The Simple Delights

When you think of February, you probably don’t think of bountiful seasonal produce…but a quick trip to your local Whole Foods will quickly change your mind! As you walk in the door, you are greeted with the lovely colors of beets, red chard and gorgeous citrus. February offers fabulous produce to spice up your kitchen.

February’s Best Produce

Cauliflower
Leafy Greens
Fennel
Sweet Potatoes
Parsnips
Leeks
Brussels Sprouts
Citrus
Turnips
Rutabaga
Potatoes
Onions

With these amazing fruits and veggies, the possibilities are endless! So, head out to the store- bypass the ever so tempting tomatoes and strawberries (they will taste much better if you wait until summer) and start experimenting with some of these less used items.

I get super excited when I see pomegranates show up at the farmer’s market (I got a little too excited- because I bought one yesterday and it was a little too early…please excuse the sad looking pomegranate in these pictures!!)

I LOVE using pomegranate for all kinds of things in the Fall months- salad dressing, parfait toppers, pancake syrup, marinade…or just a great, healthy snack- but the idea of cleaning a pomegranate can be a little intimidating. All of those great juicy seeds are protected by thick, maze like grooves- and trying to detach the seeds from their protectors can be quite the difficult and MESSY task.

A few years ago, I learned a great, easy and mess-free way to clean one of these nutrient rich- antioxidant packed gems. (I don’t remember where I learned this…maybe Martha Stewart??)

So, here is a step-by-step “How to clean a pomegranate” guide. Please excuse the ugly pictures!

1- Gather the tools you will need: A sharp knife, a bowl, a strong spoon, a cutting board, and your pomegranate.

2- Cut the pomegranate in half, horizontally.


3- Hold one side of the pomegranate, cut side down in the palm of your hand and then rotate your hand so that your palm, and the cut side of your pomegranate are facing the bowl.

4- Grab the spoon with your other hand and firmly hit the pomegranate with it…over and over as the seeds start to fall out….continue until all of the seed are in your bowl.

5- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other side.

6- Enjoy the fruits of your labor, literally!