This week we'll explore asparagus and fun cocktails inspired by the zodiac signs. We'll also delve into the spring equinox and my new greatest love: a bubble tent for early-season outdoor hang-outs.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: ASPARAGUS

In celebration of the first day of spring this coming week, I'm excited to showcase asparagus, the most iconic spring vegetable. However, it's easy to cook asparagus poorly, which I want to help you avoid this season. Here are my top tips for preparing vibrant, crisp, flavorful 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. 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. Just 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.

Try This Week: 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 end of this week (Friday 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 its midpoint as the Earth continues to rotate around the sun. So, at the spring equinox, the northern hemisphere is just beginning the 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 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 the 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 notice really big changes if you live at the higher latitudes.

Most importantly though, happy spring!

Self-Care Pick: MAKE A SUN BUBBLE

You guys are going to think I'm crazy, but I'm beyond excited to show you my new favorite toy. I bought this treat for myself since I was feeling the winter blues, and I've already savored it four or five times in the past two weeks. It's a bubble tent!

Let me back up. Do you ever look outside on sunny March days and wish you could bask in the sun, but it's still too cold? I love feeling the sunlight on my face, and was really wishing I could sit on our deck and read. Obviously that wasn't going to happen when it was 35 degrees and windy though.

Enter my genius idea: a bubble tent. These clever tents function like greenhouses, but they're small, light, portable, and inexpensive. The one I got comes in four different sizes and advertises being as much as 40 degrees warmer inside than outside on a sunny day (which I definitely believe!). It pops right open in about one minute. I had to watch the video numerous times to figure out how to collapse it, but I can fold it up in about two minutes.

Now, even if it's only 30 or 40 degrees, I can happily sit outside on our deck in the sun. I honestly felt like an entirely different person after my first bubble tent experiment. We love our deck, and I'm optimistic this will extend our deck season by at least a month on either end, possibly more.

Absurd? Probably. But I'm beyond thrilled with my cute sun bubble and will be popping it up every chance I get over the next month or two, while it's still too chilly to sit outside without it.

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!