Foodie Friday - Strawberries

The time has come, Strawberry season!  I have a ton in my garden at least a colander a night.  So what good are strawberries?

Michigan’s strawberry season - early June and can extend into mid July.
Michigan strawberries in-store or  where they’re largely produced, in Berrien, Leelanau and Van Buren counties but many local places around Lapeer county have them too. (the county I live in)  as well as my own back yard.  Grow your own it could be fun!

• Michigan grows strawberries for both fresh and processed uses
• In 2009, Michigan produced 43,000 tons of fresh strawberries and 3,000 tons of processed strawberries, generating $6.6 million
• Most of the fresh Michigan strawberries were picked by consumers at “u-pick” operations around the state 
• They do say that California is the largest producer of strawberries in the United States, approximately 9/10 of all the strawberries.
• Florida is the 2nd at 8 to 9% of the strawberries.
• The United States is the worlds largest exporter of fresh strawberries and Poland is the worlds largest exporter of frozen strawberries.

Kudos to the strawberry farms!  They are yummy!

Nutrition:

• Strawberries contain 80 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C
• They are an excellent source of potassium, which can help control blood pressure and fight strokes
• They are an excellent source of fiber, which help reduce total cholesterol levels

Yeah, strawberries!  Here are a few more interesting tips for us strawberry fans!

 Strawberry – perennials and they have running vines to spread their tastiness.

Climate - that they grow well in – woodland plant they tolerate shade although they fruit better in the sun.  They exhaust the ground nutrients quickly so change their area within 1 to 2 years or keep fertilized well with humus, compost & potash, with a well-drained place.  

Growing them: If you want to try to grow them check out your local garden store that may produce strawberries for picking.  They will have the best strawberry plants to have in your garden.  I tried a local chain home improvement place and the strawberries are small and the plants do not spread. 

Taste – Sweet & tasty

Uses: Many, snack, dessert, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Strawberries go with every meal and for every quick snack.  You could even pick a lot and use a food saver to freeze until later.

Color of the fruit:  red – This color usually means vitality, energy, passion and love.  Color is a way to reflect on what is going on in your life and feel the strawberries abundance while you are eating it.  The strawberries with many seeds could be a sign of abundance as well.  Very ripe fruit could be an association of lush and rewarding experiences, rich with promises for your future.  

Fun stuff to try with strawberries: 

How about trying some chocolate and strawberries!  Most of us love a little chocolate now and then but with strawberries in season many place right now try this because it is good for you.  I know it does sound funny but chocolate helps as an antioxidant, awesome for heart health and is a natural anti-inflammatory.  The compounds in chocolate are called polyphenols and the darker the chocolate the more of the polyphenols.  These compounds are also found in green tea, red wine and many fruits and vegetables.  Chocolate can help stop the development of plaques in coronary arteries by lowering the oxidation of the low-density lipoproteins or LDL’s the bad cholesterol.    The polyphenols in turn raise the high-density lipoprotein or HDL the good cholesterol levels.  So try a little chocolate with your strawberries like this.  Melt some dark chocolate or chips either double boiler or in the microwave.  Anyway to melt the chocolate then dip the strawberries in them and set all the berries on wax paper and put it in the refrigerator.  Wait for a bit and check them in about an hour or two (maybe less) to see if the chocolate set.   

Then eat away to better health!

Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor so please consult your practioner if you have any questions regarding this information. I just conduct research from books and websites.  The references are below.

References:

Michigan Ag Council
http://www.michiganagriculture.com/foods/michigan-strawberries/

Where Are
Strawberries Grown?

Where are strawberries grown?
http://www.strawberries-for-strawberry-lovers.com/where-are-strawberries-grown.html#sthash.9RrXNVrN.dpbs

Books:

Cunningham, Scott. Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1989. Print.

Davis, Patricia. Aromatherapy: An A-Z. London: Barnes & Noble, 1995. Print. by arrangement with the C.W. Daniels Company Limited

Johnson, Rebecca L., and Steven Foster. National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs: The World's Most Effective Healing Plants. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2010. Print.   

Seymour, John. The Self-sufficient Gardener: A Complete Guide to Growing and Preserving All Your Own Food. Reprint from 1978 ed. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 2008. Print.

