Saturday, November 17, 2012

This Week's Blog Post

New Earrings
These pretties are garnet and iolite. Both beads are handcut giving them character!
All metal is sterling silver. Available at Miss Val’s Creations.
Coconut Curry
Jim and I love coconut curry and have eaten is at Thai restaurants, Indian restaurants and P.F. Changs. However we have never attempted recreating it!!! If you love coconut curry but have never cooked it before it is really easy and super healthy to make at home!!!
We made a HUGE batch with this easy sauce.
  • 2 cups of coconut milk
  • 8 tablespoons of soy sauce (we used light to keep the sodium count down)
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 4 tablespoons of brown sugar (more could be used if you like saucers sweeter)
  • 8 teaspoons of rice vinegar or cider vinegar
  • 2 cups of peanuts (yummy)
Just mix them all together. I looks totally disgusting but tastes heavenly!!!
Then we sautéed our veggies of choice in olive oil. This could include:
  • carrots
  • sugar snap peas
  • regular potatoes or sweet potatoes (we prefer sweet since they are more nutritious)
  • mushrooms
  • bell pepper (green is really good in this)
  • cauliflower
  • broccoli
  • peas
  • onions
  •  After sautéing for a few minutes, then add in the sauce and cook further. Then taste test. You could add more curry, maybe cumin, black pepper….whatever suits your fancy. It is ready when the veggies are at the texture you prefer.
While this is going on, cook up some basmati rice to serve with the dish.  The first time we made this we used regular white rice, but what a difference when using the “correct” rice!!!
It really tasted like we got take out from the local Indian restaurant!!!!  Unfortunately they may not see us anymore since we are now confident in our Indian cooking!
The Walled City
My town is a bit walled! These structures look like they belong in Europe.
I could not find information explaining these online. There is a street with high walls that go on for quite a length!
There were a few key wealthy families in town back in the day that had some fabulous structure built so I am sure this was the brainchild of one of them!
They certainly add character to the town!
If you live in the U.S., have a wonderful Thanksgiving! This is my first year going to Thanksgiving on a gluten free diet which kind of stinks but at least I can still eat my mom’s sweet potato casserole! Cranberry sauce it still my friend too.   ~Val

18 comments:

  1. Your earrings are so pretty, Val! Love the look of those handcut beads!
    I also love coconut curry - thanks for sharing the recipe :)
    Funny, that tower looks a bit like the ones in my little town! We have 5 of them dating back to the 11th century and they were connected by walls, but those were destroyed in the war.
    Have a great weekend!

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    1. It must be amazing to have such old pieces of history right in your town! Our wall was started in the late 1800s so it is a baby!

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  2. Hi Val, your earrings are lovely. I'm a huge fan of Indian food, Chris and I just got some Indian food the other night actually. We have not been brave enough to try this at home though but I have to say, your curry sauce looks delightful.

    I would never have known that your town was here in the US if I had just seen those gorgeous walls, looks so European to me, just beautiful.

    I hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving.

    Ruth

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  3. Hi Val,
    Love the earrings they are so pretty. I have never had coconut curry I think I will give it a try it looks very yummy. I love your photos from around town they are always so interesting.
    Therese

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  4. The earrings are so pretty! I love the hand cut beads. Hands-on imperfection always looks great :-)
    I am embarrassed to say that while I love to try most foods, I have never had curry. Tempted, though!
    That first pix you showed of town smacks of European charm. Lovely!
    Enjoy Thanksgiving...and the cranberry sauce! I always make that. To me, that is Thanksgiving. I love the tartness of it.

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    1. Curry is a love it or hate it thing. You should definately try it because it could be a new love for you! :)

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  5. Pretty earrings!
    And that building reminds me of a castle :)

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  6. I love Indian food but not as hot as they like it there in India. But I love any kind of foreign food ;)
    You are right, those walls look very European, what means very familiar to me.
    Have a nice week!

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    1. I hear that! I always order "mild" at Indian and Thai restaurants and still get close to breaking a sweat!

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  7. Such pretty earrings! really love both those stones. and your Indian curry looks amazing, and I bet is super delicious! I love Basmati rice - use it all the time :) Love the pictures by the river - so beautiful!

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  8. I love the earrings! Very pretty! Your Indian dish looks yummy, but I am afraid it is something I can't try. Certain spices upset the area, where I was sick and I have to stay away from them ;o( The walled city is stunning!

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  9. Lovely earrings! Lovely towers in your town. Hope you find the history of them one day.
    Thanks for all your comments on my blog. I REALLY appreciate them.
    Enjoy Thanksgiving.

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  10. happy thanksgiving! this is one of the moments when i miss home so much!

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  11. Oooh, that coconut curry looks absolutely amazing. I can smell those beautiful flavors and spices all the way over here. I'd love to make a dish like this sometime this season. Yummy!

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  12. I have never had coconut curry, but this sure looks wonderful! Perfect for dinner on a cold night.
    Love these earrings, Val. The hand-cut stone make for a really nice touch.

    I agree with you on the walls. They really don't look like something from the U.S., but they sure are beautiful.

    I wish you and you family a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    xo.

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  13. Lovely earrings Val! The building look so cool, I love old architecture.

    I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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  14. The earrings are beautiful! I love garnets... Your recipe looks delicious too. The town you live in is amazing, I would have thought that it was somewhere in Europe, if you hadn't said otherwise... I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

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  15. that looks so yummy!!! maybe i should do it with a bit of chicken it would taste fine?

    www.meryswardrobe.blogspot.com

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Thank you for stopping by! I love reading visitor comments! ~Val