I was given some home grown oranges straight off the tree the other day. I love oranges. I also have a great liking for water melon. Partly because of the firm but compliant, cold texture and partly because of their association in my mind with a wonderful few days in Toronto many years ago with a friend from my youth (who is still one of my closest friends despite our physical separation - she still lives in Canada). We used to eat breakfast at Movenpick in the atrium (was it on the corner of Yonge and Wellington Streets in BCE Place?) and I always had watermelon, amongst other things of course. It was, I think, the first time I'd tried it.
I love Conference pears with shaved Parmesan cheese. Apples grow all around me in Hawkes Bay and The Cottage is surrounded by orchards. The Cottage stands in the 5 acre grounds of The House and it has a small orchard with fejoas, lemons, apricots and heaven knows what else all there for the picking. In fact Hawkes Bay is the fruit bowl of New Zealand.
So why, apart from tomatoes which I eat in profusion and some bananas (one of the few regularly imported fruits which are always available in the supermarkets here) do I not eat lots of fruit?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that things like the oranges are such a faff. The particular oranges I was given were juicy and delicious but had a thousand (ok, ok, I know, you've told me a million times not to exaggerate) pips. The pleasure of eating one was, therefore, diminished. I will however eat raspberries in the way that some people will eat sweets (lollies in New Zealand). I can hear you all tut tutting and hoping that your children don't read this. Another part of the answer lies in the fact that I prefer savoury to sweet foods. The truth is, however, that I'm a lazy eater and fruit requires effort. Shame on me.
Part of the answer lies in the fact that things like the oranges are such a faff. The particular oranges I was given were juicy and delicious but had a thousand (ok, ok, I know, you've told me a million times not to exaggerate) pips. The pleasure of eating one was, therefore, diminished. I will however eat raspberries in the way that some people will eat sweets (lollies in New Zealand). I can hear you all tut tutting and hoping that your children don't read this. Another part of the answer lies in the fact that I prefer savoury to sweet foods. The truth is, however, that I'm a lazy eater and fruit requires effort. Shame on me.
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Eat the oranges in private and spit the pips out.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a raw food vegan and as my fruit eating regime matches yours I feel quite guilty... so today, I actually made a green fruit smoothie in her super duper special blender... raspberries, banana, apple, soy milk, and some silverbeet ( yes the token greens). Strange colour but tasted great - might be the new way I get fruit and greens into me.
ReplyDeleteAdrian: I do!
ReplyDeleteFi I have one of those gadgets in Eagleton (as you might expect) because before Andrew died he was processing raw fruit and veg too and persuaded me it was a Good Thing to do. It can taste great but, again, it's a lot of faff. I might well get it out when I get back though because some more fruit and veg would be a very good idea.
I eat quite a lot of fruit, not oranges though because I'm allergic or oversensitive to them. But bananas, apples, pears, grapes; strawberries in the summer... Depends on the season what is best quality vs cheap to buy. This time of year all fruit is imported. My complaint with melons (besides the pips) is that they are heavy to carry home - and a whole water melon too big for one person. Same problem with some vegetables.
ReplyDeleteI have two very good role-models who painstakingly prepare fruit fro themselves (and me!) and then consume with obvious great pleasure. So, monkey see, monkey do...
ReplyDeleteMonica one of the Really Good Things about NZ is that the majority of fresh food is NZ grown and eaten in season and not imported. Water melons are very heavy but as I shop with a car that's not an issue for me. Both here and on Lewis one can buy half or portions of water melon.
ReplyDeleteOddly when I wrote this I thought of you Katherine. The irony is that I'm happy to spend an afternoon preparing vegetables and food to feed others (and myself of course) but faced with a pippy orange or peeling an apple I just can't be bothered. I'm ashamed of myself.
I agree with you about the oranges, GB -- seeds are the pits (no pun intended). I also only like seedless grapes.
ReplyDeleteJust squash the oranges and drink the juice - an almost instant pleasure, allowing you to get all the vitamins and the taste of fresh oranges without having to deal with the pips.
ReplyDeleteOn Sicily, people make salad from oranges, using salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil as if they were tomatoes.
Oooook GB, I have a Conference pear every morning for breakfast...I never thought of having them with parmesan.
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup.
SP
Yes, Carol, I only eat seedless grapes as well - when I eat grapes at all that is.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about that type of orange salad, Meike. I do slice orange and put it in salad sometimes though when I make a 'proper' salad. In Eagleton I have several citrus fruit thingies for getting the juice and pulp out efficiently. Frankly, most of the time I just buy orange juice.
I hope that you enjoy it SP. Because I can taste Parmesan it happens to be a texture (of the pear) and a taste which I can really enjoy.