This week we'll explore fresh mint and a special coconut lime rice salad recipe. We'll also delve into a new book questioning our modern culture of excess and the health benefits of matcha.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: FRESH MINT

If you have a garden, your mint is likely making its first appearance (or will be soon). And even if you don't have a full-fledged garden, mint is incredibly easy to grow so you might want to consider planting some this season.

Fresh mint is a delightful ingredient that's perfect for spring. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

• Salads. Use a super-sharp knife to cut mint into fine ribbons and toss it into all of your salads this season. You'll see it plays a starring role in this juicy Vegan Watermelon, Mint, and Snap Pea Salad, this whimsical Mint Julep Quinoa Salad, and this super-fresh Mojito Corn Salad.
• Slaws. Similar to the above, mint is also a stand-out addition in slaws like this Tropical Macadamia Mango Slaw.
• Fruit Salsa. Give your fruit salsa a refreshing twist by adding mint. It's especially wonderful in a peach or pineapple salsa. You'll find plenty of ideas in this fruit salsa guide.
• Hummus. Yes indeed, blending some mint into your hummus gives it a fresher vibe. If you're a mint fan, you'll love this Green Goddess Hummus.
• Pesto. Think pesto is all about basil? Think again. I love to make mint pesto or pesto with a 50/50 blend of basil and mint. Check out my vegan, oil-free pesto guide for more inspiration.
• Cocktails. Although mojitos get all the attention, we're huge mint julep fans at home. Take a look at this mint julep guide for the classic cocktail plus all sorts of fun variations.

Exclusive Recipe: COCONUT LIME RICE SALAD

In celebration of the beginning of April, I figured I'd share a fun and fresh recipe that's not available on my blog. It's just for YOU, my fabulous newsletter community. This Coconut Lime Rice Salad is packed with fresh spring flavors and colors. It comes together quickly, especially if you have leftover rice, and is one you can come back to all season long.

Ingredients

• 1.5 c cooked, cooled rice of choice
• 4 tbsp full-fat coconut milk
• 2 tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• ¼ tsp salt
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 c frozen, shelled edamame
• 1 c sugar snap peas
• 6-8 baby bell peppers of different colors
• Small wedge of purple cabbage
• Small mango
• Handful of sunflower (or other) sprouts
• Small handful of fresh cilantro
• Small handful of roasted salted peanuts
• Sprinkling of sesame seeds

Directions

1. Cook the rice as directed, then cool completely. Conversely, you can use leftover rice for ease or even cauliflower rice.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients (coconut milk, lime juice, toasted sesame oil, salt, and cayenne).
3. Thaw the edamame. Cut the ends from the sugar snap peas and slice them into bite-sized pieces. Slice the peppers into rings and the cabbage into very thin ribbons. Peel the mango, cut the flesh from the pit, then cut into cubes.
4. Add the rice, edamame, sugar snap peas, peppers, cabbage, and mango into the mixing bowl with the dressing and toss.
5. Transfer the salad to a serving platter. Just before serving, garnish with sprouts, fresh cilantro, peanuts, and sesame seeds.

Live Colorfully

What I'm Reading: LIES AND WEDDINGS

This past week, I just finished a fun and thoughtful read that I wanted to pass along to you: Kevin Kwan's "Lies and Weddings".

If you saw the movie Crazy Rich Asians, then you're familiar with Kevin Kwan's work. The hit movie was actually a book first. If you enjoyed the movie, I highly recommend the book. And if you enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians, I think you'll also enjoy Lies and Weddings, which just came out recently.

This book is an exploration of modern culture and of excess in particular, in the context of a love story. It manages to be both lighthearted and introspective at the same time. I don't want to give too much away, but the book takes the reader on a journey from being entranced by and then eventually appalled by wealth. It's definitely a book that makes you laugh AND think.

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Self-Care Pick: CHOOSING MATCHA

Do you ever feel like your coffee habit might be hurting more than it's helping? Don't worry, I'm not saying you should give up coffee entirely, but working some other options into your rotation could do wonders for your system. Today we'll explore matcha, a powdered variety of green tea.

Personally speaking, I've found that matcha (unlike coffee) never makes me feel jittery or headache-y. It's also loaded with antioxidants and doesn't cause the weird digestive issues that coffee can. There are quite a few studies suggesting that matcha can aid in liver health, boost brain function, promote heart health, decrease the risk of certain types of cancer, increase metabolic function, and reduce inflammation.

Worried about not getting a boost? Don't be. Matcha contains caffeine just like coffee does, but that caffeine interacts differently with your system. Think of matcha as a long, gentle boost rather than the sharper, shorter boost you get from coffee.

There are many ways to add matcha into your diet, like blending it into smoothies (this green protein + electrolyte smoothie with matcha is my morning must-have), but a good old matcha latte is hard to beat. I make this whimsical blue coconut matcha if I'm feeling fancy, but my usual is unsweetened soy milk (= good protein) and a dash of maple syrup. You can make a matcha latte that's hot or iced, so it works beautifully year-round.

One caveat: not all matcha is created equal. There are several different grades, and the lower grades are intended for cooking rather than drinking. A high-quality matcha is delicate, bright green, subtly floral, and fresh, whereas lower-quality matcha can be bitter, assertively grassy, and off-putting. My go-to is Matcha Nude (use the code ROGUE to get 15% off).

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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!