Thursday, October 29, 2009

POM-a-licious

The good people of Pom sent me a note and asked if I would like to review their product. I so willingly agreed. Why? Because I already liked POM. I can easily sing it's praises. It would also mean that they would be sending me a little stash of their liquid loveliness and I could create some POM recipes.

I already have made a few things and want to make a few more. So there will be more POM recipes coming next week.

The first thing that I made because I have been wanting to make it for some time now is a Pomegranate Martini. My inspiration came from Oprah's recipe but I will call this one my own because it is quite a bit differenet.

Now, you may be asking why I would take a healthy product (shown to be good for cardiovascular health, erectile function *yup* and prostate health) and add unhealthy alcohol to it. And I would like to say in reply, "cause I can, this is my blog". But no, what I will say is that an occassional moderate drink is actually good for you, I think, anyhow. It relaxes you and relaxing is very good for your body. Relying on drinks to relax all the time is probably not a very good idea but once in a while, why not?

Lori's Pom-etini
Lori's Lipsmacking Goodness

1 cup Pom juice
3 ounces vodka
2 ounces Grand Marnier
2 ounces simple syrup
spritz of lemon

Shake all ingredients together in a shaker with ice. Pour into 4 glasses- if you are really feeling indulgent, pour into two glasses.

Now, here is the redemption for my wicked ways - stuffed delicata squash.

Delicata Stuffed with Thai Sticky Rice, drizzled with Pomegranate Syrup
Lori's Lipsmacking Goodness

1 cup uncooked Thai Sticky Rice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ginger
2 cups water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 Delicata squash, cut in half length wise with seeds scraped out and discarded
1/4 cup dried golden currants
1/4 cup walnuts chopped
salt and pepper to taste

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan saute dry rice in the vegetable oil. When the rice becomes slightly fragrant add spices, stir one minute more. Add water, place cover on pot quickly because it will spit and sputter violently. Remove lid and bring to a boil. Replace lid and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Rice will take approximately 45 minutes.

While rice is cooking, place delicata squash cut side down on a cookie sheet and roast in a 425 F oven.

When rice is done combine 1 1/2 cups of it with the walnuts, s and p and dried currants. Turn delicata over, cut side up and spoon rice mixture into squash and return the squash to the oven. Bake for another five minutes or so.

Drizzle with Pomegranate syrup* and serve.

*Pomegranate syrup: combine 2 cups POM juice with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar. Boil and reduce to half.

If you want get really crazy I have to say that POM is wonderful in icing. It balances out the sugar with its nice twang. I did that here with Pomegranate Petit Fours. Since then I have become quite adept at cleaning them.

If you would like to find out more about the potential health benefits of Pom, check it out here.

9 comments:

Katy ~ said...

Yumm, that squash sounds very good. Creative use of the POM. Your drink sounds good, too. I happen to have all the ingredients, it's Friday night after a very long week, I allow myself one small alcoholic drink a every couple of months....

The Blonde Duck said...

I've heard so many great things about Pom.

kat said...

Both look so good! I got some POM too & the hubs has been drinking it all instead of my getting to cook with it

Mary Bergfeld said...

Everything looks good to me, Lori. Have a wonderful weekend.

Karine said...

Your squash recippe is original and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing :)

Shelly said...

That's so cool that they asked you to participate! I love it that pom season is right around the corner...yum yum yum.
A Pom-tini with pom seeds sprinkled in it...oh baby ;)

Murasaki Shikibu said...

An occasional drink can't be all that bad. So long as you're not addicted to it and drinking becomes your primary purpose in life - it's one way to wind down. I love pomegranates by the way so I'll be looking forward to your upcoming recipes!

Donna-FFW said...

I love the sound of this drink. A drink a day will keep the doctor away, isnt that the old adage?

shaz said...

Ha ha ha, the absolute first thing I wanted to do with my POM was to add rum to it! (And I had the same "but it's not really healthy" thougths as you did) Alcohol won :) Your Pom-atini looks sensational and so does the squash