Thursday, May 19, 2011

CURRY DIVA - SPICY PAPAYA SALAD

Curry Diva - showing you the easy method of how to do a green papaya salad.
This is something that you will be able to introduce to anyone and get them activated in a heartbeat!!
So Please use your fingers with caution ;)  xo

CURRY DIVA ON "TWIN CITIES LIVE"

It is really hard to do curry in a hurry - but I did the best that I could do with making curry for the 'twin cities live' team....
have a look and see what you think!
Click on the link to check it out.
Curry Diva 


CURRY DIVA ON 'TWIN CITIES LIVE'

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

CURRY DIVA - SRI LANKA STREET FOODIE.....

HEY THERE EVERYONE.....
I have had such a lovely day today - with my friend Monica and doing our Curry Diva Webisodes together....
I hope that everyone likes this one because - it is something that is easy and fun to do - and also brings me so much fond memories of when I was just a young girl in Colombo Sri Lanka 
(formally Ceylon) and going to the beach in the evenings to hang with your friends and walk the beach when the sun was going down...
This dish made with chic peas (garbanzos) was something that always hit the spot - and they would serve it to you in this sort of paper funnel cup - and I remember always asking for the parts that had the extra chilies in it because even back then I always wanted to eat only hot foods....
Today I make this dish for everyone - even at parties and gatherings - especially if there is a good beer in the room or some great red wine...YUM!!!
Now I have lots of friends that like it and wanna make it themselves ...so this Webisode should take care of that - only, I have to say if you can get the coconut that is in chunks it is better.....so give it a shot and see what you think - if you have fresh curry leaves it is even better - but it is so great also with the fresh mint...the chic peas are protien and the chilies will add the pop and the mustard will activate etc..etc...
All to nourish the body and feed the soul - this is what I love - good for you that taste even better....I hope you enjoy this Youtube webisode on (Kadala) Sri Lankan street food!!!

Curry Diva :)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

COOKING FOR THE DEEPAK CHOPRA EVENT @ BETH EL

Hello there - 
it's the curry diva trying to get back on track - I know that my last post was all about Australia and I have so much more to write about - BUT I have to pause and write about this very exciting event that is coming up for me!
Yes - I am so excited to say that I will be the curry diva cooking the VIP dinner tasting/meet and great hour for the great event that the Beth El Synagogue will be hosting with The world known - (my hero) Deepak Chopra....
I am so thrilled to do this and be part of this event - After all I have had a picture of him on my vision board for years!! Yes I have listened to all his tapes or I should say a lot of them and followed his sayings and knew that someday I will meet him and he will be able to taste my cooking because growing up as a child in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) we follow many of the Ayurveda  way of life and it is something that has fascinated me always - putting that together with my passion for cooking and knowing that even as a young person that there was a food that healed and helped and nourished the body in many many ways...then growing up I realized that not only can this nourish the body - but my big thing in life was that you have to 'feed your soul' - and that there was too much attention given to the soul much too late after we have passed on - your soul is what keeps you here and that is what you need to feed - and that our bodies are the temples that we are blessed with and to nourish the body and feed the soul was the best thing anyone could do for themselves while we are still here!!!
So I have spent the past 17 years or so of my life knowing this for a fact and that there is nothing more important than feeling good...and there was nothing better than to "nourish the body and feed the soul" so here it is - I seem to want to preach it and live it everyday that I can and also - make sure that most everyone around me gets a little bit of that as well - sure makes me feel good!   
So whenever I can I feed you......


Having said all that now I want to tell you that this is amazing to me - my dear friend Deb Mallin had a lot to do with this - (and other lovely yoga ladies) these are women that I teach Ayurvedic cooking classes to that follow the path of wanting to activate the senses and get the most out of good food and nourish their bodies everyday...anyway the word came back one day - when they called me and said yes Deepak is coming to town to do this event and we would love it if you will do the food.....smile - can you see me smile - oh it was more than just smiling ...so happy....
And now the day is near...and I have been running around with my friend Deb  and checking out the Beth El Kitchen and gathering spices and all that good stuff for the menu that I planned based upon what I think that Deepak would like - it is vegetarian..and a touch of spice and it will activate all the senses and nourish the body as well....
Just finished the final menu today and I think the press will have it tomorrow and on we go - I will do the grinding and roasting of all the spices on the day before and get some of the prep ready and then the day of just go into the production part of it....every excited - I secretively hope that there will be that moment when I get a chance to connect with him- and he does in deed know that I have done the food -and even if he does not get to taste it some of his people will be able to and let him know what they think...and yeah - I would love to have a photo taken with him - that will be part of the dream that I will hold - and I really really hope that it will happen....