Telesco, Patricia. Bubble, Bubble, Toil, & Trouble: Mystical Munchies, Enchanted Edibles, and Other Culinary Wizardry. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002. Print.

Death by Chocolate, what a way to go! mmmm maybe if you eat the right chocolate : -}

My kryptonite is this delicious morsel at the top.  I love dark chocolate by why?  It is very tasty to me and it helps me get through my day.  What about you?  Do you have something you crave?

The earliest evidence for the medical use of chocolate are to be found in Mesoamerican civilizations: iconographic works and fragments, writings and remnants in the pottery suggest that cacao was prepared in beverage form at least as early as 600 B.C. in Mesoamerica, cacao was prepared only as a beverage. It was a very precious substance and, therefore, reserved for priests, highest government officials, military officers and great warriors, and it was supposed to be unsuitable for women and children (Lippi, 2013).

It would have been pretty awful if that type of behavior stayed that way.  I sure would have missed having chocolate in my life.

Cocoa which is one of the main ingredients in dark chocolate has properties that can benefit the health of a person such as it can protect nerves from injury and inflammation, protect the skin from oxidative damage from UV radiation in tropical preparations and have beneficial effects on satiety cognitive function and mood.  There can be some increase of weight gain since there can be a potential to over consume the product (Katz, Doughty & Ali, 2010). 

The broadest level one can review emotions is that of positive verses negative.  Overwhelmingly, people usually associate many types of food, especially chocolate, with a positive feeling because those products are often designed to appeal to consumers so companies can profit from what is sold (Gibson, 2006). Students that participate in university studied are the role models of the future, which could impose health risk later in life that can be passed down to the future generations (Mikolajczyk, Ansari & Maxwell, 2009).  

 

When chocolate comes to mind, many only think of the negative connotations it has.  Throughout history, chocolate has been used for a variety of ailments.  There are recent studies that have show dark chocolate to have positive health effects for many centuries (Lippi, 2013).  The reason behind this is that cocoa contains more antioxidants than many other foods.  The tricyclic structure within cocoa has inhibited enzymes, which pushes the antioxidants to be more for the defense of the body (Katz, Doughty & Ali, 2011).  

 

The connection between chocolate was recently shown in a very limited research study to show positive results for a person's creativity.  The way a person perceives its benefits needs to be understood more thoroughly through further research.  Too many people can have a problem with over consumption of this product which can cause sugar problems such as diabetes and obesity. 

So enjoy your chocolate!  As always in moderation (the best that you can).

 

References:

Gibson, Edward Leigh. "Emotional Influences on Food Choice: Sensory, Physiological and Psychological Pathways." Physiology & Behavior 89.1 (2006): 53-61. Web. 

Katz, D.L., Doughty, K. & Ali, A. (2011). Cocoa and chocolate in Human Health and Disease. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 15(10), 2779-2811. http://doi.org/10.1089/ars.201.3697

Lippi, Donatella. "Chocolate in History: Food, Medicine, Medi-Food." Nutrients. MDPI, 14 May 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.

Mirowksy, J., (2011). "Wage Slavery or Creative Work?" Society and Mental Health 1.2. 73-88.Web.

Disclaimer:

I am not t a doctor so please before you eat anything you are not sure of please consult your doctor.

 

Foodie Friday, for the Love of PASTA

Gnocchi

For the love of pasta!  I enjoy it so much! So when I found a Gnocchi recipe in it I had to try.  It is so cool this book because it give you a variety of ingredients to use.  I like to mix and match my ingredients because if I don't have something, they have another option to try and besides my pantry can get a little bare so I have to improvise.  To me it taste like little balls of light fluff with cheese.  MMMMMMM
The beginning of this recipe is what you do do make the nun puff recipe I have so try you hand at that too.  Maybe I just like too much cheese and noodle.

