Pomegranate Grape Juice

Pomegranate Grape Juice with some raindrops on the ferns. Pic by M.C.
Pomegranate Grape Juice with some raindrops on the ferns. Pic by M.C.

My grandparents had an old, glorious pomegranate tree in their backyard. As I recall my grandmother said her mom planted it. My dad rooted the fruit tree cuttings and made his own trees. He gave me one, but it died. Wah! Or should I say I killed it—on accident of course. I have always loved pomegranates, but the older I get I don’t want to deal with the mess.

So after making my own juice, I would recommend buying L&A 32 ounce bottle of pomegranate juice for only $5.99 and it tastes fresh. Of course, the fresher your food the more vitamins and minerals you will get.

According to The Ultimate Book of Modern Juicing by Mimi Kirk and UTSouthwestern Medical Center blog, pomegranates have high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Phytonutrients like flavonoids helps rid the body from free radicals. Flavonoids keep blood flowing, which prevents clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Polyphenols protect the body against cancer, coronary heart disease, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes, and lowers the LDL cholesterol, but boosts the HDL cholesterol. Author Mimi Kirk suggests cutting and taking the pomegranate apart in a pot of water in the kitchen sink to reduce the mess.

Grapes contain important minerals like potassium (lowers blood pressure), calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium. They are high in vitamins A, B, C, K, and folate. They also contain flavonoids.

I added a lime to cut the sweetness. Limes contain calcium and folate. Limes are higher in vitamin C than lemons. The citric acid in limes breaks down the crystalized calcium that causes kidney stones. Warm water and lime juice helps cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). The limonoids in the fruit are a detoxifier and antibiotic. I think I will switch to using limes rather than lemons in my juices for a while to get that extra vitamin C.

POMEGRANATE GRAPE JUICE
2 pomegranates, medium
30 purple grapes
1 lime

Yield: about 11 ounces

Directions:
Wash then prep fruit. Try to peel as much skin off the pomegranates to get rid of the bitter taste. Cut off the lime peel and cut in half. Feed the Omega juicer with pomegranate seeds, grapes, and lime pieces intermittently.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Books make great gifts for the holidays! The MerSea series is about a conservationist, who becomes a mermaid, while fighting whalers in Antarctica. And, of course, there is a ship of vegans!

Happy Vegan!

Recipe from blog of melissacrismon.com

Copyright 2022 Melissa Crismon

Bob’s Red Mill GF Muffins

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Muffin Mix. Pic by M.C.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Muffin Mix. Pic by M.C.

I’m not into pie so I made Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Muffins for Thanksgiving. The muffins are gluten free and vegan and the mix was on sale for under $5. It makes 12 muffins. Of course, by the time I added quality ingredients it’s at least $8 for 12 muffins. There are no cranberries in the mix as the photo shows on the package so I had to use what was in my pantry. These turned out so yummy I want to share the recipe.

The texture came out like angel food cake because of the egg replacer. The egg replacer made the mixture thick so I added more oat milk than it calls for. I added chocolate chips, dried cherries, tangerine zest because I had them for the yams, and walnuts.

BOB’S RED MILL GF MUFFINS
1 package Bob’s Rd Mill Gluten Free Muffin Mix
1/2 cup safflower oil
1 cup plus 3 Tbsp. oat milk
2 eggs, use Ener-G, see recipe below
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
tangerine zest to taste

2-Egg Replacer Recipe:
3 tsp. Ener-G
4 Tbsp. warm water
Warm water in kettle for one minute.

Yield: 12 Muffins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin pan with paper baking cups. Pour mix into a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add oil, oat milk, and egg replacer. Mix. Then add the add-ins and mix. Spoon the batter into the cups to the top. Bake 25 minutes. Cool muffins for 5 minutes.

I bet you can’t eat just one!

It’s Black Friday! Books make great gifts too! The MerSea series is about a conservationist, who becomes a mermaid, while fighting whalers in Antarctica. And, of course, there is a ship of vegans.

Happy Vegan!

Recipe from blog of melissacrismon.com

Copyright 2022 Melissa Crismon