A New Kind of Dessert: Grilled Fruit

It can be stressful when you've planned the perfect barbecue and have yet to decide on dessert for the evening. This is a big decision because we all know dessert is the most important course of the meal. Well, not to worry, we have come up with the perfect concept: grilled fruit.

This idea came from Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis. Instead of turning off your grill when you're done with your steaks, simply allow the grease to burn off and get your fruit ready!

De Laurentiis suggests using nectarines, plums, or peaches. The heat from the grill brings out the natural sugars to create a sugary crust. Place the fruits on some skewers and watch them sizzle with flavor as your guests' eyes light up in anticipation.

Here is the recipe for Giada's Grilled Fruit:

Ingredients:

• 3 firm, but ripe, nectarines, pitted and halved
• 3 firm, but ripe, plums, pitted and halved
• 3 firm, but ripe, apricots, pitted and halved
• 3 tablespoons of sugar
• 6 metal or wooden skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes
• nonstick spray
• vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Spray the grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare a charcoal or gas grill for medium-high heat or preheat a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat. Thread one piece of each fruit on each of six skewers so that the cut sides line up and lay flat. Sprinkle the sugar over the cut sides of the fruit.

Let them stand until the sugar dissolves, about 10 minutes. Place the fruit skewers on the grill cut side down. Grill the fruit until it is heated through and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Place one fruit skewer on each plate and serve with a scoop of ice cream if you like.

Other grilled fruit recipes can be found at: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32462546/ns/today-today_food_and_wine/