Mistakes happen. Sometimes it works out well.
Take this dessert, for example. I wanted to grill peach halves and serve them with whipped cream and some sort of crunchy topping. But I couldn't find good peaches, so I bought nectarines. But they weren't freestone, and when I tried to cut the fruit in half the flesh clung to the pit.
No halves.
I had to cut the nectarines into pieces.
That meant no grilling. So I roasted the pieces instead.
All I can say is I wish I had more of this dessert. It was so good that a recipe that is supposed enough servings to feed 8 people only served 4.
But maybe you will all be more abstemious.
Roasted Nectarines with Oat-Almond Crumbles
Oat-Almond Crumbles:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup melted butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix the flour, almonds, oats, brown sugar, salt and melted butter. Spoon the mixture onto a rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
Roasted Nectarines and Cream:
- 8 firm, but ripe nectarines or peaches
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the nectarines into chunks and discard the pits. Place the chunks in a bowl. Add the melted butter and all but one teaspoon of the sugar. Place the fruit on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes to caramelize the fruit. Place equal quantities of the baked fruit on serving dishes. Whip the cream with the remaining teaspoon sugar and the vanilla extract until it is thick. Top the fruit with equal amounts of whipped cream. Scatter the crumbles equally on top.
Makes 8 servings (unless you can't control yourself, in which case, maybe 4-6)