Grilled Apples

Ice cream is delicious on its own, but when added to enhance something you've grilled, it's like magic!

       I have grown up loving everything grilled, maybe it's because of my summers spent on Pelee Island at the cottage (we don't have an oven there, just a BBQ and a campfire) and my family was pretty adventurous when it came to creating meals. We didn't just eat the rudimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausages (although those were a pretty big staple), my parents were pretty experimental when it came to what could and couldn't be grilled. Let me tell you, there isn't much that cannot be grilled. My feelings are, if you can bake it in an oven, fry it on a stove, then you can cook it on the BBQ.

      One of my favourite items to grill, other than meat, is fruit. "Fruit?" you ask, "Seriously?". Yes, fruit. You only need a few ingredients and it's super simple, and quick to prepare. Pineapple is a very popular fruit to grill, as the sweet juices caramelize quickly and it adds a nice smoky flavour, especially when added to a salad or a burger. (I've never grilled pineapple, but I've read in multiple places that this is the case). Peaches and pears are also excellent fruits to grill, (this is from experience).

How to Grill Stone Fruits
       A stone fruit (such as a peach) is very sweet and must be monitored carefully with the lid open when on the grill.

1. Wash the fruit (make sure it's a firm one. A soft fruit will have too many sugars and might get too mushy too fast.)
2. Quarter the fruit, removing the pit. Or, if you're talented, cut it in half horizontally, remove the pit and slice into rings.
3. Coat the fruit with a mixture of cinnamon and butter.
4. Preheat the grill to about 350°F (Let's be honest, you're already grilling, so whatever temperature you've got the grill at should be fine)
5. Place the peaches on the grill and leave them for about 3 minutes. DO NOT turn them or move them or check them. You want the natural sugars to caramelize, which will give you great grill marks.
6. Flip them and repeat 5 for each side. (If you've cut it into rings, you might notice them getting mushy faster, if so, flip them earlier and remove earlier)
7. Serve with ice cream or eat without and enjoy!

How to Grill Pome Fruits

      A pome fruit (such as an apple or pear) is crunchy and sweet and generally needs a little longer on the grill compared to a stone fruit. The steps to grill them are the same, but you will want to grill them for about 5-6 minutes a side rather than 3 minutes.

How to do Grilled (Baked) Apples

      Now that you've experimented with grilling fruit, you want to try something a little more adventurous. 

Grilled Magic!

1. Choose an apple that stands straight without rocking and wash your apple.
2. Core the apple, but make sure don't go all of the way through the bottom (leave about an inch).
3. In a small bowl, mix some brown sugar, cinnamon and butter together. 
4. Stuff this mixture into the apple where the core used to be. Do not rub this on the skin around the outside of the the apple, if some is on it, it's okay, but try to be neat.
5. Preheat the grill to about 350°F (Let's be honest, you're already grilling, so whatever temperature you've got the grill at should be fine)
6. Place the apple on a pie plate on the BBQ and pour about an ounce of spiced rum over the fruit, and into the pie plate. 
7. Close the lid and wait. Obviously you'll be checking whatever else is on the grill, so you can check the apples at the same time.
8. When you notice that the rum has been burned off of the pie plate remove the apple, dispose of the plate and place the apple directly on the grill.
9. Close the lid and wait. It should take about 30 minutes from the time you put it on the grill for it to be finished. If you notice that it is getting really soft, it's okay to remove it earlier.
10. Add a scoop of ice cream, and maybe some caramel sauce, and enjoy!