The Frugal Gourmet Cooking Chinese Soup

People ask me all the time what cooking shows I watch and I usually answer them with one word: none. Those who know me personally know that I have a somewhat disdain for the current state of cooking shows and what they have done and continue to do to the culinary industry (please, don’t get me started on the whole Hell’s Kitchen thing…you can read my open letter to Gordan Ramsay by clicking here). Anyhow, I tend to lean towards the earlier TV celebrities, and coming of age in the 80’s Jeff Smith (aka, The Frugal Gourmet) is one of them. Before his fall-from-grace he was a popular cooking show celebrity, and what I liked about him was his informative way…he talked not just about the recipes but also about the history and culture of the people behind the food. The following videos are good examples. They are both about 9 or 10 minutes long and informative as well as entertaining. To read Jeff Smith’s bio (obit) in a Seattle paper (where he was from), click here; to read the New York Times version, click here.

>The Frugal Gourmet Cooking Chinese Soup

>People ask me all the time what cooking shows I watch and I usually answer them with one word: none. Those who know me personally know that I have a somewhat disdain for the current state of cooking shows and what they have done and continue to do to the culinary industry (please, don’t get me started on the whole Hell’s Kitchen thing…you can read my open letter to Gordan Ramsay by clicking here). Anyhow, I tend to lean towards the earlier TV celebrities, and coming of age in the 80’s Jeff Smith (aka, The Frugal Gourmet) is one of them. Before his fall-from-grace he was a popular cooking show celebrity, and what I liked about him was his informative way…he talked not just about the recipes but also about the history and culture of the people behind the food. The following videos are good examples. They are both about 9 or 10 minutes long and informative as well as entertaining. To read Jeff Smith’s bio (obit) in a Seattle paper (where he was from), click here; to read the New York Times version, click here.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#91), and how to spend a day without a car

$67.00 of groceries from two separate stores carried in four plastic crates.

Most times I don’t even think about it, but other times I do…tonight was one of those times. As I was riding home (a bit slower than usual) I was enjoying the cool autumn air on my face and it occurred to me how easy it is (in most cases) to go without a car for days and sometimes weeks. I personally travel within a very small geographic area on a daily basis…this is a conscious act because over the years I have molded my life to be this way (I have actually turned down employment simply because it was more than five miles from my house). Now I’m not saying that everyone is able to do this…or that everyone would want to do this, but it is easy.

Living and working in an urban environment means that I have many options within a short distance, and as aforementioned, in the same way a body builder may sculpt their body, I have sculpted my life so everything is relatively close…all of my basic needs (home, work, church, health club, stores) are within a two or three mile radius, and all are easily reachable by bike or walking. Anyhow, this is how I got around today…the mileages are estimates.

Rode the folder to work (1 mile)
Left work; rode to the bank (1.25 miles)
Rode home (1.25 miles)
Switched bikes, hopped on the Yuba and rode to the health club (1.5 miles)
Rode home (1.5 miles)
Loaded the Yuba with four crates for shopping, but stopped for pizza and wine first (1.5 miles)
Dropped off a dvd at Blockbuster (1.25 miles)
Rode to the local co-op for groceries (.25 miles)
Went down the street a bit for dog food (.25 miles)
Rode home (2.5 miles)

All-in-all it was only a little over 10 miles of riding, done in short spurts…but I enjoyed each ride, whereas I doubt I would have in a car. Riding a bike and walking as modes of transportation are easier than one may think…no need to mention the benefits, health and otherwise…they’re bi-products and are obvious enough.

But one last thing before I get off my little soap box. You may be thinking something like: well, he can do that because he has that big fancy cargo bike…I can’t afford one of those. Let me put it into perspective: this week I need to have a new exhaust system put on my vehicle, the same vehicle which I rarely use (I never said I was car-free, just car-lite…really lite). The exhaust system will cost almost as much as what I paid for the Yuba, so would 3 or 4 car payments, or a few months of pay-parking at work…you get the picture.

