I Got a Grill! (And Not the Grill for Your Teeth, Although That WOULD Be Awesome, wouldn’t it?)

Practice makes perfect right?, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

I bought my first grill today: a $30 Weber Smokey Joe. Grilling is in my blood thanks to my dad. I’ve been eyeing one of these for years now and here it is (I held back mostly for commitment reasons–like would I ACTUALLY use it? After tonight, yes I think I will). So what was the first thing I made? Grilled salmon tacos with sweet coleslaw and grilled veggies. It was surprisingly fantastic even though I didn’t realize I had to put the cover on the food to prevent smoking and flare-ups, haha. I think I need to partake some more grilling knowledge, like in the form of Weber’s Big Book of Grilling. Aw yeah. I definitely want to get this book though. It looks like it has anything and everything about grilling.

Tyler Florence’s Proscuitto-Roasted Figs

I saw Tyler Florence make this on one of his shows several years ago back when I was a poor college student in Denton. For some reason, I remembered that recipe probably because it seemed so "gourmet" and sounded like such a complex mixture of flavors that it intrigued me.

So last week I was at my favorite asian market and I saw they had brown turkey figs on sale for 2.99 a container.

And seeing as how I’m near an affluent part of north Dallas, picking up proscuitto and blue cheese from my grocery store is as easy as finding ham and cheddar.

This appetizer was very easy to make–so simple and with very few ingredients. What did it taste like?

It really was very good though. The second you pop it into your mouth, you get the saltiness of the proscuitto followed by the sweetness of the fig and honey, and finally finish with the tanginess of the blue cheese.

It was a complex mixture of intriguing flavors :)

Tyler Florence’s Proscuitto-Roasted Figs

40 small fresh mission figs
4 ounces manchego or blue cheese
20 prosciutto slices, halved
1/3 cup honey
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make a small slit in the side of each fig and stuff a raisin-size piece of cheese in the opening. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each fig to enclose it. Stand the figs on a baking sheet. Bake until the prosciutto melts slightly and forms a skin around the figs, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey and season with lots of pepper. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Wondering Why I Get a Late Night Snack But SHE Doesn’t

This diet has it’s perks. I get to eat several snacks and meals a day (all healthy stuff). Last night, my bedtime snack was hard boiled egg whites, hummus, and grapes.

Can you tell Izzie was a little envious of my late night snack?