Author Archives: Joe

Hearty and Meaty Spring Ragout

I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog that while I am far from being vegetarian I have been making efforts to eat less meat for a variety of reasons…but sometimes I crave it. Today was one such instance. Maybe it was that I swam 1/2 mile and hauled concrete blocks about 5 miles (oneContinue reading “Hearty and Meaty Spring Ragout”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#420)

Four cement blocks and four cement bricks (totaling, at best guess, about 150lbs/68kgs), a 3ft/.91m floor support jack, two new tie-down straps (which were put to use straight away), four new bungees (which were also put to use), 2lbs/.9kg fresh lamb meat, a tin of tomato puree, an Artvoice paper, and a cup of hotContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#420)”

Salute the General

I made this for staff lunch at work today…General Tso’s Chicken. It is not that difficult to prepare and really rewarding because when you make it yourself it is not greasy or sickeningly-sweet. The only differences in the version I prepared today (the one picture) is that I added a sliced orange and toasted sesameContinue reading “Salute the General”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#419)

A gym bag full of wet clothes (front rack), a large cardboard box containing $52.54 in groceries, a smaller cardboard box on top of the large cardboard box containing two slices of pizza. Urban Simplicity.

Barley Tabbouleh

Yesterday I made mushroom-barley soup but cooked too much barley (it’s amazing how it just keeps expanding isn’t it). The outcome was that I had an excess of cooked barley today. So I made a variation of tabbouleh for staff lunch today. I had never made this with barley before but it was delicious. AndContinue reading “Barley Tabbouleh”

One Photo One Day Later

This flower was part of a series I posted yesterday. It’s a flower in my next-door neighbor’s front yard. It had rained for a good part of the day and when I came home in late afternoon it had stopped, and as I was unloading my bike in front of my house I saw thisContinue reading “One Photo One Day Later”

Pug-Antics

That’s Maxwell on the left and Franklin on the right; they are brothers from the same parents but separate litters (Max is a year older). I’ve posted on them before and thought I’d share today’s brief story. That’s their new bed Franklin is lying in. I posted a picture of them both in it hereContinue reading “Pug-Antics”

Sometimes it’s the Little Things…

Here’s a brief story to explain this picture. At least six months ago a co-worker gave me two reflective dog collars knowing I had two dogs. Though it was a nice gesture I am still uncertain as to why she gave them to me. They were too small for the dogs so I put themContinue reading “Sometimes it’s the Little Things…”

Five Quotes from Frederick Buechner

(Carl) Frederick Buechner “What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are .Continue reading “Five Quotes from Frederick Buechner”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#418)…plus a brief comment and a video

On the bike…A gym bag containing wet clothes, a canvas bag containing an extra camera and batteries, and 3 liters of red wine. A brief comment…If you’ve been to this blog more than once you likely know that my “adult beverage” of choice is red wine (coffee is my other vice but that’s in theContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#418)…plus a brief comment and a video”

Carrot, Lentil, and Brown Rice Burgers (recipe and pics)

I am far from being a vegetarian but over the years I have drastically reduced my meat consumption, and this is another example of how delicious a meatless meal can be. In the title of this post I referred to these as burgers but I made them into smaller patties for dinner and ate themContinue reading “Carrot, Lentil, and Brown Rice Burgers (recipe and pics)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#417)

A gym bag full of wet clothes, 10lbs/4.5kgs of dog food, a new dog bed, and $47.52 (US) in groceries. Urban Simplicity.

Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread (recipe, pics, and step-by-step instructions)

It’s interesting, I think, in that I post on this blog everyday, sometimes more than once, and write about all sorts of things–mostly things related to bicycling, cooking, living simply, and things that inspire me–but still the most common reason people visit this blog is for Ezekiel Bread Recipes. Well, fellow whole grain bakers, I’mContinue reading “Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread (recipe, pics, and step-by-step instructions)”

Good Friday Moon

The moon is amazing tonight. I was out on my bike and couldn’t take my eyes off it as I pedaled and coasted. The above image I took from my backyard (not bad for a point-and-shoot camera), and the below image is the Liberty Building with a low lying moon to its right. And ifContinue reading “Good Friday Moon”

Pesce (e Pasta) Fra Diavolo

I’ve mentioned it before but I have to again…this is without doubt my favorite pasta dish. It’s easy to make and super delicious (and you can use whatever seafood you like). The recipe is below, but if you would like more photos and info about this dish (including it’s history and etymology), click here. NowContinue reading “Pesce (e Pasta) Fra Diavolo”

10mpc / 16kpc (miles/kilometers per coffee)

A couple things. Firstly, I had to drive my son in the wee hours to my sisters house this morning (they were leaving for vacation at 6am) and my truck was quite literally running on empty. And as I have a disdain for spending money on petrol I put $10US in the tank and theContinue reading “10mpc / 16kpc (miles/kilometers per coffee)”

A View from my Handlebars

This was a view from my handlebars on my way to work this morning; I was at a traffic signal at this corner. There’s a lot going on in this picture. There were a group of guys doing something where they had to take up the sidewalk (pavements to my friends in the EU). I’mContinue reading “A View from my Handlebars”

Five Quotes from Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson; April 4, 1928 I posted the below quotes nearly two years ago. Often when I re-post quotes I will change them up a bit. But these move me still. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Continue reading “Five Quotes from Maya Angelou”