NUN PUFF link
http://silverwineadditions.blogspot.com/2015/12/special-days-nun-puffs-for-breakfast.html

So here is what you do!
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Prep time 30 minutes                        Bake time 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all purpose flour
3 eggs
1 can (10 3/4 to 11 ounce) condensed soup *
Liquid (will equal to a cup) *
1/2 cup shredded cheese*
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Garnish *

*these are the ingredients that can be varied (see below)

* for recipe
a.  cream of onion soup,
     light cream (liquid),
     Swiss cheese,
     paprika (garnish)

b. Cream of celery soup,
    1/2 cup dry white wine (liquid),  plus 1/2 cup milk (liquid),
    Gruyere cheese,
    nutmeg (garnish)

c. Cream of chicken soup,
    1 cup evaporated milk (liquid),
    American cheese,
    toasted sesame seeds (garnish)

d. Cheddar cheese soup,
    1/2 cup beer (liquid), plus 1/2 cup water (liquid),
    sharp cheddar cheese
    chopped fresh parsley (garnish)

1.  In a 2-quart saucepan put in the 1st milk and butter.  On a medium heat, when it starts to bubble add all the flour all at once and stir in until a soft ball forms.  Set aside to cool.

2.  In a big pan put water into it to boil.  This is to put the gnocchi in to cook.

3. With the dough in the pan, when cooled for about 10 minutes, add eggs one at a time and stir in fully.  Cover and cool for a little longer.

4.  Take the dough and roll 1/2 inch ball shapes with your fingers.  Set them on wax paper until the whole dough ball is done.  Then put them in the boiling water.

5.  After about 3 minutes, the dough balls will float to the surface.  Take a holey spoon and take out the gnocchi from the water and put them in the baking dish.

6. In another saucepan on medium heat, the soup and the liquid, stirring constantly.  Add the cheese and heat it until it is all melted in.  Pour this sauce over the gnocchi.

7.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and the garnish.

8.  Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.







Next time I will see what it will take to fix my newest try at the kitchen.  Homemade noodles with a cream sauce.

References:
Campbell's Creative Cooking with Soup. New York: Beekman House, 1985. Print

The Plan

Once again, Let's do this! Some awesome ideas coming to you for the month of February and this is how it will be shaping up:

Days of the week specials:

Manic Monday's -Every Monday

inspiration quotes, bible verses and or just uplifting thoughts and messages. You too can get into . the action ever Monday as well. Let's push everyone up!

Thrilling Tuesday's 2/2/16 & 2/16/16

(Perish will be giving us her schedule soon so we are keeping this time slot open)

(This day is still in the developmental stage, so please be patient in our schedule.  Some stories can be hard to make sure they are not miss leading.   Check back for more news!)

Let's get talking about scary, exciting or haunted places in your area. If there is some creepy crawlers around that made you jump let's hear it. Roller coaster rides are thrilling too.

(New) Witty Women Wednesday - 2/10/16 & 2/24/16

We will take a look at some Witty Women and what they have accomplished in their lives.  I have been finding quotes about them which really make my day so let's find out more about them.  I am going to start with Lucille Ball than Lily Tomlin. Plus there will be other off the cuff stuff that can make us think to laugh a little more.

Healthy Thursday - 2/4/16 & 2/18/16

This month will focus on the drinks that are suppose to help our bodies. Smart foods, better choices, different attitude for ourselves and most of all a look at how revamp an old way of thinking.

Foodie Friday - 2/12/16 & 2/26/16

Chocolate!  This is my snack of choice from dark chocolate wafers to hot chocolate. Everything in moderation is always best.

If you have something you would like me to try, let me know.

Supernatural Saturday - 2/6/16 & 2/20/16 (Silverwine)
  (Perish will be giving us her schedule soon so we are keeping this time slot open)

Ancient secrets of many different cultures has always been intriguing to me so I will take a look at the gifts of others, myths & legends, tarot cards, tea leaves and western culture ideas besides others. I have quite a few reference books that I have collected over the years and I would like to share what I have and obtain some feed back. This will be fun!

Kick back Sundays - 2/14/16 & 2/28/16

Here is where I will showcase the talent I have in house. Old artwork of my kids, poems, plays and excerpts from my many stories. Giving s chance to breath new life into them and push new life into finishing up what has been started.

So there it is folks! I am excited for this new month.  There maybe revisions in the future so please always check back to see what is going on with our blog.

Please feel free to follow me, comment or write me: slvrw@yahoo.com    

I am so looking forward to it all. In the future I am looking to start on speaker to give further life into what ever area seems to take off and maybe more. I loved ghost stories read on the radio when I was a kid and it should would be fun to keep the dream alive.

