>Spicy Turkey and Pork Meatloaf

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Spicy Turkey and Pork Meatloaf
Yield: 4-6 servings
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
1-1/2 pound ground turkey
1-1/2 pound ground pork
1 bunch parsley, washed and minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon basil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet then add the onion, celery and bell pepper. Sauté until translucent but not browned. Add the garlic and jalapeño and sauté a minute longer. Remove the vegetables, spread them on a clean plate and place them in a refrigerator for 15 minutes. Transfer the cooked and cooled vegetables to a bowl along with the turkey, pork, chili powder, parsley, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, eggs, ketchup and hot pepper sauce. Mix thoroughly then add the breadcrumbs and mix again until. Pack the meatloaf into a lightly oiled loaf pan, cover it with aluminum foil, and bake it at 350F for about 1/2 hour. Remove the foil and continue to bake it until it reaches an internal temperature of 160F. Allow it to cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Comments on the cold…and a few other things.

This is almost a continuation of a post I wrote a few days ago regarding the pattern of crazy weather we’re having this year…it snows, then turns frigid cold, then it warms up, things start to melt, then it turns cold again and things freeze rock-solid, then it snows…you get the picture. Anyhow, the above photo is a screen shot of my desktop just before I left for work this morning. I can’t remember the last time it was -8F (-22C). As I’ve mentioned before I live relatively close to work (less than a mile) so rather than deal with the extra windchill created on a bike I chose to bundle up and walk. Firstly I’ll say that it was truly beautiful..it was bright and sunny and there was nary a breeze. But geeze o’ man was it cold. My nostrils were freezing and I found myself coughing at the intake of such arctic air; wrapping a scarf around my face solved the problem. And the intense cold seemed to intensify things. I’m an observer by nature and I tend to over analyze things, but it was incredible. As I walked the snow squeaked, and the steam from houses and car exhaust just seemed to hover in the air, and as people passed me I could hear not only the sound of their feet squeaking in the snow, but also their breath. For lack of better terms, and not to sound too hokey, it was almost mystical; it was beautiful (but I was glad when I arrived at work and the radiators were already at full capacity). Throughout the day the temperatures warmed some…we had a balmy high of 19F (-7C) and it’s about 18F as I type these words. Anyhow, for various reasons (partly because of the cold, but also because of other personal obligations) I have not been on a bike in about about 3 days (a long time for me). After work I had to drive somewhere and was going to go to the health club. I was in the truck so I thought I would stop (it was on the way). I usually ride a bike there and am always glad because the parking lot (for cars) is about three-times to small. As usual when I arrived it was packed and cars were circling looking for a spot…this time I was in one of those cars. Feeling frustrated I said to myself aloud, almost chanted…I should be on a bike. Because if I were on a bike I wouldn’t be circling I’d be locking my bike to the post next to the door where I usually do. Then later, after returning home, parking the truck and having a quick dinner, I had a meeting at church I wanted to attend. I looked outside and the street was about 3 inches deep of un-plowed snow but I thought there is no way I am not riding a bike. My route to church is mostly side-streets plus one back alley/long driveway…in short, not main roads that are dry and plowed. It was challenging to say the least but it felt so good to be on a bike. It’s interesting how people often ask if I’m not scared to be on a bike in the snow…but on my ride to and from church this evening I felt more in control than I have in the past three days of driving (and I consciously use the word control as metaphor for many things in my life). On the way home there is one point where I ride up a slow and gradual incline, and in nicer weather I always relish this because it’s a nice but brief workout. Tonight, because of the snow and cold, it gave me a sense of accomplishment and an extra-hard workout. I will not lie and say that I was warm the entire way home–because I surely wasn’t–and that it was an entirely easy ride–because this wasn’t either–but being out in the elements, even in the city, is so invigorating to me…in a way that sitting on a car-couch and pressing a gas pedal can never be. And walking to work in sub-zero temperatures or riding home at night in just slightly warmer temps makes me thankful for the changes in weather, that I have the opportunity to feel the sweltering heat of August but also the frigid cold of January. It makes me feel good…it makes me feel fully alive. And that, I think, is a good feeling to have.

>Comments on the cold…and a few other things.

