Many people have unpleasant experiences during the winter season, but I think that the four seasons have a purpose for all living things. The winter is an opportunity to rejuvenate our inner selves nourishing our dreams with plans for accomplishments in the new year.

If you like arts and crafts, or cooking – in other words, indoor activities like me – I invite you to spice it up this winter with curry powder. Curry powder is a combination of a number of different spices. The actual selection of spices used varies from region to region and even from cook to cook. Create your own recipe and enjoy. Use these simple spices to create a curry powder.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon chili powder

Method:
Lightly toast the seeds and grind to a fine powder. Add the chili and turmeric powder and combine all ingredients thoroughly.
I like to add more spices in my curry powder such as fenugreek seeds, black peppercorns, cinnamon powder, dried cardamom pods, and powdered ginger.

In the winter, curry spices up my turkey and many dishes with winter vegetables and fruits like mushrooms, parsnips, pears, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, chestnuts, grapefruit, kale, lemons, oranges, radishes, and many more.

I love to serve grapefruit/pomegranate salad Vietnamese style with baked boneless turkey. Besides mashed sweet potato, I also make flavourful steamed sticky rice cakes wrapped with banana leaves. I also carve the vegetables and fruits into a blooming, tasty bouquet on my family’s dinner table. The meal with meat, vegetables, and fruits help my body stay warm and it also helps keep my mind and body warm.

On February 03, 2013, The Vietnamese Parents’ Group will get together from 12-3 p.m. preparing for the Lunar New Year with steamed rice caked wrapped in banana leaves at the Pacific Café Cooking School. The address is 10878- 97 Street. If you would like to, come and view the activity.

Enjoy inner warmth and be grateful for the winter season.