An explosion of color!
You know I’m passionate about cooking and creating art… but did you know I’m also obsessed with my garden?
This is my favorite time of year! In July, before it gets too hot, the dahlias, the showgirls of the garden set, are prancing around. The orange Gerber daisies are vibrating next to magenta petunias next to peach-colored baby petunias (which have become great favorites) next to electric blue lobelia. Just when I think I’ve seen it all—and I look at my garden every day—THESE colors suddenly appear in an explosion of color!
For somebody like me who is absolutely in LOVE with color, this is so inspiring! I feel like I’m being bathed in vibrant color, way beyond even my favorite box of Crayola 64’s.
Some color masters on Instagram
Are you crazy about color? Here are two of my very favorite colorists to follow on Instagram:
Deanna Minich, PhD - @deannaminich
Author of the book The Rainbow Diet, teacher on nutrition, science and spirit, creativity and color. Her website Dr. Deanna Minich (“color can heal your life”) is fascinating and her “Certified Food & Spirit Practitioner Program (online courses, mentorship and community) is so valuable for health practitioners.
Really, the woman is a force of nature, color, science and spirit!
Deanna says, think in color, eat in color, live in color. She says color can change our feelings, alter our behavior and change lives. On Instagram she posts her paintings and inspiring photos of food and bits of color science and spirit. If you are looking for nourishment on your plate and in your life, I recommend you look here. YUM!
Aliza J. Sokolow - @alizajsokolow
Photographer and food stylist. When you open her Instagram page, your eyes will see a FEAST of maximum vibrant-colored foods, in combinations like you’ve never seen before—so vivid, so remarkable, jeez louise! I love her uniquely vibrant sense of design and composition… stunning! Joyful! Her photos have a very distinct look. Her tomatoes and plums look alive! Inspiring!
How does color inspire you?
When I look at the pots and sweeps of color right outside my office window, I think about how these colors can translate to the plate....3 different colors of carrot (dark red, orange, light lemon yellow), the purplest of purple potatoes, the tenderest of greens… hints of plum. It’s really fun! Like a sommelier, taking a sip of wine and knowing exactly where the grape is grown, I see color and smell strawberry and peach notes, looking at a pot of flowers and translating it into what I cook.
Part of my practice right now is to be truly present in the moment. And to really notice. That petunia is THAT purple? Flowers are a great aid to being in the moment. They are life! They remind us of the wonders of nature. They have the ability to heal us, in the most difficult of times, or after a rough day at work. Looking at color awakens your senses, and brings you into the present moment like nothing else. What a thrill!
Technicolor slaws for vibrant summer color
Slaws and salads are a great way to incorporate color in your summer culinary world!
Really want to dazzle friends at a potluck? Go for this one. The colors will knock their socks off, the texture is firm and crisp, the flavor is both delicious and compatible with lots of favorite summer foods. A guaranteed winner. :)
Another delightful slaw, with beets, carrots, raisins, pistachios, chopped mint and—wait for it—lemon tahini dressing. Oh. Yum.
Classic slaws usually aren’t much to get excited about. Between their homely appearance and goopy consistency, they tend to resemble Spackle. But that’s not the case here. This slaw is a feast for the eyes and palate. If Pixar ever created a recipe, this just might be it.