This week we'll explore fresh ginger and a cozy soup for meal-prep. We'll also delve into the importance of creating boundaries (especially during the holidays) and a travel-friendly homemade gift idea.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight

This week, I'm excited to celebrate delicious, nourishing, vibrant ginger. Whether you're looking for a last-minute holiday dish with warming spices or want to soothe your digestive system after some holiday indulgences, this flavor-packed root is for you.

One of my favorite ways to use fresh ginger is in this holiday-appropriate Spicy Ginger Sweet Potato Dip. The combination of sweet potatoes with zippy ginger, a bit of heat, and fresh lime juice is a fun twist on classic fall ingredients. Bonus: this dip is easy, make-ahead friendly, vegan, and works for almost any diet, so it's a great appetizer for a holiday celebration.

For the past six months, I've been making my own ginger-lemon wellness shots and I'm absolutely smitten. I make a big batch on Sunday, then do one shot every day in the early evening on an empty stomach before dinner. I love that they make my digestive system feel both soothed and warmed up. You can get my ginger shot recipe in this newsletter issue from October.

Curious about what else you can do with fresh ginger root? The options are endless. It's a standout in this Butternut Squash Carrot Ginger Soup and these Orange Ginger Sesame Brussels Sprouts. It's also a wonderful cocktail ingredient, which you can sip in this Ginger Margarita and this Ginger Bee's Knees.

What I'm Loving Right Now

Comforting soups are definitely where it’s at this time of year. In addition to being warming, soup is also make-ahead friendly, freezes great, and is hydrating. For all of these reasons, it’s definitely the right thing to make tonight ahead of a busy pre-holiday week.

If you’re looking to nourish the body and the soul, there’s nothing better than this Butternut Squash Carrot Ginger Soup. It’s easy to make and is loaded with soothing ginger (especially relevant given this week's ginger theme!). Adding butternut squash to the classic carrot ginger combo adds lovely sweetness and creaminess.

My tip? Make a double batch. You can enjoy some this week and also freeze some for hectic evenings later. If you're traveling for the holidays, coming home to a few portions of soup in the freezer will be a nice gift to leave yourself.

As a general note, almost all soups freeze well. The only ones that don't (at least in my experience) are ones with pasta, because the pasta gets soggy. Otherwise though, making a big batch of soup and freezing portions for later is a big win.

Live Colorfully

Self-Care Pick

Since I know many of you will be traveling over the holidays, I wanted to send a reminder that no one is in charge of you other than you. Especially when visiting family, it's easy to feel a sense of obligation to participate in everything, even if it's not the right fit.

Instead of trying to please everyone else, what if you set aside some time to honor your own needs? Here are a few ways this could look:

1. Have breakfast on your own, with your own kind of food, so that you start the day on the right foot.
2. Set aside time for a workout, a quiet walk, some meditation, a nap, or whatever else makes you feel recharged. Tell everyone this is your intent ahead of time so that no one is surprised later on.
3. Don't feel like you have to build your sleep schedule around everyone else; do what's right for your own body.
4. Say no occasionally if needed. No one is keeping score; it's fine to participate in some things and not others.

Spending time with friends or family over the holidays is wonderful, but it's easy to fall into a mode of trying to please everyone else at the expense of taking care of ourselves. Remember that none of us can be good friends, family members, or supporters if we've drained our own cups. Keep that cup full, even if it means occasionally setting some boundaries, so that you can be a happy, healthy, and balanced support structure for others.

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HOMEMADE GIFT IDEA: ROASTED NUTS

Just like the past two weeks, I want to use this week’s newsletter to introduce you to another great homemade gift option. One of my favorite homemade treats for sharing are these Maple Rosemary Cayenne Roasted Nuts. They’re a bit sweet, a bit spicy, a bit salty, and have such holiday flair.

These nuts are easy to make, are travel-friendly, and aren't fragile. They have a long shelf life and the recipient can use them in a myriad of ways including as an easy holiday appetizer or on top of a holiday salad. If you’re flying with gifts this week, these nuts hold up much better than cookies.

Want to customize this recipe? Feel free to omit the cayenne if you’re gifting to people who don’t like spice. You can also alter the nut mix to fit your needs, or just use one kind of nut for simplicity or to accommodate allergies.

(In case you missed it, two weeks ago I shared healthy vegan freezer fudge recipes and last week I shared homemade fig jam. Those are both wonderful homemade gift options too).

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!