This week we'll explore seasonal asparagus cooking tips and some fun zodiac-themed cocktails to celebrate the new zodiac year. We'll also delve into the upcoming spring equinox and a new book about how we cope when times are hard.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: ASPARAGUS

In celebration of the first day of spring this coming week, I'm excited to showcase asparagus. It's the most iconic spring veggie! However, it's easy to cook asparagus poorly. Here are my top tips for cooking asparagus:

• Snap off the ends. The bottom of each asparagus stalk is lighter in color, fibrous, and flavorless. Trim them off or snap them off; the asparagus spears will naturally snap at the top of the fibrous parts.
• Wash the asparagus well. Little bits of soil can get stuck in the fluffy asparagus tops.
• Cook it hot and fast. I think asparagus is best on the grill, but it also works great in an indoor grill pan or a skillet. Use an oil that can go to high temperature (e.g., olive oil) to prepare the grill/pan and sear the asparagus for a few minutes, making sure to keep the temperature below the oil's smoke point.
• Don't overcook it. Asparagus is most delicious when the spears still hold their shape rather than flopping over. I like to char the outsides lightly, while still retaining some snap in the interior.
• Season it simply. Asparagus has a wonderful flavor, but it's subtle. I like to season it with salt and pepper while cooking, then finish it with a squeeze of lemon or a drizzle of balsamic. Heavier sauces can easily weigh it down.

I don't suggest boiling asparagus; boiling leaches out a lot of the vitamins and creates spears that are soft and flavorless. Steaming is better than boiling, but still creates results that are underwhelming. Perfectly charred asparagus on the grill is one of the season's greatest pleasures! Give these tips a try and feel free to get in touch if you have questions.

What I'm Loving Right Now: ZODIAC COCKTAILS

Do you know what starts this coming week? In addition to spring (more on that below), mid-March also marks the start of the new astrological year (it's typically around March 21, but varies slightly; this year, it's March 20). If you like cocktails, then you absolutely have to check out the Horoscope Cocktails series on my blog.

Yes it's true, I have a dedicated cocktail for each astrological sign and they're seriously fun. Don't forget to read the descriptions, which detail what ingredients and flavors I chose to represent each sign.

How will YOU enjoy these whimsical Zodiac-themed cocktails? Will you make your own? Will you try your partner's or your friend's? Will you try each one as the astrological year progresses?

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: THE SPRING EQUINOX

I'm beyond excited that the middle of this week (March 20) marks the official beginning of spring. But do you know how spring is actually defined and what event specifically kicks it off?

Called the equinox, this is a special day in which the Earth's tilt passes through its midpoint. During the northern hemisphere's winter, we (in the northern hemisphere) are tilted away from the sun; conversely, during the summer, we're tilted toward the sun. At the equinox, that tilt comes through it's midpoint as the Earth continues to rotate around the sun. So, at the spring equinox, the northern hemisphere is just beginning its half of the orbital path in which it is tilted toward the sun.

It's important to note that this is a gradual transition that has been happening ever since we had our darkest day on the winter solstice in December; that's why our days in the northern hemisphere have been getting progressively longer. We'll continue gaining daylight until summer solstice in June, then slowly begin losing it again as our journey around the sun progresses. The spring equinox marks the time at which we'll be experiencing the fastest increase in daylight, so you'll be noticing really big changes if you live at the higher latitudes.

Most importantly though, happy spring!

What I'm Reading: THE LIGHT WE CARRY

How do you cope when life gets too heavy, too uncertain, or too overwhelming? This is the subject of Michelle Obama's second book, The Light We Carry. I'm only half-way through it so far, but I'm really enjoying it. I loved her first book, Becoming, and this one is equally thoughtful.

The part that I've particularly enjoyed so far is a specific strategy that I've always gravitated to personally: when things feel too big, focus on something small. She talks about knitting, and how through knitting she can quiet her mind because her body takes over. We often let our brains run the show, but sometimes it can be beneficial to get out of our heads and into our bodies. By letting muscle memory take the lead, especially in a pursuit that's engaging but not all-consuming, we can let our minds find quiet.

What is YOUR equivalent to Michelle Obama's knitting? For me, it's definitely a long, peaceful walk in the woods. It's how I quiet down my brain and focus on the meditative tasks of walking and of using my senses to absorb everything around me. Maybe for you it's painting, doing yoga, sewing, swimming laps, or actual meditation. But whatever it is, I think Michelle Obama would recommend that we identify this tool, keep it in our arsenal, and use it whenever life feels overwhelming.

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Thanks for joining me for this issue of Eat Colorfully, Live Colorfully! I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to reply with questions, thoughts, or requests. If you missed a previous issue, you can view all my newsletters here. Have a great week!