Foodie Friday! - Soups, Cheesy Goo of triple stuffed Potato Soup

Soups

Cheesy Goo of triple stuffed Potato Soup

For you my friends, you will love to enjoy a quick easy soup that will make you feel like you are eating a whole dinner in one spoonful.  It is a crock pot meal you can cook on low all day while you work.  Come home at the end of the day warm up some meat to go with it and you are having dinner.

Get the crock pot ready!

(Be wary all crock pots cook differently and for certain lengths of time so please try this recipe on day when you are home first before you leave the crock pot at home on all day long).

  

Ingredients you will need:

2 cans of cheese soup

3 cups of milk

1 Tablespoon of butter

1 cup of shredded carrots

1 cup of thinly sliced celery

1 cup of diced onions

6 medium potatoes

Salt & pepper to season

1 - 16 oz. sour cream

1 cup of heavy cream

1 cup of Sharp shredded cheese

2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Chives

Bacon bit (optional)

Shredded pulled pork (optional)

  

Steps:

1.     Take your two cans of cheese soup along with 3 cups of milk and put it in the crock pot.

2.     Using a fry pan with a tablespoon of butter and sauté the carrots, celery and onions until tender.  When done, take the contents of the fry pan and put it into the crock pot.

3.     Peel the potatoes and put them into the crock pot.  For this step you can use left over roasted, broasted or baked potatoes.  Left overs are so tasty and can give your soup your unique flavor.

4.     Add some salt and pepper to taste.  I do not use too much salt but have used pepper.  So get creative and find your sensation.

5.     Put the lid on the crock pot and cook for about 5 to 6 hours until the potatoes are tender.

6.     After the potatoes are soft, add your sour cream, heavy cream, and cheeses.  Cook for at a higher level to have the cheese melt.  Depending on the crock pot it could take about 2 hours.  This might seem long but you are the boss of your soup.  The cheese just needs to make sure that it does not break down too much that it gets clumpy.

7.     When done embellish!  Put in meat, bacon bits and some chives.  Make it your own and eat like royalty. 

The best thing that works is that it is all in one bowl!

Foodie Friday

Breakfast what does it mean to you?  For me, it is the best meal of the day.  I do not start with sticky rolls or eggs and toast every day.  I do something to get my body moving and keep it filled to lunch.  

O A T M E A L.

Some people say yuck while others go yeah! Then ask yourself what flavors do you like is it peaches and cream or maple and brown sugar? For me it's all about the wonderful things oatmeal does to help me live a better life.  I know this is foodie Friday but we have to think healthy once in a while too.  Since breakfast is my favorite time of day, I had to share.

My family has a genetic disposition to heart disease and I just do not want to have it or at least keep it at bay for as long as possible. Heart disease is so scary to me that I just don't want it so I am going to do what I can to help my body fight.

Here are some facts from the American Heart association about this dreadful disease.1

• There is nearly 801,000 people in the U.S. that have died from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in 2013. That’s about 1 in 3 deaths within America. 

• About 2,200 Americans die each day from these diseases, 1 every 40 seconds. 

• Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than any form of combined cancers. About 85.6 million Americans are living with some form of cardiovascular disease or the after effects of a stroke.

As plaque builds up in the arteries of a person with heart disease, the inside of the arteries begins to narrow, which lessens or blocks the flow of blood.  

Above is from the website on Heart Disease Facts at http://www.cdc.gov/HeartDisease/facts.htm.

This is what scares me the most.  My father has had some stints put in those type of clogged arteries to help the blood flow. Stints are like very durable straws doctors put into arteries to open clogged ones up.  There were some arteries that my dad had that were 98% blocked, closely related to what the last figure above on the right looks like.  So yes, oatmeal, if it helps I will eat it!

Dried Cherries to top

Pecans

It does not have to be difficult to make some oatmeal.  There are even the store brands that have quick and easy packages that you just add hot water to. You can take it in a to go mug. If you are in that big of a hurry you can't sit down for ten minutes to eat but really take that time.   The most delicious way I eat oatmeal is Old Fashion style.  
The big oats that take between 5 to 10 minutes to finish making.  It may be plain but that is where the fun starts.  Try some fresh fruit, nuts, honey or brown sugar. Curl your hair, for us ladies, shave, for you men just do something while you wait for the water to boil.  Add the oatmeal as recommended on the oatmeal container.  Let it continue to cook for about 5 minutes and Ta da you have oatmeal. 

