This week we'll explore ways to enjoy seasonal pears and a fun protein "muddy buddies" recipe. We'll also delve into some little-known and very peaceful places as well as a book about finding light amidst the dark.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: PEARS

This time of year is a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the unsung hero of fall: pears. Pears are delicious, a bit more special than apples, and really beautiful.

If you're looking for some seasonal pear desserts, these ​Chai-Spiced Pear Crumble Bars​ are my absolute favorite. They're made with nourishing ingredients like whole oats and nut butter. I also love these easy, one-pan ​Rum Poached Pears​, which are perfect for a fall gathering.

Pears are wonderful in savory dishes too. Try slicing them thinly and adding them to salads, dicing them and tossing them into grain dishes, serving them as a component on a snack board, or even using them as a topping for a fall-inspired pizza. They're especially great alongside salty ingredients and fall herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage. If you're looking for a specific recipe, try using pears instead of apples in this Roasted Vegetable Harvest Pasta.

I’m curious, what are YOUR favorite ways to use pears? Do you enjoy them in sweet dishes, savory dishes, or both?

Try This Week: PROTEIN MUDDY BUDDIES

You guys HAVE to try my new favorite post-workout treat. It's a healthier, protein-rich version of the classic "muddy buddies" or "puppy chow" that many of us enjoyed as kids. I've been making a big batch over the weekend, then savoring a small handful when I come home from the gym. I now look forward to it all throughout my workout!

"Muddy buddies" are a classic easy dessert that involves coating Chex cereal in a melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture, then tossing it in powdered sugar. The powdered sugar coating prevents it from clumping together.

For my protein-rich and low-sugar version, I've been tossing rice Chex in a very light coating of natural, unsweetened peanut butter. I then toss them in generous chocolate protein powder, enough so that each piece of cereal is fully covered and they won't stick together. My go-to protein powder is Sprout Living (you can use the code ROGUE to save 20%) and I've been using their Chocolate Maca flavor.

Curious to give it a try? You can use either Chex or Chex equivalent (remember to choose rice-based for gluten-free). You can also use whatever nut or seed butter you prefer, but try to use a natural version with no added oil or sugar. For the protein powder, feel free to use whatever you enjoy (remember to choose vegan if needed). You can also experiment with adding some flavors or superfoods into the protein powder, for example matcha, maca, espresso powder, etc.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: A HIDDEN PEACEFUL PLACE

Does being by the ocean make you feel at peace? What about walking on a quiet stretch of undeveloped beach, with your feet in the sand and waves? There's nothing I find more soothing than a long walk on the beach, especially if I can look for cool birds, swim, feel the sun on my skin, and find beautiful shells. Paradise, right?

This week, I'm excited to share with you a treasure that you may not know about: our National Seashores. In the US, there are ten designated national seashores that feature preserved, undeveloped, and sometimes quite remote stretches of coastline. I like this guide, which has a nice map and descriptions. Have you been to any of our National Seashores? If so, how many? I've been to four, but now I'm on a mission to visit them all!

Last week, my husband and I were very fortunate to be able to spend some time on Padre Island National Seashore in southeastern Texas after attending an academic conference in San Antonio. What a cool spot! Padre Island National Seashore (not to be confused with South Padre Island, a popular vacation destination) is actually the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world. This remote stretch of coastline features 65 miles of beach and dunes with no infrastructure or access other than one entry point. If you like to walk on the beach and not see any people, this is the place for you.

I wanted to pass along this gem since I expect many of you might be dreaming of doing a sunny getaway this winter. A lot of people don't even know about our National Seashores, but they're such beautiful, peaceful, undisturbed places. You might want to check one (or all ten!) out.

A Book to Explore: ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

I just finished re-reading an old favorite: Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See". It tells two parallel stories: one of a young German soldier, the second of a blind girl in France, with both taking place before, during, and at the tail end of WWII. In particular, it's set during the German occupation of France. The stories of the two characters intersect in really clever ways, which is something I always enjoy about Anthony Doerr's writing.

To me, "All the Light We Cannot See" is a book about the small beauties that people find during hardship. It explores the little bits of light in times of darkness, and how finding that light can help us become better people.

If you're interested in reading more from Anthony Doerr, "Cloud Cuckoo Land" is one of my absolute favorites; you can read more about it in this newsletter issue from April 2024. If you want more ideas, remember that you can always browse my list of favorite books.

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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!