POM

This time of year there are some amazing fruits available. One that I eagerly await is the POMEGRANATE {it's available from Sep-Jan}!! Oh my oh my OH MY how we love this fruit; two of my kids have asked Santa to put one in their stocking this year! I remember 9 years ago sitting with my husband of 6 months at our dinner table {a card table} eating a pomegranate. We talked about how awesome they are and how one day they were going to be BIG. They would be added to foods and drinks... oh yeah, we called it! You can find pomegranate in everything from soda to soap {yes, I have both of those things in my house... Pomegranate 7Up is positively sinful!} The pomegranate is an amazing little fruit. They are native to Persia and is one of the oldest fruits known to man! Cool huh?! It's tart but sweet. Jewish tradition says that there are 613 seeds representing the 613 commandments in the Torah. Some believe that it is the fruit from the Tree of Life. Also {due to it's large quantity of arils - seeds} practically everywhere associates the pomegranate with fertility. It is a BEAUTIFUL fruit too!
Pomegranates are used more widely in other parts of the world. It's been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. But it has a lot of health benefits. The best website is www.pomwonderful.com. Some health facts listed there are:

*Pomegranates contain polyphenols, a natural powerful and effective antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect your body against "free radicals", which contribute to chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer.

*They have A TON of Vitamin C - perfect considering the nasty weather and the sniffles that come with it.

*They also have a lot of Vitamin K which is necessary for healthy blood coagulation.

I got this NIFTY handout at the grocery store when I bought a couple pomegrantes the other day. THIS is DEFINITELY the way to get into these beauties! In case you can't read it:
1. With a sharp paring knife, cut off the top about 1/2 inch below the crown.
2. Once the top is off, you'll see four to six sections. With your knofe point, scoer the skin at each section.
3. Separate the pomegranate at each score, so that you have individual sections {I recommend doing this over a bowl}
4. Over a bowl of water, use your fingers to loosen the arils and drop them into the bowl. The arils will sink to the bottom.
5. Use a spoon to scoop out the pices of shite membrane that have floated to the top.
6. Pour the remaining liquid through a strainer. Place the arils in your favorite dish and ENJOY!

Enjoy them while they're around! Throw a few arils in with your salad or smoothy. Top oatmeal, yogurt or cereal. OR, you can just eat them by the spoonful {or handful if you're not that fancy!}. They are DELISH!