Thursday, December 27, 2012

Chocolate Pomegranate Bark and a Champagne Cocktail ~ Celebrating a Year in Pictures

Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark with holiday decorations

2012... what a year!  Filled with food, travel and my beloved photography, this world has stretched my boundaries and filled my life with the love of good friends combined with the flavors of fabulous food.  I have so much to be thankful for, and as New Year's approaches I'm ready to Celebrate.  Stretching east, my fellow Inspired Plate members are celebrating along with me as we share our final Food Styling and Photography Challenge of the year - Celebration.


2012 Year in Review
With a year of photography challenges under my belt, I took a moment to look back at the work I've submitted during the last 12 months.  While I'm extraordinarily proud of some images, there are a couple that are cringe-worthy.

What brings the most joy though, are not the actual images but the memories of late night chats on Facebook, the supportive comments and critiques of my fellow photographers, and the newly formed friendships that can be found within the members of this special group.

An eclectic group of talented women, The Inspired Plate touches locations across the world.  Starting here on the West Coast of California (I'm in San Diego), the members bring stunning photos to you also from the mid west, the east, Canada and on towards the date line from Perth, Australia.  With varying levels of skills, we have worked together monthly to provide our own interpretations of the given challenges.

Early challenges began simply with "Photography on White" and quickly stepped up the difficulty level with subjects of meat, fish and pasta.  Failing miserably at the "meat" challenge, the Mahi Mahi Tacos we created for the "fish" challenge have become a regular in our meal rotation, and I think I had the most fun writing that particular post.

"Photography on black" proved to be the most difficult to me, while the "pasta" photos took me back to my treasured days in Italy.  My favorite challenge of the year?  Without a doubt ~ The Splash...



The act of freezing time became somewhat addictive and had the entire family participating by dropping objects of all sorts into glasses of liquid.  Relishing the fact that the spilled liquid was not going to make Mommy upset, the splashes grew, and soon the tile of the kitchen floor was slick and the table dripping.  Catching a splash is indeed spectacular when captured properly, however that capture (as shown by my over 500 non-useable shots) is many times elusive.

Bringing back The Splash for our December Celebration Challenge, we bring you a new favorite cocktail worthy of any Celebration and perhaps an ideal libation for your own New Year's Bash welcoming 2013.


Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail

Incorporating my very first challenge subject, the pomegranate, we've supplemented a celebratory sparkling wine with a splash of unsweetened pomegranate juice.  Dropping in a few fresh pomegranate aerials we have a festive and flavorful aperitif boasting a few antioxidants with those bubbles.  Bubbles represent happy occasions to me, and whether your bubbles hail from the true Champagne regions of France, the Prosecco versions of Italy, or the sparkling versions of California's Napa Valley, they all exude a similar excitement.

Champagne bubble with pomegranate Aerials (seeds)
One of the oldest known fruits, the beautiful pomegranate is a native of Persia.  Nutrient dense and antioxidant rich, pomegranates have long been revered as symbols of health, fertility and eternal life.  Also tied to mythology, pomegranates are known as the "Food of the Underworld"...

 The myth of Persephone, the goddess of the Underworld,  features the pomegranate. In one version of Greek mythology, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, Demeter (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter and thus all green things ceased to grow. Zeus, the highest ranking of the Greek gods, could not allow the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the Fates that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend six months in the Underworld every year. During these six months, when Persephone is sitting on the throne of the Underworld next to her husband Hades, her mother Demeter mourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This became an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons.  (from wikipedia)

With my fingers crossed that each seed I've eaten this year will not commit me to a month in the underworld, our celebration continues with an antioxidant rich Pomegranate Bark.  Dark chocolate and pomegranate combine bringing an irresistible treat that literally pops in your mouth.  Aerials stirred into and sprinkled on top of the melted chocolate literally burst with flavor and bring a double dose of those ever popular antioxidants in addition a simply wonderful dessert.

As we close this emotional year of 2012, I thank my newfound Inspired friends for their never ending advice, professionalism and simple friendship.  I'm looking forward to the challenges of 2013 with excitement (as well as a touch of trepidation), and I'm ever so thankful to be celebrating with this wonderful group today.

Begin a trip around the world with me as I introduce the beautiful Sabrina Wong, a Food Photographer in Perth, Australia and we'll continue our Celebration... summer style!

Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark


Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark
Bringing a double dose of antioxidants we could almost call this dessert health food!

Melted dark chocolate
Fresh Pomegranate aerials (seeds)
Sprinkle of flake salt

Mix a handful of pomegranate seeds into the dark chocolate and stir gently to combine.

Spread melted dark chocolate over either a silpat mat or a sheet of waxed paper.  Sprinkle  more pomegranate seeds over the chocolate, poking each one in slightly with the tip of a toothpick.  (I found the seeds pop off easily if they are not pushed into the chocolate).

Sprinkle lightly with salt, and allow the chocolate to set.

Carefully break into pieces and serve.


Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail with pomegranate seeds
Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
adapted from Ellie Krieger

1 tsp fresh pomegranate aerials (seeds)
4 oz. champagne or sparkling wine
1/2 - 1 tsp unsweetened pomegranate juice
1 tsp Chambord or Cassis


Drop ppomegranate aerials into champagne flute.  Pour champagne into flute, add pomegranate juice and liquor. 

Toast and...
 Celebrate!!  

18 comments:

  1. I so loved getting to know everyone in our group too!

    Loved they myth of the seasons, so cool. Hadn't heard that one before.

    Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for our group.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great post to wrap up 2012. Love the pop of colour in all of these and those bubbly drinks just might be my New Years drink of choice :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful post Kim!! I always feel the need to come back and re-read your lovely words.. they're so impactful and written with such endearment. It has been an amazing year and I have been so blessed to get to know you personally! I too loved the freezing time of our splash challenge! I wonder how we can incorporate that again, but make it a little different this on coming year!
    I love your use of white.. and light!!

    Your recipes sound yummy!!!!! Love all things pomegranate. :)

    Looking forward to 2013!!!!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a gorgeous chcolate bark and love that champagne....I love pomegranetes, they look like eatable rubies :-)

    Loved the whole post!!
    Happy New Year to you...

    Regards,
    Manju
    http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Kim what a lovely recap. I need to revisit these posts. Such vibrant lovely photos the pom arils pop through the photos. Wishing you and your family a very happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Kim!!!!!! Sorry I haven't been an avid commenter but I've definitely been an avid reader! Been so busy and now I'm trying to make time for my blog but more importantly my favorite blogs! What I have certainly noticed is that this year your photography has definitely improved although I always thought it was fan freaking tactic. But it's so much more vivid it adds its own story to the post like you don't have to say much about what we're looking at. But your writing has been so colorful and descriptive it's like we are there with you! I'm so happy 2012 was a great one! Your positive personality is what keeps me coming back and of course your wonderful stories and recipes. Including ths bark, it looks fantastic and not super sweet and teeth shattering as ones I've seen in the past. Definitely will make an effort to make this and of course that drink. Wow I can almost taste it. Happy new year wish it is even better than this year!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. How unique is this!? I just love it! my mom would really enjoy this, I gotta make it now!

    ReplyDelete
  8. P.S. I hope you will link this post to my Thursday hop ( it's still open today) :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree with all of the comments above! These pictures are lovely. I'm in awe as to how beautifully you capture food moments. Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful photos Kim and a fun post to read, very inspiring! Happy New Year to you;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've always been in awe of your photographs!

    ReplyDelete
  12. All beautiful, and the cocktail sounds lovely!
    Happy new Year to you and family!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kim, what a splash indeed you've made this year! Extraordinary photos and what a wonderful idea on the pomegranate bubbly. Cheers to a bubbly, effervescently exciting New Year for you and the family. Hugs from Paris xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kim, thank you for the educational lesson on pomegranate ;) We actually have a tree in our backyard but I have neglected to venture to eat many of them but your post & photos make it look so appealing! I always thought you could't eat the seeds but I guess I was wrong? Will have to try one of these recipes for sure! Also I love your splash images, you make them look easy :)

    PS: Thank you for linking me in, even though I was late ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy New Year, sweet Kim! Hope that 2013 is a fabulous year for you and your family!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice post. I was very appreciated on the post you have written. I enjoyed the information about Chocolate coins. you are providing on your website. There's a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your information.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks good! I'll be trying both of these recipes. Love pomegranate and chocolate together. Great idea!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!