This week we'll explore an easy pasta trick and beautiful moondrop grapes. We'll also delve into one of the season's most magical nighttime sounds and why September is the best time for a bonfire.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: HEARTS OF PALM PASTA

Are you feeling crunched by busy fall schedules? My husband and I are both academics (he's a college professor and I'm a research scientist at a university), so we're "back to school" too. My saving grace the past couple weeks for making healthy dinners in no time has been hearts of palm pasta.

Yes, there is indeed pasta made from hearts of palm and it's fabulous. It's much lighter than traditional pasta, plus it's ready to go right from the packet. I use the brand Palmini (the code ROGUE will save you 20% if you shop on their site). You can also find their products on Amazon, although the discount code won't apply. Their angel hair and linguine are my favorites.

Curious to give it a try? Hearts of palm pasta is great tossed in whatever sauce you're in the mood for. I've been preparing it with pesto recently, since we still have a lot of basil at home (remember to check out my vegan oil-free pesto guide). If you toss some hearts of palm angel hair with your sauce of choice, throw in some chickpeas, and add whatever veggies you have on-hand, you have a healthy and satisfying dinner in no time.

I have two important tips to share. First, since hearts of palm is the only ingredient in this pasta, it tastes a bit artichoke-like. I actually love the taste, but a sauce with a lot of flavor can help to hide the hearts of palm. Second, this pasta isn't as toothsome as traditional wheat pasta, so I always like to add some crunch (for example, see the pistachios in the photo below). Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Try This Week: MOONDROP GRAPES

Have you ever seen moondrop grapes? They're a deep purple grape with a distinctive long, oval shape. They're one of my favorite grape varieties because they're delicious AND strikingly beautiful. Because they're an artisan product, they're best enjoyed as-is so that you can appreciate their unique appearance. They're sweet, juicy, and flavorful, with a richer taste than regular purple grapes.

Want to get your hands on some moondrops this season? Trader Joe's usually has them in mid-fall, so keep an eye out for them over the coming weeks. They're also sometimes at Whole Foods and other grocery stores that carry special seasonal produce.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: OWLS

Several times this past week, I was awoken at 1:00AM by our neighbors who were outside hootin' and hollerin'... or rather just hooting. The owls are back!

Here in northern Vermont, we have several different species of owls. We see Barred Owls quite frequently, but the ones causing a ruckus in the middle of the night near our house are Great Horned Owls. We tend to hear them in early spring (March and April) and then again in early fall (usually September and October). Although I'm really not a fall person and would happily take summer forever, I do get excited when our hooting friends return to their nearby nighttime prowls.

Do you have owls where you live? If so, keep your ears alert, your windows open, and your air conditioners off overnight. Ours are really noisy this time of year, and maybe yours are too. If you're not sure WHOOOO (get it?) might be around you, I highly recommend the Merlin birding app.

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Self-Care Pick: FIRE PIT SEASON

Are the darker days and cooler temperatures getting you down? Personally speaking, I always really struggle with this time of year; I'm much more of a summer person. However, there are a few silver linings, which I'll be making a point to celebrate throughout the fall here in the newsletter. For example, a couple weeks ago we chatted about fall rainbows (easier to spot with the lower sun angle!).

This week's fall silver lining? It's bonfire (or fire pit) season! Thanks to the cooler temperatures and the fact that it gets dark earlier, September is a perfect time to enjoy an outdoor fire. You can of course go with a full-fledged bonfire if you live somewhere that it's possible, or with a fire pit fire if you live somewhere more suburban.

If the shorter days are making you feel bummed out, how about making a fire next time you have a nice evening? It's the perfect way to take advantage of the earlier sunsets.

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!