Fruit salad is a staple at many outdoor cookouts but why not take it from ordinary to extraordinary by adding a touch of live fire to the fruit?

For those of you who have never experienced grilled watermelon, the heat and flames bring a whole other dimension to this juicy fruit.  That, combined with pineapple that has been caramelized on the grill are the basis for this most memorable fruit salad recipe.

GRILLED FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

1/2 seedless watermelon cut into 1-inch thick wedges

1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 8 sections

1 pint strawberries, stems removed and sliced

1 pint of blueberries

Juice of 1 orange

1 tbsp. granulated honey or brown sugar

1 tbsp. fresh mint cut into thin ribbons (optional)

Instructions

Prepare grill for medium-high heat cooking, approximately 400 degrees.  Brush main cooking grate with canola oil.  Place watermelon and pineapple sections on the grill and cook for approximately 4 minutes per side until the fruit is lightly charred and the watermelon has begun to soften.

Remove fruit from the grill, remove the rind from the watermelon. Cut the grilled watermelon and pineapple into 1-inch cubes.

Place the cubed fruit in a large bowl along with the sliced strawberries and blueberries.  Add the orange juice, granulated honey or brown sugar, and mint (optional) then toss well.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.