and the wagon. We decorated it with red white and blue streamers and took turns pulling each other the entire parade route. He was 7 and I was 8.
I felt like I had been crowned queen and was greeting my adoring subjects but in actuality we were two little kids pulling a wagon.
There are a few parades for Australia Day but mostly it’s getting together with friends for a BBQ. Our next door neighbours, Fran and Chris always have a big party and they either do pizzas or suckling pig in the outdoor pizza oven. It’s pig again this year and I can’t wait. Fran always cooks sausages on the BBQ, splits them down the middle and stuffs them with oysters.
Everyone brings something to eat and something they want to drink and there’s much laughter. It’s what celebrations should be like. Lots of Australians head for the beach on January 26th for picnics and BBQs and that’s where we’d be if we weren’t going to a party.
I’m bringing grilled peaches with cinnamon and maple syrup to the Australia Day BBQ next door. I think. It’s my plan but like all plans, I might think of something different on the day. We tested these gorgeous peaches and we both thought this was a winner of a dessert.
- 4 large freestone peaches (otherwise you'll never get the two halves apart)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon demerara sugar
- Preheat BBQ to medium-high heat.
- Mix the demerara sugar and ground cinnamon together
- Cut through the peaches until you hit the stone all the way around, twist and separate. Pull the pit out.
- Brush with oil and place cut side down on the grill and leave for about 5-8 minutes until there are nice grill char marks.
- Flip the peaches over and drizzle just a bit of maple syrup on each one and sprinkle with demerara sugar and cinnamon.
- Cook about 5 more minutes, then plate up. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream and maybe a piece of shortbread.
had to check this out! WOW factor what a great shot makes me warm and tingly inside to think of summer! Love this one! thanks Maureen!
Aww thanks! So lovely to see you. 🙂
I love grilled peaches – so simple and delicious! You should definitely take those to the BBQ – everyone will love them 🙂
Grilled peaches, melting vanilla ice cream and that sprig of mint. Beautiful post.
And quite a summery thing to see on your blog at 7am while inhaling a cup of coffee and slurping down a yogurt prior to going out to pick up mascarpone at the Italian grocery store, give blood, eat dim sum and then hit both the Asian grocery store and the regular one. All in anticipation of a winter storm tomorrow. Oh the joys of living in Canada. 🙂
Oh reading this has made me feel cooler. It was hotter than the hinges of hell here today. 🙂
Well, here I sit in the deep freeze in the middle of Winter in Colorado and you’ve transported me to flip flops, grilled burgers and one of the joys of Summer. our Fresh Colorado peaches. I’ve grilled peaches but not with maple syrup and cinnamon. Thanks for a great idea Maureen. Pinned!
What beautiful peaches!! I love like they look!!! delicious!!
I would like to try grilled peaches with maple syrup, I have no clue how they must taste but the sweet peaches do look very promising. Wish we had a proper sweet and juicy peach season here, I really adore peaches! As it comes on the 26th is Indian republic day. ^.^
Do you know how many summers I have planned on grilling peaches but never did? Yours look and sound just amazing with the cinnamon and maple syrup and I say what a dessert with a scoop of ice cream but with some of that roasted pig or a roasted chicken? Perfect!
I could have said the same thing a few years ago. Maybe you’ll be able to do that for your brand new hotel guests!! Congratulations on your new hotel in Chinon, France! We are all saving our dollars for a visit.
Have a wonderful Holiday! The grilled peaches sound wonderful!
I do love grilled peaches and Happy Australia Day Maureen to you, John and Charlie:)
Grilled peaches are great! Wonderful way to enjoy them. Now I’m craving peaches, and have months to wait until I can get decent ones. 😉 Have a great Australia Day celebration. I love suckling pig — what a treat.
I am so loving the stone fruit right now…& your peaches sound perfect!!
They look pretty mouth-watering too :))
Gorgeous pictures as always Maureen, you are becoming a bit of a legend behind the lens too (another claim to fame perhaps :)) xx
never had grilled peaches before, tempting to try!!!
Oh my gosh, Maureen! I wish I lived next door! Those grill marks on your peaches look divine. Noticing too that there’s not that much maple syrup on them soooo a girl could have more than one…with maybe a scoop or 2 of ice cream!
Love your tales of Maine, too. I can see you as the little girl/queen with her brother and wagon…What an enchanting childhood. My husband grew up with American parades, too. Although I’m not complaining about the spectacular fireworks at the Tokyo American Club =)
Anyway, Happy Australia Day!
Simple and delicious!
HI Maureen, your neighbors sound wonderful, what a great way to celebrate Australia Day. I love grilled peaches, they are the perfect summer dessert.
I wish you had a picture of you and your brother pulling that wagon. Americans do parades very well. I do love the look of your peaches – a good light and refreshing dessert. And how lovely to be going to a party tomorrow. We’ve planned to go out on our boat but the forecast isn’t favourable! xx
Hi Maureen, your grilled peaches look wonderful, great idea to drizzle with maple syrup and serve with ice cream. Love your parade story!
You’re making me jealous…. oh how I long for fresh, sweet peaches! Looks fabulous!
Can I move in with you?????? I do dishes. LIke a pro. And not a word of complaining….
I’ve been waiting for you to ask!! 🙂
Sweet sweet SWEET!!!!!
