How To Cut A Pomegranate

I remember the first time I tried to remove all the seeds from a pomegranate.  My clean white shirt was spotted with dark red specs all over it.  Today, I actually know how to cut a pomegranate without all the mess, and it is just in three steps.  When purchasing a pomegranate, look for glossy skin, make sure it does not look withered.  Pick the pomegranate up, it should feel full and heavy, that is sign of a juicy pomegranate.

First, quarter the pomegranate.

Second, take a large bowl of water and submerge each quarter in the water.  Use your fingers to separate the arils from pulp.  This a bit time consuming, but well worth it.  Repeat with the remaining three quarters.

Thirdly, pour your water and seed mixture through a sieve, and pick out any bad looking seeds, or pulp you missed.

Now you are ready to enjoy as is, or pop into a recipe.  Nature's candy - yum yum :)


Check out this Aztec Hot Chocolate Ice Cream I made last year.  It is to die for.

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - Pomegranate

Did you know that it is National Pomegranate Month?  Well it is!  Pomegranates are one of my favorite fruits.  I have been fascinated by them since my seventh grade English teacher brought some to class to celebrate the end of our Greek studies unit.  Their leathery pink skin hides the sweet and tart jewel-like clusters inside called arils.  Once you take the time to break open the pomegranate and separate all the seeds, I let them chill in the refrigerator for a bit and just eat a huge bowl of them, like I did today.  I just love how each juicy seed pops in your mouth.  They were definitely the best thing I had in my mouth.

Stay tuned for tips on how to separate out the pomegranate seeds without making a complete mess.

Click here to read about last year's visit to Afton Apple Orchard in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Prometheus Springs Elixirs

On Friday, I hopped over to Whole Foods to pick up some goodies for work and I was lucky enough to get a couple of samples of Prometheus Springs elixir. Now I don't know if this "elixir" is really a cure-all, but to me that doesn't matter much because the flavors are so delicious. Prometheus Springs comes in three flavors: Pomegranate Black Pepper, Lychee Wasabi, and Lemon Ginger. All of them have spice in common, but I especially loved the Pomegranate Black Pepper and bought myself a bottle to share with friends. Prometheus Springs states they are "the world's first capsaicin spiced elixir." What is capsaicin you may ask? Pronounced (cap-say-sin), it is an active ingredient in chili peppers, which creates the heat in these drinks. At the beginning of your sip, you taste the sweetness of the pomegranate, but by the time you swallow, you feel the heat of the pepper in the back of your throat. Prometheus Springs describes the health benefits of their beverages better than I can, so click here if you want to read up on it. They recommend drinking one of their elixirs to kick your cold or flu, but I think you shouldn't wait to be sick, and just drink it as a special treat or mix it with your favorite spirit for a fancy cocktail. Here are some suggestions here. Enjoy!