Friday, October 8, 2010

Fall Salad - Poached Pears with Butter Lettuce, Blue Cheese, and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

On the heels of yesterday's post indeed the weather has taken a turn for the warmer.  Today only moderately, but the weather girls (Dallas Raines where are you when I need you?) were going off tonight about how it's going to be in the 80's by Saturday for reals.  

I'm so confused. One minute we're wearing sweaters and boots, the next it's back to the shorts and tanks.  Yeah I still had some shorts out for wearing with tights, but it's the mindset people, the mindset I say!  To top it all off I had a bout of temporary insanity yesterday and consumed contraband.  Yeah that's right -gluten-filled. I think I thought I was in Whole Foods or Sprouts or something because I was focusing on warm-weather like dinners on the weekend, and the next thing you knew I was in some swirly whirly little shop with a lemon cream cheese cupcake stuffed in my mouth. (I always wondered what those places were all about).  What?? It had a piece of lemon on it!

I returned to the land of the living just in time to find the baseball playoffs still on (don't those things only last one day??)  and the Chef bellering at the top of his lungs to, well, the television (Jesus take the wheel).  Just as I was about to bake a load of brownies and crack open a bottle of wine to ease the pain, he asked if I wanted salad for dinner.  I was almost afraid to respond thinking it could have some sort of baseball-theme to it given his mindset at the time.  (dodger dog salad? uh no thanks.  i think i'll pass)

Luckily he was thinking seasonal goodness.  And so I share with you - just in time for the weekend.  Hope you have marvelous plans.
 
Poached Pears with Butter Lettuce, Blue Cheese, and Pomegranate Vinaigrette. 
Ingredients - Serves 2

*Pears 
1ea pear peeled and cut in 1/8
1C white wine
1/2C sugar
1/2C water
1t ea. allspice (whole), nutmeg (ground), black peppercorns (whole)
  
*Vinaigrette
2T olive oil
3/4T balsamic vinegar
2T pomegranate seeds
salt &pepper to taste 

*Miscellaneous 
2T blue cheese crumbles (goat cheese will also sub in great)
1C butter lettuce leaves

Method
Pears
Combine all ingredients except the pear and bring to boil.

Pre-liquid water and wine addition.
 Post water and wine addition on max heat burner.

Peel and cut the pear into eighths while bringing liquid to boil.  Once ingredients on stove top are boiling, drop the pears into the pot one at a time, turn off heat and cover.


Allow the ingredients in the covered pot to cool on the stove until they are room temperature - the residual heat will poach the pears perfectly.  It should take approximately half an hour.  Once cooled transfer to fridge and store in liquid.

Vinaigrette
Combine all ingredients and season to taste with salt and pepper.


To finish
Toss butter lettuce and pears (removed from liquid) together. Place in serving bowl.  Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles over top. Then drizzle vinaigrette over top.  Finish with cracked pepper if desired.

 
How about that?  Very easy to make and quite tasty, too.  I'm a big fan of pomegranates and blue cheese so those extra little elements brought all the flavors out perfectly.  If you get a chance to try it this weekend - or even in the upcoming weeks please let me know what you think.

And now it is the weekend.  What are your plans?  Not too much on the agenda here - a little tea, some walks, a possible movie and blocking J.Crew from my mind.  Have a great one!

Oh!  And a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!  Wish I could be at home celebrating with all of you.  Have a great long weekend filled with turkey and pumpkin pies and love!!  xoxo, Carrie

78 comments:

xxyy said...

that looks delicious!xx

Barbara von Enger said...

That's an unsual salad, and it looks divine, too.
I shall try my hand at it and let you know;-)
Have a nice weekend - enjoy the walks! XX

Collette Osuna said...

The salad looks awesome...hope you are back to cooler weather soon!


Enter my Wendy Hammer Designs Purse Giveaway♥
Statements in Fashion Blog

Unknown said...

You post the most delicious recipes...between the food and the Missonni..that chef is such a KEEPER!

Anonymous said...

That salad has some of my favorite things - like pomegranate and blue cheese. Delicious! I imagine even I can make salad so I want to try this. I should go knock on wood though because I probably can figure out a way to screw up a salad.

Cool Gal said...

That looks delicious. Is blue cheese gluten-free? I read somewhere it's not as the mold that gives the cheese its color usually originates on old bread (Elisabeth Hasselbeck). Huh? What do you think? Has it ever made you sick?

I have been off gluten for almost 2 weeks. I can't tell you how much better I feel. For the first time in my adult life, my "insides" are working properly (TMI? Oh, well! I would get "bound up" for many days at a time. Miserable way to live.).

I have been experimenting with different gluten-free flours and making baked goods as I love breads, bagels, and muffins. Some are definitely better than others, but I've found some good ones.

