For my first country I decided to go with Thailand. This was my first time cooking Thai food, but not my first time watching a Thai movie.
Food: Coconut Green Curry
Yes, I know it says Green Curry up there… This was my first time cooking Thai food and I have no idea why it isn’t green. Possibly my ratio of curry paste to coconut milk was off. I adapted this recipe from Live Eat Learn, with my main differences being using green curry paste instead of red, and mung bean noodles instead of rice noodles. I also swapped shallots for green onions, and accidentally skipped the vegetable bouillon. For my veggies I used broccoli, carrots, and cabbage.
I’m not sure if I would make this again. It could probably be really good but my version was just okay. I definitely wouldn’t use mung bean noodles again. They were right next to rice noodles on the shelf so I accidentally grabbed the wrong bag. Not my favorite kind of noodles by a long shot.
Book: Little Angels by Phra Peter Pannapadipo
This book is by a former British monk in a Thai monastery. While in the monastery, he conducted interviews with several novice monks. Each chapter has the story of a different novice and gives you a glimpse into their lives in a monastery and why they became a novice.
Many were born into extreme poverty and becoming a novice is the only way they can survive. Some want to become monks and ordain after they finish their high school studies in the monastery, but others leave after this time. I like that the book follows up with some of them to say what they are doing after leaving the monastery.
Overall it’s an interesting read into the lives of novice monks. I didn’t really know anything about Buddhist monks in Thailand before reading this but now I certainly know a bit more.
Movie: Tootsies & The Fake
I didn’t really know anything about this movie going in, but it turned out to be pretty funny. The main characters are a group of LBGTQ+ friends who accidentally knock a superstar unconscious. They have to find a replacement for an upcoming job, and hilarity ensues. While it was mostly amusing, there were some very bizarre scenes as well. Overall I enjoyed it. If you’re interested, here’s the trailer.
Other movie suggestions: Another Thai movie I’ve seen is I Fine.. Thank You.. Love You. This movie is also quite funny and worth a watch.
Reading, Cooking, Watching the World 