Merry Christmas dear readers! Frost isn’t nipping at my nose and chestnuts are definitely not roasting over an open fire (at least not in Houston) but that doesn’t much matter. Christmas is only 3 days away and I’m feeling the festive mood coming upon me! It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Unfortunately this “time of year” can be fraught with stresses of the most acute kind – holiday traffic, awkward office parties, last minute shopping (by the by who else fears for their life at the mall these days??), an over abundance of sweets – everywhere, crowded airports – I could go one but I’ll leave some things for you to fill in.
Bottom line: don’t let all the little stresses and annoyances steal from you. I know how easy it is to rush around with that long list of everything but it’ll wear you out. And you’re probably already worn out. Slow down. Breathe. It’s been a long year.
Take time this Christmas to reflect on the important things. Be kind to yourself. Give yourself grace. I know it’s silly how it’s like we need permission to slow down – it almost feels wrong – so give yourself permission. Be intentionally restful. Be at peace. All is well. Nope it ain’t perfect. But things are well. Enjoy this season for all it’s worth. Merry Christmas to each of you. Aaaand if you’re looking for a festive snack to enjoy whilst sitting by the tree, try a pomegranate!
OK. The pomegranate is probably one of the most overlooked fruits out there. Tell me what’s right about the widespread fame of apples and bananas while a stellar and exotic fruit, a.k.a. the pretty pomegranate, lives a secret life, tucked away? It’s like the caviar of the fruit world! Royalty in hiding!
My excuse for only recently discovering this food? For a long time I avoided pomegranates simply because I had no idea how to eat one! Plus like I hinted to just above, pomegranates are the best kept secret on this planet (OK not really…they’re the second best).
Recently however, I’ve come to enjoy not only the fun of eating the little pomegranate seeds (which will hence forth be referred to as “jewels”) but also the impressive health benefits of this delightful fruit.
Pomegranates are full of potent antioxidants. Antioxidants seek and destroy free radicals, cancer causing entities in our bodies. The pomegranate is high in fiber and also keeps skin looking younger and wrinkle-free if consumed on a regular basis. If you had a late night, eat some pomegranate jewels in the morning. It not only will give your body a boost, it also gives the complexion a glow and erases the tired signs on the face that can show up from lack of sleep. (Obviously try to get enough sleep but pommy jewels in a pinch work wonders!) Give it a try and forget those expensive, “age defying” lotions packed with artificial ingredients. Eat this delicious fruit that nourishes your body while yielding noticeable results instead! On a personal note, I see an increase in the health of my skin within hours of eating some jewels. Now that’s fast-acting!
How to eat them? There are many different ways to eat pomegranates (including in smoothies and in different desserts) – just do a quick internet search – but my way is quite simply to: “enjoy with dark chocolate”. Of course, that is my life’s motto in everything. 
Pomegranate Jewels and Dark Chocolate
1 pomegranate, choose a firm, heavy one that is brightly colored and has shiny skin
1 dark chocolate bar
Heads up! Pomegranate juice stains so wear an old shirt or apron when cutting one open. There are many different ways to open up a pomegranate but the main thing is not to be intimidated! Take a sharp knife and slice it into quarters. Peel away the white pith and remove the seeds. It takes a little time to open it all up and get to all the jewels inside but it’s worth it. It’s like digging for treasure! On a side note I have a confession to make. The little seeds are actually called arils and not jewels. Just so you know.
Store in a plastic container in the fridge for up to a week or so. Put the jewels in a festive bowl and garnish with squares of dark chocolate (be sure to get dark for maximum health benefit) for a classy and health infusing Christmas party dessert.
Now to recap! Enjoy this Christmas. Don’t put too much on yourself. Slow down. And have some fun with pomegranates.
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