Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Autumn salad of pomegranate, pear & fig in rhubarb syrup


'...like the feeling you get on the first real day of autumn, when the air is crisp and the leaves are all flaring at the edges and the wind smells just vaguely of smoke - like the end and the beginning of something all at once.”
Lauren Oliver, Delirium 

I've shouted from every soap box around how besotted I am with Autumn. I adore the varied weather that sends leaves ablaze before tousling them loose to pirouette gracefully to the dew misted earth. And of course, there is the bounty of food. In the beginning we have the last of Summer's beautiful berries, tantalising tropical fruits and vibrantly fresh veggies.  But for me, the middle is the most interesting. This is where you get the short lived wonders like the gorgeous garnet pomegranates with their sparkling ruby arils and the royal purple figs with their perfumed damask bellies. You also are gifted with pretty persimmons, charming custard apples, quirky quinces, bold beetroots, pleasing pumpkins - I could rant endlessly.

What makes this Autumn impossibly precious is that it is the first I have shared with my darling daughter. I have watched her, mouth open in awe as she tracks each dancing leaf and feels every warm kiss of wind on her cheek. I have laughed when upon tasting a touch of pomegranate juice her mouth has puckered and her eyes squinted. Seeing the world through her eyes has painted mine with colours I have never seen; my world has been transformed in the most wonderful way. I count my blessings each and every minute.

What do you enjoy most about Autumn?


ease: 4/5.
prep time: 20mins.
chilling time: 30mins.
total: 50mins.

taste: 4/5. Autumn's sweet kiss.

I knew I would love this from the ingredient list alone; what a spectacular selection of fruits. The vanilla adds such a wonderful delicate fragrance whilst the cinnamon and cardamom give it an exotic twist. The rhubarb provides a sharp tartness to counter the sweet pears, whilst the vibrant pomegranate pairs perfectly with the perfumed figs.

would I make it again: No, it tasted lovely but I found it more suitable as breakfast with yoghurt than as a dessert, and for breakfast, its a touch time intensive and rather messy (those darned pomegranates, so delicious but so eager to stain everything in sight!).

recipe: http://gourmettraveller.com.au/autumn_salad_of_pomegranate_pear_and_fig_in_rhubarb_syrup.htm

14 comments:

  1. Oh, what a gorgeous, gorgeous salad! And just like I love the colours in this, I perhaps love the vibrant colours of the leaves best about Autumn :)

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  2. This is my kind of fruit salad! Want it now!!!

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  3. A wonderful fruit salad! Divine looking and so original.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. This looks really beautiful. I love the colors. I'm more of a spring/summer girl, but I have to admit, autumn really is growing on me [:

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  5. Mmm yum yum yum! Looks lovely!

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  6. You are my kind of cook and writer! Love it.

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  7. Totally gorgeous! It does look rather labor intensive, but so pretty!

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  8. What a beautiful post, I loved "Seeing the world through her eyes has painted mine with colours I have never seen". So beautiful! Just like this salad.

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  9. So beautiful and it looks absolutely smashing!!!

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  10. That is gorgeous! Perfect photo and the flavors must be amazing.

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  11. Yum, this looks absolutely delicious! I love the beautiful colours ♥

    www.boxandbrownie.com

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  12. I have completely fallen in love with Autumn this year, I don't quite know why...but I know I cannot wait until next Autumn. How special to have your first Autumn with your little one. Hail Autumn fruit, too.
    Heidi xo

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  13. This salad is totally beautiful and I want it, even though we're technically in "Summer" over here (technically because the weather is PANTS) but you know what? I am the worst blog buddy *in the world* because I had no idea you'd had a baby! A very, very late congratulations - enjoy your first Autumn with her =)

    Jax x

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