Pomegranate

At a party like a high school graduation that celebrates someone underage, be sure to have a plethora of nonalcoholic drinks on ice. Fill large buckets with canned or bottled sodas, and place pitchers of water — flavored with citrus, cucumber, or mint — on the tables.

Instead of juice, make pomegranate sodas. Their rosy hue and bubbly texture is festive and fun. The recipe calls for a maraschino cherry garnish, but since cherries are in season, set out a bowl of fresh cherries and let guests embellish the sodas themselves. For the recipe, read more

With its bright red color, there is a common misconception that grenadine, the syrup used to flavor many cocktails, is made with cherries. The thick, sweet liquid is actually made with pomegranate juice (the word grenadine is derived from the French word for pomegranate, grenade).

When I realized that the sweetener was very simple to make, I decided to whip up a batch and present it to my sister, who enjoys the occasional "cherry" coke. Homemade grenadine is a great hostess gift, especially for someone who is into mixology. To look at the incredibly easy recipe, read more

The holidays are a great time to break out the old punch bowl. I'll be dusting off mine Friday for a tree-trimming party and filling it with this sparkling pomegranate punch. Made with Prosecco and no hard alcohol, this red-hued concoction is a sublime blend of pomegranate juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, and limeade. You can mix the ingredients in advance and stir in the bubbly the moment guests arrive. Since it is the holidays, consider getting a sparkling jasmine tea for those who don't drink. Also have beer, water, and eggnog on hand. To look at the punch recipe, read more

Açai berries may be the latest power fruit to hit Whole Foods shelves, but that's no reason not to delight in the adorable puckered tops and bulbous shapes of last season’s trendy grocery, the pomegranate. If you’re celebrating Hanukkah this year, you can enjoy the "pom" when you pick up the Michael Aram Pomegranate Menorah ($150), a stunning bronze luminary with a leafy, branch base. You can also check out Aram's collection of other pomegranate-festooned items. Didn’t you hear? “Deck the halls with boughs of pommy,” is the latest power ditty.

Long thought to be a symbol of fertility, luck, and abundance, the pomegranate is also connected to the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which just ended. If you're not a fan of eating pomegranates, though, I've found one for you that, while inedible, is certainly delicious to look at. This metal pomegranate ($65) has been crocheted from orange metallic wire. I love the sculptural element of this object. It would be a great mantel piece, or, grouped in clusters, would make an impact on a warm, wood table, such as the Brasilla. It'd also love to see a few tufts of pine or some colorful Fall leaves tucked into it. This art piece, from Etsy seller Yoola, is also available in a number of other colors.
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One of the biggest expenses at a wedding reception is the drinks. Hosting a full open bar is a costly option, and if you don't have an unlimited budget, I would not recommend doing it. Instead offer guests one signature cocktail and an assortment of beer and wine. Another option is to host a day reception, because people don't drink as much when the sun's out. Be sure to ask the wait staff not to pre-open wine bottles. If they do, you may be left with a bunch of open, full bottles.

Along with the signature cocktail at Elena and Sean's wedding, guests will have a choice of Champagne, red or white wine, or a selection of local beers. The cocktail is a refreshing, delish blend of rum, cointreau, and sparkling pomegranate. It has a glorious hue that matches the wedding's color scheme.

For more wonderful wedding ideas, check out IDoSugar. To take a look at the recipe, read more