Peach Dixie

(So, you've heard of "Apple Betty," "Peach Betty," and "Cherry Betty," right? Well, what I want to know is, why does Betty get all the credit? Here's to you, Dixie!) Fruit mixture: 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. brown sugar 1 Tbsp. corn starch

3 c. sliced peaches (about 4 or 5 peaches)

Topping: 1 c. oats 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. shredded coconut 1/4 c. flour 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ginger 1/4 c. butter (1/2 stick), melted Combine water, sugar, and cornstarch in small saucepan. Add peaches and cook over low heat until liquid thickens to a syrupy consistency, stirring occasionally. Pour into an oven-safe serving dish of your choice (I used a ceramic oval dish (9"x12") but briefly considered an iron skillet and a 9"x9" square dish). Combine oats, sugar, coconut, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a separate bowl. Sprinkle over peach mixture. Pour melted butter over everything. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden-brown, bubbly, and extremely tasty-looking. Serves 6-8. Last weekend I picked up some peaches in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. I was there for a girls' weekend with some college friends, one of whom is getting married in July. We surprised her by taking her to Hot Springs, North Carolina (it looks deceptively close on the map but took close to 2 hours!), where we soaked in warm mineral springs and had ourselves a lovely brunch. But we weren't the only ones at Hot Springs that weekend. Our first clue: little white tents at opposite ends of a large field. Our second clue: soldiers in blue and gray. Our third clue: an 11"x14" handwritten sign stuck in the ground: "Civil War Event." The South had risen again. They shot over my car as I drove in (was it because I have Virginia license tags?). That made me a little bit nervous. They fired cannons as we left. We saw a couple of women in hoop skirts carrying parasols (?!?) and chatted with Union soldiers about setting up a re-enactment costume industry and how they hide their Ipods in leather pouches to lend authenticity to their hobby. Interesting, really. I love a good weekend with the girls!