It’s almost Christmas and our family is having our celebration this weekend so i’ve been thinking about salads, desserts and of course drinks! Yes, another drink yet again …festive that is. And my tropical roots is saying sweet, tart and a little touch of the holidays. So as I woke up this morning, I felt like I needed to make that drink… a precursor to our weekend party. My fruit tray happens to have all these wonderful red goodies from our organic market so why not a red drink with a holiday feel? And then how about adding some cinnamon? Doesn’t that make it even more festive?
Okay…okay…I’ve been a little obsessed with pomegranates and have eating them everyday for the longest time. A friend of mine wonders at the amount of time I spend in prying out those seeds out of that fruit. I just don’t mind the work it entails…I really love pomegranates! Anyway, here are some facts about our ingredients for this drink:
Pomegranates - they are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C and potassium. Dr. Joel Fuhrman has written a great article about pomegranates here.
Cranberries - they have been known for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Recently, there has been studiesthat this berry may also promote gastrointestinal, oral health, lower LDL and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer.
Apples - we’ve heard that saying over and over again “an apple a day drives the doctor away” and here’s some good stats about apples that we may not be too aware of:
Apple Nutrition Facts
(*One medium 2-1/2 inch apple, fresh, raw, with skin)
Calories 81
Carbohydrate 21 grams
Dietary Fiber 4 grams
Soluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber
Calcium 10 mg
Phosphorus 10 mg
Iron .25 mg
Sodium 0.00 mg
Potassium 159 mg
Vitamin C 8 mg
Vitamin A 73 IU
Folate 4 mcg
*The nutritional value of apples will vary slightly depending on the variety and size.
Source: USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory — Apple
Cinnamon - this spice has been gaining a lot of popularity lately as we have been hearing more about its ability in blood sugar regulation. Cinnamon in other cultures like China and India have been using this spice in their healing because of its warming and energizing properties. It contains iron, calcium, manganese, and fiber, and can be used to temper sugar cravings.
Another Festive Drink - Pomegranates, Apples and Cranberries With A Dash of Cinnamon
Ingredients: (preferably organic)
seeds of 1 pomegranate, about 1 1/2 c.
2 fuji or lady pink apples
1 c. fresh cranberries
4 c. filtered water
1/4 - 1/2 t. cinnamon powder
2 Tbsp. (or to taste) coconut nectar, maple syrup or raw honey (optional, see notes)
cranberries and lemon slices as garnish
Method:
1. Remove the pomegranate seeds by following these steps.
2. Juice all the fruits. In a pitcher or a large jar, combine the juice with the water, cinnamon powder and sweetener if using. Stir well making sure the cinnamon powder is well incorporated. It’s good to use either 1 or 2 jars so you can shake the drink and get the cinnamon diluted. You can add some ice if you live in a warm climate. This can also be warmed a little bit (don’t boil) if you live in colder places like Canada.
3. Serve and garnish with lemons and cranberries. Enjoy!
Notes:
1. The juice yielded about 3 cups. If you don’t have a juicer, you can use a high-speed blender then use a nut bag or a cheesecloth to remove the pulp.
2. The mixture with the water is fine with just the added cinnamon. However, it may be a little tart to some because of the cranberry juice so feel free to add your own sweetener.
3. You can omit the cinnamon if it’s something that you do not enjoy in a drink.