SUPERFOOD of the Week: Pomegranate

Food Facts - Pomegranate
​I hope you all have tried pomegranate seeds because, whew, they are good!  I describe them as a burst of deliciousness in my mouth.  I love apples though, and since they have an apple- like flavor, this may be partially why.  Called Chinese apples, pomegranates are native to areas in the Middle East and now cultivated in many areas of the world, including the USA.  

What makes them a superfood though?  Well, for starters, they have been shown to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in humans (a good thing), lowering the risk for heart disease.    They also have been heavily studied for their anti- cancer properties and have been shown to decrease systemic inflammation.  Check the facts out in this abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007340/
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Look for heavy pomegranates that are not blemished and store in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Now, lastly but importantly, when you cut one, do it in a bowl of water with the fruit submerged in the water or else the juice will spray all over you and it stains badly!  Ok, maybe just buy the seeds in the containers and leave the cutting to Martha Stewart.

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Your Recipe - Pomegranate Salad;
Ingredients

• 4 cups arugula
• 3 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts 
• 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced, plus 1 tablespoon chopped fronds, for garnish
• 1 orange, segmented, plus the juice squeezed from the pulp
• Seeds from 1 pomegranate 
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Directions

1. Toss the arugula, walnuts, fennel, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and onions together in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the Dijon, vinegar and orange juice in a small bowl. Whisk in the oil. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Drizzle the salad with the dressing to taste. Garnish with fennel fronds and serve immediately.

From the Food Network: 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/katie-lee/pomegranate-holiday-salad-2674346

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