Although cranberries usually reign supreme around Thanksgiving, the ruby pomegranate seems to be stealing some of the classic berry's thunder this season -- and understandably so, with its unique tart, fruity edge.
Flickr user Norwichnuts created this vegan Pomegranate Ice Kreme by simply combining two juiced pomegranates, two cups creamer, one cup powdered sugar and an added layer of pomegranate jelly and freezing it in an ice-cream maker. The "kreme" appears remarkably luscious and creamy, despite its vegan preparation. Topping the simple dessert with glazed pecans adds a salty complexity, as well as interesting texture and crunch.
Do you enjoy pomegranate? Have you been integrating it into your holiday cooking? Divulge how you've been using the fruit this season in the comments.
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When it comes to combining fat and starch in the most delicious way possible, a pulled pork sandwich is right up there with macaroni and cheese. What is more satisfying than pork roasted low and slow, pulled, seasoned and then generously piled upon a fluffy white bun specked with toasted sesame seeds? Nothing, we say. Not even mac 'n' cheese.
And when you consider the time and effort that goes into a sandwich like this one from Flickr user rachel is coconut&lime, the pork is the clear winner -- especially because of its secret ingredient.
With most sandwiches, what you see is what you get. Not so with this pomegranate pulled pork. That's right, not only was the pork roasted with pomegranate arils (the seeds), Rachel also used pomegranate molasses, rendering the meat smoky, spicy and sweet.
It looks so good we could eat it every day. Good thing it's not that bad for you.
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Ah, the pomegranate choices at Pinkberry...Should I have pomegranate booster over plain frozen yogurt or pomegranate flavored yogurt?
About a month ago, Pinkberry launched their new holiday-inspired flavor: pomegranate. Unlike most flavored frozen yogurt, this one tastes like real yogurt mixed with fresh pieces of pomegranates. The bitterness usually associated with pomegranates is subtle and the sweetness not too overwhelming. After being "in-the-works" for 12 months, pomegranate was launched using 100 percent California pomegranate juice.
Stay healthy this holiday season by consuming Pinkberry's frozen pomegranate yogurt loaded with antioxidents. Pinkberry is also offering a pomegranate booster that's still in development. So, they're not advertising it yet at their stores, but you can ask for one as a topping. Actually, I enjoyed a shot of the pomegranate booster as a topping over their plain flavor more than the pomegranate flavor. I was blown away by the booster's unique syrupy consistency that reminded me of a watered-down balsamic reduction.
Have you tried Pinkberry's pomegranate flavor and/or booster? If so, what do you think? Which one do you like better?
Last month I posted a Tidbit on the Dessert Truck's small partnership with PAMA (Pomegranate Liqueur) and their taste-off for National Pomegranate Month.
The results are in -- please welcome the PAMA Macaron dessert. A trio of the sweet treats retails for just $3 and PAMA will make a donation back to City Harvest, an organization that strives to end hunger in New York City communities, for each one sold between November 17-23.
Considering the editors at AOL chose the Macaron over the Chocolate Lollipop 4-2, we are excited to see it hit the menu board and pleased to see it helping City Harvest.
As of now, it's Pomegranate located in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. The 20,000 square feet of shopping space includes aisles full kosher gourmet foods. An article from New York magazine calls Pomegranate a "kosher gourmet megastore." The supermarket seems to be a cross between Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.
Unlike other specialty markets, Pomegranate caters to the thousands of Orthodox Jewish families living in New York City. The store has three kitchens: dairy, meat, and parve (fish, vegetables, fruit and grains). Each has its own on-duty full-time rabbi. Customers can choose from a rich selection of freshly baked challah and homemade cheeses to aged prime beef-rib steaks to an olive bar and sushi bar. The gourmet food market is an obvious business trend. Is the kosher version of Whole Foods the new trend?
I live in Brooklyn, not far from Pomegranate, and I see several smaller gourmet kosher markets on Kings Highway. The prices are not cheap. So, I do not think that Pomegranate will have a hard time competing with existing stores. You can now visit the supermarket that's located on Coney Island Avenue at the corner of Avenue L.
There are some people who it is just plain good to know. When you're in college, for example, the guy with a truck is incredibly helpful, and when you go in to business, the understanding accountant and the slightly unethical lawyer are almost necessities.
A few years ago, my friend John became one of these fabulously helpful people. A lifelong resident of southwest Virginia and a trained chemist, John had a skill set that was uniquely wonderful: he knew how to get hold of moonshine, and he knew how to test it for impurities. While the grain liquor (or "likker," if you prefer) that I got from John wasn't all that cheap, it was completely flavorless, and I soon discovered that it made the perfect carrier for various fruits. Within a couple of months, I had a collection of incredibly delicious infused cordials that I would mix with seltzer or tonic water to produce light, moderately alcoholic spritzers with insanely pure tastes.
I do believe that the pomegranate is one of the more beautiful fruits out there and this picture, taken by Flickr user SamarthPal, is perfect representation of what makes it so lovely. Those jewel tones and glossy, faceted sides along with the hot, outdoor light are so fresh and appealing.
If you've been on the fence, now is the time to head over to the Slashfood Flickr group, join us and add your pictures. All the cool kids are doing it!
