Texas Cottage: Summer Grilling: Maple-Glazed Pineapple

Can you believe that summer is half over? It always goes by too quickly! I hope you're enjoying your summer, and that you've found time to do some grilling.

During my weekly grocery shopping trip, I was enticed to buy a fresh pineapple by the display near the front door. Since I was grilling chicken for dinner, I decided to grill the pineapple, also. Grilled pineapple is always delicious, but with this glaze it's irresistible. Kind of like the pineapple display in the grocery store.

If you don't know how to cut up a fresh pineapple, BlogHer TV has an easy-to-follow video. Just run your cursor over the top left corner of this post. A pop-up window will appear in a couple seconds. Choose the "How to Cut Pineapple" video.

Maple-Glazed Pineapple

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon rum extract

1 ripe pineapple

Clean the grill rack, spray with a nonstick spray, and heat the grill to medium.

Combine the syrup, cinnamon, and rum extract; set aside.
To prepare the pineapple, using a sharp chef's knife, slice off the crown and the bottom of the pineapple. Place the pineapple upright on a cutting board and slice off the outer skin. With a sharp paring knife, remove the "eyes." Halve the pineapple lengthwise. Cut away and discard the core.

You can grill the halves, or if desired, cut the halves into 3 pieces or into thick slices. Brush the pineapple with the syrup mixture.

Place the pineapple on the grill rack and grill, turning frequently with tongs and basting often with the syrup mixture, until the pineapple is glazed and lightly browned, 35-45 minutes. Remove pineapple from grill. Serve warm or at room temperature.