Category Archives: urban simplicity

Deep-Dish Pizza with a Whole-Wheat Seven-Grain Crust, Five Vegetables, and Three Cheeses

Deep-Dish Pizza with a Whole-Wheat Seven-Grain Crust, Five Vegetables, and Three Cheeses…that’s a mouthful if I ever heard one (pun intended). This is yet another variation of pizza that I made tonight for dinner. The vegetables (onion, pepper, carrot, cauliflower, and broccoli) were cooked aglio e olio style before being placed on the dough. TheContinue reading “Deep-Dish Pizza with a Whole-Wheat Seven-Grain Crust, Five Vegetables, and Three Cheeses”

Instructions for Life

Somewhat recently I posted the Holstee Manifesto, this is along those same inspiring terms. There are plenty of versions of this floating around the Internet, but I came across this one at the blog of Elena Levon. This states that the list was penned by the Dalai Lama. I’m not sure if it is butContinue reading “Instructions for Life”

Dusk

I was at my desk working this evening when I glanced out the window and saw this view…breathtaking. And knowing that at dawn and dusk when you see the light just right it is fleeting and you only have a few minutes to see it and/or capture it with a camera. I was already inContinue reading “Dusk”

A Couple Bikes and a One-Man-Band

I took a day trip with my son to the vibrant city of Toronto. It’s a mere 100 miles / 160 kilometers from my home and a very simple drive (granting you don’t get stuck in rush hour traffic). And every time I go there I realize getting there once or twice a year isContinue reading “A Couple Bikes and a One-Man-Band”

Vintage Food Posters

I enjoy vintage food posters in the same way that I do vintage bicycle posters. What I find interesting (one of the things I find interesting) is that the information they state is still mostly relevant today. You’d think we’d have learned by now. Anyhow…just thought I’d pass these these on. Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes from Jack Kerouac

  Image found here.  Jean-Louis “Jack” Kerouac March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969 I can say with all seriousness that the first time that I read On The Road, and later The Dharma Bums, it changed my life; changed my way of thinking. I was in college at the time (culinary school) and myContinue reading “Five Quotes from Jack Kerouac”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#407)

Two portions of seafood and vegetable fried rice. I made this for staff lunch today and it was so good I brought a few leftovers home for dinner. To see the basic recipe being made click here (I also added curry spices to this recipe). Urban Simplicity.

Four Photos of Snow and a Few Words

Well, today is still in line with the wacky weather we’ve had recently…warm-cold-warm-cold.  Two days ago the high temp was in the mid 60’s F. Today I woke and it was about 20F. Anyhow we had a small amount of snow–and likely because of the easy winter we’ve had this year–it seemed novel to me;Continue reading “Four Photos of Snow and a Few Words”

Potato Bread with Cheddar, Beer, and Onion (recipe and photos)

The below recipe is one that I’m working on for an article for an upcoming issue of Artvoice magazine, it’s about cooking with beer. The only liquid in the pictured bread is–you guessed it–beer. The recipe does not contain 100% whole wheat flour as when I write for paid publication I tone it down aContinue reading “Potato Bread with Cheddar, Beer, and Onion (recipe and photos)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#406)…and a quick comment

On the bike…A canvas bag containing a book and an extra camera, 3 liters of red wine, a gym bag containing wet clothes, and two slices of spinach pizza. A quick comment…I had mentioned yesterday regarding the wacky weather and how it was supposed to warm up today, well it did…and did it ever. IContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#406)…and a quick comment”

Bicycle Ambulance

Photo Credit By now you, the reader or visitor to this blog, know that I am a proponent of bicycles as a utility machine, not just a weekend toy but a serious piece of equipment that can carry you and all your stuff where it needs to go. I believe that bikes are utilitarian, andContinue reading “Bicycle Ambulance”

Five Quotes from Rosa Parks

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks  (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) Click here for the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. “Each person must live their life as a model for others.” “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be doneContinue reading “Five Quotes from Rosa Parks”

A Few Things I saw Today (natural and human-made)

We had a crazy wind storm yesterday and everything was blown about. And today I found the juxtaposition of things human-made and those natural to be an interesting combination. Here’s a few things I saw. From top-to-bottom: A rotten apple in the middle of the street.A small fabric ball on a rock.A sock in aContinue reading “A Few Things I saw Today (natural and human-made)”

Ezekiel Bread…yet another variation

Beautiful isn’t it? It’s a slice of a loaf of Ezekiel Bread I made yesterday and had for breakfast and lunch today. It’s airy but not too airy…firm enough to make a nice sandwich bread but at the same time soft enough that most people–even those used to supermarket bread–would enjoy it. You can seeContinue reading “Ezekiel Bread…yet another variation”

How To Ride A Bike

OK, first a couple things. The title of this post is a bit incorrect…it should read how I ride a bike, but I didn’t want it to sound too self-centric (but isn’t that what everyone’s blogs are about…themselves). And the photo above is not recent; it is one I took last spring when I hadContinue reading “How To Ride A Bike”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#405)

A gym bag full of wet clothes. A canvas bag containing–among other things–two books, a magazine, an extra camera, and a few pens and pencils. Eight small wine glasses, two Indian meal moth traps, and a red reflector on a 4ft/1.2m stick (for the front yard, not the bike). And also a full cup ofContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#405)”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#404)

A canvas bag (on the front rack) containing–among other things–a spare camera, a book, and a few recipes. A cardboard box (on the rear rack) containing 5lbs/2.2kg of whole wheat flour, 2 pints of spiced lentil soup, and two roast chicken dinners. Urban Simplicity.

Spiced Lentil Soup

I really enjoy lentils….and I’m grateful that I do. Because not only are they super-healthy for you, they are also a great medium for all sorts of flavors and textures…and not just vegetarian recipes. Anyhow, a purveyor at work gave me a couple pounds of these lentils as a sample (pictured above)…beautiful aren’t they? IContinue reading “Spiced Lentil Soup”