Browsing Tag

comforting

Curry Favor

Vegan Curry Kolkata

January 13, 2026

If you’ve pledged to eat more veg this year, try this Calcutta-style vegetable curry! Dairy-free and vegan, it’s built on an aromatic mustard oil base with loads of fresh curry leaf and other good stuff.  You’ll begin with black mustard seed that you heat ‘til it’s popping, then come the curry leaves, sweet cinnamon stick, bay leaf, clove and cardamom, plus paprika, golden turmeric, ginger, garlic, shallots, green chili, garam masala, coriander leaf & coconut milk.

And of course: The vegetables! I made mine with parsnip and carrot, oven roasted to caramelly tenderness, but this recipe would work with squash, peas, and potatoes, too –whatever your healthy heart desires. You can also vary the heat of the curry by using a hotter or milder chili pepper.

To make the dish, I peel the carrot and parsnip first, then gather and measure all the spices, (laying them out in order of usage) while the vegetables roast. When the curry is nearly done, I get a pot of long grain basmati rice going so I can be sure to serve everything as soon as it’s ready. Continue Reading…

Deep Dark Rich

Stovetop Steak + Stout Stew

February 27, 2021

One of my boys loves deep dark flavors. If you want that in a good stew, steak and stout are the perfect ingredients. And when using a good grade of meat, you don’t really need the super long slow roast that you need with lesser cuts, so you can make this on the stove-top in a Dutch oven. With the pandemic still lingering, we may not be able to gather in crowded pubs right now, but this hearty stew is a pub-worthy comfort that will bring cheer to your home crew. Made with Guinness, sirloin steak, and carrot and onion to mellow the stout, it’s full of deep rich flavors. Continue Reading…