Pomegranate Jelly

So I asked someone in the know if she knew of anyone in town that might not be using their pomegranates. (Have I mentioned they grow in abundance here? Tons of trees. It's like a decoration or something) She said yes, but I'd have to fight her for them. I laughed the whole time she told of how she won't even let her (adult) children help because she doesn't want them dictating how much jelly they would get to take home with them, and how she hid her pomegranates and her juicer from them when she had to go out of town briefly. Ha ha. Clearly, I have met a soul sister. I don't know anyone outside my parents and siblings who rave about pomegranate jelly as we do.

She also told me there were two kinds of pomegranates here in St. George: the more abundant yellow with pink splotches is pink inside and used mostly in salads, and the red ones with brilliant red seeds inside are the best for jelly. This is the kind I'm familiar with, the kind we had growing up. I've noticed there are fewer of these trees than the pink ones.

I had been eying one tree for a few weeks and gearing up to have the courage to knock on the door and inquire about the fruit, when on my next time walking the neighborhood I saw they had been picked.

I didn't give our conversation a second thought. I know what it is like to love homemade pomegranate jelly. She gave me some tips where to look in town where she thought some trees (of the red variety) might not be being used. And I thought I'd try again to find some.

But she came back the next morning and said she didn't feel right about not sharing. She brought me the most wonderful gift. The gift of making pomegranate jelly with my children.

They loved the experience and may I say, oh yummy. Oh man, that jelly is so good.