For Grilling Buffs: A Yummy Idea For Cherries, Peaches, Stone Fruit

By PATTI BOND (Star Patcher)

The warm weather means that stone fruits are at your local farmers markets and neighborhood grocery stores. Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries, all members of the Prunus genus, are considered “stone fruits” because the seed is very large and hard. Another term for stone fruit is drupe.

Here’s a recipe from New Leaf Community Markets, where you will find a beautiful array of stone fruits as well as many other seasonal and locally grown produce.

Grilled Stone Fruit a la Mode with Honey Cinnamon Cayenne Drizzle

Ingredients:

14 ounces cherries

3 large peaches

Optional other stone fruit

1/4 cup honey

1 1/2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Dash of salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Vanilla ice cream

8-10 skewers soaked in water

Cut cherries in half and remove their pit and stems. Cut the peaches into large chunks and discard the pit. Heat grill to medium heat. Thread fruit onto the skewers. Grill fruit on medium heat for about 10-15 minutes or until tender and showing grill marks. Remove the fruit skewers from the grill.

When cooled enough to handle, but still warm, transfer fruit to a large bowl. In a small saucepan, melt together butter, honey, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt over low heat. When butter is melted and ingredients are combined, remove from heat.

Drizzle over fruit in the bowl and gently turn the fruit over in the bowl to ensure that all the fruit is coated with the syrup. If fruit is still hot or very warm, allow it to continue to cool. Serve the warm fruit over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and add a spoonful of extra cinnamon-honey over the ice cream. Enjoy!

• Also see:
• Overloaded With Zucchini? Here’s A Great Recipe For Fritters
• For Your Next Picnic Or Potluck: Wine Potato Salad

For more recipes featuring seasonal fruit, summer drinks, frozen desserts and articles about nutrition and wellness, visit www.newleaf.com/blog.