#MiddleburyCT #GrilledMixedFruitSundaes #EasyBoozyCaramelSauce
As we celebrate the start of summer this Memorial Day weekend with family and friends, let’s also take this time to honor the memory of those who have sacrificed for our freedom and served our nation with courage and dedication. Let’s dust off our grills and fire up the charcoal and shake things up with a twist on the traditional barbecue fare. While we often associate the grill with savory meats and veggies, why not indulge in the sweet side of grilling with desserts featuring grilled fruits?
Why grilled desserts, you ask? Besides the fun factor, there’s something delightful about caramelizing fresh fruit on the grill. It enhances their natural sweetness, making for a practically virtuous indulgence packed with health benefits. Now let’s dive into the piece de resistance: the Grilled Mixed Fruit Sundae.
Imagine this: the aroma of caramelized banana, strawberry and pineapple wafting through the air, creamy vanilla ice cream melting in the bowl, topped with homemade caramel sauce, made boozy if you like that kind of thing. I say yes.
Grilled Mixed Fruit Sundaes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Total Time: 25 minutes
Summer sweetness grilled to perfection: Grilled fruit sundaes. (www.JasonCoblentz.com)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar, divided
4 bananas, cut in half lengthwise keeping in peel
1 fresh pineapple peeled, cored and sliced into rings, 3/4-inch thick
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
16 ounces fresh strawberries, tops removed
Pinch flakey salt
Vanilla ice cream for serving
Boozy caramel, optional (recipe follows)
Toasted chopped nuts and coconut strips, optional
Preheat your grill to medium-low heat and wipe the grill grates with oil, or spray with cooking spray. If you’re using bamboo skewers, soak them in water at least 30 minutes before use. Alternatively, you can use a grill basket for all the fruit.
In a small bowl, mix warm, melted butter and 2 tablespoons brown sugar until sugar dissolves. Brush this mixture onto halved bananas and pineapple rings. In another small bowl mix balsamic vinegar with brown sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Dip the strawberries in the balsamic and brown sugar mixture. Place the strawberries on skewers.
Grill the bananas and pineapple rings for about 3 minutes on each side, or until grill marks develop. Remove them from the grill and set aside, keeping them warm. Then put the strawberry skewers on the grill, cooking for about 2 minutes on each side until hot and slightly tender.
To assemble the sundaes: Remove the peel from the bananas, roughly chop then divide all the grilled fruit between 6 to 8 sundae cups. To take this over the top, add a little sprinkle of salt to intensify the complex flavors of the caramelized sugars.
Top each serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with boozy syrup, and a sprinkle of chopped nuts and coconut, if desired.
Easy Boozy Caramel Sauce
Yield: 1 cup
Total Time: 5 minutes
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons dark rum, bourbon, whiskey or other liquor
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a small saucepan over low heat, cook the butter, heavy cream and brown sugar, stirring occasionally, until the sugar completely melts and the sauce is a uniform brown. Bring just to a boil then remove from heat. Let cool a little, then stir in the liquor of choice and vanilla. Keep warm.
As we celebrate the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, let’s embrace both abundant joy and sweet remembrance.
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime – Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com
© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
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