>

This is almost a continuation of a post I wrote a few days ago regarding the pattern of crazy weather we’re having this year…it snows, then turns frigid cold, then it warms up, things start to melt, then it turns cold again and things freeze rock-solid, then it snows…you get the picture. Anyhow, the above photo is a screen shot of my desktop just before I left for work this morning. I can’t remember the last time it was -8F (-22C). As I’ve mentioned before I live relatively close to work (less than a mile) so rather than deal with the extra windchill created on a bike I chose to bundle up and walk. Firstly I’ll say that it was truly beautiful..it was bright and sunny and there was nary a breeze. But geeze o’ man was it cold. My nostrils were freezing and I found myself coughing at the intake of such arctic air; wrapping a scarf around my face solved the problem. And the intense cold seemed to intensify things. I’m an observer by nature and I tend to over analyze things, but it was incredible. As I walked the snow squeaked, and the steam from houses and car exhaust just seemed to hover in the air, and as people passed me I could hear not only the sound of their feet squeaking in the snow, but also their breath. For lack of better terms, and not to sound too hokey, it was almost mystical; it was beautiful (but I was glad when I arrived at work and the radiators were already at full capacity). Throughout the day the temperatures warmed some…we had a balmy high of 19F (-7C) and it’s about 18F as I type these words. Anyhow, for various reasons (partly because of the cold, but also because of other personal obligations) I have not been on a bike in about about 3 days (a long time for me). After work I had to drive somewhere and was going to go to the health club. I was in the truck so I thought I would stop (it was on the way). I usually ride a bike there and am always glad because the parking lot (for cars) is about three-times to small. As usual when I arrived it was packed and cars were circling looking for a spot…this time I was in one of those cars. Feeling frustrated I said to myself aloud, almost chanted…I should be on a bike. Because if I were on a bike I wouldn’t be circling I’d be locking my bike to the post next to the door where I usually do. Then later, after returning home, parking the truck and having a quick dinner, I had a meeting at church I wanted to attend. I looked outside and the street was about 3 inches deep of un-plowed snow but I thought there is no way I am not riding a bike. My route to church is mostly side-streets plus one back alley/long driveway…in short, not main roads that are dry and plowed. It was challenging to say the least but it felt so good to be on a bike. It’s interesting how people often ask if I’m not scared to be on a bike in the snow…but on my ride to and from church this evening I felt more in control than I have in the past three days of driving (and I consciously use the word control as metaphor for many things in my life). On the way home there is one point where I ride up a slow and gradual incline, and in nicer weather I always relish this because it’s a nice but brief workout. Tonight, because of the snow and cold, it gave me a sense of accomplishment and an extra-hard workout. I will not lie and say that I was warm the entire way home–because I surely wasn’t–and that it was an entirely easy ride–because this wasn’t either–but being out in the elements, even in the city, is so invigorating to me…in a way that sitting on a car-couch and pressing a gas pedal can never be. And walking to work in sub-zero temperatures or riding home at night in just slightly warmer temps makes me thankful for the changes in weather, that I have the opportunity to feel the sweltering heat of August but also the frigid cold of January. It makes me feel good…it makes me feel fully alive. And that, I think, is a good feeling to have.

Five Nelson Mandela Quotes

 Image found here.

Having a grievance or a resentment is like drinking poison and thinking it will kill your enemy.
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. 

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
 
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
 

 If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

To read about Mr.Mandela click here or here.

>Five Nelson Mandela Quotes

>

 Image found here.

Having a grievance or a resentment is like drinking poison and thinking it will kill your enemy.
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. 

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
 
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
 

 If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

To read about Mr.Mandela click here or here.

The Lure of the Open Road

As I sit here and the temperature outside hovers around 0F (-17C) I find myself riding vicariously by reading about bikes and scrolling through bookmarks and links. Anyhow, I can’t remember who but someone sent me a link to this e-book (the entire thing is available online). I came upon it again when I found it in a bookmark buried within a bookmark, and I believe I may have actually posted about it before but skimming through it I found it remarkable enough to post again. It’s a travel log of two young college girls who traveled (mostly by bike) thorough much of the east coast during 1944…which of course was during wartime. They apparently carried everything they needed on their bikes. I find it particularly interesting because the left from the city in which I live. I haven’t read the entire book but I encourage you to take a visit. Click here.

>The Lure of the Open Road

>

As I sit here and the temperature outside hovers around 0F (-17C) I find myself riding vicariously by reading about bikes and scrolling through bookmarks and links. Anyhow, I can’t remember who but someone sent me a link to this e-book (the entire thing is available online). I came upon it again when I found it in a bookmark buried within a bookmark, and I believe I may have actually posted about it before but skimming through it I found it remarkable enough to post again. It’s a travel log of two young college girls who traveled (mostly by bike) thorough much of the east coast during 1944…which of course was during wartime. They apparently carried everything they needed on their bikes. I find it particularly interesting because the left from the city in which I live. I haven’t read the entire book but I encourage you to take a visit. Click here.

Bicycle Shop 1912

Photo found at Shorpy.com

This is a photo of a bike shop in Detroit, Michigan. I find a couple things interesting about it. One is that Detroit, as most people know, became so synonymous with the automobile at one time that it became known as the Motor City. This photo was taken in 1912 and is around the time that Henry Ford began making his famous Model T, which was the springboard for his later models (and we all know that the original car mechanics were former bicycle mechanics)…I wonder how long the bike shop lasted with the advent of the automobile at the time. But the other thing that I find interesting, and this is more on a personal note, is the very first bike pictured in the lower left….a 1912 cargo bike. Nice.

>Bicycle Shop 1912

>

Photo found at Shorpy.com

This is a photo of a bike shop in Detroit, Michigan. I find a couple things interesting about it. One is that Detroit, as most people know, became so synonymous with the automobile at one time that it became known as the Motor City. This photo was taken in 1912 and is around the time that Henry Ford began making his famous Model T, which was the springboard for his later models (and we all know that the original car mechanics were former bicycle mechanics)…I wonder how long the bike shop lasted with the advent of the automobile at the time. But the other thing that I find interesting, and this is more on a personal note, is the very first bike pictured in the lower left….a 1912 cargo bike. Nice.

