Unique Pomegranate Treats and Drinks
A new and wonderful drink has been promoted publicly and used as a great tasting, but good for you treat, that is the Pomegranate martini. Oprah has said this is one of her favorite Martini drinks and it has been mentioned on other talk shows as well. It is made with 1 and ½ cups of all natural 100% pomegranate juice, 2 ounces of your favorite vodka or white tequila, 1 ounce of Coinreau liquor, 1 cup of fresh ice, and optionally a splash of sparkling water or a couple squeezes of lemon. These ingredients only need to be shaken in a shaker and are best served chilled.
Another great use for the pomegranate that is great for you in a variety of ways with lots of vitamins and minerals is to mix the small berries into a yogurt. As with any mixture of fruit into yogurt it provides a low fat and healthy snack that is full of calcium and tastes great. You can simply mix them into a plain bowl of your favorite plain (original) yogurt or you can take things a step further and follow a recipe to make your own pomegranate yogurt which may take a while due to the sorting.
You should start out your pomegranate yogurt making endeavor with a large pomegranate and two cups of cold plain yogurt, next have two finely chopped scallions ready and mix them with ¼ cup of pomegranate juice, ¼ cup of cilantro also finely chopped. For further taste and texture add a small handful of fresh spring mints and a sprinkle of salt. This should set in the fridge for a while before you try it and eat it, maybe 30 minutes or so for the best taste and result. As most milk products if you are making a lot at once you need to eat it within a few days or it will tend to go bad and sour.
No matter what treat or drink you are making, be sure to carefully examine your pomegranate fruit for signs of spoiling or being too ripe. The skin should be thin and unbroken which indicates that the flavor is well developed, when you split the fruit open with a knife the seed casing should be no other color than white and the seed coats should be drippy and tender in appearance. Look for odd colored spots or softness on the outside layers of the fruit and if you are unsure ask your local grocer.
Pomegranates can be used for other things such as food toppings or extra ingredients like sprinkling over fruit salads mixing into puddings or dessert dishes or mixing into pancakes. Their small size makes them easy to add into a variety of food dishes and their tangy and sweet flavor which is not too intense to take away the natural flavor of other foods but will add a little zing to your favorite dishes. A simple search on the web can provide you with more pomegranate recipes such as pomegranate fruit smoothies and pomegranate pie and other snacks.