The reason I eat this type of oatmeal, the old fashion oats, is because the package brands have more sugars and sodium that I should not have (If being predisposed to heart disease was not bad enough I have diabetes, had high blood pressure, almost have my triglycerides down from a really high level and the LDL (bad cholesterol) too high and the HDL ( the good cholesterol) too low.  

local honey from your area

So what is a girl to do?  Eat better.  So try it and give me a line on what oatmeal you like and what you put with it.  Do you have an alernative?

Next week we will talk soups!  For our cold Michigan nights and a very easy way to make it when you are off at work
Thanks for stopping by!

1. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/ahamah-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_480086.pdf

All pictures are done by, Silverwine.   

The skinny on what you get from old fashion oats - See what you are really eating
Check it out!

Melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies

My signature plate is all about baking.  I love cookies and have been making chocolate chip cookies for years.  One of the greatest ways to get the best dough is to used pure and fresh ingredients.  By using real butter, vanilla, and fresh eggs can really change

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Bake time 7 to 12 minutes depending on size of cookie

2 - 13 X 9 cookie sheets

1 cup salted butter (soften)                     

1 tablespoon heavy cream

3/4 cup sugar                                       

2 eggs

3/4 cup powdered sugar                       

2 teaspoons vanilla

Dry ingredients 

1 teaspoon baking soda                         

2 cups chocolate chips

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cup flour

1.  In a medium to large mixing bowl blend butter until smooth.

2.  Add both sugars and blend until smooth.  Finger taste mixture to see if all the sugar is undetectable and all you taste is a buttery mix.

3.  Add one egg at a time with the vanilla and beat until creamy.  

4.  Add heavy cream and mix until all blended.

5.  In a small bowl mix flour with the baking soda, baking powder and salt.

6.  Take the flour mixture and blend into wet ingredients until think and then stir in rest with wooden spoon.  

7.  Mix in chocolate chips

8. Refridge cookie battery or about 10-15 minutes 

9. Take out of refrigerator and place 1 inch lumps of cookie dough, using a regular kitchen tablespoon, on 13 X 9 cookie sheet.  It will be about 12 to 15 cookies on each tray.  

10.  Put in oven and set up the next cookie sheet with the same.  Let cookie dough mixture rest in the refrigerator between each batch.  

11.  When cookies are done (usually they are a light tan color and the bottoms are about the same color too) take them out using a hot pad and put sheet on another hot pad to set the sheet down on.  Then use a flipper to remove cookies and let rest on a cooling rack or plate.  

When cookies are totally cool store in sealed baggies or container to preserve freshness.  

Always remember to think of love, warm happy thoughts when baking.  Whom ever you make them for think of how much joy those people bring to your life.  

Cooking is a great activity for the whole family.  My children had their first experience in the kitchen as soon as they could stand on a chair next to the sink.  They learned measuring units different tastes and smells used in a kitchen which  made it even more fun for me.  Every moment is a learning opportunity so make it fun!
Below are the cookies I made for Christmas using the above receipe.  Some may turn out different from the picture but do your best.  I always smell and keep the light on in the oven to check for a light tan or golden hue on the cookie to make sure they are done. Always remember to just have fun!

Special days - Nun Puffs for breakfast

The way I treat my kids for holidays is a simple breakfast treat, the quick and easy nun puff.  In the history of this delicious, delicate puffed goodness says that they we first called nuns farts.  They were dated back into the 15th century French cuisine.  There has been a few takes on this recipe from different places but I found it in my own Betty Crocker cook book.  From that of the Pioneer woman in 2007 and pass the pocky blog in 2009.  There is also variations that deep fry these tasty treats but my way seems to keep making them come back for more.

Here is how it goes:

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Bake time:  20-30 minutes depending on oven.

1/2 cup (stick) butter

1 cup milk

Pinch of salt

3/4 cup flour

4 eggs

Sugar to top

1.  Get out a 4 quart sauce pan add butter and milk.  Melt butter, pinch of salt with milk over medium heat until a slow boil.

