Massaman Curry

This was my lunch at work recently: massaman curry with rice plus bakery sourdough bread and a black bean brownie. Every lunch should have dessert, right?

Massaman curry is my favorite thing to order at Thai restaurants because I love potatoes and peanuts!

It’s healthier and still convenient to make it at home. This is the first meal I made using the latest curry paste in my refrigerator.

If you want to make this you’ll want to have:

• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 3 – 5 potatoes, cubed or chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 3 Tablespoons peanuts
• Bouillon, to taste
• Curry paste, to taste (start with 3 Tablespoons if using homemade)

To cook:

• Heat oil in large pot or pan
• Add onion and cook until translucent
• Add garlic and cook only until fragrant
• Add potatoes and carrots, stir
• Immediately add curry paste and coat everything in pan
• Toss in chickpeas
• Add water to meet the top of the contents of pan, not too much
• Add bouillon
• Simmer until potatoes are tender
• Add in peanuts

Enjoy with rice if you prefer!

Peace and love,

Kristan

Conventional Groceries

It takes a while for the farmer’s markets to get a good variety of plants to eat in our high desert region. I rely on grocery stores for most of my produce and all of my dry goods.

This is a typical grocery shop run for me. Some of the previous photos didn’t really have many dry bulk items because I generally decant those immediately into glass jars so I can wash the bags as quickly as possible. I’m just weird about that for some reason so I often don’t get photos of those items.

Everything except the butter was purchased at Fred Meyer. They are a Kroger company and perhaps there is one in your neck of the woods. They are super cool about me using my own bags and have even given me cheese in my own jar before. I’m tying to not buy cheese anymore. An unusual item is the Quorn meatless cutlets. They are actually a plastic free meat substitute and I keep getting coupons for them so I keep buying them. I know it’s kind of unconventional, but it’s actually an interesting product made from fungus and is soy and gluten free.

In the bulk bags there is: coffee, sugar, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, peanuts, walnuts, and dates.

I love snacking on dates and I also use them to sweeten nut milk. The sugar is mostly for making ginger beer, and I needed walnuts for leftover sourdough starter banana bread.

I made some killer hummus even though I ran out of garlic (the horror!) and was only able to use garlic powder. The bell peppers were inexpensive and are going right into that dip as soon as I’m done typing.

The butter I purchased at Albertson’s. I haven’t found Amish butter anywhere else and it comes in a giant roll. I only repurchase about every 2 months.

I made millet muffins with coconut oil instead of butter and, while still delicious, aren’t the same without butter. My husband says life isn’t worth living without butter and we really make it last so I don’t have too much guilt over this.

Hopefully this is helpful for anyone who may have access to a similar type of grocery chain store and is wishing to be a part of the low impact movement in regards to their groceries.

Peace and love,

Kristan