Grilled Pineapple Skewers with Cinnamon

Fresh fruit and summer go hand in hand. Try this tasty treat as an afternoon snack or as a dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole fresh pineapple
• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 10 kebab skewers*

Directions:

Prepare the Pineapple

Using a large knife, slice off the top and bottom of the pineapple, about a half-inch from the ends, and stand it upright. Carefully slice off the outer peel, making sure you cut out the eyes of the pineapple. Quarter the pineapple lengthwise and lay the quarters flat, core side up. Slice out the hard core and discard, then halve the quarters lengthwise. You should now have 8 long spears. Slice the spears into one-inch chunks. Pierce four or five chunks onto each skewer and lightly dust all sides with cinnamon.

Grill the Pineapple

Grill the pineapple quickly on your barbecue on medium-low heat. You don’t need to cook the pineapple, just warm it up and let the cinnamon mix with the juices. Flip the skewers so each side has a chance on the grill.

*A note on skewers: You may use wooden skewers for this recipe, however I recommend soaking them in a bowl of water for at least 20 minutes prior to grilling to prevent them from charring during the cooking process. Alternatively, invest in a set of metal skewers that can be reused for years to come. I found my set at the local dollar store.