We have just returned from a wonderful weekend with friends in Virginia. My friend Barbara is an excellent cook and I told her that my job for the weekend was going to be easy. All I had to do was photograph pictures of one tasty dish after another and then blog about them. No pressure on her of course. She can take it. Her house is usually full of family and friends and her beautiful kitchen is always stocked and ready.
Barbara and Jim live in a stunning isolated house at the top of a mountain with breathtaking views of the valleys and mountains in the distance. The land has been in her family for many years and both her Sister and her family and her Mother live closeby. There is a strong sense of tradition and close community and family ties in this part of Virginia. The towns are small and the family histories run long. In my next post I will tell you about the community pig roast that has been a yearly event for 20 years. This was supposedly the last year for it. But the pig on this year’s T-shirt was winking. So long? Maybe not.
Before we headed out for the pig roast on the Little River, Barbara fixed us a light breakfast of sweet rolls and this refreshing fruit salad. And for those of you who think you don’t like curry, let me tell you that it adds a wonderful undertone and is an important ingredient in this exotic combination of fruits. It was a wonderful way to start the day.
TROPICAL FRUIT SALAD
2 mangos, peeled and sliced
2 papyas, peeled and sliced lengthwise
1 to 2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
1 cup green grapes
1/2 pineapple, diced
Lime wedges and 1 cup walnuts or pecans for garnish
Dressing:
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 Tbls lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 cup oil
1 Tbls honey
Combine pineapple, mango and papaya slices, orange sections and grapes and refrigerate. Combine pineapple and lemon juice, salt, curry powder and ginger. Blend thoroughtly. Stir in honey and oil. Mix well. Pour over fruit and mix gently. Garnish with lime wedges and nuts.
This looks and sounds delicious. The recipe uses such a small amount of curry I’ll bet it’s hard to recognize the taste.
I do so enjoy a fruit salad. The dressing sounds very very good! YUM
Barbara’s tropical salad sounds great. I’m always looking for breakfast things to serve house guests.
Like Mary I’m thinking that a small amount of curry would make a big difference without being able to recognize it as curry. Sometimes I add a tiny bit of curry to butter for asparagus or in mayonnaise on a turkey sandwich and my husband always comments, “What’s in this that makes it taste so good?” He never guesses that it’s a tiny pinch of curry powder.
I look forward to hearing about the pig roast. There aren’t many places left that still have strong family ties. Seems like families are far apart now – not like when I was growing up and people didn’t move too far away during that time.
I was the exception – I had wonderlust I guess or was a gypsy at heart. When we married we moved so many times people didn’t send us a Christmas card until they got ours to see if we had a new address.
Sam
I was waiting for a picture of the gorgeous place you described!! But hey…they salad looks amazing…I adore mango & pineapple so I knjow I’d love this!
Mary, Thanks. That little bit of curry makes a big difference.
Hi Katy. Will be visiting your blog soon.
Sam, Hope you enjoyed your vacation. I’ve missed you. My lap top hard drive crashed and I don’t know when I can post pictures of the pig roast.
Girlichef. Darn! You are right. Why didn’t I take pictures of Barbara’s kitchen and the view from the living room windows. Next time.
Hi Penny,
Oh this recipe sounds so wonderful, what a lovely display of fruit. I am going to pass this one on to my sister n law who owns a B&B in Elizabeth Town IL.
Take care and enjoy your day,
Elizabeth
This is a delicious looking salad, perfect for the very hot weather we’ve been having here- thanks for sharing it-I know we’ll love it!
Penny, I was so excited and pleased to see my Tropical Fruit Salad recipe on your blog! I am thrilled to now be “published”… One of our oldest family friends passed away this spring. I gave Faye this recipe years ago and she told me many times that it became one of her family’s favorite Christmas dinner salads. On your next visit maybe we will experiment with “traditional” country cooking.
Gary and Elizabeth, Thank you! Hope your sister in law can use this recipe.
Lynda,I have been enjoying your blog. Have made your cole slaw two times now.
Barbara, All of your recipes are great and it seems most of them have memories attached to them. Those are the best kind. I can hardly wait to get together again. I am making your fried yellow squash tonight. Hope your garden is keeping you busy. Love, Penny
What a delightful fruit salad. I love throwing fruit salads together. There are so many different combinations. Never made this one.