Grand Marnier Ancho Chocolate Dessert Kabobs

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A purchased cake works well in this recipe and you don’t have to go to the trouble of baking one from scratch. You can substitute Kahlua or other coffee liqueur for the Grand Marnier, and you can use other fruits such as pineapple.

Ingredients

Grand Marnier Sauce

  • 8 ounce milk chocolate bar

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1/4 cup Grand Marnier or other orange flavored liquor

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ancho chile

The Fruit Kabobs

  • 1 medium ripe peach, peeled, cut into wedges

  • 1 sightly under ripe banana, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 12 1-inch cubes angel food cake

  • Grated orange peel, fresh mint leaves for garnish

Instructions

Soak 4 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.

 

To make the sauce, break up the chocolate and melt it in a saucepan over very low heat. Add the cream, stir well, and remove from the heat. Add the Grand Marnier and chile and stir well.

Using two skewers together to prevent flopping, thread the peaches, bananas, and cake onto the skewers.

Grill the kabobs directly over medium heat until the cake is toasted, turning once.

To serve, remove the fruit and cake from the skewers and place on plates. Drizzle with chocolate sauce, and garnish with orange zest and mint leaves.

 

Chiles Anchos Capones(Stuffed Seedless Ancho Chiles)

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The word capon translates as “castrated” but in this case merely means seedless. Yes, dried chiles such as anchos and pasillas can be stuffed, but they must be softened in hot water first. They have an entirely different flavor than their greener, more vegetable-like versions.

Ingredients

  • 10 ancho chiles
  • 1 quart hot water
  • 2 pounds queso añejo or romano cheese, grated
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 3 cups small green onions, without the green ends
  • 1 cup pork lard or substitute vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup flour
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

In a dry skillet, lightly toast the ancho chiles without burning them. Soak the chiles for 5 minutes in hot water to soften them, then drain and dry them. With a knife, make a slit in the side of each pod and deseed them. Stuff the chiles with the cheese and set aside. You can tie them to keep the stuffing from falling out if you wish.

Heat the chicken stock and boil the green onions for 3 minutes. Remove the onions from the stock and set both aside.

Heat the lard until lightly smoking. Fry the chiles on both sides, starting on the open side. Remove the chiles from the oil and drain on paper towels. Fry the green onions in the lard. Remove and set aside. Add the flour to the lard and stir until completely mixed without letting the mixture turn brown. Pour the chicken stock in the pan and stir until no more lumps are seen. Simmer the sauce to thicken for 5 minutes while stirring. Add the chiles and let simmer 2 more minutes. The sauce should be smooth, but not too thick. Add stock if necessary. Serve the chiles immediately with some green onions on the side.