The southwestern part of India known as Kerala, where I was raised, is endowed with lush, tropical growth year-round--coconut trees along the coast and, at higher elevations, an abundance of herbs and spices. So it's no wonder that in this region, highly spiced curries flavored with coconut milk are an important part of every dinner. If you don't have time to make your own fresh Curry Spice Mix, you can substitute a store-bought garam masala or curry powder.