Pomegranates are in season

According to Wikipedia, pomegranates are an ancient fruit, mentioned in Europe as early as the Homeric hymns. They were introduced to California by Spanish settlers in 1769. Great sources of Vitamin C and B5, pomegranates are a tasty culinary asset.

Two �superfruits� loaded with vitamins and sweetened with agave syrup instead of sugar, in Agave Dream�s delicious Pomegranate A�ai Sorbet (above).

Spindel Farms specializes in pomegranates and makes two vinegars from them: Pomegranate Vinegar (used in Pomegranate Gorgonzola Salad, above), and Pomegranate Tangerine Vinegar.

Pomegranate juice is a delicious component of cocktails. Sonoma Syrup Co.'s Pomegranate Simple Syrup makes an extraordinary Pomegranate Martini (above).

Vignette Wine Country Soda combines their Chardonnay soda with pomegranate juice for a non-alcoholic Chardonnay Pomegranate Punch.

If you want your martini frozen, Silver Moon Desserts� Pomegranate Martini Sorbet (above) will hit the spot.

More recipes that use pomegranates:

Bellindora Vinegars�s Herbed Lamb Chops with Pomegranate Reduction are topped with a zesty sauce that combines the flavors of pomegranate, mustard and honey with spices.

Brandt Beef�s recipe for Southwestern Top Sirloin with Pomegranate Sauce uses a spicy dry rub on the steaks, which are then topped with a tangy pomegranate sauce.

Migliore Gourmet�s Pomegranate White Balsamic Vinegar is an ingredient in Sweet-Hot Jalape�o Apricot Jam.

Duck Prosciutto from Fabrique D�lices pairs beautifully with winter fruits for a festive salad: Duck Prosciutto Salad with Pomegranate and Persimmon.

Brandt Beef Nose-to-Tail Dinner

Jay Murray of Grill 23 & Bar in Boston teamed up with Eric Brandt of Brandt Beef for the "Nose-to-Tail Dinner" at the James Beard House in New York City (below).

The menu demonstrated their commitment to sustainable practices and menus by featuring "beef tip to tongue to heart to tail and everything in between."

Bovine Bakery opens in Petaluma

Bovine Bakery has opened a second location in Petaluma at 23 Kentucky Street. The phone number is 707-789-9556.

Same great bear claws, cheese twists, mini-pizzas, fruit tarts, and more that you can find at the original Bovine Bakery in Pt. Reyes Station in coastal Marin.

Halloween fun

Kids don�t need a recipe; they can just mix and bake, using Little Sky Lavender Farm�s Lavender Sugar Cookie Mix (below).

Let their imaginations fly with Halloween cookie cutters and cooke decorations.

It�s okay to get a little bit goofy at Halloween. Kids love Spook-tacular Snack Mix made with B & R Farms dried Blenheim apricots (below).

Another kid-friendly recipe which can easily be customized for any holiday is Figgy Lollipops, using Valley Fig Growers Blue Ribbon Orchard or Sun-Maid dried figs.

What's new

Liven up a dinner at home with family and make entertaining easy with the products from these companies:

Slowly hand-roasted artisan nuts from Oren's Kitchen (above) are the perfect start to a meal or the finishing touch to a recipe.

Sundried tomatoes and products made with them are the specialty of Mooney Farms' Bella Sun Luci: sundried tomatoes (above), pasta sauce, risotto, and more.

Starting with a Roasted Garlic & Onion Salsa and a Black Bean & Corn Salsa, Sierra Madre Grocery Co. has expanded into seasoning rub, trail mix and crackers (above).

Autumn recipes

The calendar says it�s October, the days are shorter, and there's a chill in the air.

The festive fall recipe below for Cabernet Penne with Roasted Squash and Apples, uses one of March� Noir's pastas made with Cabernet flour. The recipe comes courtesy of Chef Louise Mellor and her blog, Satisfied (some of the most beautiful food photography I've ever seen).

When the weather gets chilly, soup is the perfect warm-up. Minestrone Soup with Italian Sausage from Migliore Gourmet can be the entire meal.

Finished with a drizzle of Stella Cadente Olive Oil's Rosemary Olive Oil, Orzo with Lamb, Olives and Feta is a satisfyingly tasty one-dish meal. (Beef or turkey can be substituted at this time of year.)

Sweet Olive Oil Quick Bread uses B. R. Cohn Olive Oil Company's Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Culinary lavender from Little Sky Lavender gives a new twist to Lavender Pumpkin Bread.

Enter! Eat! Enjoy! contest

Fans of Savor California's Facebook page are loving the savory and sweet prizes that they're winning in the Enter! Eat! Enjoy! contest.

Past questions and winners are posted on our contest page: �Enter! Eat! Enjoy!.

So far, prizes have been contributed by the following companies, and many more companies will be participating:

B & R Farms
Bovine Bakery
Desserts on Us (Laceys, above right)
Elaine's Toffee Co. (Peanut Toffee Crunch, above left)
Napa Valley Fudge
Valley Fig Growers