Saying Goodbye To Winter With A Chocolate & Orange Tart...

Disclaimer: In life we often have to bid final goodbyes to our near and dear ones. We, as a family said goodbye to my grandmother, my father's aunt this January. She was old and frail, yet when the news of her passing away reached us, we were all shocked. I guess we were not ready for it. No one ever is. These goodbyes are heartbreaking and extremely painful. This post is not about them, rather the occasional goodbyes which we bid from time to time with promises of meeting again, more like dekha hobe in Bangla, phir milenge in Hindi and au revoir in French.

I hate goodbyes. But being the migratory sort, often have to bid them. Leaving the family behind can be extremely tough. And no, however many times you part, it never becomes easy. Like my mother says she loves to go to the railway station/airport to receive us but hates going to see us off. When you are going to meet someone there is so much of anticipation and excitement, you are almost jumping with joy, if not, at least grinning madly. You think of all the things that you have to tell that person/s, all those things you need to share, the happy days you are going to spend together. Life stretches out in front of you with joyous possibilities. But when you go to see someone off, you know there is going to be such a void back home that a person's leaving always makes. Time just flew, there are so many things left unsaid, so many activities left undone. You did not visit your old relative together, nor did not visit your favourite misti ir dokan/ sweet shop or show your new discovery, a shop which stocks the most beautiful saris. You wonder to yourself how come the days flew by so quickly, they never do when you are alone. Your heart feels heavy, your feet drag, yet you smile on bravely and chatter inanely, so that the person who is leaving does not feel worse.

But sometimes goodbyes are not bad. Like bidding goodbye to a long and lingering winter.

Every autumn I get excited about the approaching winter because it brings Christmas. And that means festivities, celebrations, good food, gifts, socialising and all things nice. Living in the West, I find December to be the most magical month. Though the days are short and cold, there is an excitement in the air which is almost tangible. There are lights and glitters everywhere, shops are beautifully decorated and brimming with merchandise, people also seem to be in a better mood than usual. Smiles and nods are in abundance. There is Christmas cheer in the air and all around!

But by the time March comes around, we are tired of winter, having survived the dreary January and February. We are weary of the relentless cold, the grey skies, the leafless tress and the heavy winter coats. Even if March is cold in our minds it is the harbinger of spring and we are impatient for the winter to move on and let spring in. We look for little signs of spring like the little green shoots, little less bite in the wind, little longer days and these small signs bring enormous cheer. Long winters are hard on everyone, but especially dreadful to tropical people like us used to a month or so of a lame excuse of a winter. Five long months of harsh winter seems like a corporal punishment.

This year in London spring is playing hide and seek with us. There have been some glorious days with sunshine and mild temperature. And then horrible grey days with biting cold comes back. But I am ready for spring, and I no longer want to wait for it. Since winter seems in no hurry to move on,  I decided to give it a little nudge and wish it a firm goodbye. I wrote winter a little note.

''Dear Winter, I'm afraid it is time for us to say goodbye. You know what they say about guests who overstay their welcome? Go away and come back after autumn. Bye for now. xoxo''

How about you folks? How do you feel about saying goodbye?

I wished winter goodbye with this glorious chocolate & orange tart. I chose this because of the orange in it. To me orange symbolises winter and what better way to say goodbye than this orange-y dessert?

If like me, you love orange flavoured chocolate, this is just the dessert for you. Not only does this tart smell of oranges, it tastes of oranges too. The dark chocolate when infused with orange caramel takes on a whole new depth. It takes you to chocolate heaven, propelled by the rest of the ingredients-- double cream, graham crackers, sugar, butter, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla. When these fabulous ingredients come together they sure create magic!

I had bookmarked Chef Charles Draghi's orange and caramelized orange tarts a long time ago. From time to time I would watch the video. I love his relaxed, easy approach to cooking. Also this is one of the most detailed food videos I have come across. Finally I made the tart this Sunday. I am not sharing the whole recipe here. you can watch it in the Chef's video.

I followed everything to the last t. It came out a treat, only I was not very confident about pulling the tarts out of the ramekins. They felt a little wobbly.

It is a very heavy dessert, my husband and me, we could not finish one ramekin between the two of us. Given our (especially mine) voracious eating habits this was indeed a shock!

This is a dessert I would make again and again. Simply because it is one of those which not only tastes glorious, it falls into the food category of more is less. A couple of spoonfuls and you are sated.

Oh I switched to a Fairtrade and organic chocolate. Usually I use Lindt's 70% dark chocolate for my baking. This time picked up Green & Blacks 70% dark chocolate bars because they are organic and Fairtrade.  The moment I unwrapped the foil, a nice smell hit me. And the chocolate is just divine. It is silky smooth and creamy and not very bitter. All those who love dark chocolate, I do not, would find this pleasurable. I am sticking to this brand for now. Not only will I be doing some good to the world, I am getting superior quality in return. They cost the same as other luxury chocolate brands, so I am not even paying extra.

P.S. It's a glorious day here in London, the sun is out in full glory, with promises of temperature going up to 14 degrees. Do you think winter listened to me? Maybe got seduced by the chocolate and orange tarts?