Then again, if you’re reading this blog I’m most likely preaching to the choir.

If you are interested in tracking your ride, click here; if you are interested in seeing the walkscore of your neighborhood, click here.

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#91), and how to spend a day without a car

>$67.00 of groceries from two separate stores carried in four plastic crates.

Most times I don’t even think about it, but other times I do…tonight was one of those times. As I was riding home (a bit slower than usual) I was enjoying the cool autumn air on my face and it occurred to me how easy it is (in most cases) to go without a car for days and sometimes weeks. I personally travel within a very small geographic area on a daily basis…this is a conscious act because over the years I have molded my life to be this way (I have actually turned down employment simply because it was more than five miles from my house). Now I’m not saying that everyone is able to do this…or that everyone would want to do this, but it is easy.

Living and working in an urban environment means that I have many options within a short distance, and as aforementioned, in the same way a body builder may sculpt their body, I have sculpted my life so everything is relatively close…all of my basic needs (home, work, church, health club, stores) are within a two or three mile radius, and all are easily reachable by bike or walking. Anyhow, this is how I got around today…the mileages are estimates.

Rode the folder to work (1 mile)
Left work; rode to the bank (1.25 miles)
Rode home (1.25 miles)
Switched bikes, hopped on the Yuba and rode to the health club (1.5 miles)
Rode home (1.5 miles)
Loaded the Yuba with four crates for shopping, but stopped for pizza and wine first (1.5 miles)
Dropped off a dvd at Blockbuster (1.25 miles)
Rode to the local co-op for groceries (.25 miles)
Went down the street a bit for dog food (.25 miles)
Rode home (2.5 miles)

All-in-all it was only a little over 10 miles of riding, done in short spurts…but I enjoyed each ride, whereas I doubt I would have in a car. Riding a bike and walking as modes of transportation are easier than one may think…no need to mention the benefits, health and otherwise…they’re bi-products and are obvious enough.

But one last thing before I get off my little soap box. You may be thinking something like: well, he can do that because he has that big fancy cargo bike…I can’t afford one of those. Let me put it into perspective: this week I need to have a new exhaust system put on my vehicle, the same vehicle which I rarely use (I never said I was car-free, just car-lite…really lite). The exhaust system will cost almost as much as what I paid for the Yuba, so would 3 or 4 car payments, or a few months of pay-parking at work…you get the picture.

Then again, if you’re reading this blog I’m most likely preaching to the choir.

If you are interested in tracking your ride, click here; if you are interested in seeing the walkscore of your neighborhood, click here.

Pork Ragu with Whole Wheat Penne (in pictures)

Like most pasta dishes this is one that can be almost infinitely improvised, but pork, tomato sauce, and pasta are one of my favorites. The ingredients can be interchanged to your liking. This is how I made it:

I started with a couple heritage pork chops from the freezer (from T Meadow Farms), a yellow pepper and some basil from the garden (yes, believe-it-or-not, there are a few things still hanging on in the garden).

After dicing the ingredients (along with an onion) I sauteed them in olive oil and added an entire chopped clove of elephant garlic.

After seasoning it with a little hot pepper flakes and fennel seed, I added about 3 cups of homemade tomato sauce that I had in the freezer (which was made with heirloom tomatoes from the garden).


While the sauce simmered and the meat became tender (and all the flavors had a chance to marry), I boiled some whole wheat pasta very al dente.

I added the (undercooked) pasta to the sauce and allowed it to finish cooking (and absorb flavors). Then tossed it with a little Pecorino Romano Cheese. Yum!

>Pork Ragu with Whole Wheat Penne (in pictures)

>Like most pasta dishes this is one that can be almost infinitely improvised, but pork, tomato sauce, and pasta are one of my favorites. The ingredients can be interchanged to your liking. This is how I made it:

I started with a couple heritage pork chops from the freezer (from T Meadow Farms), a yellow pepper and some basil from the garden (yes, believe-it-or-not, there are a few things still hanging on in the garden).

