Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Dessert: Grand Marnier Grilled Plums, and Family Reunion

Fresh from the garden. Photo courtesy of my sister L.K.

After all grilled food I shared yesterday it was only natural to post some dessert.  Although my plan was to share with you my biscotti recipe, my morning conversation with my parents and my sister made some changes to my posting schedule. 
They were having an unexpected family reunion at my parent's house (unexpected meaning it wasn't planned, but many relatives showed up: often happens in our house!), and she sent me a picture of the table, nothing fancy, just an usual late summer meal: stuffed peppers, some meat, garden vegetables, feta cheese, mushrooms (oh, my mother's mushrooms: she makes it amazingly delicious, and she picks them too), some antipasti in the very low right corner, and roasted plums in the middle. 

Nothing fancy... Photo courtesy of my sister L.K.

Roasted plums? That sounds interesting, and what about grilled plums? Yes, I can do that now! 
As soon as my Skype conversation was over, I went back to the kitchen to create. I didn't have all the ingredients for those beautiful roasted plums my sister made, so I made my own.



Ingredients:
1 lb (500 gram) any plums, halved and pit removed
2 tablespoons Agave nectar, or sugar
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier 

*Note: alcohol evaporates during cooking process, but you can skip it if it's not appropriate for you)

In a bowl combine all ingredients and place on a grill for 4-7 minutes. 
Here is another advantage of panini grill with adjustable plates: I was able to place plums cut side up to prevent juices from leaking, and I also set the top plate just to touch the plums, without squishing it. 


I decorated grilled plums with whipped cream and some sprinkles. 



To some degree I felt as I participated in the family reunion, thanks to Skype. 
***
Does your family has spontaneous evens, or it is always planned?


See you,
Marina

49 comments:

  1. This same thing happened to our house many times in the past and my mom always had a few recipes for such occasions. These plums look very appetizing and elegant Marina and I am sure everyone missed you in this family reunion!

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    1. Thank you Katerina! I think this is the very first time my creation was complimented as elegant... I am touched by your warm words... :)

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  2. Skype is a wonderful thing! What BEAUTIFUL plums... love the addition of sprinkles!

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    1. Thank you Yvonne! I am glad you liked my plums, I am working on my skills on food presentation... :)

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  3. I like your twist on the grilled plums. What a great way to send off the summer! My teenage boys might even like this with the sprinkles. Take care, BAM

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    1. My teenager loved it, I guess it passed a teenager test! :) Thanks for your comment!

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    2. That is my true test if something gets published on Bam's Kitchen. Will the teenagers like and eat it? then it gets posted. If not well it get filed for those other kind of adult fancy meals...

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    3. :) Yes, teenagers do make us work hard in our kitchens... :)

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  4. Hehe Marina, I'm in the middle of planning a family picnic and it is confusing and full of questions as always. I think a Skype version might be better! :P

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    1. Good luck planning your family picnic, I know you have some different people to please. Skype version was perfect for me, but I feel for my mother when 10 people showed up at her door. No, I do prefer the real version too, even if I had to run around the kitchen like crazy. I love my family, and miss them very much...

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  5. I love Gran Marnier - such good stuff to bake with or make sauces with. Bet the plums were great!

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    1. I love Grand Marnier too, and not only in food sometimes. Shell we get a drink, Averie?! :) I am sure we would have tons of fun and many topics to talk and laugh about: kids, family, cooking, Anthropology, cameras, etc... And guess what? Because I don't eat sweets, all deserts are yours! :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. What a lovely table of food!
    Sometimes a crowd shows up for lunch or dinner. I try to have a well stocked freezer and pantry : )

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    1. Hi Sheila, my mother for this has a well stocked pantry of canned food, but in the summer garden fresh fruits and vegetables with some slices of salami can feed a big crowd! :)

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  7. I love it that we can be a part of things virtually when we can't be there in person! Although there are many negative things about the web, there are also so many wonderful things that keep us all better connected! Love your plums, so pretty and tasty sounding!

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    1. Thanks you Chris! Yes, technology provided us with tools hard to avoid: my parents weren't interested in computer until they realized they can talk to anyone in the world via Skype. The very next day my dad went to the store and bought a computer! :)

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  8. Mmmm..what a wonderful table full of food! These plums sound absolutely delicious...simple, yet fancy. Mmmm...

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    1. Thank you Heather. Simple is my way to go as I don't like to disturb a real taste of food... :)

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  9. Thanks for sharing the lovely table of food via your sister, Marina. Everything looks so good, especially love the stuffed peppers. Wonder if you can get the recipe for them!
    Your grilled plums are so perfect sweet, and over the top yummy with the Grand Marnier, and the fun topped whipped cream:) Yumm!

