I was first drawn to The Pomegranate Witch by Denise Doyen by the gorgeous endpapers. The lush illustrations by Eliza Wheeler of juicy pomegranates made my mouth water, they are so beautifully painted. Once I began to read the story, the rhythmic, rhyming text drew me in further and by the surprising end, I had found a new favorite Halloween classic. The story follows the children of a small town as they longingly gaze at a pomegranate tree growing by an old farmhouse outside of town. They wish they could have just one of the juicy, red fruits hanging from the branches but, alas, the tree is jealously guarded by a sharp-eyed witch. Through a series of “battles” with the witch, the children finally obtain one, perfect, delectable pomegranate that they split between them. On Halloween night, however, everything changes when the witch goes out haunting and her sister, The Kindly Lady, generously gives out to treats to all the children in town. The Pomegranate Witch is a warmly illustrated tale of teamwork and adventure with a dash of mystery; a perfect Halloween read!
I knew I needed a recipe that featured the flavors of those juicy pomegranates to accompany this book and decided to try out a big batch of blood-red pomegranate punch for Halloween gatherings and parties. I ended up loving the combination of pomegranate and apple juices with a bit of lime juice for tartness and a topping of ginger beer for a hint of seasonal spice. I added some plastic bugs frozen in ice cubes and plastic eyeballs for extra spookiness, but this could also be an elegantly presented punch when garnished with sliced fruit and pomegranate seeds. Fruit punches often taste too sweet to me, but this one manages to be both refreshing and warming with just the right blend of sweet and tart. I also like that this punch can be made using all-natural ingredients with the only added sugar coming from the ginger beer.
Spooky Pomegranate Punch
If making spooky ice cubes, place a small plastic bug, spider, or eyeball in each segment of an ice cube tray. Freeze at least 24 hours, or until ready to make punch. These items could also be placed directly in the punch bowl or pitcher without being frozen in ice, but make sure that none are small enough to be a choking hazard.
In a large pitcher or punch bowl (at least 12 cup capacity), stir together the cranberry, apple, and lime juices. Slowly pour in the ginger beer and stir gently to combine without losing too much fizz. Garnish with the spooky ice cubes and/or plastic bugs, or garnish with fresh sliced fruit and pomegranate seeds, for a non-spooky alternative. Chill until ready to serve.
Ingredients
Directions
If making spooky ice cubes, place a small plastic bug, spider, or eyeball in each segment of an ice cube tray. Freeze at least 24 hours, or until ready to make punch. These items could also be placed directly in the punch bowl or pitcher without being frozen in ice, but make sure that none are small enough to be a choking hazard.
In a large pitcher or punch bowl (at least 12 cup capacity), stir together the cranberry, apple, and lime juices. Slowly pour in the ginger beer and stir gently to combine without losing too much fizz. Garnish with the spooky ice cubes and/or plastic bugs, or garnish with fresh sliced fruit and pomegranate seeds, for a non-spooky alternative. Chill until ready to serve.
