Droplets at Dusk; Water and Light

So yes…I have taken and posted pictures similar to these before (I really like to capture water in motion); click here for previous pics. But I’m jumping ahead. This evening, before I headed off to work it was raining and already dusk…some of the darkest days of the year at present. But it struck me how it was raining and not snowing in December. And as I stood there straddling my bike about to leave, I also marveled at the fact that I still had food growing in my front yard; mainly two Brussels sprouts plants. And as I looked at them and rain poured down, water cascaded across their leaves. It looked incredibly beautiful to me, so I snapped a few photos. What is different about these photos is that it was dusk and my camera was telling me there was not enough light to capture the image. So I turned on the flash. Interesting, I thought, for close range shots. Anyhow, I thought I’d share a few.

Urban Simplicity.

O Tannenbaum (a view from my handlebars)

I saw these while riding on Delaware Avenue this evening, on a stretch that was once–about 100 years ago– called Millionaire’s Row  (now, the once stately mansions are all businesses). And it’s interesting in that while I don’t ride a bike on the sidewalk very often (pavements, to my EU friends) I do on this stretch…there is virtually no shoulder to the road and cars are flying by way passed the speed limit. Anyhow, as I was riding by–and cars zipped passed me–these trees looked beautiful to me on this crisp and windless evening. So I stopped and snapped a few photos…and here are a couple of them.


Urban Simplicity

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#424) and the view from my front porch

As I arrived home this evening and walked my bike up the plank of gratefulness I turned and saw the image above. I’m not sure why but the swirly sky reminded me of a Van Gogh painting.

Anyhow, on the bike…a canvas bag containing a book, a small Bible, a periodical, a journal, and a spare camera (amongst various other things). Also, a cardboard box containing two raw but trussed Cornish Hens.


Urban Simplicity.

A Chicken in Every Pot…

“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.”

—Herbert Hoover

It’s interesting that the above quote is attributed to the 31st president of America, but it is also said to have originated much earlier. And of course I would like it better if it ended with “and a bicycle in every living room” (doesn’t everyone keep their bikes in their living rooms?). Anyhow, as I was making dinner tonight for my son and I, and snapped the above photo, this quote came to mind…tonight I had a chicken in my pot, or at least a couple of Cornish game hens. I prepared them first by poaching them in turkey stock, then removed them and drained the stock (reserving it); now the stock had an even richer flavor. Then I prepared a brown rice pilaf, which I seasoned with traditional Lebanese flavorings (click here for a multitude of recipes), but before adding the stock to the rice to cook it I placed the whole and partially cooked hens in the rice. The outcome was delicious.

Urban Simplicity.

The Flavor of Curry…

I love the flavor of curry (heck, I love the flavor of most spices in general). I love how spices look, their aroma (how they perfume the house when you cook with them), but mostly I love how they taste and that they can make even the simplest foods into something really flavorful and special. Case-in-point…Curried Split Pea Soup. I enjoy traditional split pea soup (click here for a recipe) but sometimes I don’t want the meat (mainly, ham) but still want a hearty split peas soup. So I made this version. And let me say this about it: Firstly, this is so easy to make even someone who claims not to know how to cook can make it. And secondly, this is so delicious you’ll not be able to stop eating it (I ate it for the past 3 dinners…no joke). In this recipe, which is below, I used a good quality (and spicy) curry blend which I purchased from Penzys, but often–more often than not, actually–I make my own spice blend (click here for an easy homemade curry blend). Whichever you use, this is super easy to make, nutritious, and really delicious.

Yellow Split Pea Soup with Curry and Caramelized Onions
Makes about 3 quarts
Heat 3 tablespoons canola oil or clarified butter in a heavy pot (I prefer cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook them—stirring frequently—for about five minutes, or until they start to brown, then stir in 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another minute or so. Lower the heat and stir in 2-4 tablespoons (or more) of your favorite curry powder, and add any of your other favorite spices as well (such as extra cumin, turmeric, coriander, or chilies; all of which should be in the curry powder already). Stir the spices for a minute or so in the hot fat to bring out their flavors, then stir in 3 cups of yellow split peas and about 10 cups of chicken broth (if you want to keep this vegetarian use vegetable broth). Season the soup with a teaspoon or two of kosher salt (being careful if you are using canned broth which is already salted) and bring the soup to a rolling boil. Allow the soup to boil for a minute then turn it down to a simmer. Cook the soup for about an hour—stirring it frequently—and add more liquid if it becomes too thick. Just before removing it from the heat stir in about 1/4 cup of fresh lemon or lime juice and—if you have it on hand and enjoy it’s flavor—also stir in a handful of chopped cilantro.

