Indonesian-style Tempeh & Coconut Curry

1 small head broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces,
1 8.5 oz (240 g) pkg. tempeh, thawed,
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil,
1/2 c (120 ml) diced onion
1 cup mushroom caps & stems
1 clove garlic, minced,
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh ginger, minced,
1 14 ox (398 ml) can coconut milk,
1 tbsp (15 ml) mild curry paste,


Steam the broccoli until tender-crisp, then plunge it into cold water and set aside to drain. Cut the tempeh in half. Using a sharp knife, cut each piece into 2 thin layers. Heat 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the tempeh and brown on both sides. Remove the tempeh from the pan and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside. Return the pan to low to medium heat and add the remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil. Add the onions, mushrooms and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the ginger and cook for 1 minute longer. Add the coconut milk, curry paste, and tempeh pieces. Simmer gently, covered for 10 minutes. Add the steamed broccoli pieces and heat through. Serves 4. (Serve with plain rice, a green salad or simple stir fry of julienned carrots and snow peas.)

Chili....the variations are endless

Chili is one of my favourite dishes to prepare - it takes very little time, is nourishing, and there is always enough left-over for lunches or another dinner.
As the title says, they are numerous recipes for chili, but here is how I put together a big pot. Each chili tastes slightly different as I do not measure and the ingredients vary from one week to another. I would recommend this method to awaken your culinary soul!

Ingredients (usually!):
2 (19 oz) cans of beans (red kidney, chickpea, black-eyed, etc.), vegetarian ground round (optional), 1 can corn, 1/2 large green or red pepper diced, 1 onion diced, 2 stalks celery diced, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chill powder, pinch dried hot chili, 1 can tomato soup + 1 cup water, 1 can (or less depending on your taste) tomato paste, Tabasco or similar - a few drops to taste, salt & pepper taste. << As mentioned, feel free to add whatever you have on board in your kitchen in the vegetable department. Keep in mind that you want some resiliency in your vegetables, meaning, not to mushy when cooked.>>

Assembly: in large pan, heat up 1 tablespoon oil. Brown onion, garlic, celery and spices. Add pepper. Drain your beans and add to pot. Add soup, water and tomato paste. Mix well. Add your "ground round" if using and corn. Temperature should be in the med-high range, but once you notice mixture bubbling, you can cover the pot and turn down to a simmer for approximately 20-30 minutes.

Most important tip - keep tasting & smelling & looking at the chili. Is it hot enough (meaning spicy)? What does it smell like? Is the consistency what I want? I like a thick soupy consistency.

When I was learning to cook as a teenager (at school and home), following a recipe was stressed (and results were assumed if you followed your recipe correctly). Generally, this has not failed me, however, I am always inspired by cooks who use their senses to cook (my husband is great at this). This is what I would like to encourage in my own hands on cooking.

Best of luck with YOUR version of chili!

(Serve with rice or crusty bread or corn bread. My husband tops it with shredded cheese, and I sprinkled some nutritional yeast on my bowl. Nutritional yeast was suggested to me just yesterday as an alternative to cheese (such as Parmesan) - I was quite impressed. It did taste cheesy much to my surprise.)