I even made you pumpkin muffins again with a different all-purpose flour and they are way better than the first batch which was delicious. The texture is just like "real" flour.

Thank you for inspiring me to give this gluten-free thing a try. Even though I don't have Celiac disease, going off gluten has been a life saver for my insides. I have much more energy, too.

Have a great weekend!

By the way, I'm going to give this salad a try. I think I'll make some nice filets, too!

Lori said...

I think the weather is crazy everywhere Carrie ~ it's like WTF??!! This salad looks so yummy ~ love finding something new to try. It's Thanksgiving week-end here and it will be full of turkey ~ 2 dinners ~ one on Sunday and then again on Monday. Saturday will be spent with some of my best girlfriends as we are attending a wedding ~ dance, dance, drink, drink. Have a great week-end! xo

Closet Fashionista said...

Ooh that looks pretty tasty, but i don't think I would like it, haha
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

That look like perfection. I wish my hubs liked things like this. I have to make it when he's not around I guess!

Chas said...

That looks amazing! I love blue cheese!

BeautyH2T said...

i am soooooo hungry now thanks to you :)

Sorry I have been so quiet lady, but loving catching up on your posts. even left you a lil ole award.

hope you and the chef are good,

Bx

bailey said...

so so so happy to hear that i'm not the only one with a man who can of nothing but baseball! you seem to be handling it well :)

bailey
traveling-anchor.blogspot.com

Margaret said...

What a lovely little chef you are- happy weekend!

erica said...

that salad looks seriously amazing. You can come cook for me anytime :]

xo

Anonymous said...

This looks sooo good, I'll have to try it! I even have some pomegranate seeds in the fridge...

Lilacandgrey said...

NEVER had this combo before, but I think I would try it!
Have a great weekend darling!
<3

Laura said...

Looks yummy!

I'm totally with you about the weather, I thought I was going to pass out earlier. I was so hot and totally wearing the wrong clothes haha!

Laura xx

Taylor said...

YUM-O!!! I love poached pears!!! esp with Balsamic!

How can you block J.Crew from your mind?! LOL I need to as well....they got A LOT from me last weekend! ;)

Unknown said...

i don't like pears unfortunatly .. and i hear ya with the weather - i hate the UP and DOWN .. just stay in one place!

PS --> ~Join In on the Necklace Give-Away Here~

*kiss kiss*
Erika @ ~Tiptoe Butterfly~

Unknown said...

hoorah for indian summer days! love this recipe will have to try it soon whilst the sun is still shining here in northern france. hopefully sunny this weekend chez toi et moi; off to trawl for treasures in the french brocantes; cheerio for now Linda...

Nikki said...

I knew from the title of your post that I would love it!
I think I would also love the cream cheese lemon cupcake!! Sometimes you just need one.

Have a great weekend Carrie!


xx
Nikki

Jamie said...

Living with a chef would be a little too dangerous for me I think...that salad looks amazing! The next thing you know I would be asking (eyelashes batting) for some decadent meal with an even more decadent dessert...!! (speaking of which did you SEE those nutella pop tarts Val made?? I will spend the weekend blocking those from my mind!)
NO, this weekend I am going to make an effort to go down to the beach, a place I barely visited during our (non) summer months, therefore I will stay away from naughty food. (and I will keep repeating that statement to make sure!)
Have a fantastic weekend!
xoxo

http://www.glamlatte.com

Tiffany Kadani said...

Oh yummy! I seriously could eat this right now- and it's not even 8 am!

Lila said...

Drooling as I write. Love Pomergranate. Just cant spell it. haha

Happy weekend luv.

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

I seriously laugh out loud when I read your posts. I just luv them! And how amazing that salad looks. Every little part of it is perfect.

Have a great weekend, sweetie!

Beckerman Girls said...

I'm a veg....and that salad loooks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD and yummy! Its everything i love to eat in it! Happy FRIDAY gorgeous!
kisses
xoThe Beckerman Girls

http://www.BeckermanBitePlate.com

Valerie said...

Okay, this is too good to be true. Can I please have a live in chef/bf to cook salads like this for me?? HEAVEN! I agree completely about the mindset. Once I commit to a season, it's hard to turn back and I'm not committed to Fall. But here comes another heat wave. Thankfully I still have all my shorts/tanks around. About our spending freeze. I got a shopbop 20% off coupon today and guess what I immediately put in my cart and tried to purchase?? The A Wang Rocco Duffel. Hello??? Why would it be okay for a girl on wallet restriction to buy a $900 bag, even if there is a discount involved?? I'm so ashamed of myself. Thankfully when I hit "apply" for code, I realized A Wang was excluded and that put an end to that. Phew. Close call.

xo
Valerie

Alicia Lund said...

mmm, this is the perfect light salad - one of my favorites! my mom makes a similar version that i LOVE! the dried cranberries with blue cheese are my favorite part.

