“I’m just too busy to read Mary’s blog right now.”
Orange & Olive Salad – an easy alternative for the holidays to your leafy greens.
Admit it, I know that’s what you’re thinking. Resist that thought. First, this post is short, mostly photos, and secondly, you will love, need and make this citrus salad over the holidays. Orange and Olive Salad, this week’s French Friday’s recipe choice, is a no-brainer, a sure-fire alternative to a leafy, green salad.
Donna, our leader, wants to get us on-the-move. Our host, Carol, is on the right. My smile is fake.
Buy some “meaty” navel oranges, grab a red onion from the pantry, get some olives out of your fridge and you’ve almost put together a platter or single-servings of a mouth-watering appetizer or side dish. Do it all ahead so you can put together, adding olive oil and salt/pepper, at the last minute. This recipe along with Dorie’s interesting tips are printed below.
Seriously?
Despite my trepidation about returning home in 2013 to Snow Country, this year’s snowy conditions have proved easier. Last December I took two scary falls and Old Man Winter successfully chased me indoors. No fun. This month, equipped with proper clothing, Icebugs (cleated shoes), cross country skies and snow shoes – purchased, donated and loaned, I’ve made my peace with him. After last week’s activities, maybe the mountain woman I was has reemerged…..kinda.
After reaching the cabin, emptying the two sleds and discarding our packs, we snowshoed up towards the Markley 10th Mountain Division Hut. Why not? (We arrived back at the cabin just before nightfall.)
As you may recall I belong to a nature study group (the Valley Vixens) with four other women. We’re volunteer USFS rangers, belong to the Forest Conservancy and are longtime locals. Despite that tenure, there is still much to learn about flora, fauna and the expansion of the West so we take study/learning seriously. Our leader suggested a two-day retreat before the holidays (Gung-Ho!), held at a colleagues’ cabin (How Fun!), that is inaccessible by vehicle in the winter (Holy Cow!).
Our cocktail hour (or, two) and discussion of Theodore Roosevelt
Translated, that means everything necessary for a two-day retreat – our gear, food, books and libation – must be hauled in (uphill) by sled or backpack. We Valley Vixens, equipped with snowshoes, would be the haulers. (I had not been on snowshoes for ten years.) Our study sessions would entail a discussion of “The River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey” about his disastrous South American trip, and sourcing the plants used for our retreat menus.
Early morning outside the cabin – the peak to the left is named Yellow Boy named for a Chinese cook who once lived in Ashcroft (now inappropriate, I know) and to the far right is Hayden Peak which is just above American Lake.
The mountain cabin, located above the mining ghost town of Ashcroft and below a spectacular waterfall, was built by our hosts, Carol and Tom Kurt, in 1979. Since they had graciously extended their hospitality to us, rudeness and opting out, albeit a consideration, was really not an option for me. Our leader, Donna, handed out assignments and graciously offered to haul my sleeping bag on her sled. The other Donna loaded up her backpack with “all” the wine. Call me The Little Engine That Could. And, did.
A morning hike, of course, before we head home.
Shortly after our return, with little recovery time, I participated in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Who could have anticipated a full-on blizzard with 6-8 inches of fresh snow when signing-up two months earlier? The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies was charged with counting birds in the 15-mile radius around Aspen. (Aspen’s expert birders spotted 40+ species on a snowy, windy day.) Roaring Fork Audubon handled the down valley habitats. The count must go on. And, did.
Now that the sleds were lighter, I volunteered to drag one down the hill.
On second thought, maybe not. Carole & Donna are experts.
You can understand why making this simple citrus salad was such a welcomed relief this week – nothing involved or complicated about it. That it was so delicious and such a good recipe for the holidays is only a bonus. French Fridays with Dorie is an international on-line group cooking its way through Dorie Greenspan’s, Around My French Table. To see what my colleagues are cooking up for the holidays, go here.
7:30am, at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies – these Birders are ready-to-go for a day-long Christmas Count.
Liz Bokram is my loyal and enthusiastic birding buddy – what can I say.
Ingredients
- 1 small red onion
- 4 navel, Temple or other “meaty” oranges
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Niçoise or other small black olives, pitted or not
- Salt, preferably fleur de sel, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Remove a thin slice from the top and bottom of each orange to give yourself flat surfaces, stand the orange up, and, working your knife around the contours of the orange, cut away the peel, the pith and the tiniest bit of flesh. Once they are peeled, cut the oranges into rounds 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick, and arrange attractively on a large serving platter. If you’d like, you can cover the oranges and chill them before you finish and serve the salad.
- Drain the onions and pat them dry. Drizzle the olive oil over the oranges, scatter over the onions, top with the olives and season with salt and pepper.
Notes
You can leave the onion whole or cut it in half. Thinly slice it, and separate the slices into rings or half rings. Rinse the slices and drop them into a bowl of ice water. If you’ve got the time, let them sit in their water bath for about 20 minutes — the rinse will wash away some of their bitterness, and the bath will make them crisp.