Oh yum Maureen! The only thing that could make these better is a splash of rum – Bundy rum of course to make it Australian 🙂 x
I’ve never tried rum and maple syrup before, have you? I’m going to give it a go. 🙂
Hi Maureen, these peaches with cinnamon syrup look so scrumptious! I love grilling or roasting fresh fruit, and your easy yet yumm recipe making me hungry! pinning!
Happy Australia Day! What a simple and delightful treat these grilled peaches are!!!
Looks good- did not know you were american actually!
I’m a dinky di Aussie, Dee 🙂 Now you understand why I use American spelling and Australian spelling in the same post. If I’m on a roll, who knows what comes out of the ends of my fingers. LOL
Happy Australia Day for tomorrow Maureen! It’s supposed to cool off tomorrow for us which is so unusual because it is usually so warm on Australia Day. I love that photo of the porch with the three flags!
Have a great Australia day Maureen. I think we will be staying at home in the air con cos it is so darn hot????. My hammy knee is playing up so I can’t get into too much mischief. Great looking dessert! X
Have a great Australia day Maureen. I think we will be staying at home in the air con cos it is so darn hot????. My hammy knee is playing up so I can’t get into too much mischief. Great looking dessert! X
Dare I try again? I have tried to add comments 3 times but it doesn’t want to let me do it:(. Anyway happy Australia day maureen.
Happy Australia Day Maureen! I need to get more grilled peaches in my life after all I don’t even need to plow the slow out to my grill in the winter time like when I used to live in Michigan anymore. Great post!
How fab for you and your brother to be part of the parade, are there any pics? These peaches look perfect for a celebration and I bet they’re sweet and juicy. The BBQ must give them an extra smoky flavour to compliment the maple syrup. GG
I don’t have any photos here in Australia from when I was young. Sad.
I remember the photos of the suckling pig from last year – I can’t believe that was Australia Day.
I need to live on your street – a neighbour who stuff sausages with oysters and another who rocks up with dessert? How lovely it’s all done on the BBQ too – that counts as no washing up:)
These grilled peaches would be a stunning addition to an Australia Day celebration (or any celebration for that matter). I love the no-frills. lets-just-hang-out-together approach to this National holiday that most of us take.
Ahh Maureen, I wish I were ‘down under’ celebrating the joys of summer with all you Aussies ;D
Meanwhile, back in NY, we are expecting one of the worst blizzards in our history. I don’t know if they are exaggerating or not (I hope they are)!
These peaches look so wonderful. I love simple recipes like these for the warm weather. Cooked peaches are truly delicious. Take care and happy Australia Day!!
xo
Have a wonderful day ! These peaches are perfect for a barbacue day ! I will do them this summer 😉
Grilling peaches brings out all of that rich, caramel sweetness doesn’t it, Maureen? I love the simplicity of this recipe – it looks perfect in every way!
Holy moly – these grilled cinnamon sprinkled peaches with a side of vanilla ice cream makes me hungry – and pine for summer!
Happy Australia Day!
Holy moly – these grilled cinnamon sprinkled peaches with a side of vanilla ice cream makes me hungry – and pine for summer!
Happy Australia Day!!
I’ve gotten to the point that I think I like grilled peaches even more than just eating them out of hand. Add in some ice cream and I’m sooooo there!
Oh, this sounds just divine! I love summer stone fruit, but I love it even more when it has been grilled or roasted – it really brings out the flavours.
Maureen I can’t tell you how jealous I am. We’re on BLIZZARD watch here in NYC!!! What I’d give to be enjoying those beautiful peaches and warm weather right now!
Oh yum – these peaches look super! Happy Australia Day!
I often forget that you’re having summer now – but anytime of year grilled peaches would make me happy. How fun that your national holiday is coming up – we are so weary of wet winter weather – send some sunshine our way! Have a great week Maureen – hope your husband is doing great.
Oh yummy looking picture! Oh jealous, because I’ll have to wait until June here in Texas! Oh my–Patience where are you? Love your story!
Belated Happy Australia day my friend! What a delicious idea for dessert, never tried grilling peaches before myself! 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Happy Australia Day Maureen, those grilled peaches do look delicious. We love toasting a few walnuts or almonds with them.
That vanilla ice cream looks perfect on those 🙂
Maureen, what an easy yet amazing idea – perfect for a barbeque!
Good Lord woman…. Maple syrup has got to be the wonder food to suit everything…. it never lasts long in my kitchen & now you’ve thrown in grilled peaches….. wonder if I can buy Maple Syrup by the gallon at Costco!!!!!!!!
A dessert that shines through its simplicity. I love the flavors, I’ve been wanting to try this for quite some time. Now gotta wait for summer in Romania to get those aromatic, juicy peaches. Thank you for inspiration.
I’m so envious of your peaches, what a divine treat with ice cream!
My mouth is now watering for peaches. Unfortunately, it will have to wait awhile!
This looks gorgeous, I love fruit on the barbie, so I will be trying this over the weekend. Yum!
We celebrated Australia day morning on the beach and then home for a family BBQ, as my parents are visiting from England. Suckling pig sounds amazing!
This recipe has me hankering for summer, this is my favourite kind of dessert 😀
That grilled peach looks SO GOOD. I think peaches and cinnamon go so well together.
Can I just tell you how jealous I am right now that it is summer over there and you get to grill peaches and have ice cream while I sit here freezing in my layers and layers of sweatshirts and fuzzy socks? Hmph.