-By Kristin V. Montalvo

Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day.
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree.
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
-- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, III, 5


The pomegranate's rustic beauty has long been an inspiration for poets, writers, painters and sculptors. The Bible and writings of Homer mention pomegranates, and ancient myths cite this fruit as favored by the gods. Pomegranates, bursting with seeds, symbolize fertility in Chinese, Greek, Persian, Roman and Hebrew lore. They also symbolize hope in Christian art and, according to Jewish tradition, are a symbol of prosperity. Associated with health and rebirth, some scholars even place the pomegranate in the Garden of Eden, instead of an apple. Known as one of the earliest cultivated fruits, pomegranates may date back to 2000 B.C. and are still a fruit of fascination today.

The pomegranate has a thick, leathery, purplish-red skin that protects the pinkish pulp and edible seeds. Every pomegranate is composed of hundreds of seeds, each surrounded by a sac of sweet-tart juice contained by a thin skin. The seeds are compacted around the core in a layer resembling a honeycomb. The layers of seeds (also called arils) are separated by paper-thin white membranes which are bitter to the tongue. The inner membranes and rind are not generally eaten due to high tannic acid content. While getting the seeds out can be a bit of a struggle, the leathery-skinned, orange-sized fruit with the sweet-tart juice is definitely worth the extra elbow grease. This juice becomes the base for sauces and flavorings for drinks, savory dishes, and sweets, while the whole seeds are a simple delight eaten fresh or used as a colorful garnishing accent. You can also just put a bunch of them in a bowl to use as a centerpiece.

Today, many varieties of pomegranates are grown in hot spots around the world, though California's "Wonderful," a large red type with big seeds, is the major variety available in the United States (in markets October through December, with the peak season in November and into December).

Pomegranates are now being featured as one of the hot new "super foods" that not only taste good but are good for you, too. Nutritional research confirms that pomegranates contain minerals -- e.g. calcium, potassium and iron -- plus compounds known as phytonutrients that help protect the body against heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. The powerful antioxidants in the fruit also help retard aging and can neutralize almost twice as many free radicals as red wine and seven times as many as green tea. As a further benefit, some researchers suggest that the crunchy seeds help flush fats from the digestive tract.

Portable Induction Burners
If you're looking to save a bundle on energy, the hottest (literally) and greenest trend in cooking these days is portable induction burners. Considered one of the most eco-friendly products for their efficiency and safety, portable induction burners cook 50 percent faster than gas or electric cooktops, boiling water in seconds. And since there is no flame, smoke or gas emission, this makes them an extremely safe and convenient portable cooking solution.

Induction cooking is based on magnetic fields: each 'element' (an induction coil) generates a magnetic field that induces heat in steel cookware placed on top of it. In essence, the pot becomes the element that cooks the food, so the cooktop surface doesn't get as hot as other cooktops. As soon as the vessel is removed from the element, or the element is turned off, heat generation stops

The innovative way in which heat is transferred in induction cooktops requires the use of induction-compatible cookware such as enamel, stainless steel with a ferromagnetic bottom or cast iron. If consumers are curious about whether the pans they already own are capable of induction cooking, all they have to do is hold a magnet to the bottom of the pan. If the magnet sticks, the pan will work with an induction burner.

Besides being extremely energy-efficient, you also have the versatility of being able to cook in the dining room, the back porch or just keep on hand for extra cooking power in the kitchen.

Comments? kmontalvo@gourmetretailer.com