Grilled Fool features fresh fruit

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Alison Ladman
Associated Press
Donít let the name confuse you. This is an easy, delicious and summery dessert, not a reference to the person standing at the grill.
A fool is a classic British dessert made from a fruit compote and whipped cream. Traditionally, the two components are folded together, but they also can be layered in a parfait glass. In our revision, we’ve opted to grill the fruit rather than cook it on the stovetop.
Grilling the fruit keeps your kitchen cool and adds a wonderful smoky-caramel flavor to the fruit. Weíve opted for a mixture of strawberries and peaches, but pineapple and banana with a little toasted coconut on top would be a great tropical fool. Or use apples and pears with a little cinnamon added to the whipped cream.
Grilled Fool
Start to finish: 30 minutes; serves 4.
Vegetable oil, for
oiling the grill
2 peaches, halved, pits
removed
1 pound large strawberries,
stemmed and halved
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
11/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat a grill to medium-high. Be sure that the grates are very clean. Using a pair of tongs, rub a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil over the grates.
Grill the peaches and strawberries until tender and starting to brown. Remove the strawberries after 5 minutes. Flip the peaches and grill for another 5 minutes. Allow the fruit to cool until it is easily handled. Pull the skins off the peaches. Cut the fruit up into 1/2-inch cubes, then combine in a large bowl. Stir in the honey and lemon juice. Allow to cool completely.
With an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
To assemble the fools, arrange the fruit and whipped cream in layers in tall glasses. Start with the mixed fruit, then spoon whipped cream over it and repeat until the glass is filled. Alternatively, fold the cooled fruit into the whipped cream and spoon the mixture into glasses.