Pomegranates aplenty

Look for a bumper crop of pomegranates this season, thanks to near-perfect weather in California.

The Pomegranate Council says 1.1 million boxes of pomegranates will be shipped from the state this fall, up from 850,000 boxes last year.

Choose pomegranates that are heavy for their size without cracks or splits. Use seeds to bring color, flavor and texture to salads, entrees and desserts. The juice can be used to enhance drinks and desserts.

For more tips on using pomegranates, visit www.pomegranates.org.

No-wait ketchup on way

For impatient diners who grow tired of waiting for their ketchup to drip from the bottle, Hunt’s has a solution. The company has developed a bottle that stands upside-down. Look for the new bottle in grocery stores at a suggested retail price of $1.99 for 28 ounces.