Today I spent the entire day looking for just the right wok and it had to be new - searched all the ethnic stores for it and finally found a few and I had to purchase them right away because they looked like the ones that I have had for years and with the seasoning that they get over the years just got better and better - and they will work - so that is done - I am sure that Beth El Synagogue will want to keep at least two of them for their future use and I will be asked again and again to go in there and make food that will nourish everyone!!  ( a wish)
I will continue tomorrow to gather more goodies that add to my spices like the fresh termeric and things like that and keep on my path..
I hope that everyone that reads or knows about the event will want to attend and will be able to come to it....
I will promise to keep you informed about how the rest of the days - and the event ends up being...
The question is - do I want to ware a sari when I am all done ?? because I do get to sit down and listen to him speak...it may be the chance I get this year to put on a sari  hmmmm...or maybe I keep this as an option and see how I do after cooking for a 100 people :) and how much time I will have......


More on this later
Cheers to Activation!!!


Curry Diva

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND WAS AMAZING!!!!

OH - YES.......Australia and New Zealand was amazing - my family lives in Melbourne Australia and I have spent most of my holiday time visiting family and friends - and since everyone I know from my childhood days live over there - I just say that I am going home for a visit...The biggest part of that was taking my daughter since she was three months old to visit the family over there and give her some of my culture and get to know family and friends and be able to get to know her cousins and Nanna (my Mum)  so she did get to go many many times and as she got older and had to be in school & college it just got harder to do this trip together like I wanted - I will hold on to those great memories of the two of us being there and being with family...
This time I went back after two years - along with me was my boyfriend and two close good friends of ours - it was nice to be able to introduce them to everyone and also see a bit of Melbourne - and I mean just a bit of Melbourne because we were way too busy eating amazing food cooked by friends and family...and most of all cooked by my brother in law Reg....he is so good at this and sure gave the Curry Diva a run for her money and I was able to catch a tip here and there and of course...my friends were really loving it too much - I needed to put a stop to that...ha ha just kidding...but yes it was really nice - ate things that I never get to eat on a daily basis and it was great...
The most exciting food experience this trip was organizing a hopper feed for the family - where the hopper man comes into your garden or garage and sets up his hopper set up and just makes them for you all night...hoppers are a very thin crepe sort of batter that they make out of rice flour and they put a scoop of it in the middle of these little round pans and swirl it around so that the ends are crispy and the middle is soft - very sensual in my opinion but then again I am into foods of all kinds....this then is served with amazing sambols and condiments that are hot and spicy and several curries that go along with it.....all I had to do that day was to make sure the hopper man was paid and make a chicken curry - and of course make a hot sambol - the rest of the curries were made by Reg...which was great...being the true Sri Lankan chef that he is - very nice and everyone had a great time and my thrill was that I was able to impress my boyfriend and my friends and they all had a great time and enjoyed the family and all in all it was a great night and great dinner etc...
I do have so much more to say about Australia and all that good stuff - so I will be doing another follow on this one to let you know more yummy food stories that happened in Australia....


Cheers!
Curry Diva

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Another Curry Night at the Highland Grill

Hi there...just checking in with everyone and wanted to let you know that I will be at the Highland Grill tomorrow the 28th of Feb. for another divalicious Curry Meal...with all the fixings!!!
I think that I will do a chicken curry with dhal and the asian greens and the sweet potatoes and chutney - I think the yam chutney and Hot habanero Sambol etc...beef Curry too!!!


I should be there till about 8 this evening then I am off... and Curry Diva Nights start back up again in April...so if you need your fix please come and get it now - last one for a month....if you are anything like me you will want this fix...
See you there!!

Other than that cooked an amazing meal for my friend Praba who got married in Singapore and had his reception here in the Cities....we did a traditional Sri Lankan meal and he had friends that came in from all over the world - popular guy that Praba and a nice man too!!

