This week we'll explore spring-appropriate lemon recipes and how to make healthy "fries" at home. We'll also delve into this week's total lunar eclipse and a book series I've been loving.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: LEMONS

Happy March! Although it's not officially spring yet, it's never too early to get excited about spring flavors. Accordingly, this week is all about bright, citrusy lemon. Lemon is an incredibly versatile ingredient that you can use in everything from salad dressings to cocktails to baked goods.

If you want to take lemon in a savory direction, this Loaded Lemon Hummus is one of my personal favorites. You can either use just the simple lemon hummus recipe without toppings or load it up with a bunch of fresh and colorful Mediterranean-inspired garnishes. If you're hosting a gathering this month, a big bowl of this protein-rich hummus is a great way to keep everyone satisfied until dinner.

If you want to take lemon in a sweet direction, I think you'll enjoy these Fig, Pistachio, and Lemon Truffles. They're easy to make at home and use just a few simple whole-food ingredients including dried figs, pistachios, and lemon zest. Make them for yourself to enjoy as a portable snack, nourishing dessert, or post-workout treat, or make them as a gift for someone special.

Feeling saucy? This unique Caramelized Lemon Turmeric Sauce uses the entire lemon (including the peel!), so it's a no-waste way to get a big dose of spring flavor.

Try This Week: CARROT FRIES

As many of you know, my husband and I just made our seasonal migration back to Vermont (from the northernmost Hawaiian island) a few weeks ago. Being greeted by sub-zero temperatures (Fahrenheit!) and tons of snow wasn't necessarily the welcome I wanted. However, one benefit of being back is that I've been happily reunited with my air fryer. That means we're back to our favorite cozy weekend happy hour snack: carrot fries!

Intrigued? Carrot fries are easy to make at home and are a much healthier alternative to regular fries. They have the same appeal, but they're not cooked in oil and are made from vitamin-rich, fiber-rich carrots. All you need to do is cut full-sized carrots into carrot sticks. Toss them in a dash of olive oil and air-fry them at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes, until tender but not soft. They should be delicately browned on the outside. Salt them generously right when they come out, then top them however you like.

Our current obsession is to pair carrot fries with a simple maple mustard tahini dressing. I just mix a few spoonfuls of tahini with a bit of homemade coarse-grained mustard, a dash of maple syrup, and some salt. You can get the detailed recipe (both for the fries and the sauce) in this blog post. Give them a try next Fryday night and let me know what you think!

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

This coming week features a big event in the celestial world: a total lunar eclipse. The eclipse will occur in the early hours of Tuesday morning (March 3) and will be visible from North America as well as Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia.

During a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and moon are all in alignment. With Earth right in the middle, we block the sun's light that would normally be reflecting off the moon. Hence, instead of the moon's usual glow, we'll only be able to see the moon in shadow. It often has a red hue and is sometimes called the Blood Moon.

Want to catch the lunar eclipse in action? The best views will be from the western US and around the Pacific, although all of us in North America will be able to see at least part of it. Totality, i.e. the period of time when the moon is fully covered by Earth's shadow, will last 58 minutes, from 6:04-7:02AM Eastern. Although those of us on the East Coast will have trouble seeing it since the sky will start getting light, those of you farther to the west will be able to see it while your sky is still dark.

Curious to learn more? I liked this article from Space.com, which outlines the different phases of the eclipse and exactly what will be happening when, including for different time zones.

A Book Series to Explore: THE LOST BRIDE TRILOGY

If you enjoy fantasy novels, then I have a fun series for you to check out. I just finished Nora Roberts' "The Mirror", which is the second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy. I'm currently on our library's hold list for the final one, "The Seven Rings", and absolutely can't wait to read it.

This series is a story about a woman who inherits a (haunted) manor and uproots her life to move to rural Maine. During that time she forges relationships, becomes part of the community, and ultimately finds where she belongs. She also delves into the history of her family and the manor, and tries to liberate all the occupants (both alive and dead) from a curse. Overall, it's a very fun read that manages to be both entertaining and thoughtful.

If you want to check out The Lost Bride Trilogy, make sure to read them in order: first "The Inheritance", then "The Mirror", and then "The Seven Rings". They're fantasy-leaning, but not pure fantasy; accordingly, if you want to dip a toe into fantasy, this series would be a great place to start.

Like many fantasy series, this one explores light versus dark, good versus evil. But unlike most other fantasy books, these really celebrate 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.

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!