In Greek mythology, Hades, god of the underworld, kidnaps Persephone, daughter of Demeter and Zeus, and drags her into the earth to be his queen. The woman eats a couple of pomegranate seeds throughout her ordeal and seals her destiny. Pomegranates symbolize marriage, and Persephone’s indulgence binds her to Hades for eternity.
Anybody who has cracked open a ripe, dripping pomegranate and delighted in choosing out the candy, tart seeds can perceive Persephone’s selection. Pomegranates are an incredible fall fruit, however as Persephone found, having fun with them requires a dedication. Layers of bitter membrane and white pith encompass and canopy the juicy seeds. How do you get to the good things? And the way do you juice a pomegranate so you may make jelly?
It is Tough
Juicing pomegranates is a real labor of affection, and that’s why pomegranate jelly is such a uncommon deal with. Final yr, Chef Becky and Culinary Coordinator Mario Hernandez struggled with juicing Frog Hole Farm’s pomegranate harvest. They captured 25 gallons of juice. That may sound like loads, however Chef Becky wasn’t pleased with their juicer. It captured the juice, but in addition put an excessive amount of strain on the fruit, which added some bitterness from the membrane and pith.
This yr, Chef Becky and Mario suppose they’ve discovered an answer, they usually’re extra ready, so that they’re anticipating to seize twice as a lot juice as they did final yr. They’re utilizing a grape de-stemmer with a specifically fitted display, they usually’ve been pleased with the candy pomegranate juice that flows by way of. It’s scrumptious and refreshing – the epitome of a superfood – and it’s a pleasant stability of sweetness and acidity, with no bitter aftertaste.
Do not Let Sugar Get within the Manner
The subsequent problem is added sugar – most jelly recipes use A LOT of sugar. That’s as a result of whenever you work with juice, you must add pectin, and pectin wants sugar to assist it gel into jelly. (Jam makes use of the entire physique of the fruit, which gives the pectin that helps thicken and set the combination.)
Chef Becky didn’t need to obliterate the pomegranate taste with sugar, so she discovered a pectin that requires much less sugar to do its job. The result’s a jelly with a softer set, and all of the candy, tart, barely acidic taste that pomegranate lovers crave. Frog Hole Farm’s Pomegranate Jelly is scrumptious with butter and scones, and on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You possibly can attempt it with turkey sandwiches, too – consider it as a substitute for cranberry sauce! When you’re feeling adventurous, attempt stirring a spoonful into pan juices and serving it with pork or rooster.
So… What Turned of Persephone?
Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds from the underworld, so she needed to keep there. Her mom Demeter was devastated, and he or she starved the land with a famine. Lastly, Zeus needed to get entangled. He ordered Persephone to dwell a part of the yr underground along with her husband, and the remainder of the yr along with her mom. The parable explains why now we have seasons. Throughout Spring and Summer season, Demeter is completely happy and loving her daughter’s firm – every thing grows and blooms. When Persephone says goodbye and returns to the underworld, the earth is quiet and chilly.
No less than now we have pomegranate jelly to get us by way of!