Here's a cocktail that is actually good for you. Chock full of anti-oxidants from the Sence rose nectar, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. Recipe courtesy of CocktailAtlas.com.
Rosy Pom
The Rosy Pom was crated for the Erotic Café inside the ZUMANITY Theatre at New York-New York in Las Vegas. Zumanity is a provocative cabaret-style production with a Cirque du Soleil twist. This playful cocktail, made with SEX Vodka and rose nectar, is the perfect drink to get you in the mood for a sexy show.
1.5oz Sex Vodka .5oz Sence Rose Nectar .5oz Cointreau 1oz Cranberry Juice Splash of POM pomegranate juice
Combine ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a rose petal.
Looking for a seasonal cocktail that doesn't involved dry ice and a punchbowl? Then you might want to check out this concoction of honey, port wine and pomegranate juice that mixologist Christina Cunningham conjured up for Nectar, a restaurant right outside of Philadelphia. Just be warned, this isn't one that you can whip up at the spur of the moment, it requires a week for the fruit to marinate in the wine. The recipe is after the jump.
I was at a local food event today which show cased regional and local food products made by small / family businesses and farms. Every now and then I run across a product so good I have to share the news. The Bombay Emerald Chutney Company has not just one, but five great products. Their gourmet line of "Royal" Chutneys are fantastic: Royal Mint Chutney, Royal Tomato Chutney, Royal Plum Chutney, Royal Cranberry Chutney, and their new Royal Pomegranate Chutney. It's a Mom and Pop company who make their chutney by hand from their own family recipes using all natural ingredients that they personally buy themselves, and they have no preservatives.
My favorite is the Mint Chutney, made from Coriander, Lime Juice, Mint Leaves, Green Chilies, Salt & Spices. You would think that from such few and simple ingredients the flavor would be simple, but it's not. It has a very complex taste with just the right balance between the tangy lime, fresh mint, salt, and a nice but not lethal dose of spices. The Tomato Chutney has a very solid, summer ripe tomato presence, with the lemon, spices, salt, and cilantro bringing it all together.
Not all salads revolve around lettuce and the Avocado, Grapefruit, and Pomegranate Salad from Pepper at Frugal Cuisine is a perfect example of this fact. The salad is very simple - only one grapefruit avocado, pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of extra grapefruit juice - but very elegant. Coincidentally, the red and green colors of the salad and the jewel-like look of the pomegranate seeds make this an incredibly festive dish and ideal for the holidays, especially if you live in California or somewhere it is easy to get avocados year-round.
The creamy avocados balance out the sharp flavor of the grapefruit, while the pomegranate seeds add a much needed crunch. A sweet grapefruit will work best here, so if yours is very bitter, you might want to use half of an orange to round out the flavors of the salad.
This salad would work well served on its own, but could also be used as a sort of relish for fish or chicken if you diced up everything into small pieces.
The findings showed that pomegranate juice had no effect on blood sugar levels (i.e. did not increase it). However, it did reduce levels of other compounds that affect cardiovascular health. Consistently high glucose levels intensify the hardening of blood vessels. This is called atherosclerosis, and leads to cardiovascular disease and stroke. According to lead researcher Professor Michael Aviram, "In most juices, sugars are present in free – and harmful – forms. In pomegranate juice, however, the sugars are attached to unique antioxidants, which actually make these sugars protective against atherosclerosis."
Quiz question: What fruit is known as an antioxidant powerhouse?
Did you say pomegranate? You're right! Did you say blueberry? You're also right!
Both the pomegranate and the blueberry are well-known for their antioxidant content, making them super-duper disease-fighting foods. Each fruit on its own is powerful, but combine the two in a juice, and not only do you get the benefits of both, you also get a might tasty juice.
The San Francisco Chronicle tasted nine Pomegranate Blueberry juices available in local grocery stores, and picked Naked as their "runaway favorite" for "Good fruit aroma and balance of flavors," "smells like blueberries, tastes good but not too sweet," and "rich, thick texture." The juice scored 82 out of a possible 100 points with the panel.
The other juices they tasted and their corresponding scores were: Pom Wonderful (73), Trader Joe's (69), Whole Foods 365 (51),Trader Joe's blend (49), R.W. Knudsen (48), Fruttzo (41), TrueBlue (17), and Langers (5).
Proclaimed as the world's first pomegranate liqueur Pama is now available in the UK.
It cashes in of course with the new found popularity of the pomegranate - a super food. Pama is made with 100% pomegranate juice concentrate, premium vodka and tequila. It has been described as having an 'exquisite sweet tart flavour'. It is intended as a base for cocktails and the website handily provides a few recipes. You could try the Champagne Dream (mixed with orange liqueur, fresh orange and champagne) or how about the Peacock (more vodka and orange liqueur).
Here's a cocktail that is actually good for you. Chock full of anti-oxidants from the Sence rose nectar, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. Recipe courtesy of 
I was at a local food event today which show cased regional and local food products made by small / family businesses and farms. Every now and then I run across a product so good I have to share the news. The 
We already know that 
Quiz question: What fruit is known as an antioxidant powerhouse?
Proclaimed as the world's first pomegranate liqueur 
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