Author Archives: Joe

Chaudrée (deux recettes)

Many American foods have their rootsfirmly planted in Europe and have developed in this country in a sortof convoluted fashion. The recipes were often brought to our countrywith immigrants when they migrated here, and usually adapted toutilize ingredients that were readily available. Chowder, forexample, had its beginnings in France, then was brought to FrenchCanada beforeContinue reading “Chaudrée (deux recettes)”

A Few Photos and a Few Words

Dusk and dawn are my two favorite parts of the day; the first signs of the beginning of a new day or the end of the current one…and the light is incredible. The above photo (Big Sky) I took last evening. As I rounded the corner on my bike the scene before me–or more accurately,Continue reading “A Few Photos and a Few Words”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#395)…and a couple comments

On the bike: A new 6 qt. KitchenAid stand mixer. First Comment: As some of you may know, I had a mixer fail on me recently (click here) and have had a very dissatisfying experience attempting to have it repaired at Sears (click here). To make a long story short, I have the old mixerContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#395)…and a couple comments”

Five Quotes from Dorothy Day

“I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.” “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each oneContinue reading “Five Quotes from Dorothy Day”

What is a Cargo Bike?

Before I comment on the question posed in this post’s title, let me just say that I love this picture, or at least the bike in it. This is a bike that can get the job done…and cheaply. Here I am (and I’m not the only one…you know who you are) bragging about their fancyContinue reading “What is a Cargo Bike?”

(more) Fortune Cookie Philosophy

More accurately, for me, this should read: You should be able to undertake and complete anything you want to and put your mind and heart and soul to. And if the first 50 years of my life are any record of this…I would have to agree. Click to read a few more. Urban Simplicity.

Things You Notice When You’re Bored

Firstly I have to say that I am rarely bored…if I’m not doing something my mind still is, it is for this reason I’ll often watch a movie, simply to go on vacation from myself. With that said, yesterday was one of the infrequent times I can honestly say I became bored, but I believeContinue reading “Things You Notice When You’re Bored”

Five Photos of NYC (with a few words)

You’ve probably gathered by now that I enjoy taking urban photography. The opportunity is seemingly limitless, even in my tiny hometown. But I was in NYC this weekend–just a quick overnight jaunt–and was like a kid in a candy store…I see art and photos almost everywhere I look and have to consciously put my cameraContinue reading “Five Photos of NYC (with a few words)”

Whole Wheat-Oatmeal Pizza (crust) with Rapini and Three Cheeses

This is really a variation on two themes I’ve touched on before…vegetables cooked aglio e olio and a pizza recipe. In this version I used rapini, which I cooked with oil, garlic, and hot pepper, and the pizza crust was made using a hand-kneaded oatmeal crust (click here for the recipe). The main difference withContinue reading “Whole Wheat-Oatmeal Pizza (crust) with Rapini and Three Cheeses”

On Being Kneady

If you’ve been to this blog before you know that I like to bake bread…a lot. And like many bakers over the years I have come to rely on the mechanical means of an electric mixer to do the tough work…knead the dough. Most of my bread recipes, in fact, include a direction something likeContinue reading “On Being Kneady”

Five Quotes from Thomas Merton

Monk, activist, writer, poet, and artist, Fr. Merton was a true renaissance man. He was friends with Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dalai Lama, and a contemporary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Before his untimely death he penned a huge number of books pertaining to spirituality, poems, artwork, and an incredible and moving autobiography. HisContinue reading “Five Quotes from Thomas Merton”

A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain

  I’ve commented a few times recently on what wacky weather we’ve had this winter, it seems to change daily…but today hourly. The above photo and the one immediately below were taken this morning as I left for work. It had snowed a little overnight and there was ice on the roads, but as theContinue reading “A Few Photos of Snow, Slush, and Rain”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#393)…and how my bikes are therapeutic

Things on the bike and in the Bike Rev trailer… $127 (US) of groceries from two separate stores.3 liters of red wine4.4lbs. dog foodA gym bag full of wet clothsA canvas bag containing books and an extra cameraTwo portions of Chinese take out One (of the many) ways my bikes are therapeutic (to me)… IContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#393)…and how my bikes are therapeutic”

Three Photos and Six Recipes

Did you know that January is NationalSoup Month? Well it is, and rightly so. It’s perfect for the cold weather and seemsto nourish both body and soul. Soup is delicious and nutritious,and it’s easy to make. If you can boil water you can make soup. Andthere’s something about a simmering soup pot…it’s the originalcomfort food.Continue reading “Three Photos and Six Recipes”

And Now For Something Really Interesting…

I have long been interested in the history of the bicycle. I’ve also been to California numerous times, though never to Los Angeles. And quite frankly, I would never think of bicycle history and Los Angeles in the same thought. More likely, and this is stereotyping (please, Los Angelers, don’t send me hate mail), IContinue reading “And Now For Something Really Interesting…”

A Few Random Photos

Here’s a few random photos I’ve taken over the last few days. The one above and immediately below were taken this evening, and were in fact the reason of this post…the sunset was so incredible–even on a cold night and in an inner city–that I felt the need to share it. They were both takenContinue reading “A Few Random Photos”

The Miracle of Controlled Spoilage (or, the art of live foods)

Fermentation. That, of course, is what the title of this post is referring to. Every culture has their versions, and things you may not think of as fermented are in fact just that…beer, bread, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, wine, and of course all sorts of  vegetable pickles. My favorite is kim-chi, or Korean style sauerkraut.Continue reading “The Miracle of Controlled Spoilage (or, the art of live foods)”