I know this is hard to believe, but I don’t always cook for two. Even harder to believe: I have friends! Real life friends. (of the non-internet variety!!).
And since my real-life friends have to hear about my internet friends and pretend it’s not weird, I cook for them. Quite frequently, actually. I made this stunning tray of grilled stone fruit with almond mascarpone dipping sauce and candied almonds last weekend. Even though it doesn’t serve two, it was insisted that I share it here.
I’m not sure why some of my friends say they’re too nervous to cook for me since I cook for a living. Truth be told, if anybody makes ANYTHING for me, I love it. I love it because: I didn’t have to cook it and I don't have to clean up afterwards.
Make me a bowl of microwave macaroni and cheese, and seriously, I think it’s the sweetest most delicious thing ever. That’s the thing about food people: we understand the energy and thought behind feeding someone. No one appreciates your efforts in the kitchen more than us. We want to be cooked for.
If you have a friend that loves cooking, please, do not avoid having him or her over for dinner because you’re worried they will spend the car ride home laughing at your store-bought marinades and your cooking skills. We won’t. I always spend the car ride home thinking about how wonderful the evening was with a big smile on my face.
I like to be fed.
Along the same line, please don’t expect everything you eat at my house to be chock full of hard-to-find fancy ingredients.
Not everything I make is laborious and exotic. In fact, hardly anything is. I keep a slightly more well-stocked fridge and pantry than the average non-cook, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything fancy and unattainable.
For example, you might stock cream cheese in your fridge. I hoard mascarpone instead. It’s like cream cheese that’s already been sweetened and smoothed out. It just makes it easier for me to whip up a quick dipping sauce. I’m all about easy and quick. Effortlessly impressive is my melody in life.
So, if you come to my house expecting a 4-layer chocolate cake stuffed with 3 different kinds of mousse and topped with home-spun sugar, you will be disappointed. Well, if you catch me on a weird day when I get the gumption to make something so ridiculous, yes, I’ll have that cake in my house.
But, most often, I’ll slice open half a dozen local peaches, plums, and apricots, and stir together mascarpone, almond extract and honey and serve. If I have an extra 5 minutes, I will candy some sliced almonds in sugar in a skillet. You might think it’s gourmet, but it’s so not. You'll definitely think it's scrumptious.
Grilled fruit with creamy sweet dip. If you don't have mascarpone, you can use cream cheese. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Grilled Stone Fruit + Almond Mascarpone Dip
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 385Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 247mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 5g
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
haha, I can totally see you preparing food for FOUR!! This sounds so good!!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
Happy Monday Christina!
You look so cute holding your tray of grilled stone fruit (why can't I look cute holding a tray of anything!!)
I love your almond mascaspone dip, honestly, I only tried mascaspone for the first time this summer. I guess I didn't need the calories, oh well.
I find the best meal ever is the one I don't have to cook! Our neighbors love coming over for our kabobs and we just chill and grill although their all laughing at our blog and my internet friends, they think it's so funny we're bloggers. Welllllll, good thing we laugh at ourselves too about it!!
Heather || Heather's Dish says
AMEN! I have people say that to me all the time, and all I really want is to not have to do the dishes!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
How beautiful does that fruit look??? I just want to dive into that plate with the perfect grill marks! Delish!
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
Lady this is going on my must make list as soon as local peaches show up. Gorgeous! Non-stick foil, eh? I'll have to try that.
Christina Lane says
Thanks, Aimee :) Don't grease the foil or use cooking spray of any kind---it prevents grill marks ;)
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
Haha.. I had this conversation in my head the other day! I love when friends cook for me too and never want them to feel insecure about their meal/cooking style. Always love it! Oh, and you had me at mascarpone... every time I hear that word I try to say it like Giada.
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
This is my idea of a perfect dessert. Simple, yet stunning, and a total celebration of summer! Also, totally agree on the loving to be cooked for--it's what's behind the bowl, not what's in it!
Amanda says
That fruit looks amazing!!! Those would definitely be the star of a grill out.
Christie - Food Done Light says
Love how simple and delicious this recipe is. What a great way to enjoy stone fruit.
Vijay @ NoshOnIt says
I can totally relate to everything you said here! None of my friends want to cook for me because they're too scared that I'll judge them. I always tell people exactly what you said - since I cook so much, I'm just happy to be invited to someone else's house! Heck, they can just have McDonald's and I'd be a happy camper!