This week we'll explore hearts of palm pasta and eye-catching moondrop grapes. We'll also delve into a book series about finding yourself and thoughts about why September is the best time for an outdoor fire.

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. This angel hair and this linguine are my personal 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. First, since hearts of palm are 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 flavor. 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

In last weekend's newsletter, we talked about grapes in general. Now, this week, I'm excited to turn you on to a very unique grape: moondrops!

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. Given that they're a specialty product, they're best enjoyed as-is so 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

A Book Series to Explore: THE DRAGON HEART LEGACY

If you enjoy fantasy novels, then I have a trilogy for you to check out: The Dragon Heart Legacy Series by Nora Roberts. I actually read these last fall, but I enjoyed them so much that I'm about to start re-reading them all.

I really love these! Make sure to read them in order: first "The Awakening", then "The Becoming", and then "The Choice". If you're not into fantasy though, then these might not be for you. Or, in case you want to dip a toe into fantasy, this series would actually be a great place to start.

This series is a story about finding yourself. It follows the tale of a young woman in Philadelphia who has always been taught that she's average. But when she decides to adopt "courage" as her motto, she spends a summer in Ireland discovering herself, her roots, her family history, and many things about her that are far from average. Overall, it's a fun read that manages to be both entertaining and thoughtful.

Like many fantasy series, this one explores light versus dark, good versus evil. But unlike most other fantasy books, this one really celebrates the light. Nora Roberts gives life to the good things (family, friends, community, love, belonging) in order to show why we fight for them. These are definitely "feel good" books.

As always, you can browse my list of favorite books if you're looking for more ideas.

Self-Care Pick: FIRE PIT SEASON

Are the darker days and cooler temperatures getting you down? Personally speaking, I always 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 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!