Marcie said...

Your description of the "contraband" has me laughing out loud in my office! Oh I love your writing, Carrie!!

And anything dealing with Fall has my attention. That salad looks divine.

xoxo M

ps- next week I am doing a post on savoring special moments. Send me a photo from a moment you don't' want to forget. :)

Josie said...

Okay, Carrie, I am SO down with this tasty-looking salad. Pears... Pomegranates... Pepper... It actually doesn't get much more perfect in my book. You make the tastiest-looking things, I swear.

My weekend is going to be just barrels of fun -- I plan to average 12 hours of studying per day, and that's if I'm slacking. On the bright side, midterms do mean that I get to watch the first season episode of Felicity where they're all in the quiet room at the library with subtitles -- it's my favorite midterms/finals tradition.

I can't wait until midterms are over and I can head home to bake delicious things (apple crisp will count as breakfast due to the amount of oatmeal in it) and shop, shop, shop. Like you can't even imagine. It's going to be a terrible plan, actually.
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Jayni said...

Yum! I love pears in salad. =)

A Crimson Kiss said...

What a divine looking salad, although I probably would have had the same response if John asked me if I wanted a salad for dinner!

And as for the gluten and cream cheese filled cupcake, don't feel bad-I just had to have a red velvet yesterday afternoon!

Rachel @ The Haute Notes said...

Ugh, I know what you mean about the weather! It's gotten a bit warmer here too. It's so frustrating isn't it? The weather needs to make up its mind! :P

This salad looks absolutely delicious! I'm hungry now! Lol.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Couture Carrie said...

Delicious, darling!
Will have to make this one asap!

xoxox,
CC

LyddieGal said...

Just so happens I have a pear, begging to be consumed, and looks perfect for it!

Lemon cupcake?? Sounds fantastic. Maybe I should make those too.

Marie a la Mode said...

You're so lucky to be dating a Chef! Will you be celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend even though you're not home?

Have a great weekend Carrie!

Lisa Griffin said...

That looks pretty delicious and i think it tottttally cancels out the cupcake! have a great weekend!!
www.indramaticfashion.com

Annie said...

butter lettuce - one my favs, yummmmmmmm! Have a great weekend Carrie! xo

laurenne said...

Yes! Another Dallas Raines reference! I'll take it.
Man, I love that bowl.

Venus Loves Virgo said...

That salad looks fancy & healthy at the same time,lovely! XOXO

Anonymous said...

Looks divine ... I swear I will make it Sunday! It sounds delicious! Wish I had all the ingredients to make it tonight ... might have to rush to whole foods!!!

xo

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Good luck with ignoring the Crew. I've been trying to do that myself. HA!

Mimi said...

weather truly is crazy, carrie! the sun is out and shining! goodbye to boots for now... ahhh, just when i was all excited for fall. *sigh*

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

sealaura said...

that looks amazing! found your blog through that new one where you can locate other fellow cali bloggers. Hope you enjoy the weekend. :)

Claire Kiefer said...

I looooove salad and that one looks just about perfect. Yum! The weather's up and down here too, but since I'm kind of a polar bear, I'm really looking forward to chilly weather! And YUM on the cupcake. I bet it was totally worth it. ;)

stylenuggets said...

Pomegranate and blue cheese is a yummy combination in a salad. Love your boots in the previous post. Happy weekend, whatever the weather!

Annemarie said...

Oh yummy! This looks and sounds amazing. Definitely bookmarking this post for the upcoming holidays! Have a wonderful weekend love! xoxo

Stacey said...

I usually read your posts at nights-almost before going to bed and i have to like stifle my laughter because the house is so quiet(and of course, the last thing i want to do is to wake my little rascal:-)). Anyway, the moral of this little story(and do you notice how i always tend to write a book as a comment-that's because i'm not in a hurry) is that your posts are refreshing and written with great wit and humour. I enjoy reading your posts and Yes, i love the salad. Looks delish and i might even give it a try. Happy weekend! xx

PS. I hope i made sense with all the parenthesis usage...

Lady Grey said...

this looks AMAZING!!! I love every single ingredient in this recipe... definitely a keeper!
oxo

Dawn said...

OMGoodness to the salad! I always dream of salads like that but seem to be running out the door when I'm supposed to be creating one. Then I eat contraband food instead and kick myself the entire next day afterward- punishing myself with an extra long run.....Ahhh! The vicious cycle.

Haha...loved your comment about your most absolute "favorite" newscaster;)....that seems to love you as she turns up wherever you do:)
Too funny.
Well...glad you have her....and i don't have to;)
Happy weekend to you...enjoy your super (mixed up) weather!
And your salad(s).....
:)

annelise said...