Full Moon over Allen Street

I was on my way to purchase a bottle of wine tonight after work and was struck by the scene above. The picture is taken from the focal point at the foot of Allen Street on the corner of Wadsorth looking east. The ominousness of the moon literally stopped me in my tracks…beautiful (frigid, too…10F). The moon looks full but according to the little widget in the sidebar it is a waning gibbous moon (93% full). This makes sense because according to this page a waning gibbous moon: sails over the eastern horizon in the hours between sunset and midnight. It was about 10pm when I saw it and was looking east. I stood there looking at it for a few minutes, shivering a little, but in amazement as I snapped a few photos. While it seems as if it were floating over our little city, as I looked at it I marveled that people in many areas of the country, if not the world, were looking at the very same moon at that very same second. It made me feel small…but sometimes I like that. Click the image if you’d like a larger view.

>Full Moon over Allen Street

>

I was on my way to purchase a bottle of wine tonight after work and was struck by the scene above. The picture is taken from the focal point at the foot of Allen Street on the corner of Wadsorth looking east. The ominousness of the moon literally stopped me in my tracks…beautiful (frigid, too…10F). The moon looks full but according to the little widget in the sidebar it is a waning gibbous moon (93% full). This makes sense because according to this page a waning gibbous moon: sails over the eastern horizon in the hours between sunset and midnight. It was about 10pm when I saw it and was looking east. I stood there looking at it for a few minutes, shivering a little, but in amazement as I snapped a few photos. While it seems as if it were floating over our little city, as I looked at it I marveled that people in many areas of the country, if not the world, were looking at the very same moon at that very same second. It made me feel small…but sometimes I like that. Click the image if you’d like a larger view.

Beautiful Fermentation

Beautiful right? The colors are incredible. Three ferments I started yesterday; they should be ready in a couple of weeks, but really ripe a few weeks after that.

Left-to-right: A shredded version of kim chi, Lebanese-style pickled turnips wth beets, and carrot pickles with whole chilies and ginger.

Yum.

For recipes and to read more about the history and  incredible health benefits of eating fermented foods, click here or here. And if you’re interested in learning even more about fermented foods I suggest you read this book.

>Beautiful Fermentation

>

Beautiful right? The colors are incredible. Three ferments I started yesterday; they should be ready in a couple of weeks, but really ripe a few weeks after that.

Left-to-right: A shredded version of kim chi, Lebanese-style pickled turnips wth beets, and carrot pickles with whole chilies and ginger.

Yum.

For recipes and to read more about the history and  incredible health benefits of eating fermented foods, click here or here. And if you’re interested in learning even more about fermented foods I suggest you read this book.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#260 & #261)

#260 (above photo)
A small loaf of Honey-Oatmeal Bread (click here for a recipe and photos of how to make it–and a pizza–sans oatmeal).

#261 (below photo)
A very full BicycleR Evolution trailer containing nearly $100 worth of groceries, sundries, and other staples…and also two slices of pizza.

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#260 & #261)

>

#260 (above photo)
A small loaf of Honey-Oatmeal Bread (click here for a recipe and photos of how to make it–and a pizza–sans oatmeal).

#261 (below photo)
A very full BicycleR Evolution trailer containing nearly $100 worth of groceries, sundries, and other staples…and also two slices of pizza.

Employee Meal: 19 January 2011

Tandoori Chicken Breasts and Thighs (and also Tofu), served with Basmati Rice Pilaf

 
Curry Powder
Yield: 1/2 cup
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons quality chili powder
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground fenugreek
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Mix all the spices thoroughly and store away from direct sunlight in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

Simple Tandoori-Style Chicken Breasts 

Yield: 4 servings

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup plain yogurt
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 fresh jalapeno chilies, seeded
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 small onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 boneless chicken breasts

Combine in a food processor the lemon juice, yogurt, garlic, curry, jalapeno, ginger, salt, black pepper, and onion. Puree until smooth. Add the cilantro and pulse the processor just until combined. Using a sharp knife make a few slashes across each side of the chicken breasts, being careful not to cut all the way through. Transfer the chicken to a shallow pan and pour the yogurt mixture over, turning the chicken to ensure it is thoroughly coated. Refrigerate and marinate the chicken for 2-4 hours. Remove some of the marinade and discard it. Grill or roast the chicken breasts until cooked. The chicken breasts make excellent sandwiches or main course with basmati rice.
Basmati Pilaf with Almonds and Raisins
Yield: about 6 cups
2 tablespoons clarified butter
1/2 cup diced onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups Basmati rice or other long grain rice
3 cups hot chicken broth
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted almonds
Heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add the onion and garlic; sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the saffron, salt, and pepper; sauté another minute. Stir in the rice and broth. Cover the pot and for 15 minutes. Remove the rice from the stove and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins and toasted almonds.