After dicing the ingredients (along with an onion) I sauteed them in olive oil and added an entire chopped clove of elephant garlic.

After seasoning it with a little hot pepper flakes and fennel seed, I added about 3 cups of homemade tomato sauce that I had in the freezer (which was made with heirloom tomatoes from the garden).


While the sauce simmered and the meat became tender (and all the flavors had a chance to marry), I boiled some whole wheat pasta very al dente.

I added the (undercooked) pasta to the sauce and allowed it to finish cooking (and absorb flavors). Then tossed it with a little Pecorino Romano Cheese. Yum!

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#89)

Another bike.

Riding my Dahon folder yesterday I heard an odd clicking sound…a minute later the chain fell off the sprocket. Upon inspection I saw that a link had broken. I was going to fix it myself until I found out the bike shop would fix it for a little over ten bucks (new chain and all). And rather than walking it to the store I used the Yuba as a sort of tow truck…worked great. Received two comments along the way…..”What the?”….and, while stopping at a coffee shop on the way home, “that is f*#%ing awesome!”

Here’s the aforementioned chain.

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#89)

>Another bike.

Riding my Dahon folder yesterday I heard an odd clicking sound…a minute later the chain fell off the sprocket. Upon inspection I saw that a link had broken. I was going to fix it myself until I found out the bike shop would fix it for a little over ten bucks (new chain and all). And rather than walking it to the store I used the Yuba as a sort of tow truck…worked great. Received two comments along the way…..”What the?”….and, while stopping at a coffee shop on the way home, “that is f*#%ing awesome!”

Here’s the aforementioned chain.

Autumn

Autumn. Gardening is over, essentially. And it was a lousy year for it, too. Low yield (probably because of all the rain in the beginning of the season)…some stuff died (corn mostly…not sure why, but other stuff, too…mostly because of my neglect)…and what did survive was taken by the rabbits (damned urban rabbits, click here). Nothing seemed to bother the grapes, though…they’re growing like weeds…my teeny backyard smells like grape juice. For the last few years I’ve said I’m going to make wine (though I’m a little scared about having access to a basement full of wine…what’s the old saying: like a kid in a candy store). A few weeks ago I purchased an antique grape press to facilitate the process, click here. Still not sure, though. Maybe next year. In the meantime I have a lot of grapes to eat and give away.

>Autumn

>Autumn. Gardening is over, essentially. And it was a lousy year for it, too. Low yield (probably because of all the rain in the beginning of the season)…some stuff died (corn mostly…not sure why, but other stuff, too…mostly because of my neglect)…and what did survive was taken by the rabbits (damned urban rabbits, click here). Nothing seemed to bother the grapes, though…they’re growing like weeds…my teeny backyard smells like grape juice. For the last few years I’ve said I’m going to make wine (though I’m a little scared about having access to a basement full of wine…what’s the old saying: like a kid in a candy store). A few weeks ago I purchased an antique grape press to facilitate the process, click here. Still not sure, though. Maybe next year. In the meantime I have a lot of grapes to eat and give away.

It’s Beyond Me.

Tonight I did a few errands on the Yuba Mundo (had it mildly loaded…see previous post) and was on my way home cruising at a somewhat slow speed. As I crossed this intersection I glanced at the traffic light and the sun was in my eyes. The light apparently had just changed and I put myself in extreme peril (of getting hit by a vehicle and also verbal abuse). As I crossed the intersection cars began to move, then stopped to let me pass. Then someone laid on their horn and and poked their fist out the window (I thought that only happened in cartoons) and yelled, “Get outta the way, loser.” Loser, I don’t think so…I’m not the one all bitter and angry over a four-second wait. It really bothered me at first, then I felt the sun on my face again, and the wind in my (ever thinning) hair…and I rolled home a content man. I just don’t understand how someone can yell out the window at another person…it’s beyond me. I just don’t get it.