The View from My Handlebars…

It has been unseasonably warm the past few days…a high of 63f/17c today and as I type these words at nearly 10pm it is still 48f/9c. Odd. But it is supposed to get cold again in the next couple of days. Anyhow, rather than snow it has been raining. And it’s interesting that when I owned a car, on a night like this I would have likely taken it rather than ride in the rain. But being car-free I have a few options: ride, walk, take the bus, or stay home. So I rode. Rain is no longer my nemesis. I love how the wet streets reflect light, giving the entire scene an unnatural glow. I took both of these photos on Allen Street on my way home from the health club this evening using my pocket point-and-shoot camera. I’ve been calling this series The view from My Handlebars for a while because that’s what it is. I was straddling my bike as I looked out over my handlebars and this is what I saw.

Urban Simplicity.

Here’s Winking At You (two pug pics)

Okay, so I never thought I would be one of those people. You know the type…posting pictures of their dogs or cats in various poses all over the Internet. But every once in a while I feel the need to share a couple of my two pugs because they bring such joy into my life (and they really make me laugh). I’ve shared this info before, but the above pug is Franklin and below is Maxwell. They are brothers from the same parents but different litters. Maxwell is a year older and was given to my son as a gift from the breeder, and I purchased Franklin so Maxwell would have a companion after my beloved Jack had to be put down; and it’s for this reason Maxwell thinks he is priceless. And it is interesting how different their personalities are. Maxwell is super smart, serious, the protector of the house, and super loyal to two people…my son and myself; he’s interested in no one else (look at that look of devotion). Franklin, on the other hand, is happy-go-lucky and…how can I say this lightly…well, um, not-so-smart. But what he lacks in smartness he makes up for in affection…all he wants out of life–besides being fed– is to be pet and cuddled, and by anyone and everyone. The above picture cracks me up every time I look at it. I was playing around with a camera, taking a few random shots, when he stood on his hind legs with his paws on my knees (I was sitting), so I took a few closeups of him. And in the above image (I didn’t realize this at the time)–for whatever reason–he blinked just one eye…winking at me. And he did this just as I pressed the shutter. Comical. Anyhow, I felt like sharing this.


Urban Simplicity.

Warm Weather and a Recipe…

Okay, so as I type these words it is 4:00pm in the afternoon, December 3rd, and it is a balmy 55f/12c…and I am typing in Buffalo, NY, where we are known for our often harsh winters. I’m sure we’re going to get a taste of it soon enough (though last year it hardly snowed at all), but for now I’ll take this. And as nice as the weather is, I have to say that it is more than a bit disconcerting. It seems when I was a kid it was cold and snowy from November to March. Anyhow, I just snapped this picture…yes, I still have broccoli and a few other items growing in the backyard. One of my favorite broccoli preparations is to cook it simply with olive oil and garlic (and toss it with pasta). The recipe is below, but to see photos of it being prepared, click here.

Spaghetti alla Aglio e Olio con Broccoli in Brodo

(Spaghetti with Garlic, Oil, Broccoli, and Chicken Broth)

                                        Yield: 4 servings
3/4 pounds spaghetti
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed hot pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups chopped broccoli florets 
2 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Cook the spaghetti and drain it. Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet with the garlic and hot pepper flakes. When the garlic just starts to change color add the chicken broth and salt. Cook the broth for one minute, until it reduces by half, and then add the broccoli. Toss the broccoli for a few minutes. Add the cooked spaghetti, and stir it until thoroughly coated with the other ingredients. Stir in the cheese just before serving.
 

Things That Can Be Carried on a Bike (#422 & #423)

#422 (above)…A camera bag containing two cameras, a cardboard box containing 3 loaves of freshly baked bread, a dough rising bucket, a new derailleur (for my son’s bike), and a broken derailleur.

#423 (below)…$212 (€163) in groceries.

