This week’s WANAFriday theme is to write about the color red and what it means to you. To me, red has always signified power, strength, and energy. So what images sprang to mind when I thought of the color red?
In a word, FOOD.
I’ll admit that surprised me a bit. So, how did my funny little brain make the leap from strength and power to food? I don’t really know. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the foods I most enjoy have strong, robust flavors. Also, all of the foods I’m thinking of right now can make for a strong, powerful me. (Well, not all of them.) This handy reframe made me feel slightly less weird for thinking of food in combination with power.
Just slightly.
There are so many wondrous foods that come in such luscious, mouth-watering shades of red, I simply can’t share them all here. Instead, I’ll share some photos of my all-time fave foods.
photo credit: Sharon Mollerus via photopin cc
I love, love, love freshly picked strawberries. I could eat a whole bushel in one sitting. Did I mention I really love them? Yes? O.k. then, moving on…
photo credit: atomicshark via photopin cc
Fresh cherries are pretty darn tasty, too. It’s too bad their season is so short.
photo credit: JonathanCohen via photopin cc
It wouldn’t be summer without homegrown tomatoes just picked and still warm from the sun. My favorite way to eat them is sliced, drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with a little salt, then topped off with some fresh mozzarella slices and a few basil leaves.
And because my birthday is just around the corner (or National Day to Be Awesome, as I’m referring to it this year), my favorite kind of cake, red velvet, is most definitely on my mind.
Vegetarian Thai red curry high on my list of faves. YUM.
photo credit: Mr. T in DC via photopin cc
The color red also makes me think of red wine, namely my go-to varietals like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Barbera. And someday when I win the lottery, I will buy myself a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino to enjoy.
Need more red inspiration? Go check out these wonderful blogs:
Ellen Gregory: Five favourite things RED
Kim Griffin: Red, Red, They Call Me Red
Liv Rancourt: Why Red? Why Remodel? Why Make Resolutions?
Janice Heck: Red is for… The Red Kimono
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How about you, powerful readers? What does the color red conjure in your mind? Are you more drawn to the concrete things like food? Or are you thinking about more abstract concepts? Sit, sip, and share. I always love to hear from you.
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Ellen Gregory said:
I don’t think it’s AT ALL weird to think about food. 😉
I’m not very familiar with red velvet cake, though… perhaps you should post a recipe? It looks like something I need to try…
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Tami Clayton said:
You should definitely try red velvet cake! It’s usually best with a cream cheese frosting. I’m searching for a gluten-free recipe so I can make myself one this weekend for National Day To Be Awesome so if it turns out o.k., I’ll share my recipe for both the gluten-free and regular wheat flour red velvet cake.
Pingback: Five favourite things RED | Ellen Gregory
Pingback: Why Red? Why Remodel? Why Make Resolutions? | Liv Rancourt
Pingback: Red, Red, They Call Me Red | Kim Griffin's Blog
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Liv Rancourt said:
Red makes me think of pizza, which makes me think of bliss. Pizza is the food of the gods, therefore the gods must love red! 😉
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Tami Clayton said:
Pizza IS the food of the gods. Having grown up near Chicago, true pizza for me is a hearty deep dish pizza that leaves you feeling full for at least a week.
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Kim Griffin said:
I also love all of your reds ~ except red curry, never tried that. Especially the homegrown tomatoes warm from the sun. Yummm!
and Red Velvet Cake.. Mmmm ~ with a cream cheese frosting.
Now, I’m hungry 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
I’ve cooked a lot with red curry paste that I can get at a nearby Asian food market. It’s very versatile for a wide variety of dishes when mixed with some coconut milk. Definitely give it a try sometime if you like curry.
Even though I had already eaten dinner when I wrote the post, I got hungry, too, just thinking about all my favorite foods. 😉
Pingback: WANAFriday: Red is for . . . The Red Kimono | JaniceHeck
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Elizabeth Fais said:
Red does say “luscious” doesn’t it? I think your choice of red foods is spot on. Though, I would add raspberries to the mix. 😉
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Tami Clayton said:
Yes! I would definitely add raspberries to the list as well.
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corajramos said:
You’re killing me. Luscious foods and here I am dieting. I think those cherries are calling me.
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Tami Clayton said:
Yes, but the cherries and the strawberries and the tomatoes are healthy for you, therefore you can eat as many as you like. Or so I tell myself… 😉
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Marcia said:
I love all the perfectly yummy red foods you posted… and the photos make my mouth water! The color red also makes me think of the ease and beauty of an Alexander Calder mobile.
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Tami Clayton said:
Your comment about the mobile made me think of the bright red Calder sculpture in Chicago. 🙂