Author Archives: Joe

One Last Ride…

If you’ve visited this blog before then you know my interest in bicycles as not just a vehicle from which to get from point A to point B (though for this they are extremely useful) but also as human powered machines that do things. I’ve of course showed all sorts of things that can beContinue reading “One Last Ride…”

Tapenade!

Tapenade. Mmmm. Delicious. I haven’t made this in a while but it once was a staple on multiple restaurant tables where I was chef. And I made this for a dinner I served this evening. It is basically an olive puree seasoned with anchovies, capers, and lots of garlic. It’s of Southern French origin andContinue reading “Tapenade!”

The easiest but also one of the most decadent little cakes you’ll ever make…

Okay. So first a couple things. This cake (or cakes) is likely the easiest you’ll make. It is also super decadent. But the reason I made this is that I became intrigued by a recipe for a 5 minute chocolate mug cake floating around the Internet. I was dubious, and rightly so. I made oneContinue reading “The easiest but also one of the most decadent little cakes you’ll ever make…”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#487)

A cardboard box containing three freshly baked loaves of Ezekiel Bread. An empty retro rucksack. A camera bag with a camera and an extra lens. A canvas book bag containing a few books and other things. An empty dough rising bucket. Urban Simplicity.

Seven Angels plus One

“Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.” Revelation 8:6 All of these photos except for one were taken at the beautiful Forest Lawn Cemetery here in Buffalo. The remaining photo (pictured above) was taken in the garden of my place of employment. Hence the title, Seven Angels plus One.Continue reading “Seven Angels plus One”

Shanklish!

Okay, so you’re going to love this. It’s a type of homemade Lebanese cheese that is easy to make and super flavorful. It is different from labneh (which is simply strained yogurt) in that it is cooked. It’s more along the lines of a homemade Italian ricotta or Indian paneer, only instead of being madeContinue reading “Shanklish!”

Here is Today…thoughts on time, a couple quotes, an excellent video, and a link that sort of blows my mind.

“Time is an illusion.~Albert Einstein As I get older–as time marches on–the passing of it (time) really blows me away at times. Now that I’m in my 5th decade on this planet it’s odd at times to think of something that seems recent but may in fact have happened decades ago. I won’t wax philosophicalContinue reading “Here is Today…thoughts on time, a couple quotes, an excellent video, and a link that sort of blows my mind.”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#485 & #486)

#485…another bike. #486…$74.65 in groceries and sundries, a full gym bag, and a double order of Chinese takeout. Urban Simplicity.

Art Imitating Life…Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#484)

On the bike….photos of bikes carrying things on bikes being carried to an art gallery by one of the bikes in the photos carrying and being carried by bikes. If you are in the Buffalo area and are at all interested, I’ll have a few photos from the Things That Can be Carried on aContinue reading “Art Imitating Life…Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#484)”

Pizza Primavera (yum!)…cooking like it’s springtime even if the weather won’t cooperate

I made this for dinner tonight and it was another one of those meals where you look in the fridge and realize there’s not much there. In this case I usually either put it (whatever I happen to have) on a pizza, make a sandwich out of it, or toss it with pasta (which isContinue reading “Pizza Primavera (yum!)…cooking like it’s springtime even if the weather won’t cooperate”

Just one of the reasons I choose to ride a bike…

I’ve mentioned in previous posts but not in quite a while that one of the things I really like about riding a bike is that I am an active part of the environment around me, that I am out in the elements. But even more than that, when I’m on a bike I see thingsContinue reading “Just one of the reasons I choose to ride a bike…”

Just a goose…

This post could easily be titled “more things (or another thing) I saw while riding my bike today.” I love seeing nature in the city. It is all around us all we have to do is look. And often I don’t see it, or at least take it for granted. This morning, for example, whileContinue reading “Just a goose…”

Past and Present…the view from my handlebars separated by more than 100 years (#3)

So if you’ve been to this blog before you know that one of my favorite pastimes is to take picture of things I see while riding my bike(s). This is a third installment of a series that really interests me (click here and here to see the two previous posts). Basically, I take photos fromContinue reading “Past and Present…the view from my handlebars separated by more than 100 years (#3)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#481, 482 & 483), and a couple brief comments

These photos were all taken today in the course of running errands and just basically living life. May is National Bike Month and I couldn’t help but think as, I was peddling around town today, that if I drove, all the times I would have had to not only get in and out of aContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#481, 482 & 483), and a couple brief comments”

The View from My Handlebars on a Cool Spring Evening…

Despite a light rain, it was–after spending a hot and bustling day in the kitchen–a lovely evening to be on a bike. Urban Simplicity.

Carrot Vichyssoise with Curry, Yogurt, and Parsley Purée

I’ve posted this recipe before but not in quite a while. It is an excellent spring soup and can be served hot or chilled. The only variation in the recipe (there always has to be one) is that I did not include a recipe for the parsley puree. This is done easily by combining washedContinue reading “Carrot Vichyssoise with Curry, Yogurt, and Parsley Purée”

Plus de Fleurs (or…nature blows me away)

Okay, so yes, I realize that I sometimes get carried away with photos of flowers. But I can’t help myself…their incredible and natural beauty blows me away (especially when looked upon through a camera lens or close up). All of these flowers are growing in my next door neighbor’s front yard (thanks Melissa!). And I’mContinue reading “Plus de Fleurs (or…nature blows me away)”

Two Mediterranean Inspired Recipes

These two recipes are both easy to make and really delicious (but don’t I say that all the time). And, other than boiling the pasta for the stew and caramelizing onions for the rice, these are both made in a single pot (easy cleanup). The stew (ragu) that is pictured below (second recipe) was madeContinue reading “Two Mediterranean Inspired Recipes”