Urban Simplicity.

The Entire Kernal…

Beautiful isn’t it? Bread made with 100% whole wheat flour and just a few other ingredients. If you’ve been to this blog before you know that my diet is the antithesis of a low-carb or gluten-free diet…the bulk of my diet consists of bread, rice, and pasta (with vegetables, meat, and fish). And for this reason about ten years ago I gradually switched to cooking and baking primarily with whole wheat/whole grains–because they are really good for you–and it was a learning curve to say the least. And while my Ezekiel Bread recipe is one of my favorites, and indeed the most popular post on this blog, the bread that is pictured is the bread that I make most often…it is my “everyday bread.” Whole wheat flour and a few other ingredients; that’s it. It’s easy to make, really delicious, and super healthy. To see more explicit pictures of it being made and to read more about the process of controlled fermentation, read this post. The read more about how to bake with whole wheat flour, read this article in Artvoice. Otherwise, the very simple recipe is below.

100% Whole Wheat Bread
Makes 2 loaves

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup water
2 teaspoons instant yeast
____________

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
1 3/4 cups water
____________

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons instant yeast
3 teaspoons kosher salt

In one bowl make a preferment by combining 2 cups of whole wheat flour with 2/3 cups water and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast. Begin the autolyse in another bowl by combining 4 cups of whole wheat flour, the gluten, and 1 ½ cups water. Stir each bowl just enough to combine the ingredients, taking care not to get yeast into the bowl with the autolyse. If the contents in either of the bowls need more water, add a small amount. Cover both bowls and allow to rest and ferment for 30-90 minutes, during which time the preferment will begin it’s job multiplying yeast and fermenting flour, and the autolyse will soak the grain, swelling the gluten. After an hour or so, combine the ingredients from both bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the honey, olive oil, salt, and 3 teaspoons of yeast (add the yeast and salt on opposite sides of the bowl). Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover it loosely, and allow to ferment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. Deflate the dough and allow it to ferment an additional 30 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains. Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#420 & #421)

#420…a 6ft/1.8m Christmas Tree.

#421…a cardboard box containing a few groceries, a book, and an acoustic guitar.

Urban Simplicity.

The Usefulness of a Bike, and a Couple Photos that Make Me Feel Small

I mentioned in a previous post regarding using a bike (especially a long-tail) as a platform to stabilize a camera, and in that post I was using a small tripod that was primarily for compact or at least lighter cameras. Well, since then I have gotten a couple new (used) cameras that are considerably heavier and bulkier, and they pose a challenge for the tiny tripod. I was given the one in the picture–which is good and sturdy–but the leg extensions do not work (hence the reason it was given away). But standing it on the rear deck of the Yuba Mundo it is a perfect height (it is also the same length of the deck when lying flat so it transports well, too). Anyhow, I was out taking a few photos of the incredible full moon tonight. The photo immediately below is zoomed in (of course), and was–believe-it-or-not–not taken with a dslr camera, just a higher end point-and-shoot. and the bottom picture is the same shot but prior to zooming in. In that image Jupiter is visible just above the moon. Does it make you feel small? It does to me… 

Urban Simplicity.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#419), and a view from my handlebars

On the bike: a cardboard box containing a quart of milk, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a bag of dog food, and a double order of Chinese takeout food.

Chronologically,  these photos are in reversed order. The image below I took on my way to work this morning. Look at that sky…incredible! I love riding a bike when it is chilly and clear; it is the perfect weather for it. And the image above I took on my way home from the health club tonight (the gym bag that is often pictured was actually on my back tonight). I was running late and had to feed my teenage son dinner so I stopped for some quick Chinese takeout. And on a slightly different note: I really enjoy going to this particular Chinese restaurant. Not only because it is close to my house and I am supporting a local business, but also because the people who own/operate it are so nice. They are there morning and night, always have a smile on their faces whenever I go there, and they know me by name. I’m just sayin’…


Urban Simplicity

Arroz con Frijoles y Carnitas

I made this for dinner tonight…mmm. Easy and delicious. Really delicious (if I do say so myself); I am very full as I type these words. It’s a basic brown rice pilaf recipe (use any of these recipes) with the addition of black beans and carnitas (click here for a recipe and pics).

Urban Simplicity.