Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Back in My Arms Again

The first orange of the season. And who invented supremes? Jeez, fruit torture.
I sat at the dining room table with a little knife and about a dozen membrane-covered segments of this stunning citrus.
No, I am not historically a huge fan of oranges. I am a huge fan of the oranges on the tree in my backyard. They taste so good. They're not at their peak of sweetness or juiciness yet. (I suspect it's a Summer Navel variety, because they mature rather late, and even hang on until July.) But in the context of a tangy salad, perfect.
It was the first time I've ever supremed oranges. I had the feeling I was going to be there a long time, getting sticky and frustrated. Imagine: You trim the membrane off both sides of the segment, and the spine too. I envisioned juice running off the table, and enormous sacrifice of edible portions.
But. No.
It went surprisingly well, and nobody taught me how to do it. I just did it. I was a complete natural.
Nice salad, too.
You can call me Diana Ross; I won't mind.

20 comments:

Zoomie said...

Not so hard once you figure out to start from the outside in. Looks really delicious, Ms. Ross.

cookiecrumb said...

Zoomie: It's almost impossible to look at that salad and believe the ingredients are seasonal: onion, lettuce, olive, orange.
Baby love.

Anita (Married... with dinner) said...

Some day we'll be together (and when that happens, I will show you a neat trick for supreme-ing that I learned from the fabulous Shunafish)

cookiecrumb said...

Anita: I know there are better tricks than the slog I went through. Thanks for offering the education. I must stop my wrong technique in the name of love.

Anonymous said...

Stop! In the naaammme of supremes....

cookiecrumb said...

EB: Come see about me!

Kailyn said...

Never stopped to think that there was a name for it. I just did it. And once you've done it, it's hard to stop.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a very satisfying salad.

Brittany said...

I'm experiencing sensory overload with the citrus everywhere.
I love it!

You don't by any chance send those backyard oranges up to Seattle, do you?

I could trade you some salmon or huckleberries or rain - or something...

Kailyn said...

Pssst. Trade Brittany some oranges for some rain.

cookiecrumb said...

Kailyn: I thought it was a tedious, unnecessary job. But! Good results.

Melissa: Very satisfying.

Brittany: I do have an excess of oranges. I might think about it! (is it legal?)

Kailyn: Hee!

Anna Haight said...

New orange season, for tart ones! Fun!

Anonymous said...

OOO! So glad you posted! And olives too begorrah.

peter said...

I confess that the salad- pretty though it is- is not nearly as exciting as that little counter thingy to the right.

cookiecrumb said...

Anna: I'll bring you some.

El: LOCAL olives. My world is empty without them, babe.

Peter: FOUR days to go?? Squee. The Happening!

Heather said...

...right by your side. Now look what you've done. Stuck. In my head.

Say, I was shopping yesterday and saw all the pretty new citrus, including Meyer lemons. It reminded me that I've been reading your blog for almost a year, though I was too timid at first to comment. I know - me, timid? HA!

Meyer lemons remind me of you, is all.

kudzu said...

And now for something completely different: For a really unique use of carefully segmented oranges, check out one of fabulous Alto Adige dishes on the current post on http://rubbahslippasinitaly.blogspot.com .
I guarantee a revelation.

kudzu said...

Whoops: what happened?Here is the correct address:
http:rubbahslippahsinitaly.blogspot.com

kudzu said...

Again? Damn! .com

cookiecrumb said...

Heather: My Meyer lemon tree is currently sterile. At least I can buy them around these parts.
Only a year? It's like I've loved you forever.

Kudzu: Can't wait to go see. Thankee.