66 Square Feet, A Delicious Life Giveaway & Grilled Peaches

Have you met my other friend Marie?

Not the one from Chicago, but Marie from South Africa; who is married to a Frenchman; who lives in Brooklyn; who has an amazing garden on her tiny rooftop; who has a funny cat named Estorbo. That Marie.

I have been a reader of Marie's blog, 66 Square Feet, for a few years now.

She is an expert horticulturist and garden designer, as well as a thoughtful and poignant writer.

She cooks and makes drinks in her teeny apartment in Cobble Hill and we get the chance to peek into her daily life of foraging thru NY open spaces; gardening; mixology (gin being her favorite imbibe); and just her everyday life.

Her book came out yesterday, 66 Square Feet, A Delicious Life.

I was privy to an advanced copy and couldn't stop looking at it. The book is filled with beautiful photography and Marie's original recipes, a menu for each month and season.

Since peaches are plentiful in our neck right now, I decided to try her simple Grilled Peaches w/ Mascarpone & Amaretti Cookies.

These were stunners. So pretty.
Of course I had to add some booze to the recipe and mint for garnish. I served them warm, then ate them the next day, cold out of the fridge.

We loved them both ways. A top 10 easy dessert.

Marie's Grilled Peaches w/ Mascarpone & Amaretti: serves 4

2 ripe peaches (preferably Jersey free stone)
1 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp of mascarpone (not MARscapone)
3 amaretti cookies
1 tbsp of liquor of your choice (Amaretto, Brandy or Grand Marnier), optional

Crush the cookies with the back of a glass to make crumbs and set aside.

Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Since my peaches had shallow centers, I scooped some of the middles out with a melon spoon so I could fill them better with the mascarpone.

Sprinkle the peaches with the granulated sugar.

In a non-stick grill pan, lay the peaches face down and cook for about 6 minutes without disturbing. The sugar will bubble around them and caramelize them beautifully. Flip over and grill the skin side for about a minute.

I mixed the mascarpone with some liquor (amaretto or Grand Marnier is yummy), but that is optional.

Fill the centers of the grilled peaches with the cheese and sprinkle with the crushed cookies.

Can be made ahead, but we liked them best warm.

Marie will be giving a copy of 66 Square Feet, A Delicious Life to one of my lucky readers.

Please leave a comment and a winner will be chosen randomly on Sept. 12.

Marie will also be signing her books and serving snacks and bubbly at Book Court in Brooklyn on Sept. 7, so please stop in and say hello to her!

Congrats Marie! xo