This week we'll explore ways to enjoy pears and a special rosemary vanilla matcha latte recipe. We'll also delve into a fall sunrise/sunset challenge and the importance of pursuing fun and play in our lives.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: PEARS

This time of year is a fabulous opportunity to celebrate an 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?

Special Recipe: ROSEMARY VANILLA MATCHA LATTE

This week, I'm excited to bring you a special matcha latte recipe. This seasonal combination pairs woodsy rosemary with fragrant vanilla and sweet maple syrup. It's the perfect latte for November!

My biggest tip for making this cozy latte: make sure you have really good matcha. 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).

For the Rosemary Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup:

(makes 6-12 servings)

• ¼ c water
• ¼ c real maple syrup
• 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary
• 1 whole, fresh vanilla bean

For the Rosemary Vanilla Matcha Latte:

(makes one serving)

• 1 c unsweetened milk of choice (vegan if desired)
• 1-2 tsp rosemary vanilla infused maple syrup
• ½ tsp matcha​
• Rosemary sprig for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. To make the rosemary vanilla infused maple syrup, combine the water, maple syrup, rosemary, and vanilla bean in a small pot. Bring to a low boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until the mixture has reduced by half, or to about the thickness that the maple syrup was originally.
2. Strain the infused maple syrup through a fine-mesh sieve. Save both the rosemary and the vanilla bean to use in baking (hint: try adding finely chopped rosemary and the seeds of the vanilla bean to your favorite shortbread or sugar cookie recipe).
3. Pour the infused maple syrup into a jar or container with a tight lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
4. To make the matcha latte, heat the milk in a saucepan or in the microwave and stir in 1-2 tsp rosemary vanilla infused maple syrup.
5. Make the matcha shot by whisking the matcha with a splash of water.
6. Pour the rosemary vanilla maple milk into a mug, top with the matcha shot, and enjoy.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: A SUNRISE/SUNSET CHALLENGE

I have a challenge for you this week. How many times can you watch the sunrise and sunset?

I recently heard from a friend who has been trying to catch both the sunrise and sunset more frequently this fall. She talked about how alive it makes her feel and how it gives her a sense of peace. I agree completely; there's nothing more grounding than sitting quietly outside and watching the sun come up or go down.

This time of year is perfect for seeing both. As you'll remember from recent newsletter issues, we chatted about fall sunrises being later in the morning and fall sunsets being earlier in the evening (at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). Those favorable times mean you can check out both without getting up really early or staying out late.

There's something about watching the sun's first rays peek above the horizon and watching its last bit of warmth dip below the horizon that always feels primal to me. This is a process that has been happening for about 4.5 billion years since our planet first formed, with the sun fostering life on Earth for about 3.8 billion years. Humans (and our predecessors) have watched the sun rise and set for several million years. Only since the Industrial Revolution have humans separated themselves from the sun's rhythms.

This week, let's try to reconnect with that rhythm.

A Podcast to Explore: PERMISSION TO HAVE MORE FUN

This week, I'm excited to share a new podcast with you that I've been loving. The "ZenFounder Podcast", which I always enjoyed and have talked about here before, has rebranded as "Permission". This new iteration is focused on giving ourselves permission to live the lives we truly want, and to step outside family, cultural, and societal pressures. There have only been five episodes so far, but I've loved them.

Episode 2 (Permission to Play, October 6) and Episode 4 (Permission to Have More Fun, October 20) really spoke to me. They both focus on the importance of fun, joy, and play in our lives. Doing things that bring us joy is not only important for our mental health, but it can also lead to enhanced creativity, engagement, and performance in our work. Why, then, does society tell us that play is something to be earned? Why are we taught that we can't play until we finish our homework, or (in more adult terms) we always put play behind our work?

The second of these two episodes asked the question of whether we're in a "fun recession" culturally, and I'm inclined to agree. Between the focus on productivity and achievement, the fact that we can never truly disconnect, and our collective stress and conflict as a nation, we seem to be having an increasingly hard time unplugging from our obligations and pursuing joy purely for its own sake.

So, I'll ask the same question that came up in both of these podcast episodes: when is the last time you truly had a ton of fun? If it feels like it has been a while, maybe you're due for some play! How would your week look if you set aside a few hours to do something just for yourself that really lights you up?

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!