I had a fabulous evening on Friday catching up with a long time friend who came to visit me in Denver. Last time we were together was back in 2010 when I had just moved to Denver from Houston, and though we keep in touch, it’s often few and far between and usually just a text here and there.
When I first moved to the US, I was at the mercy of my parents. This meant that for the first few years, I worked for them at subservient levels! There were no benefits, no sick pay, no sick days, no holidays off, no holiday pay, it pretty much was the worst job ever! I did, however, get to eat free food but there are only so many finger sandwiches and banana cream pies you can eat! I did get to experiment with some baking and learn catering experience, but as a college student interested in engineering, preparing 200 choux puffs wasn’t quite top priority. In hindsight, of course, I learned a lot; my catering experience, restaurant management, kitchen management, inventory control, all great lessons for when I open my place 🙂 Add to that, the opportunity to meet some of the commanders of the space shuttles ( we were close to NASA) and to see the Queen drive by on one of her US tours and wave to me, I guess it wasn’t so bad after all.
After a while though, working for your father gets old, very, very quickly. I needed a change of scene and to get out of the family business. A friend informed me about a retail electronic store that was hiring and told me to apply. If you live in the US, you will know Circuit City and it’s ultimate demise. But, even though it couldn’t manage it’s finances and housed some of the most incompetent corporate management, it allowed me to meet so many wonderful people that are my friends even today, and one in particular, my husband.
On and off, I worked for Circuit City for many years, and even transferred to Denver from Houston back in the 90’s. I was part of the opening of two stores and met my husband here when he transferred from California.
My friend, CK started at the second store and we became fast friends and have been friends for almost 18 years. I ended up moving back to Houston and she ended up moving to Louisiana few years later. We kept in touch and visited when we could.
So, when she told me she was in town, I knew we had to get together. I invited her to dinner and we enjoyed a Moroccan meal and an overdue catch up session. We chatted about old times, new times and upcoming hopes and desires. It was just a wonderful evening.
I made my Harissa Chicken Tagine with my homemade harissa, and this wonderfully refreshing Orange and Pomegranate Salad, with just a sprinkling of sea salt, freshly ground pepper and a drizzle of orange blossom water and olive oil. It was so good, and definitely seasonal. It can be a perfect light starter for Thanksgiving or even a quick side dish.
Like with any salad recipe, the quantities are open to taste and desire, as are additions. At this basic stage, it is quite perfect I think. The sweet oranges with the slight tart pomegranate arils along with the red onions, is a stellar combination and doesn’t need anything else. It can be left at room temperature until needed making the oranges sweeter and softer. The sea salt draws out the orange juice allowing the salad to make its own dressing. A drizzle of olive oil completes the dish.
Serving size: 4
Calories: 178
Fat: 4g
- 5 Navel oranges, sliced in rounds
- 1 large pomegranate, peeled and arils separated
- ½ small red onion, sliced thin
- spring/green onions, green parts only, sliced thin for garnishing
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water, optional
- Arrange the orange slices on a plate or platter.
- Scatter the pomegranate arils all over.
- Place the red onion slices all over and sprinkle the green onion tops.
- Sprinkle sea salt and freshly ground pepper, drizzle with olive oil and if using orange blossom water, just sprinkle lightly all over the salad.
Circuit City may not be around any longer but the friendships that formed during its time are still going strong (and many marriages too 🙂 ) It is also where I discovered my love of electronics, especially audio, that still burns strong (which means that I am that annoying person at the movie theatre who has to sit in the middle of theatre to get the complete surround sound and then only to complain that my own home theatre set up is so much better)
How about y’all? Do you keep in touch with old friends and how did you meet your other half?
I am quite excited today as my baby brother is coming to visit me from Houston. He’s staying for a week and I have a list of things planned to cook for him! The children are thrilled because they adore their uncle. I will be a bit busy but I will visit you all. Have a great week, and Happy Guy Fawkes Day to everyone in the UK! Twirl a sparkler for me xx
What a deliciously beautiful salad! It’s so colorful and I can imagine how refreshing it tastes.
I’ve never used orange blossom water. Does it really make a difference?
Mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits recently posted..Chinese Rice Revisited
Thanks Mireya! The orange blossom adds a fragrance not so much a flavour, though in baked treats the flavour is very obvious. It’s very delicate but it added a pleasant aroma.
