Pomegranate Molasses

Author: Francine Lizotte

I’ve been quite fortunate all my life. I’ve met great people from different backgrounds as well as very well-known people throughout my life… a long list of them! One of them became good friends of mine. It all started when I was studying 👩‍🎓 to become a reporter.

One afternoon, I went to a bar-lounge in downtown Montréal and sat at the bar. Not far from me, maybe 3 to 4 stools away, was a man in his 30s’. He was loud, funny and quite interesting. When he noticed me, he bought me a drink 🍸 and then we started talking about a bunch of things with one of the topics being my desire to become a reporter and taking it as my major. He looked at me, and burst out laughing… “What’s so funny?” I asked. “Is it really what you want to do young lady?” he replied. “Of course!” I said. He then said “Because I work at the Gazette!

That night, he told me about himself and his friend Scott, who worked at the same place as a sports editor, and about a board game they both invented, hoping to get a big contract for. After telling me more about it, talking more about nothing and everything, exchanging phone numbers, we left the bar, he kissed the top of my hand and we both took off in different directions. Only years and years later, I ran into him through another friend of mine who was a member at a private golf course 🏌️‍♀️🏌️‍♂️ – The Devil’s Pulpit in Caledon, Ontario.

I remembered sitting at the bar of the clubhouse with my friend “Big Richard” also known as “Red Dog”, and a few stools away from us, there was a very loud man. He turned towards us, greeted Richard, and suddenly my mouth 😮 dropped. It was the same man from that bar in Montréal… it was Chris! At first, he didn’t recognize me and actually didn’t until maybe a month later. He was playing golf with Richard and he told him – “Yep, I remember her now… she wanted to become a reporter. Did her dream ever come true?”

No, my dream never fully came true although I ended up working for a short time in the newsroom of Radio-Canada 📺 before the budget cuts laid me off and also for a few months for a tabloid in Montréal called Allo Vedettes.

The next time I went back to the Pulpit, Chris and I sat together and he told me how well Scott (the sport editor) and himself did with their board game… Trivial Pursuit! He also introduced me shortly afterward to his fiancé 💍 Hiam. Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly where she came from but she and I got along very well. She was so sophisticated and well-educated. She spoke many different languages with French being one of them. She was absolutely incredible!

One night, Richard and I were invited to their place and on the kitchen island was a jar with a handwritten label of “Pomegranate Molasses”. I asked Hiam what this condiment was for and she said she uses it to enhance the flavor in many of her recipes. After tasting it, I was “hooked”! It was an “OMG” 🤯 reaction. I couldn’t believe how amazing this molasses was. That night, she cooked a lovely meal using this condiment and before I left (Richard was staying there), she gave me the recipe.

Through the years, I was lucky to spend more time with Chris and his lovely fiancé Hiam but sometimes circumstances – or just life – separate people. I got busy with my event planning company until 9-11 and then my life took another turn. Unfortunately, I saw them less and less to the point that years went by. Next thing, I met David and moved to the West Coast. The year after I got here, I sadly found out about Chris’ death 😪 and although I tried to find Hiam, I couldn’t.

Because of this lady, I’m sharing this fabulous Pomegranate Molasses recipe with you! I’ve been using it in so many dishes such as my North African Chicken Thighs, Middle East Muhammara, Mediterranean Leg of Lamb 🐏, African Lamb Tagine, and many others.

Many times, I use this pomegranate molasses as a balsamic vinegar substitute. During the Holidays 🎄, I like to make my Pomegranate Molasses Dressing to serve with my Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad… it’s a perfect combination! It’s also an ingredient for another vinaigrette that I pair with my Beluga Black Lentil Salad and the same for my Winter Citrus Salad. I’m also working on creating a dessert with it – I know I shouldn’t spill the beans.

After you make 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 this condiment, you’ll be happily surprised by how incredibly versatile it is and how you can use it in many of your favorite recipes. This Pomegranate Molasses recipe means a lot to me. Not only is it a fabulous condiment that EVERYONE should have in their kitchen but it is also a reminder of these two great human beings I was fortunate enough to have met in my life… Chris and Hiam!
Bon Appétit!🍽

Here are a few other delicious condiment recipes to try…😀
– Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
– Homemade Horseradish
– Corn Syrup
– Gyoza Sauce
– Homemade Dijonnaise
– Garlic Herb Butter
– Chili Oil
and for even more amazing condiment recipes 🥫, click on this link… Recipe Category • Condiments

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