For the past month or more, I’ve been collecting a few snippets of news I’ve read or articles meant to be shared, but rather than actually share, I’ve stashed them away in a folder and time has marched on.
Looking back, so much of what I had accumulated was news that was frustrating, negative, and political, in congruence with the season, even as it was about the state of our food system and climate. Those are indeed important things and I think we should all be informed about what we are eating and the nature and consequences of its production.
But for whatever reason I was reminded recently of my high school riding instructor/coach, who always encouraged me to remember and focus on what’s going well, and to forget about the rest. I more often get in the mindset that if I only look through the world with rosy-hued lenses, then nothing gets done, and no real change to the status quo can occur.
But that’s not actually true. We grow better when we are happier, when we are living in joy, when our systems are not stressed with what-ifs and fear.
I encouraged a nutrition client recently to start small, taking one day at a time, and to focus on only one thing each day that helps her to take care of herself. Taking a dose of my own advice, it’s early morning as I write this, and I’m unexpectedly home at my mom’s farmhouse kitchen table, sitting in what I deem the sunroom, given for it’s dusty lemon hues and big windows letting in the new day. My week has been fraught with grief, many tears, and saying one last goodbye to a truly dear grandfather, and related to that and my own internal fears and anxieties, my thoughts have been incredibly bent toward the negative of late.
Today I’ve decided to focus on the good, and to look for what is going well.
Today it’s that I did make it home to see Papa in his last hours, and it was almost as if he waited for me, the last and furthest grandchild to visit, and for his room to fill with family as he spoke his last words and slipped quietly from us.
Too, the country is quiet, and I get to spend my day (and yesterday) looking out any window onto wide open pastures and birds singing and dancing their dance.
What this has to do with curry, I don’t for sure know, other than a simple and easily adaptable curry such as this has been my long time go-to for comfort, for taste, for turning whatever I have into something special and pleasing to everyone. It’s the food version of eternally positive, and a dish no matter the vegetable or bean adaptations, seems one can never mess up.
Go-To Coconut Curry, serves 4-5
Recipe Updated: December 2023
– I used cooked mung beans, broccoli, white “spring” turnips, and frozen peas in this version, and I encourage you to use whatever you have, is in season, or are particularly enjoying just now.
– In another version, I used carrots, shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, and frozen peas, as well as tofu. For the tofu, I pressed it and then baked it for 30 minutes with just a dry rub method of curry powder.
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 cups / 500-600 gr chopped seasonal vegetables
1/8-1/4 tsp. cayenne powder (adjust according to taste)
3/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
3/4 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 Tbs. fresh ginger, finely grated
1 can full fat coconut milk
2-4 cups water, as needed to thin
2 cups cooked beans or 14-16 oz. pressed and baked tofu
2 cups / 200-300 gr leafy greens, chopped
2 Tbs. lemon or lime juice
fresh cilantro, to serve
cooked brown or white basmati rice, to serve
- In a large deep pan over medium heat, warm oil, moving around the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Toss in the chopped onions and garlic. Stir and let cook for about 8-10 minutes, until the onion and pepper are soft.
- Then stir in the spices and other vegetables and cook until they are tender. You may need to add a few splashes of water.
- Add the coconut milk, water, tofu or beans and greens. If you’re adding frozen peas, add them now as well. Stir everything together and let the flavors meld for 5-10 minutes more.
- Stir in the lemon or lime juice, adjust seasonings to taste, and enjoy with rice and cilantro.
GUTSy Performance Nutrition 