J is for Jicama: Jicama and Pear Salad (Jessica)

Dear Readers,

Happy holidays! Whether you are celebrating Christmas or Chanukah (or any other holiday), this time of the year is always a bit magical. Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, I love the lights and songs; they are so cheerful! I'll admit, I don't even mind going to the mall in the month of December. In addition, this time of the year means vacation! My family has done a few exotic trips over the holidays, but usually, I head back to the cold of New England to freeze in my hometown. And such is the case this year. We've actually been cooking up a storm here (it keeps the kitchen warm!), but nothing that starts with a J or a K. Potato latkes anyone???

I actually made this recipe last week, before I came home. Next week, expect a holiday dessert!


Pear and Jicama Salad
from marthastewart.com
Serves 3-4 as a side dish

Ingredients: 
-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
-Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
-1 pear, halved, cored, and thinly sliced
-1 small jicama (about 12 ounces), peeled, quartered, and thinly sliced
-1/2 cup fresh cilantro

Directions: 
1. Whisk lime juice in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add pear, jicama, and cilantro, and toss to combine. Season with more salt if desired. Serve immediately.

Review: 

Jicama, interesting food right? It turns out, I kept pulling this salad out of the fridge and eating the pear out of it. I guess I didn't love jicama. I think if there were a greater ratio of other ingredients to jicama, I would have liked it better. Apparently, Jicama is something best used as more of a garnish rather than a star ingredient! But hey, give it a try sometime, you may like it!

 

 

 

Happy holidays!

-Jessica

PS. Jen's secret ingredient next week is Kisses. (You know, the Hershey's kind)