This week we'll explore cherry tomatoes and a special Brownie Batter Blizzard recipe with a secret ingredient. We'll also delve into a new book from one of my personal favorite authors and a peaceful evening ritual to enhance sleep and digestion.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: CHERRY TOMATOES

Is your garden or farmers market exploding with tomatoes right now? Here in northern Vermont, we're just coming into the peak of tomato season and these juicy, colorful, seasonal treats are everywhere. Tomatoes are incredibly diverse in their shapes, colors, and textures, but this week I want to celebrate my personal favorite: cherry tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes are one of the smallest tomato variety; this term is usually used to encompass a wide array of mini tomatoes. If you head to your local farmers market, you'll likely be able to find them in a range of colors including yellow, orange, peach, red, and purple. They're a versatile ingredient since their smaller size makes them less likely to fall apart, plus they tend to be sweeter than their larger counterparts.

Here are my two favorite ways of using these edible jewels:

• Use them to garnish a dip. Thanks to their beautiful colors and shapes, cherry tomatoes can make any summer dip look festive. They add a lovely pop of sweetness and juiciness too. I especially love them on top of this Loaded Lemon Hummus.
• Toss them into a chopped salad. You can either leave them whole or cut them in half. Unlike large tomatoes which often fall apart in a salad, cherry tomatoes keep their shape even after tossing. They're a stand-out in this Rainbow Vegan Chopped Salad.

Special Recipe: BROWNIE BATTER CAULIFLOWER BLIZZARD

This week, I'm excited to share my FAVORITE summer treat with you. This recipe isn't available on my blog, since I wanted to keep it special just for my newsletter community. Inspired by the classic Dairy Queen Blizzard, this Brownie Batter Cauliflower Blizzard is just as delicious but much more nourishing. It's rich in fiber and plant-based protein and is low in sugar and carbs thanks to a surprising base of frozen cauliflower.

​Curious about using veggies in smoothies? Then I think you'll love my e-book, Blend the Rainbow. It contains eight colorful smoothies that are based in vegetables rather than fruit (similar to this Cauliflower Blizzard, but themed by color). You can explore the e-book here (it's $5).

Ingredients

• 1.5 c frozen cauliflower
• 0.5 - 1 c soy milk or chickpea milk. These two plant milks are high in protein and low in sugar/carbs. This recipe will work fine with a different milk, but it won't be as protein-rich and the texture may feel less indulgent.
• 2 scoops (one serving) of chocolate protein powder. I love Sprout Living; use the code ROGUE at check-out to save 20%.
• 1-3 pitted dates. Optional, for adding sweetness.
• Quarter or half of a chocolate protein bar. Look for options with a small number of whole-food ingredients (or even better, make your own Larabars at home).
• Garnishes or toppings. Feel free to add some coconut whip and/or sprinkles to enhance the brownie vibe.

Directions

1. Cut the protein bar into very small pieces.
2. Combine the frozen cauliflower, 0.5 c milk, chocolate protein powder, and a pitted date in a high-power blender.
3. Blend until a smooth, creamy texture develops. If you have a hard time getting a smooth blend, add more milk in small increments, re-blending after each addition. This recipe will work best if it's VERY THICK (just like the DQ Blizzard).
4. Taste and adjust as you see fit. You can always add another date or two if you want the Blizzard sweeter.
5. Add about half of the protein bar pieces and pulse the blender several more times until they are evenly incorporated.
6. Pour the Blizzard into a serving glass. Top it with the remaining protein bar pieces and (if desired) coconut whip and/or sprinkles.

Live Colorfully

A Book to Explore: JODI PICOULT, BY ANY OTHER NAME

I recently finished Jodi Picoult's newest book, By Any Other Name, and loved it. I adore everything she writes, and this one was no exception. It follows the stories of two female playwrights, one in 1580 and one in modern times. As usual, her research is extensive and she explores some complex issues. Overall, it grapples with questions about whether women's roles in society have (or have not) evolved over time and how we give voices to people of marginalized backgrounds.

As a side note, if you've read some Shakespeare, then this book might be of particular interest. It explores the debate about whether he was actually the author of his work. If you've read Shakespeare plays and/or sonnets, there will be a lot of extra pieces in this book that will speak to you.

Curious to explore some of her others? My personal favorite is The Book of Two Ways (2020). I also really like Wish You Were Here (2021). She has about 30 novels though, so if you enjoy them there are many more for you.

Remember that you can always browse my favorite book list if you need some ideas.

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Self-Care Pick: AN EVENING RITUAL FOR SLEEP AND DIGESTION

Do you want to sleep better, have better digestion, and overall feel better? If so, then you're going to love this simple (and free!) ritual.

I've spent most of my life getting made fun of for my "old person" early dinner time, but I sleep terribly and have digestive issues if I eat late. This week I thought I'd introduce you to a very simple but transformative evening routine. The best thing about this "medicine" is that it costs nothing.

Americans spend huge amounts of money each year on sleep aids and digestive aids, but what if a simple change in your routine could solve these problems? This week, I challenge you to switch up your routine and see if you feel any different. Try eating dinner as early as you can (we shoot for 4:30 or 5:00, laugh all you want). After dinner, go for a nice, long stroll. Bonus points for shutting off screens and putting your phone on do-not-disturb an hour before bed, adopting some calming evening rituals, and heading to bed early.

By shifting dinner up, you eat while your digestive system is still wide awake and functioning at its best. Then you allow your body to wind down slowly, producing melatonin effectively and leading to better sleep. Your night becomes a time to rest and recover, rather than a time for your system to be bogged down with a bunch of fuel you just added right before trying to shut things off.

Obviously everyone's body is different, but adopting an earlier dinner time, a post-dinner walk, and an earlier bedtime has made such huge differences in my overall health. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

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!