Pom Party!

The perfectly lovely people at Pom Wonderful chose my blog (along with about 99 others) to host a Pomegranate dinner party--and they sent me plenty of pomegranates to make that happen! This exotic (but approachable) fruit was the centerpiece of the meal, and they encouraged us to serve it up in different ways.

I decided to throw this party on the same day as the New York City marathon, which goes right past my building each year. ABF's sister, brother-in-law, and nieces were among the guests, and they came with mimosa fixings. Awesome! We took it up a notch and made "Pomosas," which was Moet & Chandon champagne with a hefty dose of 100 percent pomegranate juice. These were gorgeous and delicious--look at that ruby red beauty!

I also put my Trader Joe's apple cider (like a liquid apple pie!) in the crockpot and let it simmer, filling up the whole house with an unmistakable aroma of fall. A splash of pomegranate juice and it took on a whole new flavor. Yum! (Don't worry--Mitzi didn't get near it until AFTER all the guests left--please don't bother to call the Health Department.

For my savory dish, I sauteed chicken breasts in a pomegranate reduction. This was SO easy to make, but it tasted like it took a lot more skill than it did. :) I sauteed some shallots in olive oil, a bit of butter, red wine, and of course, freshly-squeezed pomegranate juice! This had a tart, juicy feel to it and it went so well with the chicken.

I paired it with some quinoa, which I mixed with freshly-chopped cucumber and of course, pomegranate seeds. A drizzle of pomegranate molasses (a gift from a friend who visited Turkey) finished off the dish.

ABF repeatedly told me how delicious this was, and I have to agree with him: it was pretty righteous. The tartness of the pomegranate is balanced by juuuust enough sweetness, and the color is just downright gorgeous!

I feel like I'm seeing pomegranates everywhere, and now they aren't the least bit intimidating. I hope you'll pick up one next time you hit the produce section--they're as tasty as they are beautiful. Thanks again, Pom Wonderful!

Full disclosure: While Pom Wonderful provided me with copious amounts of pomegranates, a kick-butt apron, and giveaway bags for my guests, I was not required to give a glowing review...it just deliciously worked out that way!