Food For Thought

Food for Thought is part of our monthly series, featured in our online newsletter, where we'll provide tips that we know you'll find helpful in the kitchen, as well as interesting articles to enhance your culinary knowledge and everyday experiences. We welcome your input for topic matter. This month's feature is:

Grilled Fresh Fruit

Your weeks are long and your free time is short, and I've received so many requests for simple recipes that you can fix at home, that I've decided to devote this section to quick and simple RECIPES that you can prepare at home, using 5 ingredients or less. I will feature a simple 5 ingredient recipe each month, so stay tuned.

This month, we're making Grilled Fresh Fruit. So here we go.....

To grill fruits, simply cut as directed below, brush with plain or seasoned butter, and grill until hot and streaked with grill marks.

Makes 6 - 8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds fresh fruit of your choice, prepare as directed below
1/2 cup (1/4 lb) butter or margarine, melted *; or basting sauce used on an accompanying entree.
*If desired, add 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar to melted butter, then season with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ginger

DIRECTIONS
1. To grill, coat prepared fruits with plain or seasoned butter.
2. Place fruit on a lightly greased grill (4 to 6 inches above a lightly dispersed bed of medium coals).
3. Cook, turning frequently, until fruits are hot and streaked with grill marks. For grilling times, see specific fruits below.
4. Serve fruits hot or at room temperature.

FRUITS FOR GRILLING:
Apples. To prepare: Core apples; peel, if desired. Then cut small apples in halves; cut larger apples crosswise into 3/4 inch thick rings.
Grilling time: About 6 minutes for rings. 10 to 12 minutes for halves.

Apricots. To prepare: Cut in halves; then remove and discard pits. Thread on skewers, making sure fruit lies flat.
Grilling time: 4 to 6 minutes.

Oranges or Tangerines. To prepare: Do not peel. Cut small oranges in halves crosswise; cut large ones crosswise into 3/4 inch-thick slices.
Grilling time: 4 to 5 minutes for slices; 10 to 12 minutes for halves.

Papayas. To prepare: Peel, if desired; then cut crosswise into 3/4 inch-thick rings or cut lengthwise into quarters. Remove and discard seeds.
Grilling time: 5 to 8 minutes.

Peaches. To prepare: Peel and cut in halves length-wise; remove and discard pits.
Grilling time: 6 to 8 minutes.

Pears. To prepare: Core pears; peel, if desired. Cut small pears in halves lengthwise. Cut large pears into 3/4 inch wide wedges; Thread on skewers, making sure fruit lies flat.
Grilling time: About 6 minutes for wedges, 10 to 12 minutes for halves.

Pineapple. To prepare: Peel and core pineapple; then cut crosswise into 3/4 inch thick rings or cut lengthwise into 1-inch wide wedges.
Grilling time: 6 to 8 minutes.