The Big news for me is that I have just started thinking about the menu that I will be doing for Deepak Chopra.....words cannot express how happy this makes me - I am thrilled beyond thrilled and so excited...more details to follow I will keep you all posted....I would like to make this meal something that he will understand......"I plan to not only activate the senses - but also to have it 
feed  the ..Magical mind and the Magical body....

" MY TIP FOR THE DAY.... is to remember that your body is your temple...respect it!!!
Always remember that your body is the place your memories call home - so feeding it right and keeping it in a happy state....makes worship so easy!!! "


My Mum used to always say 'that what you put into your body is what shows up on your face"    in her very Portuguese Dutch Burgher sort of style...
Never thought much about it until I was all grown up - :)
I miss my Mum <3 so much....


Cheers to life and great food!!!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The healing Kale and Chard Salad.....

He there...

I hope that all of you got to watch the making of the Divalicious  Dhal and the Healing Kale and Chard Salad....they are both on Youtube now - you just have to put in curry diva and it will come up!!!
I have had lots of lovely comments so thanks for that...this is a way that I can show you how to make simple 'so good for you" things....

I must tell you about the Australian Lamb roast that I just pulled out of the oven!  I really am not such a great roast sort of person - but I have to tel you...this is brilliant...just beautiful!!... I just smothered it with roasted garlic and lots of black pepper and some chili and stuffed it with more garlic and curry leaves and thyme ...then covered it with date - lime chutney and let it slow bake on like 3.25 or so for about 3 hours I think!!
I feel like I just have to call people over now - cos' what a shame that I can't share...its beautiful...maybe I take a picture of it or something for my Fb page.

I will be eating a slice or two of that for a few days - it is also great for breakfast with two slow cooked eggs over them...let you know how that tastes tomorrow...gotta run now - I have to start putting together a lovely little menu for the pre wedding guests that are coming into town for that handsome man Praba....who already married Jessica in Singapore !

Cheers ! 

CURRY DIVA - HEALING KALE & CHARD SALAD

Sunday, February 20, 2011

THE CHUTNEY STORY......

Oh I am just taking a break from making my chutneys for the week - did a bunch of them today so I will have them done...having a great cuppa tea now with lavender and mint - very nice!!
I made fig chutney...date-lime chutney...yam treacle chutney...ginger Plum - and they turned out great !! Now I have to think about doing the washing eh! well I know I will get that done in a moment...
Also got the rotti breads done and prepped for the Highland Grill - I will be making veggie rotti and veggie rotti with shrimp and also a beef rotti - think I will serve the yam chutney with that tomorrow!! yep! I also did a great hot coconut sambol ...gotta have that...
So I hope that I will see everyone there tomorrow night for the Curry Diva Night at the Highland...getting your fix!! 

It was so great to see Dean Magraw play at the Artist Quarter last night!!!
He was amazing as always!!!
Connect soon
Cheers!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Another day of Cooking!!!!

Hey there...Just finished cooking a feast of little goodies for the opening of the Play at the Mixed Blood Theater "Agnes Under the Big Top" A tall tale....
So for those lucky people that are there tonight you will also get a taste of the Curry Diva treats etc....enjoy that
I do have to tell you what I made though...because of the play content etc..
Roasted Cumin - lime chutney Salsa with chips...
Curry Diva style Hummus - with olive oil and chic peas and roasted coriander & garlic...with pita bread...and lime and lots of black pepper!! Yum 
Curried Quinoa - tossed in the wok with fresh veggies and roasted curry spices and fresh curry leaves...turned out so great ...ok it's time for me to have a bit of a bite now as well - cannot wait for dinner :)
p/s
The webisode on the fresh Kale and red chard salad will be on Youtube by the end of tomorrow or so - look out for that....
I realized that even though I did not want to give that one out - it is just so healing and just gets you in that mmm ya spot and makes the belly feel so nourished and it is so easy to make - so there it is...done!!
I hope you like it - I sure would like to hear comments though - why is there no comments?? - write something after you have made it ok!!
I'll be looking for that...

Cheers!

Curry Diva
nourish the body - feed the soul

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Mors Nourishing.....

