One of my favorite fruits that is fun for the whole family is the pomegranate.

From November to January, you can find this delicious fruit in all its glory — plump, shiny and heavy for its size, all indicators of a ripe and ready-to-eat pomegranate — in the produce section.

Once the fruit is opened, the ruby red jewels inside will last for up to three days in the refrigerator (or freeze in air-tight container for up to 3 months).

Unopened, the pomegranate will keep for up to 3 months in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

But how do you open the festive pomegranate? Simply, just follow the steps below:

1. Cut off the top about 1/2 inch below the crown with a sharp paring knife.

2. Once the top is off, you’ll see four to six sections. With your knife point, score the outer skin at each section.

3. Here is the secret — use a large bowl half-filled with water. Under water, separate the pomegranate at each score so you have individual sections. (You will avoid staining this way — your clothes, your counter, your cutting board).

4. Underwater, use your fingers to loosen the “arils” or seeds and let them drop to the bottom of the bowl. They will sink.

5. Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the white membrane pieces that have floated to the top and discard.

6. Pour the remaining liquid through a strainer and use the arils in your favorite dish.

Pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants — powerful nutrients that can protect your body against the many factors in aging, heart disease and cancer.

Pomegranates are a potent source of vitamin C to help reduce the severity and length of colds.  Here are 10 easy ways to enjoy pomegranates:

1. Dairy delight. Add pomegranate seeds to vanilla yogurt for a powerful flavor boost and added fiber.

2. A sweet dip. Juice the seeds and reduce them with a little sugar and some spices for a new kind of dipping sauce for grilled shrimp or chicken.

3. Top off your morning. Top oatmeal or cold cereal with pomegranate seeds for a flavorful change of pace.

4. Refresh. Pomegranate juice is a very refreshing beverage. Drink it on its own or add it to tea or ginger ale for a boost of color, flavor and nutrition.

5. Dessert garnish. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on any dessert. They make “dressing up” a purchased dessert a cinch.

6. Great snack. Snack on pomegranate seeds right out of the fruit.

7. Christmas salsa. Use pomegranate seeds to make this delicious salsa; see recipe below.

8. Marinade. Juice the seeds and use as a marinade for shrimp, chicken or pork.

9. Add flavor and color to your glass. Muddle pomegranate seeds in a glass before adding lemonade or your favorite alcoholic beverage.

10. Salad sprinkles. Toss some pomegranate seeds onto your favorite salad.

Christmas Salsa

Serves 4

Try salsa — not only will it be the hit of the party, you will be, too.

You won’t believe how easy it is to make something this pretty with only five ingredients.

All you need

• 3-4 kiwis

• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar mixture

• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro

• 2 teaspoons finely diced yellow onion

All you do

1. Peel skin off the kiwi fruit and coarsely chop.  Mix with pomegranate seeds, sugar mixture, cilantro and onion.

2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serve with cinnamon sugar pita chips.

Yield: 8 servings (1/4 cup salsa + 8 cinnamon-sugar pita chips)

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 100 calories, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 2 g protein.