Oh, blue cheese. No good, no good. (When I was about 16 or 17, I worked at a supermarket and went to work this particular Sunday with a RAGING underage-drinker hangover and someone bought blue cheese, but the wrapper had come loose and I got it on my hand. I still remember dry retching as the stink hit my nostrils. Haven't been able to look at it since :) Serves me right, I suppose.)

Have a fantastic weekend! x

20 YORK STREET said...

Babe,

First off, I am sorry I still haven't fired off my favour e-mail. Here's my dilemm - i didn't realize this Tucker for Target line is huuuge!

I shall take the time to carefully review over the long weekend and e-mail you!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! I can maybe try this salad along with the pumpkin pie, eh?

much love,

Win a Banana Republic Statement Necklace at:

20 YORK STREET

Discovery Street said...

this sounds so unbelievably yummy!

J. said...

Glad to see the Chef took the time to rest his vocal chords to whip up a good meal...GAME 3 TMRW! Gotta get my lucky foam finger out for this one!

Oh and I'm totally conviced that we are long lost sisters or something. It's really the only logical explanation. At the very least, we were bffs in past life haha.

Fé... said...

I'm really really into salad lately. I've got chicken tandoori and tuna and macaroni for the past days. And they are yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe, sweetheart :) Have a gorgeous weekend. See you soon next week!

Elaine said...

THat looks soooo delicious!!!

The weather has been similar in L.A. Totally bonkers.

CLOTHED MUCH, a modest fashion blog

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes! It really is all about the mindset. We've been having warm weather here for the last few days and while I love it, it's kinda throwing me off.

Happy Weekend!!

Rebecca said...

i'm a sucker for vinaigrette, but i never knew it was spelt like that! looks yummy (:

http://itscohen.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Carrie, you had me at blue cheese! I love a salad w/ cheese, pears or apples, cranberries, etc. I am soooo going to try this. I don't think I've ever had a pomegrante! xo

k said...

Baseball games are the LONGEST THINGS IN THE WORLD. What is the deal with them. I've had men around my WHOLE life that love them. I only like to go to them in real life so I can drink the big beers and eat ballpark food. perfection!

Unknown said...

that looks SO delicious! i love butter lettuce, especially when topped with something as delicious as pears, blue cheese, and pomegranate.

as far as the weekend in concerned, i can't believe its already saturday! noooooooo

xx a j

Raez said...

wow...so mouthwateringly delicious! must try this at home sooon.

xx raez

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Yummy! Your recipes always sound so fresh and delicious! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I am a bit confused as to what to wear too....the weather keeps changing on me!

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

Uuuummmmmmm this looks amazing. Seriously. I want to it this and nothing else for 3 days.

Becca [Free Honey] said...

This sounds delicious. Pear and blue cheese are one of my favorite combinations.

Unknown said...

that looks so yumm and healthy too!! can't go wrong with that!

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

That looks gorgeous and delicious! Salads with fruits and nuts are surriously my favorite! Sorry about the bout of warm weather, but I thought you California girls were used to such news!

Anonymous said...

Wow, this looks insanely delicious!! I can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing!

Jess said...

Blocking J.Crew from your mind, huh?? Hahah - good luck with that! ;)

xo

OneCraftyFox said...

Holy crap this looks good! I have already bookmarked this so I can try it. You are so darn lucky to be living with a chef. I live with an IT guy which is not quite so exciting, but at least my internet never fails. And on occassion I receive hilarious pop ups he has installed on my laptop :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you too... I guess I will have to say it to you again in a month, lol!

She Wore It Well said...

we need to do a wife swap, please! SO GOOD!!

Regan said...

I gave you and award, come check it out!! xoxo

Sonja said...

mmmm yummyyyy!!!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend...and that the weather made up it's mind and was awesome :o)

Kara said...

Oh my God in heaven I want this. I giggled for at least 3 days after reading your comment on my blog about your request to follow being "too large" and the muffin police coming after you. Genius.

I'm a new follower, yay!!

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

this salad looks soooo bomb! I love, love, love blue cheese and I swear I am the only person out of everyone I personally know who likes it and it boggles my mind! It's so delicious!

And girl, Belmont?! Ahh!! Grant and I are often in the LBC, especially around Belmont! In fact, I actually have been wanting to move to Long Beach for a while now so maybe just maybe we could be neighbors? I'm in Irvine right now which is well, Irvine. ;)

xx
MILK TEETHS

o said...

I'm as confused as u are regarding this weather! LOL Oh wow, this salad looks amazing! I'll have to save this recipe:) Thank you for sharing!

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

Oh, My Darling said...

Yummy yum yum!

Parisa said...

Omg, that looks so delicious!!

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