I really love hiking in stormy weather. I like how the rain makes everything clean and glossy – leaves, rocks, branches. It’s especially beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest with the ocean, mountains and woods as stunning backdrops for blustery winds and steady downpours.
The Nooksack River that wends through Whatcom County, Washington is one of my favorite places to amble on a rainy day. Every bend provides a stunning view of thick forests, frothy rapids, and unexpected delights like these towers of river rocks.
There’s something so peaceful about a river. I like finding a damp seat on a big rock right near the water, watching it tumble past in a steady cadence that would lull me right to sleep if I was tucked in a sleeping bag in a nearby tent.
There’s something mysterious and mesmerizing about the fog rolling in over the mountains, filling up the river bed and snaking its way through the trees.
On such days I like to return home to dry pajamas, wool socks and hot, comforting food like this 5-vegetable curry. Made with diced potatoes, carrots, green beans, zucchini, and petite corn, this dish requires a lot of chopping but is well worth the effort. I like to make a big batch and freeze the leftovers for quick lunches. I don’t care for much heat in my curry. I’d rather savor the delectable tangle of coriander, turmeric and 5-spice heightened with lime juice and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro.
What is your favorite thing to eat after a trek in the rain?
Vegetable Curry
Ingredients:
2-3 large Yukon gold potatoes, diced
3-4 carrots, diced
2 cups corn
2 large handfuls green beans, diced
2 small zucchini, diced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (more if you like it hot)
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp 5-spice
3 bay leaves
1/2 jalapeno, minced (more if you like it hot)
2-3 cups chicken broth
1-2 tsp salt
lime juice
cilantro
Directions:
- Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add spices and bay leaves and stir.
- Add carrots and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add potatoes and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add green beans and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add zucchini and cook 3-4 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add jalapeno, chicken broth, salt to taste. Bring to boil and simmer uncovered 8-10 minutes until vegetables are soft.
- Just before serving stir in lime juice and garnish with cilantro. Serve alone or over rice.
I think when you live in places like Vancouver and the PNW you hike and keep your plans despite the rain. The inukshuks on the river bed are so cool to let others know someone was there. My favourite thing to have after hiking in the rain would be soup and grilled cheese sandwiches…always my standby and never boring:D
I love how you pair the cold rain with a warming curry. The best of both worlds! Those photos are gorgeous and have even made me go to put on a sweater! That’s how much I can feel you walking through the damp terrain.
I love to walk in the rain. Once home I light the fire and make French press coffee to warm the body and listen to Van Morrisson to warm the soul. I hope you are having a day that’s nearly as fabulous as your photos. Take care. Blessings…Mary
Gorgeous pictures Krista…I love the rolling mist too…so ethereal! PJ’s and hot curry=perfect!
I also love how a storm looks rolling in…your pictures are beautiful, Krista! Your curry looks like the perfect thing to warm up with!
A lovely curry! I love those rock towers and mist.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh yummmmmm!!!! And what a gorgeous place to amble. 😉
Washington State has some of the most pretty scenery. It looks cold! I have never enjoyed a vegetable curry but, no doubt I would love it.
Wool socks? Being from Florida, I would not know how a pair of those might feel on my feet 🙂
Oh what a walk in the rain and its so romantic too , i feel like i wanna walk along with u and then relish this yummy curry, in the very pretty bowl!
Oh so good!
Curry is a perfect dish when the cold weather is touching my cheeks. We had lovely comforting curry last weekend when it was still plenty of snow around. It is nearly all gone today. Your curry looks very nice. 🙂
As always – such beautiful nature pictures, you really capture the mood of the cold with these ones. Thinking I’d be happy enough to come home to warm clothes and a nice curry like yours, or maybe a soup…, bit of a fan of those thick chunky hearty soups in the cold & wet day of winter.
Fabulous scenery – even if that first shot is a little spooky! I think I’d enjoy a curry after a cold walk too.
I love that you put corn in your curry. Looks fantastic! And beautiful photos – as usual!