Spiced Pears and Pomegranates

A pomegranate is a sweet, tart fruit with thick, red skin. While the skin is not edible, it holds hundreds of juicy seeds that you can eat plain or sprinkle on salads, oatmeal, hummus, and other dishes. Bottled pomegranate juice is also an easy way to enjoy some of the health benefits of this delicious fruit.

Today’s dish is great for most diets. It’s vegan with no common allergy triggers, that works well as a fruit salad or as a healthy dessert alternative. It’s made with two autumn fruits, ripe pears and pomegranates, and is a great dish for the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year. It works well for potlucks. Pomegranates are, of course, a high-fiber, high-antioxidant “superfood” (thanks in part to those hard little edible seeds!). It’ll make you happy to see pomegranates appear in the grocery in the fall…

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How To Cook With Spices

Whether you’re looking to make the best use of fresh meat or you’re trying to create fast and filling meals, let’s discuss how to use spices. Spices come from the bark, buds, fruit, roots, seeds or stems of various plants or trees. (An herb, on the other hand, is from the leafy parts of plants that do not have woody stems.) Both can lose flavor quickly. Here are a few seasoning rules and tips that you should try to make a part of your cooking repertoire.

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Taco Seasoning – Great Small Gift Idea!

This is a simple, fantastic seasoning recipe which will make you give up those packets of seasoning. The flavor is so much richer, and it is such a money saver too. Modify the recipe to fit your taste and spice requirements. Be sure to use fresh spices.  Over time, spices will lose their potency and not flavor your food as intended. As a general rule, whole spices will stay fresh for about 4 years, ground spices for about 3 to 4 years and dried leafy herbs for 1 to 3 years.  The best way to know if the spices on your shelf are still good is by color and smell.

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