Friday, May 17, 2013

Grilled Pork Roast with Cherry Chutney

Grilled Pork Roast with Cherry Chutney
Ingredients
1 c. apple juice
1 c. sugar
1 c. apple cider vinegar
1 diced small red onion
1 tblsp. finely chopped fresh or candied ginger
1 cinnamon stick
a pinch of red pepper flakes
1 lb. pitted cherries (2 1/2 c.)
Method
In a non-reactive saucepan, add the onion, ginger, sugar, vinegar, and apple juice. Bring to a simmer. Reduce until syrupy. Add the cherries and simmer covered for 3 minutes. Uncover and reduce once more until syrupy about 10 minutes.
Yield 2 cups
This is a great topping for grilled or smoked pork, chicken and duck.
Yield 2 cups
Dry marinade for pork roast
Ingredients
1/2 c. brown sugar mixed with...
1 1/2 tblsp. kosher salt
3 lb. pork loin roast
Method
Rub the pork roast with the salt and sugar mix. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Rub off excess marinade and moisture before roasting. Place in a small roasting pan or cast iron pan (not your favorite all clad pan) to put into the BBQ. Add ½ inch of water to keep the roast from burning on the bottom. Keep adding water as needed.
Add some moistened apple or cherry wood chips to the coals. If using a gas barbecue place the chips in a tin pie pan off to the side. When the chips start to smoke begin roasting with the cover closed. Use the indirect low-heat method so the roast won’t burn. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Internal temperature should be 150°F.
Serves 6

Grilled Apricot Crostini

Grilled Apricots with Chèvre, Pine Nuts, Arugula and Balsamic Syrup on Grilled Crostini
(this is a great summer appetizer)
Ingredients
½ c. Balsamic vinegar
½  to ¾ baguette – 18 slices
1 c. olive oil
9 Apricots
2 to 3 oz. Goat cheese
9 Arugula leaves
¼ c. Toasted Pine nuts
Method
Heat balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over low heat. Reduce until syrupy.
Toast pine nuts in a 350°F oven until lightly browned.
Cut diagonal slices of bread and brush with olive oil.
Cut apricots in half, remove pit and brush with olive oil.
Grill bread on both sides to create hatch marks. Grill apricots on the cut side for just a few minutes being careful to not over cook. Cut each half into 3 slices. Spread crostinis with goat cheese, top with a few pine nuts, a leaf of arugula and three slices of grilled apricot. Drizzle a few drops of the balsamic syrup over the top to finish.
Serves 6

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade
Ingredients
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 c. fresh lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
½ pint strawberries
3 to 4 cups cold water
ice, mint, strawberry slices
Method
Wash, stem and chop strawberries. Heat sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and reduce to ¾ cup. Add strawberries and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool then strain mashing strawberry pulp to extract as much of the juice as possible. Pour into a large pitcher. Squeeze lemons and add to the strawberry syrup. Dilute with cold water to taste. Add ice to a  glass pour in lemonade then garnish with fresh mint, a lemon slice and sliced strawberries. You could also add a little vodka for a refreshing adult beverage on a hot day.
Yield 4 to 6 glasses.