Running out again to get more fresh kale and chard...just finished doing two more webisods for the curry diva on Youtune...finally gave out the kale and chard salad recipe...,,,check it out and see what you think...
It's just everyone's favorite and just that it is so great for you also is just a little extra love to yourself!!!
Ok so here I go more chard more fresh kale and I will have to toast the pumpkin seed myself - found some that are organic and raw!!! Yum!!
Off I go now...
Cheers!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Curry Diva - Nourish the body Feed the Soul

Oh yes!!! It was another great day of getting another webisode ready for Youtube...
I finally decided to give up the Kale and Red chard Salad recipe.....I have been making it for years and years since I had the Curry Leaf Deli - really this has healed people in many many ways...
I made it simple and put it out there - so you will have to go to Youtube (curry diva) and check it out - make it and let me know - this one really does 'nourish the body and feeds the soul' I have made this dish for people that are ill and its healing qualities are amazing...simple and easy to do...
Most people think that Kale is a garnish for salad - No no no.....You have to eat this and eat lots of it...because it is done raw - you will never know!!! Really!
Ok just wanted you to know that...see what you think and if you have any questions I will be happy to write you back...
Cheers
 

Curry Diva - Divalicious Dhal (Lentils)

Watch the Curry Diva show you a easy step by step Divalicious Dhal  (Lentils)

Friday, February 11, 2011

CURRY DIVA - NOURISH THE BODY FEED THE SOUL

Hello there everyone........

It's the curry diva checking in with you - I was thinking that I would write something every other day - well.. I will have to get better at that for sure!   Crazy busy with teaching and cooking and working on lifestyle changes...
Was really happy to be done with the 1st webisode - that I did in my kitchen and so far we have had lovely comments on it - I wanted to take just a moment to show that you can also make a 'divalishous' dish!
The idea is to show everyone that it is not that hard to make something that is really Delicious..and activate the senses at the same time - the 1st one I did was - divalishous dhal (lentils) that cooks in like 7 mts..and for those of you that are non meat eaters...it is so important to have lentils of every kind in your diet..and this is step by step...made really easy ....
You will find this on Youtube - just put in 'the curry diva'
I have also posted it on my FB page....
I am working on the 2nd one and I plan to have that out next week - so look out for that....
Other than that I am trying to get all the cooking classes in and all the catering things that I need to tend to done - then we have "Activate your Valentine" a curry diva meal for two with wine at the Highland Grill this coming valentines day - I will see you there for sure..   Oh and the desert that evening that I will be doing is passion-fruit sorbet - with coconut treacle and chili nuts..yeah talk about spice up your Valentine!!!!!.after that - it will be back at the Highland Grill for curry night every Monday - Now I did the veggie rotti (most popular dish) there two weeks ago and we packed them in!!! It was so amazing to see that there were people that I used to cook for in the 70's that showed up for their fix from the past - I love that so much!!!
I better run for now and watch out for the next Curry Diva webisode coming up really soon...
Make sure that you call if you need the curry diva's touch to anything that you are doing or fixing or planning etc..

Cheers!


The Curry Diva
Nourish the body - feed the soul
612-250-6556

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Curry diva - Activate the Senses

Hello there..it's Heather Jansz the 'Curry Diva'  I used to have the Sri Lanka Restaurant/Mpls. and the Curry Leaf Deli in St.Paul and now I am the featured chef at the Highland Grill in St.Paul - where we do curry diva nights every Monday
I also do private cooking classes and specialize in cooking Ethnic foods - from around the world ..Sri Lankan- Indonesian - Malaysian - Indian etc..and the most popular one is the East/west Twist...The reason for starting this blog was because I make ethnic cooking fun and easy and the fact that the style I use is an Arurveda style of cooking -which makes everything really also healthy without even trying...everyone is interested in learning how to 'activate the senses' through food...most people only activate the first 3 and forget all about the others...I teach that with one meal you can activate all of them - therefore having your body not asking for just one thing...and I truly believe that everyone needs to make eating a celebration and something that makes you happy - 'after all what you put in your belly - shows up on your face'
"Nourish the body - Feed the Soul" is what I say everyday - You will love how you feel and most of all when you feed the soul...you are alive!!!
Follow this blog for upcoming events - webisodes - cooking classes - daily tips -nourishment from the local markets etc....


The Curry Diva
(nourish the body/feed the soul)
612-250-6556