Monthly Archives: August 2012

Three-Color Gazpacho Shooter

Tonight we’ll serve these gazpacho shooters as a component of a cocktail party menu…pureed gazpacho made from perfectly ripe red and yellow tomatoes topped with yogurt and green onion puree. Easy to make, delicious, nutritious…and pleasing to look at. There’s a basic gazpacho recipe below (omit the breadcrumbs to puree it smooth) but if you’dContinue reading “Three-Color Gazpacho Shooter”

Salade Niçoise

Mmm…I love this salad; delicious; one of my favorites. I’ve also been fortunate enough to visit the beautiful city of Nice on a couple occasions, which of course is the namesake of this particular recipe. Anyhow, we served this salad for a luncheon today and thought it appropriate to post the recipe…it is also theContinue reading “Salade Niçoise”

Thoughts on Vehicles and Personal Transport

vehicle –n Any conveyance in or by which people or objects are transported, especially one fitted with wheels. It’s interesting, I think, how some people are just baffled. Okay, I’m often baffled on many things myself, but what I’m talking about is that people are stunned–sometimes rendered speechless momentarily–when I tell them that I voluntarilyContinue reading “Thoughts on Vehicles and Personal Transport”

A Few Old Bikes plus a Few Words

Pictures of old bikes. Or more specifically, old pictures of people on bikes. I love them. I haven’t posted them in a while, so here are a few. Oddly, I started thinking about bicycles as transportation tonight–and their role in the history of transportation in the last few centuries–when I saw a bumper sticker onContinue reading “A Few Old Bikes plus a Few Words”

This is Just One Reason I like to Grow Food

There are of course so many reasons why a person should grow at least some of their own food. I do it to save a bit of money, to keep me connected to the earth, but mostly because the food tastes so damn good. This recipe is a perfect example. It is, of course, theContinue reading “This is Just One Reason I like to Grow Food”

Five Quotes from Pete Seeger

Image found here. “I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs.” “I am saying voluntarily that I have sung for almost every religious group in the country, from JewishContinue reading “Five Quotes from Pete Seeger”

Substitutions and Experimentation…there’s more that one way to make a cheesy cracker

This recipe is the outcome of substitution and experimentation with ingredients to alter a recipe to fit my needs…and the outcome–if I do say so myself–is outstanding. But as usual I’m jumping ahead; let me begin again. Next week I’ll be serving a cocktail party showcasing the heirloom tomatoes from Tom Towers Farm. He gaveContinue reading “Substitutions and Experimentation…there’s more that one way to make a cheesy cracker”

A Food Photo and a Parallel Universe

Just a quick note… The above is a photo of something I made as a side dish for dinner last night….tomatoes, peppers, onions, and whole garlic cloves basted and braised slowly in a cast iron Dutch Oven just five feet from where they grew. Delicious (and easy)…my mouth waters as I type these words. It’sContinue reading “A Food Photo and a Parallel Universe”

A Few Things I Saw While Riding a Bike

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, idyllic really. Bright sun and slightly hotter than I’d like, but really nice. And for whatever reason, I was feeling a bit melancholic. Not sad, per se, but just askew. Annoyed. Something was missing. I didn’t make it to the health club for a power-swim, which is always aContinue reading “A Few Things I Saw While Riding a Bike”

THings That Can be Carried on a Bike (#470)

A dough rising bucket, 5lbs of whole wheat flour, a cardboard box containing three loaves of freshly baked Ezekiel Bread, 36 slightly used tapered candles, and a canvas bag containing–among other things–a journal, a book, a magazine, a cell phone, and an extra camera. Urban Simplicity.

Food Not Lawns

Though I have a small garden in the front of my house this (pictured above) was plucked this evening from the garden in the rear of the house. Beautiful, isn’t it. I have only about six broccoli plants (two out front and four in the back) but this time of year it grows almost quickerContinue reading “Food Not Lawns”

The Amazing Journey of Chen Guanming

 Photo copied from this location. This story, I believe, is truly inspiring on many levels. That’s Chen Guanming pictured above, who says that he has traveled more than 60,000km/40,000miles in the past 2 years–traversing 16 countries–from his homeland China to London to see the Olympics…and doing it all on his large cargo trike. What’s more,Continue reading “The Amazing Journey of Chen Guanming”

After the Rain (four photos and a few words)

Well it finally rained today. A crazy heavy downpour with thunder and lightening. I stood on the porch and watched it for a while. It lasted only about an hour. The rain is so infrequent this summer it seemed really special. I wished it would rain all day. It’s not very often I hope forContinue reading “After the Rain (four photos and a few words)”

Things That Can Be Carried on a Bike (#469)

A nylon bag containing–among other things–a laptop computer, an extra camera, a book, a journal, a small magazine, and two granola bars. Urban Simplicity.

Bursting with Color and Flavor…

Beautiful aren’t they…just picked this morning. Like much of the nation it has been hot in Western New York and the vegetable plants are loving it. Yesterday when I picked a perfectly ripe tomato for dinner it was not just warm from the sun but actually hot to the touch…it felt like it was cooked,Continue reading “Bursting with Color and Flavor…”

A Few Thoughts on Theology, Car Ownership, and Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#468)

Yup. That’s me in the above photo. Very rarely do I post pictures of myself on this blog but here’s one. And what’s even more odd is that it shows me getting into a car. My son took the photo of me getting into a Buffalo Car Share car last weekend. But as usual, I’mContinue reading “A Few Thoughts on Theology, Car Ownership, and Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#468)”