You may want to remove the zest and save it before peeling the oranges. You can remove it in wide strips, cut away the white pith on the underside, and freeze the strips; you can sliver or chop the zest or you can grate it. (Slivered or grated zest won’t freeze as well.)
I, too was thankful for an easy recipe this week! I’d like to try this with other citrus – blood oranges, clementines etc….
Wow Mary! You have been busy. I was wondering if you would be heading to CA this winter. Winter in CO looks beautiful but I imagine actually living it presents challenges. Wonderful activities that you describe make it sound very exciting to a flatland Okie like me, though. I can’t wait to get home and make both this salad and the lamb tagine from last week. Gary and I are planning to be in Denver after Christmas and for the New Year. I hope we have snow and a chance to get out of town and into nature! Happy holidays Mary!
thanks for the tips on freezing the orange strips. I will definitely do that. Wish Bernie could eat more onions.
Anyway, I must thank you so much for documenting my life. We cannot believe you are LEAVING us this winter. Thinking of doing a restraining order.
TTR
Question… I just came across French Fridays with Dorie and was reading the “rules” section. In there she asks participants to not publish her actual recipes on her blog. Does that mean this recipe has been changed somewhat to make it your own?
Cyndy, You are right about not publishing the recipe…..unless Dorie has already published it somewhere (NPR or Bon Appetit, for example) and it is posted on the Internet. Then, it’s fair game. I’ve found that many of her AMFT recipes are on the Internet. Chez Moi, not so much, so those cannot be published by us. Does that answer your question? Mary
Oh wow! Snowshoeing looks like quite the workout. Good thing you got your dose of vitamin C with this pretty and tasty salad.
Wow … what a wonderful adventure snowshoeing to a remote cabin. I bet it was nice and peaceful there.
Now that was my kind of trip. Though I would want to xc ski. Did I tell you that Colorado is on our possible retirement list? I like it cold and dry. I was with you on loving this salad really perfect. I love citrus in the winter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
That’s good news, Diane. Colorado is a great state. There are many wonderful mountains towns available to you. I feel very fortunate to live here.
Wow Mary! Shushing up a mountain hauling your supplies? In the winter? An amazing change from the cornfields of our youth!!! Salad sounds delish. Your outdoor activities I leave to you, my friend. If I never see another flake of snow, I shall die a happy woman.
I love when you share where you’ve been and I can picture it exactly! Ashcroft, American Lake, Hayden’s Peak (well, that’s one mountain I never attempted). Such beautiful country…and you’re such a good sport! I would have called for a snowmobile (or whatever the more contemporary version is called now). Yes, this was a welcomed recipe…and one which I enjoyed, too.
I’m never too busy to read your posts, Mary. What a great set of adventures you had this week. How was The River of Doubt. It’s on my “to read” list, which NEVER gets any shorter. Right now, I’m reading The Rosie Project. Something fun and light for a change. It’s funny, like “Bernadette” was, though maybe a bit less zany. As for the salad, I didn’t like it as much as you did so I don’t have that much to say about it. Merry Christmas!
You are braver than me Mary – I can’t bear the cold. You ladies look like you are having fun though. Glad you liked this week’s salad. Have a merry Christmas Mary!
A lovely post Mary, that whole retreat sounds like a lot of fun. Your photos are gorgeous, the beauty of the area comes out
so clearly. Glad you liked the salad, it was refreshing, just strange. Merry Christmas to you from Jim and I.
Confession, I came by earlier and enjoyed the picture of the salad and went away…. but am now back for a full reading! Always – entertaining, informative and exciting report of your latest venture! Wishing you happy holidays!
A fun post for sure, Mary! I would not be game to hike several miles in the cold of winter, carrying my supplies! However the cabin looks comfy cozy! I would need another way to get there. I am a winter hibernator! If the temps dip below 32 I stay indoors!
I’m with you on the salad…it was everything I needed this week! Delicious, easy and did I say delicious!
Wishing you a lovely, and blessed Christmas, my friend! xoxo
What a trip, Mary! I loved reading this post and agree that you are far braver than I would be! Glad you enjoyed the salad and thanks again to Santa for choosing simple dishes this month! Have a great Christmas!
Relayed your appreciation to Santa. He says, “You’re welcome.”
Your salad looks amazing Mary, I love the bright colors in contrast with that pretty blue plate. And you adventure looks so fun. I’m so jealous of all that snow. We got about 30 minutes of big fluffy white flakes and then it turned to rain. Quite fun but nothing like your beautiful snow covered mountains.!
I always love reading about your adventures, Mary. Looks like all went well and you had a good time. I passed on the salad due to the olives. Like you I was cool on the Jerusalem artichokes but since my neighbor gave them to me I had to make them. The soup is lovely and I would recommend to friends to make. Happy Holidays.
Miss Mary – it may take me a while to get here, but your posts are like eating the last cookie that you hid away so that you could enjoy it after the kids have been tucked in bed.
Oh, I love your adventure 🙂
Merry Christmas
Your retreat sounds like it was wonderful, Mary! So glad you are conquering winter and enjoying what it has to offer. This salad was a hit at our house, even if it took Kevin a bit of convincing to try it.