by Renu Chhabra

“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last Sunday, I went for a walk with my daughter in our neighborhood. It was a lovely autumn afternoon, and sunshine was gracing the landscape with its golden rays. Everywhere we looked, the view was stunning with trees dressed in red, green and golden tones. “Look at that red tree – it looks so majestic. Let’s take a picture of it,” I said. “And what about that wall covered with golden leaves? That’s very charming too,” she pointed out with excitement. Enjoying these simple moments was worth treasuring. We clicked several pictures of this beautiful scenery.

While we were walking and enjoying the simplicity of everyday life, I thought how little it takes to bring some joy into our lives, and be thankful for what we have. In today’s fast-paced world, we sometimes forget to look around at the simple things that surround us and can offer us immense pleasure. It can be walking in a garden and enjoying nature’s gifts, smiling at strangers and perhaps, brightening up their moment, or cooking a simple meal with our families and having a few laughs.

The key is to sometimes disconnect from the hectic world that we all live in, and find some time to appreciate simple pleasures of life and be thankful for them. I know they are quite rewarding.

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And seeing this autumnal beauty makes me want to whip up something simple to celebrate fall.  Pears, especially, are a delectable gift of this beautiful season. Pair them with chocolate, waffles, pancakes, or cheese – delicious in any way. They add a crispy crunch to salads and juicy sweetness to desserts.

Today, I am making pears dressed with honey and ginger and topped with pomegranate and fennel seeds. I am using a medley of Anjou, Bosc, and Red Bartlett varieties. Their green, brown, and red colors are a perfect combination for a fall fruit basket. It’s a very simple salad bursting with delicate flavors of honey and ginger. The vibrant color of pomegranate and sweet licorice taste of fennel make it even more special, ideal for this season. And best of all, it takes no time.

Pomegranate: Jewel of Autumn

Pomegranate, a wonderful ruby red fruit of fall, is known for its exquisite beauty, vibrant color, and several health benefits. It’s also symbolic of abundance and prosperity in many cultures. The seeds of this colorful fruit are full of nutritious sweet-tart juice, whereas the white rind around the seeds is bitter and should be discarded. Juice this super food or snack on it – a guilt-free indulgence.

Pomegranate is delicious added to whole grain salads like couscous, quinoa, or barley. Add nuts, dried fruits and herbs of your choice to these salads and the end result is divine. I enjoy having pomegranate in salads — green or grain, on yogurt, and in fruit smoothies. My absolute favorite is to top Swiss muesli with these colorful jewels. Get creative and make your own masterpiece!

Recipe

1. In a bowl, combine pears, 2 tablespoons honey, and the juice of ginger.
2. Let it stand for 15-20 minutes for the flavors to marry.
3. Transfer the pears to a serving platter.
4. Drizzle remaining tablespoon of honey.
5. Top the pears with pomegranate seeds.
6. Finally, garnish with fennel seeds.

Enjoy the simple goodness of the harvest season!

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  Renu Chhabra lives in Southern California. Cooking simple and clean vegetarian food is her passion. Fresh produce, fragrant herbs, and aromatic spices are her kitchen companions. Recently, she has started cataloging her adventures in the kitchen in a new blog, Simple Sustenance for Us.

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