That is simple and delicious.
It was nice to learn more about you, Nazneen! And I’m stunned looking at this gorgeous salad. Perfect for holiday season as it just brightens the table beautifully!
a riot of colors in this refreshing fruity salad….one of our favorites,thanks for sharing 🙂
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Gorgeous salad!
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Beautifully presented salad. Looks beautiful, refreshing and tempting. It’s awesome to meet old friends. I am visiting friends in December, and can’t wait already!
minnie@thelady8home recently posted..Sauteed potatoes, mushrooms and spinach with ‘Panch Phoron’
How fun! Are you going somewhere nice? Its always nice to get together and just relax.
Vibrant and flavorful salad. We love orange and pom this time of the year. I totally get your drift about working with loved ones. It’s quite frustrating 😉
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Roasted Spiced Tomato Soup
Hi Kiran! Yes, it is very frustrating 🙂 But I guess I learnt some stuff so its all good 🙂
this fruit salad is very awesome and strikingly refreshing with bright and cheerful colours.i just love it and and sure to make it in my home soon.hae a great dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy……………………………
Thank you!
Simply delicious..
beautifully plated and captured too!
well done!
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This is such a gorgeous salad Nazneen. I adore Middle Eastern food, particularly anything with pomegranates. I’ve never made anything quite like this beautiful arrangement of oranges and pomegranate. I definitely intend to try this asap! So glad that you managed to spend some quality time with your friend (sounds like you had a feast!) xx
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Thanks Laura! Yes, the salad was great but I really enjoyed the company 🙂
I love orange salads! Never made one with pomegranate before, but I promise you I will. I remember Circuit City – always a better shopping experience than Best Buy, I thought. Too bad they couldn’t stay in business.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..The Jack Rose Cocktail
Thanks John! I always thought so too 🙂 I had some friends who worked with me who ended up moving to St Louis and working at CC there. One still lives there and I see him on occasion. Never know, maybe they helped you at one time 🙂
Nazneen – this looks so refreshing! And you are so right – this would be perfect for the Thanksgiving table, with its bright and cheerful colors!
Thanks David!! I think it would brighten up the Thanksgiving table with its vibrancy 🙂
I’m a pomegranate addict! The ones we’re getting at the moment (from California!) are so sweet and delicious – it makes me forget the food miles… slightly…! I met my other half at uni, but we only started dating after being thrown together on the dancefloor of a slightly shady nightclub by mutual friends. The rest is history (!)
Jas@AbsolutelyJas recently posted..In My Kitchen – November
And what were you doing at a shady night club?? I can totally see that though 🙂 Poms are wonderful and they work so well in salads.
Such a beautiful salad, I love the combo of pomegranate and orange 😀
Cheers
CCU
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Candy & Our Winner!
Thanks Uru! Hope you are well and almost done with your exams.
I don’t know how long you worked for your parents but I doubt I could have done it for a day. I give you credit for staying long enough to walk away having learned some valuable things. I really like the look and ingredients of this salad, Nazneen. I know it’s cliche but it really is a feast for the eyes, so bright and tantalizing. It sounds like you had a wonderful with your friend and I hope you’ll be saying the same, or better, of your brother’s visit. 🙂
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I worked for my dad for a while actually, not just at the restaurant but even at a truck stop he owned! It was pretty awful, and it was hard too being young and wanting to do other things. But I made it through! Thank you, I’m having a wonderful time with my brother right now. I hope the same for you and your trip with Zia.
I admire you for working for your parents. There’s no way I ever could have done that. But having said that, my husband is really blessed because Miss Arabella works for him two days a week and she’s a fantastic assistant to him. She actually says how much she loves the job! What a beautiful and refreshing salad, Nazneen and how lovely to share it with a special friend xx
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It was hard Charlie! I am sure Arabella loves working for her dad. Sometimes it’s ok, but in my case, it was always a lot of public dealings and customer service. As a young person, I really wasn’t interested! The salad was great and so was the company!
This is such a beautiful salad! I would make this any time of the year. Lovely to hear that you are indulging in some wonderful bonding with friends and family. Talking about friendships, I think the strongest friendships I have formed were also at my workplace. I was a banker for 7 years before I had kids. Life changes after motherhood but yes we do catch up whenever possible and thanks to technology we are able to Whatsapp and Viber once in a while.
