May = Marvelous Magenta and Pretty Pink!

Well…it’s happened. I’ve actually put my money where my mouth is. As promised for my "May Magenta month", I’ve tracked down an elusive - DRAGONFRUIT.

Since I knew I’d have trouble locating this treat in Eastern Iowa, I started hunting during a recent vacation in Philalephia. While perusing the windows in Chinatown, I was hit with a pungent smell of mingled spices and fish brine. It could only be – an Asian market. I walked inside with fingers crossed. Sure enough, cradled in a brown box on the floor just to right of the front door…I saw…this…

My jaw dropped! Leave it those “Philly foodies” to share their brotherly love! I picked out two fruits and went to pay. “Do you know if these are red or white dragonfruits?” My heart skipped before the clerk had even finished the word: “Red”. Proceed with singing, happy dance, and other forms of a Miriam WIG OUT! Here’s what the beautiful fruit looked like when cut. 

So what did I do with this long awaited delicacy? Check out my full May Magenta menu below.

Raspberry cocktail with raspberry puree, limocello, whiskey, and mint

Pickled “pink” eggs, beets, and onions

 Spring greens with red onion, radish, raspberries, crumbled queso, and a blush wine vinaigrette

 Summery beet borscht 

Seared tuna with a watermelon-radish slaw [note – I forgot to add cheese for this pic but it was a fabulous additional when actually eaten! I used crumbled queso rather than the recommended feta. I also left out the black beans to stick with my “pink” theme]

And last…but not least! Dragonfruit lychee sorbet with a cashew crumble and fresh mint

In keeping with tradition, I also browsed google for music featuring magenta and other forms of pink. To my great delight, there is an abundance of related material out there! Everthing from the psychedelic  hits of Pink Floyd to the crisp guitar and vocals of a progressive Welsh band name “Magenta”. But I’ll leave you with my top pick: “Pink” by Aerosmith.

Happy eating and see you in June!