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    1. Hi Elisabeth, Oh yes, the recipe for those stuffed peppers has been in our family for generations, I've learned it from my grandmother and mother, and it is very easy.
      The thing is that those European peppers, they call it Bulgarian for some reason, have so much flavor itself. I make it often here, and my mother made it when she was here last January, but without that pepper it tastes different. You know, to have those peppers in the winter months, my mother preserves dozens of 3 liter jars of this peppers, that's how unique they are.
      Thanks for your kind comment, Elisabeth! :)

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  10. I love the little sprinkles on the peaches! What a subtle, cute touch!! With your first picture, I was so jealous of the fresh picked fruit! I love when the leaves are still attached to the fruit. You can rarely find that in a grocery market!! My family is in another state so I've not been able to join in family gatherings for over 10 years now...so sad! Never thought to skype join tho!! :)

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    1. I know, fresh fruits from the garden are amazing, and I don't even wash it, just wipe it out and enjoy.
      Ouch, 10 years is a long time. I hope you join your family reunion soon. My family is big, and loud, but fun and I love them so much!
      Thanks for visiting my blog! :)

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  11. I've never roasted - or grilled - plums. Love the idea! These must have tasted wonderful. Love the sprinkles - fun touch!

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    1. Hi John, now with my new toy in the kitchen I grill everything! :) Teenager has fun trying to grill some things. Last night he offered to grill pasta... :) Thanks for the compliment on the plums!

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  12. Great, light, healthy and delicious dessert. I would delicately sprinkle it with freshly ground pepper ;-) unforgettable experience;-) trust me :-)

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    1. Thanks Joanna I know, I tried. I prefer it with red pepper though...:)
      And if we are talking about contrasts, then actually I would prefer a very good gourmet salt, for example smoked salt that I used on grilled boiled potatoes... :)

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  13. You definitely make a family reunion very memorable my friend :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    1. Thank you Uru! It was a spontaneous yet great event indeed! :)

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  14. I love when you make dessert :) Your grilled plums sound fantastic with a bit of Grand Marnier and topped with whipped cream! I'm glad you got to Skype with the family and bring some of the reunion back to your house through this recipe. Your mom knows how to put out a magnificent spread...no wonder all the relatives like to show up!!

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    1. Thank you Lizzy! My men like when I make desserts too. :)

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  15. The opening photo of the freshly-picked fruit was quite beautiful, Marina. A nice still-life of the season's harvest. Isn't it incredible how much flavor grilling adds to fruit? Your plums, sprinkles and all, look so tasty! My family is now rather spread out now. It's hard for people to just drop in unexpectedly. We do manage to get together, though, and it's always a good time.

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    1. I love that opening photo too, those grapes can only look so great after they were just picked. I need to tell you that our family is spread out too. And out of those 10 people that showed up, 8 traveled quite a long distance: over one thousand miles! I was grateful for Skype at that moment! :)

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  16. I wish i could have attended your picnic :)

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  17. Modern technology is really amazing. My kids get to talk with my family in Japan via facetime and my husband's parents in Taiwan via skype. They seem to be more updated about what's going on in our house than some of our friends here. Although I sometimes miss writing letters etc, this is sort of nice way to keep in touch. Anyway... your grilled plums sound fantastic! Last night I grilled nectarines. Next is plums. Your preparation sounds really tasty. :)

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    1. Hi Nami, I agree, technology does make connections easier. Grandparents feel being involved in some activities with their grandkids with each Skype conversation being like a small trip... :)

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  18. my extended family doesn't have too much spontaneity but my immediate one does---love all that beautiful food!!

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  19. We don't have a big family, only four of us here. So, we do things as we planed and I like surprises too-))

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    1. There's only four of us here too, but Skype makes it easier to connect with the rest of the family overseas. :) OK, next time I am in your area, I will keep in mind you like surprises...:)

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    2. You know you are so welcome in my house!

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  20. What a feast, love spontaneous reunions, and your mom's mushroom dish looks delicious! And those fresh grilled plums with Grand Marnier, just perfect!

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    1. Thank you! I love those mushrooms too, I wish I could have some! :)

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  21. Your plums are very pretty! I love plums! I bet they were great grilled!

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  22. Hi Marina, I just bought some plums the other day and made a little tart from them. I'd forgotten just how great they are! I've never tried grilling them like this - it looks like a wonderful serving idea - thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thank you Charles! Sometimes I go fearless in the kitchen and try all kind of things... :) Sometimes doing less is all what's needed to enhance the taste or bring up a flavor.

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Your warm comments put a smile on my heart.