This week we'll explore pistachios and a new, comprehensive tahini guide. We'll also delve into some special land tortoises (who love to eat greens) and nourishing sea moss.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: PISTACHIOS

Although they're actually harvested in the fall, pistachios always seem to be an iconic spring ingredient. Maybe it's because of their bright green color? Regardless, I'll happily take any excuse to enjoy these delightful nuts.

One of my favorite ways to use pistachios is on a salad. They provide wonderful crunch and also some nice decadence. Sprinkle them on top of any Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or springy/summery salad and they'll be right at home.

On a similar note, what about a savory pistachio CRUMBLE topping for a salad or roasted veggies? This Raw Salad with Lemon Pistachio "Dukkah" has a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. You can make the salad recipe as a whole, or take the (albeit non-traditional) dukkah recipe and use it on everything all season long.

Pistachios are also fabulous in desserts. While baklava is an iconic treat that often uses pistachios, I personally adore these Healthy Fig, Pistachio, and Lemon Truffles. They're easy to make and use just a few simple whole-food ingredients. Make a batch and share them with someone special!

What I'm Loving Right Now

Do you use tahini in your kitchen? As you may have noticed, I adore tahini and use this decadent, creamy sesame seed butter in everything from sauces to dressings and even baking.

Whether you're new to tahini or are already a tahini fan, I think you're going to love my brand new tahini guide. In the guide, I explore what tahini is, what it tastes like, tahini nutrition, how/where to buy tahini, and how to store tahini. I also cover the many ways to use tahini and link to a bunch (!!!) of recipes, both savory and sweet. I even explore tahini as a substitution for nut butter and a substitution for oil.

Speaking of tahini, do you make your own hummus at home? It's easy, and making your own allows you to avoid all the oils and stabilizers that are often in store-bought hummus. The tahini guide has almost a dozen different hummus recipes, including everything from basic to seasonal variations to fun and colorful variations.

If you're a tahini pro already, have you ever used it in baking? The tahini guide even includes a couple types of tahini muffins AND tahini blondies that will be fun for you to try.

Clearly I'm excited about this new guide, and I'd be so happy for you to check it out and share it with a friend.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: LAND TORTOISES

Are you a turtle lover? What about land tortoises? If you're a fan of these peaceful shelled critters, then I have a new friend I want you to meet.

Recently, my husband and I spent time on a tiny, remote island in the British West Indies. We saw 25 different bird species and beautiful marine life (including amazing starfish), but the most surprising wildlife we saw were large land tortoises. They visited the yard of our AirBnb every evening, and we happily watched them as they chomped away on the vegetation.

Our visitors were red-footed tortoises, which inhabit northern South America and parts of the Caribbean. They usually reach up to 16 inches in length (although occasionally up to 24 inches). Interestingly, they have an elongate shell with pronounced, concentric ridges. They also have beautiful red markings along their legs, hence the name, and along the sides of their head.

One of the reasons I loved these tortoises was the voracity with which they chomped on plants. Since I know many of you are plant eaters, I couldn't resist sharing these cool critters with you. Do you approach kale with this much passion?

Self-Care Pick: SEA MOSS

​Last week in the self-care section, we chatted about sea vegetables and their many nutritional benefits. As a follow-up, this week I'm excited to focus on one very powerful sea veggie in particular: sea moss.

Sea moss is actually one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet; it contains 92 different vitamins and minerals, as well as both prebiotics and antioxidants. One of the most unique qualities of sea moss is its richness in nutrients that are hard to find elsewhere. This includes iodine (important for thyroid health), magnesium, manganese, selenium, copper, and zinc. The research on sea moss is still in its infancy, but it suggests that consuming sea moss may enhance immune system response, support thyroid health, help to regulate metabolism, stabilize blood sugar, aid in digestive health, and reduce inflammation.

Sea moss is generally available in a gel form. Honestly though, sea moss gels can be pretty unappetizing. I've personally fallen in love with a delightfully creative brand of vegan sea moss pudding called Jolly Moss. I have a little scoop (the serving size is 2 tbsp) of their chocolate pudding every single morning as my post-workout treat and it has become a very special ritual.

(As always, I suggest doing your own research and talking to your doctor or nutritionist as you consider dietary supplements).

​

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!