India on the Table with Mum's Masala

What's my favourite word to describe preparing dinner?
Drag!
My favourite phrases before I start preparing dinner?
Holy Crap, it's the time of day again- need to prepare dinner!
What shall I cook today?
Oh no, the pantry/fridge/freezer is empty!
Normal mood I'm usually in before preparing dinner?
Stressed!
Biggest wish once I started the dinner process?
Hope it cooks fast!
Biggest extravagance when I'm mega rich?
To hire a full time cook for the remaining days of my life!
Favourite meal to cook?
Anything that's fast!
Will I let me family eat packaged food?
Only if I'm really desperate or very, very sick (which, Thank God, I'm hardly ever). I may not like cooking, but these packages are scary. Especially Kraft Dinners. Have you ever read the ingredient labels?

I rather 'suffer' through peeling, scraping, cutting or snipping fresh veggies than letting my kids and The Best Man of All (aka husband) eat that crap.
Apart from the occasional can of soup, or can of ravioli that is...

I'm always on the lookout for easy peasy recipes. No surprise here! I'm a sucker for ready made sauces in a jar. These sauces are a life saver for me!

My family's favourite jars contain the flavours of India! The Best Man of All and our oldest boy love a spicy vindaloo, our youngest son prefers it mild and our middle boy travels in the middle of the road. For him and I medium is hot enough!

Sometimes we order in, most of the time I bring home the treasures from the supermarket!
The right curry sauce is this desperate's mother answer to "What shall we eat tonight?"
As long as I have meats, fish or vegetables in the fridge and a pack of basmati rice in the pantry, dinner is off to a good start!

Any new curry sauce on the market is mine. And we have tried them all, the good, bad and ugly.

Here is the newest brand I discovered: Mum's Masala.

Straight from England!
And how did I find these gems?

By accident! I found them in one of our small neighbourhood markets, MK Farm Market in Maple Ridge. A lovely place btw!

Owner Sukhi promised and guaranteed me taste and quality! How could I not believe him? He is from India himself. Even his wife (conveniently named Sukhi too) vouched for the sauces!

So, I took home these time savers and put them to the test:       

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+

=

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= Happy faces all around!

An empty plate is always a good sign...

Of course you all know how to open a jar, bring it to a simmer and add pieces of cut chicken, fish or veggies!
However, you may not know about Mum's Masala though! But now you do!
And no, I'm not getting paid by the good folks of Mum's Masal or by MK Farm Market for this matter!
I strongly believe keeping these good news hidden from you would do you and me a dis-service. Sharing is caring!
There may be more mothers like me around- and isn't it nice to know about the new flavour in town?
Bon appetit!

Mum's Masala
MK Farm Market
20834 Lougheed Hwy,
Maple Ridge

Tètè aTété with MANGO MOKA

In my previous life I was an independent coffee shop owner (Strawberry Lounge)! When it comes to business I know everything about having guts and taking risks, investing my own money and loving my guests!
Therefore, whenever I can, I choose independent over franchise, box store or huge corporation!

We here in beautiful Maple Ridge have a variety of independently owned shops, restaurants and coffee bars. But nothing and nobody has conquered my heart as much as the guys from Mango 
Moka (MM) have!

The guys I'm talking about are Sukhi and Sukhi, husband and wife team from Punjab.

(To keep it easy for the rest of us, they both use an abbreviation of their first names-which happens to be Sukhi!)

They created this very interesting mixture of traditional coffee shop with smoothie bar.
MM is not a restaurant nor is it a bar. But you can eat here for sure!

It's a little bit of sandwich bar and a little bit of coffee shop!
It's a little bit of India (samosas, butter chicken)

 and a little bit of Canada (modern coffees, teas, banana bread, cakes).

It's a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And all little bits are freshly prepared in front of your eyes.

MM is bright and cheerful when you walk in.

The music is playing (very good to set the mood and to create an atmosphere), the service is always impeccable. Sometimes it's a bit slow- but then, good things come to those who wait.
(However, if you are in a rush you can always call in advance and order your goodies
(1-604-380- 4848)! They even deliver to our door step, certain conditions do apply!

Their espresso machine is a killer!

The paninin and bagels are phenomenal.

This comment comes from one of the biggest critiques I know, my children! If they don't like something they aren't touching it! At Mango Moka they are leaving nothing on their plates!

I don't come for the coffee necessarily, I love their smoothies!

 I love to hang for a chat! With whomever I can chat with!

Oh, and the samosas ($1.00 a piece!) They are such a delight! Homemade! Vegetarian! Crispy on the outside, nicely spiced on the inside! They are 1000 x better than the ones you get at our local supermarkets!

 Running a coffee shop is not for everybody! First and foremost, you must love what you do! And you must love your guests- customers! If you're working behind the counter you have to have the ability to chat! To listen to people!

Sukhi is a fantastic conversationalist! He goes out of his way to explain stuff and let's you sample if he has something new in store!

MM is located in one of these peculiar little strip malls: a five- shops in a row- kinda mall on the beginning, or far end of town  (depending from which direction you are coming from)!
The location is a pain in the butt to get to- especially when you are day dreaming and find yourself in the wrong car lane - or when you are travelling the opposite direction!

But once you made the right turn and have parked, the culinary delight begins!

Only a few short months ago Sukhi has opened his MK Farm Market right next door!

For us die-hard homemakers (yep, that's me) this is a dream come true! Never ever in a million years have I thought I would do my grocery shopping at a corner store!
Live and learn Christina!
I don't know how Sukhi does it, but he offers the best Basmati rice ever at a price I can't find anywhere else!

His prices are compatible to every supermarket in our area- if not cheaper!
Note to myself, I need to have a chat with the man, need to know how he does it!

Maple Ridge can call itself lucky to host such a bright, happy, cheerful, affordable, healthy, delicious
fusion coffee-smoothie bar!

If you are on a mission to support independently owned shops, Mango Moka is the place to go!

Way to go Sukhi and Sukhi! 

Find them on Facebook. If you are online, give them a virtual LIKE.

If you are in the area, stop by- you will like it, in real life that is!