"Boozy Fruit" recipes... for gifts or...

I am sick of gifting or receiving fruit cake, so I am sharing a few recipes for which you will get 'encore' requests. With dried fruits you can marinate for a few weeks and the fruit will be unbelievably delicious.

Fill crepes, top ice cream, serve in lieu of strawberries on shortbread or angel food cake, or just eat it plain. Do act responsibly if you decide to hoard it all for yourself, however, and appoint a designated driver.

"BOOZY FRUIT i" (Marinated)

2 CUPS ANY DRIED FRUIT, such as apricots, blueberries, cherries
6 Tablespoons Grand Marnier
2 Tablespoons of sugar
3 Tablespoons water

Mix water and sugar together and bring to a boil over medium heat until the sugar is melted. Add the Grand Marnier, mix all gently with the fruit. Seal in airtight tupperware containers or lidded glass jars and refrigerate until used. Fruit should be marinated for at least a few days but eaten within a week to ten days. I like to use the decorator canning jars that have cute covers. (Okay, it's hokey, but probably the most practical.)

"BOOZY FRUIT ii" (Fresh eating)

4 CUPS ANY FRESH or CANNED FRUIT, such as kiwis, strawberries, berries, peaches
1 cup Brandy
6 Tablespoons of sugar

Mix the fruits with sugar, but keep each fruit separate. You are going to create a really beautiful effect - like a fruit trifle - by placing the fruit in layers in a tall glass or transparent dessert dish. Alternate strawberries with peaches, blackberries, or kiwis, for example. Pour the brandy over the fruit layers and refrigerate.

When ready to serve you can add a whollop of homemade, thick whipped cream if desired.

This fruit can also be used for crepes or as toping on chocolate, orange-flavored or vanilla cakes. I've even put a tablespoon on top of a piece of homemade chocolate fudge for a really devilish after dinner mini-dessert. Chocolate lovers will adore it.

"BOOZY FRUIT iii" (For the barbecue)

1 cup Rum or other liquor
1 cup Powdered sugar
Wooden Skewers (Soak them in water for at least an hour so they won't burn)
Choice of any of the following fruits:
1 pineapple
1 pear
1 mango
1 star fruit
2 green bananas
1 peach
2 apricots
1 papaya (Hawaiian small size)

Directions:

Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Slice Mango and score cheeks, but don't peel
Peel banana and slice length ways into two halves
Peels & core pineapple – cut into slices and wedges
Slice or cube any fruits you want to put on skewers
Arrange diced fruit onto skewers (previously soaked in water).
Dust all fruit to be char grilled with powdered sugar and set aside until sugar melts.
Brush fruit lightly with Rum
Turn heat up and place all fruit onto char grill and cook for 2-3 minutes or until grill marks appear. (Don't cook the fruit until it is mushy or loses shape!)
Remove and set aside. Serve immediately.

This fruit dish is wonderful for outdoor eating, but you might want to use a collander-like vegetable holder made for grills. It will keep your fruit from falling off your skewers.

Make sure the fruit you buy is on the greener side rather than ripe as it will still taste sweet but will hold together better after cooking.

Buen provecho!