Bitter, sweet, and sour

Because of their sharp acidity and deep flavor, blood oranges lend themselves to a variety of preparations. In this salad, sweet-tart supremes of blood orange lie in a bed of bitter, spicy watercress. Smoothed by extra virgin olive oil, salt, and a dash of lemon juice, each bite gives a full spectrum of flavor.

Eating this salad reminded me that local winter produce consists of more than just root vegetables and sturdy greens. Savoring the bright tastes, I thought of Camus' statement about finding an invincible summer in the midst of winter. Sadly, the day after I enjoyed the jewel-like slices of blood orange came the news that frost killed seventy-five percent of California's citrus crop this year.