Monday

Sweet Tart Pomegranate Sauce

I'm not a trend setter or a trend follower but I make an exception when it comes to the exotic fruits showing up in plentiful supply at my local supermarket. If you have not yet sprinkled a bunch of fresh Pomegranate seeds on your salad, give it a try! They are quite delightful.

And, so is the plant. Dwarf Pomegranate Trees grow happily in a sunny window. Laden with bright orange flowers, producing edible fruit about the size of a silver dollar.



Sweet Tart Pomegranate Sauce
Serve on chicken, turkey or pork.
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon chopped, fresh basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oregano
  • Salt to taste
  • Garnish with 1/2 cup Pomegranate seeds

Heat chicken broth, pomegranate juice and balsamic vinegar in a skillet.

Add cornstarch, brown sugar and seasonings.

Bring to a boil; reduce and simmer until sauce thickens.

Garnish with Pomegrante seeds (officially called Arils.)


Saturday

Breakfast Cookies

For years, now, people have been preaching about how breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Especially if you're trying to manage your weight. I didn't understand this. Where I'm concerned, eating does not occur to me until later in the day. And, I'm talking real late. I can get up at 6 and not feel hungry until noon, or later. But, the thing is... once I start eating I don't stop nibbling until I go to bed.
Being the pseudo-scientist that I am, I decided to test this out. I forced myself to eat within 20 minutes after crawling out of bed. And, this is what I discovered: It works.

Dammit all! I'm thinner now than I was during the skipping breakfast years. Though the big problem is finding something palatable to eat first thing in the morning. Nibbling on a breakfast cookie generally does the trick.

Yummy Breakfast Cookies

Mix it up:

  • 3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1/3 tsp. Salt
Stir it in:

  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1/3 cup Dark Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla
  • 1 Egg
Grab that wooden spoon & add...

  • 1.5 cups Oatmeal (not cooked)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped Apples
  • 3/4 cup Craisins
  • 1 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese*
Bake for 15 minutes @ 375 degrees.

Good to go. These work particularly well for me because I'm too impatient to make breakfast. I stick these in my pocket and gobble them up while I'm walking to the stables. Horses like 'em, too.
* I'm a cheese lover. Therefore I love this recipe. If you're not much of a cheesehead substitute nuts and favorite dried fruits for the Cheddar cheese.

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