Author Archives: Joe

It’s always sort of invigorating to finish a project no matter how big or small. This morning, for example, I finished a short paper that I had to write and I thought I’d reward myself with a bike ride and take a few photos. I rode first through my neighborhood and the downtown area, thenContinue reading “The view from my handlebars, or the beauty right in front of me, or a few things I saw while riding my bike today…”

So this is really a variation on a few levels. One is that it is sort of a variation of this tofu recipe, and another is that it is a variation–or my interpretation–of Kung Pao Chicken. How this recipe is different from the original Kung Pao Chicken is that I of course replaced the chickenContinue reading “More Experiments with Bean Curd…Kung Pao Tofu (a variation on a theme)”

Two cardboard boxes containing eight large foil containers containing various foods on their way to a local food pantry. Urban Simplicity.

The decision to voluntarily go car free a couple years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve made (and I’ve made more than a few bad ones in my life), so was the decision to invest in good quality steel-studded snow tires at the beginning of this season (I can’t believe it has takenContinue reading “Just a few thoughts on [winter] cycling…”

  Spicy Bean Curd and Mixed Vegetables   Yield: 4 servings   4 tablespoons soy sauce   1 tablespoon cider vinegar   1 tablespoon sugar   2 tablespoons cornstarch   1 package (14oz.) firm tofu, drained and sliced into 1-inch pieces   1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)   1 small onion, sliced   1Continue reading “Spicy Bean Curd and Mixed Vegetables (yum!)”

  I long to do this but with a bicycle and walking. For her kickstarter campaign (to fund her documentary), click here. Just a really lovely and inspiring video, that’s all I have to say. Urban Simplicity.

A cardboard box containing four loaves of freshly baked bread, a book bag containing multiple things, a camera bag with a camera and extra lens, and a empty dough rising bucket. Urban Simplicity.

I likely speak for other all-weather cyclists out there when I say that this winter has been challenging on many levels. I pass this hidden little alley many times during my week and have taken multiple photos of it. Today (the bottom photo) it looked especially beautiful as I passed it so I snapped anotherContinue reading “The (same) view from my handlebars (but six months apart) and quote that inspires me…”

Four bottles of red wine. A couple portions of moudardara. Two kibbeh “burgers.”  Two portions of turmeric-laced potato salad. Four menus. A signed merit from La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. A camera bag. A book bag. A tripod. Urban Simplicity.

Photo Credit. “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” “Get busy living or get busy dying.” “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a bookContinue reading “Five (or ten) quotes from Stephen King”