2.  Add flour all at once and stir until it becomes a ball shape.   Remove from heat and set aside for 5 minutes.  

3.  Grease or "Pam" small muffin tin of 24 or muffin tin of 12 scup servings.

4.  Stir in each egg one at a time until all four are stored in to batter.

5. Use a table spoon to put the batter on each cup so they are all evenly filled.

6.  Sprinkle sugar on top of each one of the nun puffs.

7.  Bake for 20-30 minutes when sides and top are light brown and puffed up.

When done pull out and place warm puffs on cooling racks or plate.

Serve up something special for your family at special times to help make a tradition your own!

Food for Thought - POMEGRANATE

With this powerful little red seeds wrapped into a ball of  juicy deliciousness can inspire you to create.  

The pomegranate is actually a tree that is native to Iran.  The use of this little red seed has been used for centuries in different cultures for a variety of reasons.  It's written history of its curative qualities had been recorded back in 1500 BC for the treatment of tapeworm and other parasites. They are now cultivated in the Mediterranean areas, parts of the United States, Russia, Afghanistan, India, China, Japan, (WebMD)The shape of some fruits was thought of by the ancients to have symbolic meanings.  With the pomegranate, is round or womb-like and that was to help bring fertility to Turkish brides and they carried it for that reasons (Telesco, 2001).  The ancient Greeks stated that Aphrodite was credited with planting the first Pomegranate tree since some myths that the pomegranate is an aphrodisiac (Avey, 2014).  

The overall functional and medicinal effects of the pomegranate can include improved skin health, improved oral health, improved cardiovascular health, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory properties, antimicrobial properties, antioxidants and antidiabetic properties.  Take a read look at the comprehensive review from the Institute of Food technologist article I have found on this awesome fruit.

We all can have issues with the lack of sunlight so it is easy to get pretty down.  I love to plant in my garden, write, walk the dogs, exercise and just enjoy life but this darkness thing really gets to me.  I went to the grocery store the other day and saw one of my favorite foods, beautiful red pomegranate!  Our warehouse Club has them four to a box as well as the local supermarket had them 2 for $4.  Of course, I picked them up!   They are said to help creativity, which is a great blessing for me.  You can put them in salads, Jell-O, or just eat them plain.  The seeds are so packed with juicy nutrients they are a blast of flavor in your mouth.

There had been much folklore about what this little seed can help with in a person's life such as the relief of a sore throat (page 147 Jude’s herbal home remedies), canker shores & cold sores (page 209 Jude’s).  Keep the folklore alive and check with your family to see if you have any different ways to use products that are a natural high. 

This is the way the fruit stacks up!


48% Vitamin C (common cold, immune system, your eyes cardiovascular disease & skin wrinkling)
58% Vitamin K (helps blood clotting)
27% Folate (B vitamin that is essential for cell growth & metabolism)
22% Copper (good to keep anemia away)

18 Total Carbs (11 grams dietary fiber or 45% dietary fiber (we all need to stay regular) 39 grams sugar)

5 grams of Protein
There is more in them but this is the areas there was the most to see.

My thought is when your body tells you that a food is need it listen.  Need creativity try a pom!  It can help it did for me it may for you!

Avery, Tori. "Learn Why These 10 Foods Are Edible Aphrodisiacs." PBS. PBS, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Dec. 2015.

"Nutrition Facts." And Analysis for Pomegranates, Raw. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.
 http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2038/2 

Telesco, Patricia. Bubble, Bubble, Toil, & Trouble: Mystical Munchies, Enchanted Edibles, and Other Culinary Wizardry. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002. Print.  

Viuda-Martos, M., J. Fernandez-Lopez, and J. A. Perez-Alvarez. "Pomegranate and Its Many Functional Components as Related to Human Health: A Review." - Viuda-Martos. Institute of Food Technologists, 2010. Web. 06 Dec. 2015.

WebMD Find a Vitamin or Supplement POMEGRANATE http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-392-POMEGRANATE.aspx?activeIngredientId=392&activeIngredientName=POMEGRANATE

Williams, Jude C., M.H. 1st ed. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print. 3rd Printing.

Disclaimer:  As with anything always consult your family doctor when trying a new food, especially if you are on any types of medications.  There can be interactions that can happen.  Over use of any product or the use of a product not for its intended purposes.  I am not a medical doctor and have tried to use reputable websites and books.  This is written to information from the information that I have read and is available.