Pomegranates

"The pomegranate has appeared in myths, legends, art and history for centuries," notes Pomegranates.org. "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, they may date back to 2000 B.C. and are still a fruit of fascination today."

Pomegranates have beautiful, vibrant, leathery red outer skin, or rind. The inside is filled with seeds and protected by a spongy white membrane. The seeds and juice are what you eat, not the membrane. They're good in salads, they're good by the spoonful, they're good in martinis and when mixed in with cranberry juice.

Pom Wonderful notes that "Pomegranates are naturally high in potent, free-radical-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols and are good sources of potassium and fiber. " They're beneficial for prostate cancer and heart disease. You can easily buy pomegranates from October through January, though in fact, November is National Pomegranate Month.

• Are you a fan of pomegranates?
• Got any recipes to share?