Pomegranate & Persimmon

With the autumn come two bright fruits for the holiday table. The blushed pomegranate, also called the Chinese apple, is an ancient symbol of fertility, while the persimmon, the national fruit of Japan, stays on the tree long after the leaves have fallen.

Pomegranates are round with a brownish blossom end (calyx) and leathery pink or yellow skin. Inside, tough cell cavities contain a multitude of seeds, each encased in juicy red kernels. Both membrane and seeds can be very bitter, containing a good deal of tannin. Pomegranates may be cut open and the kernels scooped from the membrane (the seeds are edible though crunchy), or the whole fruit may be rolled in your palm until the seeds and pulp are loosened, then a hole poked in the fruit to extract the juice.