I hope you have a great time with your brother…lucky guy is going to sample all your fantastic recipes. Ironically, today is Bhai Phota/Bhai Dooj and I just texted my brother who is right now so close to where you are:-(
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Thank you Sonali. I know how you feel, my family is far from me too. I hope you see your brother soon, hopefully in Denver 🙂 I’m on Viber, search for me 🙂
Nazneen, what a colorful salad – it looks simply amazing. And I love the fact that you used seasonal ingredients like the oranges and the pomegranate. I often add pomegranate seeds to our salads because they add so much in freshness and taste. And your salad dressing sounds intriguing, I will have to give it a try, as I am curious as to how orange blossom water tastes in a salad dressing. What a great story too about your friends and how you met your husband – really a wonderful post.
Thank you also for stopping by my blog and leaving such a kind comment!
Andrea
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Thank you so much Andrea! I love poms and they are wonderful in salads. The orange blossom adds more fragrance than taste, because honestly it doesn’t taste that good! Thank you for stopping by xx
It is awesome to work for parents..and you did it in a restaurant..wow. Choux pastries, now that is awesome.
It is always fun to catchup with friends. Precious and this salad is so fresh and healthy.
Ash-foodfashionparty recently posted..RAVA-NUTS LADDU – HAPPY DIWALI
Not my parents!!! It was very nice to see her again. It’s important to make time and keep connected. I try hard to be a good friend 🙂
What a gorgeous salad. I believe there is a Mexican Christmas salad that is similar. I am so glad that oranges and pomegranates are here though I will miss peaches! My manservant grew up in Dickinson where his dad worked for NASA. Have had many tours there but I much prefer CO to Texas. Glad you had fun catching up with a friend. Those times are very special!
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I didn’t know about the Mexican salad, I’ll have to search for it. I know Dickinson! We lived in Clear Lake, I wonder if your FIL ever came to our restaurant? I prefer CO to Houston too, I miss my family but weather and scenery is gorgeous here.
What gorgeous pics, Nazneen! I love how colorful and fresh this appetizer salad is…I am glad that you had a great time catching up with a long time friend.
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Thank you Denise! It was really nice seeing her. Just like when we get together xx
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and you obviously learnt a lot from working at your fathers restaurant! Love the look of your salad darling, it’s gorgeous and so colourful! x
Lisa the Gourmet Wog recently posted..Garden Share Collective – November 2013
Thanks Lisa my dear! Parts of hindsight are good!!! Some are quite regretful!!
I’ll be twirling, I’ll even write your name 🙂 I have to say though it’s pouring with rain today, typically. Your salad looks wonderful, I love the orange blossom water and olive oil – very delicious. Happy Guy Fawkes and as I write this the sun is coming out. GG xx
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Thanks GG! I totally remember twirling my name ! I heard there was a bit of trouble this year with the anon march? Hope it didn’t disrupt things too much. Xx
It is always so wonderful to catch up with friends especially when each one is so busy with their lives. The meal sounds so good and the salad must have been so refreshing.
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I agree! You are forced to take time out and then you find how enjoyable it is! Thanks Taruna!
This is such a pretty salad, I bet it looked awesome when you served it with the tagine. Unfortuantely I lost touch with most of my old friends when I moved to the UK. We live very separate lives. There was one girl i was friends with from the age of 3 to university, I’d love to get back in touch with her one day and she how she’s doing.
*kisses* H
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Thanks H. Have you tried Facebook? You can find anyone there 🙂
I always enjoy the ‘how we met’ stories: remarkable how fate throws together any two people.
Your salad is gorgeous and, because it’s so simple, there’s no reason for me not to fix it for our meal tonight. Am particularly partial to orange blossom water – have you ever tried it in lemonade?
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Thank you! You know I haven’t tried it in lemonade, what a great idea! I am going to next time.
Great salad, Nazneen. So glad you were able to meet and catch up with your friend this weekend. One of my very good friend moved to CA this weekend and I already hope we meet again soon.
I met my husband at high school 🙂
Lail | With A Spin recently posted..Old Dhaka Bakarkhani – A Legendary Bread
Thanks Lail! It was really nice catching up with my friend and now my brother.