Cooking Up a Hooley In the Kitchen
By Katie Gagne
Fabulous Fruit
One of the best things in the summer is the abundance of fresh, homegrown fruit. Whether it comes from your own backyard or one of the many nearby farms and markets, the sweetness of such goodness is undeniable.
“What do I do with all this fruit?” is what I am hearing all the time. Fruit salads, pies, jams, tarts, and cobblers are all yummy. Yet after all those . . . ?
Here is a great recipe for grilled dessert pizza that you can add to your summer favorites.
The beauty of this recipe is that it works with all kinds of fruits and you can add your own ingredients to make so many variations from the simple to the sophisticated.
Grilled Red Plum Dessert Pizza
Ingredients
1 Pizza Crust — Round or Square – Fresh dough or Pre-Baked (This does work great with Boboli or flatbread)
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1/3 Cup White Granulated Sugar
4 Red Plums – Sliced (skin on)
6 oz Spreadable Brie Chees
6 oz Dark Chocolate Chips
¾ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Teaspoons Powdered Sugar
½ Cup Spiced Pecans (optional)
Heat grill to 400*
Prior to grilling the crust – prepare the chocolate sauce
In a small saucepan, heat the heavy whipping cream on medium until simmering.
Poor the simmering hot cream over the dark chocolate chips that have been placed in a heat-safe bowl.
Allow it to sit for 2 minutes then stir until smooth.
Place pizza dough directly on grill grates and cook for 3-4 minutes, until toasted on one side
Flip pizza dough to cook on other side. Remove from grill when both sides are fully baked.
Place plum slices on the grill and cook approximately 2 minutes each side, until soft with some nice grill marks.
Remove from grill
Assemble the pizza — sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on one side of the warm dough.
Arrange the grilled sliced plums and dollops of the brie on the crust. Sprinkle with candied pecans.
Place crust back on the grill and close lid until cheese is melty.
Remove from grill and drizzle with chocolate sauce and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Slice and enjoy.
This is just one example of how to make some fun and tasty dessert pizzas. Blueberries and peaches are delicious on this. You can change the cheese and add different sugars like brown sugar or use other sauces such as caramel or even balsamic dressing for a bit of a savory taste. Pretty much, anything goes.
*Katie Gagne teaches English at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights. She is also the owner of her in-home bakery Sassy’s Sweets and Oh So Much More. You can contact her at (440) 773-4459 or at mk********@ao*.com.
