This week we'll explore anti-inflammatory turmeric and cozy farro "risotto". We'll also delve into next weekend's Wolf Moon and how our fears can hold us back from living big.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: TURMERIC

Although it's not especially seasonal, turmeric is definitely the right ingredient to explore this week. Turmeric is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties and has long been touted as a "superfood" in many cultures. As we wrap up the holiday season and move into the New Year, this sunshine-hued spice is the perfect way to transition.

Whether you're looking to soothe your system after some holiday indulgences or just want to get more of this miracle ingredient into your diet throughout the year, there are many ways to enjoy turmeric. The easiest and most approachable is my famous Turmeric Tahini Sauce/Dressing/Dip, which can go on anything. Similarly, this Golden Hummus is quick to make, can be used in numerous ways, and is high in protein.

That's just the beginning though; I actually have a whole "Golden" series on my blog celebrating the many uses of turmeric (can you tell I love this powerful root?). Check out my Golden Farro "Risotto", Golden Pasta, and Golden Granola too. If you're a turmeric newbie, I suggest starting with less turmeric than these recipes suggest and working your way up since it can be a bit of an acquired taste.

Try This Week: FARRO "RISOTTO"

Speaking of turmeric, our best meals this past week have been nourish bowls that incorporate my all-time favorite grain recipe: this turmeric-infused Golden Farro "Risotto". I like to make a big batch, store it in a sealed container in the fridge, and then use it for easy bowl meals the next few evenings.

Have you tried farro? If not, I hope you'll check it out. It's an ancient grain from the wheat family and it has the most wonderful texture. It's hearty and chewy, plus it absorbs flavor beautifully without getting soggy. It's definitely my favorite grain to work with. The Golden Farro "Risotto" recipe is especially satisfying because it involves cooking farro with creamy coconut milk, anti-inflammatory turmeric, and soothing ginger.

If you want to make this farro into a meal like I've done this week, just combine it with a big salad and an easy protein. If you have the farro prepared ahead of time, you can pull together this nourishing bowl in 15 minutes.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: THE WOLF MOON

Next Saturday (January 3), keep an eye out for the full moon. January's full moon is typically called the "Wolf Moon", supposedly because wolves could be heard howling outside villages at night during winter. This week's full moon will also be a "supermoon", which means that the moon is very close to Earth in its orbit and will appear especially large.

Want to view the Wolf Moon / supermoon in all its glory? Its peak fullness will occur on Saturday morning, so you'll be able to see it best on Friday night (looking east to catch the moonrise) or Saturday morning (looking west to see it setting).

One of the things I love most about the full moon is that it causes me to slow down and appreciate what's around me. So next Friday night, when the full moon comes up in the evening (it will be around the time of sunset but in the opposite direction), take a few minutes to stop, find a quiet place, and savor it.

Interested in the night sky? We've especially been enjoying the Star Walk iPhone app lately; it has a cool interface that uses your phone's location and orientation to help you identify stars, planets, and constellations. They also have a nice Instagram account (@starwalkapp), where they share information about what to look for in the sky.

A Podcast to Explore: LIVING BIG

Last week, I re-listened to one of my all-time favorite podcast episodes, which I wanted to share with you all. This was episode 397 of the Zen Founder Podcast, called The Possibility Gap. It explores the gap between the life we're living and the life we dream of living, asking the question of why we're afraid to live big.

I always love this podcast from Dr. Sherry Walling, who is a clinical psychologist, but this episode really speaks to me. It delves into the fears we all have that can hold us back from dreaming big. This includes fears of change, of disruption, of being uncomfortable, of having to re-learn, and of managing our commitments as our lives evolve. These fears can keep us living small and prevent us from pursuing the most luscious, juicy, scary goals we have.

Personally speaking, living bigger, forcing myself to try new things, forcing myself out of my comfort zone, taking risks, and overall trying to move through life in a more intentional way are all things I've specifically been working on over the past couple years. For me, this has encompassed scaling back to part-time in my primary career (two years ago next week!) so that I can focus more on living and on my creative work; it has also meant arranging our lives around moving seasonally, thereby making time for a true exploration of my wildness and freedom. These changes have been terrifying, but the results are so juicy.

How would you live bigger, if you didn't have fear holding you back? Would you make changes to your job? Move somewhere new? Explore new areas of the world, learn a new skill, or pursue a new relationship? If any of this speaks to you, I highly recommend checking out this podcast episode.

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!