Random Thoughts On Cooking, Bike Riding, and The Sacred Journey of Everyday Life
These are a few of the vegetables growing in my teeny front yard garden (in a few months these will fermented into kim chi). Such a humble vegetable but when studied up close–and through the lens of a camera–they are nature’s artwork…
This is another series from my recent trip to Paris. If you’ve ever been there–or even if you haven’t–you likely recognize these as the famed gargoyles that guard Notre Dame. I kept expecting to see Quasimodo around every corner I turned…
The above photo, of course, is my v3 Mundo carrying my son’s Stratocaster. This could be a post in my Things That Can be Carried on a Bike series, but it’s not. More so, this is just a few random thoughts on mobility…or more specifically, on my being car-free.
I was carrying my son’s guitar just as I do nearly every Thursday evening…he has a guitar lesson about two miles away. When I had my truck I would would sometimes drive him, but these days he either walks or takes the bus and I meet him with his guitar. I usually wait across the street at a bar and have a Rusty Chain or two while he has his lesson. But I digress…
Just after I left my house, and carrying the guitar, I was rounding this corner when I saw a truck that looked familiar…it was my former truck. It felt odd for a couple reasons. First because I was just thinking how I am in my third month of being car-free, but also because it was my former truck and seeing someone else drive it seemed a little weird. But then I remembered how we don’t really own anything in this world, we’re just using it (I really believe this…and what is money and material possessions anyhow?). I watched as the truck drove away and then pulled into a store ahead. As the new owner got out of the vehicle I stopped to talk to him, and as I did I looked at the truck. Again it felt a bit weird.
It’s interesting in that someone just this morning at work asked if I didn’t miss owning a car…no, I told her, I’m fine without one. And I am. It’s odd how getting rid of my truck has barely had an impact on my life (but we’ll see what tune I’m singing in the middle of winter).
Today, like much of the rest of the country, it was hot…90F/32C hot. And after my son’s lesson was over I left the air conditioned bar it was still hot. After strapping his guitar to the bike I slowly pedaled and coasted into a mild but warm headwind. It was just after rush hour but the street was still crowded. And while I pedaled and coasted I likely had a smile on my face because there was nowhere else at that moment I wanted to be.
Beautiful isn’t it? The first tomato of the season. Within two weeks I’ll have a bushel of them. And the season seems especially early this year. Like much of the nation, Western New York State has been sweltering this summer and the garden plants are loving it. We–WNY–have a relatively short growing season, but I anticipate a longer one this year. And the efforts of planting a garden–in the front and rear lawns, or what once were lawns–is paying off…I shouldn’t have to purchase vegetables until the fall.
It is such an excellent feeling to walk out my front or rear door with a plate in one hand (and often a glass of wine in the other) and pick food for dinner. The last few nights I have been eating pasta in my favorite style of preparation…aglio e olio. And given the heat I’ve been cooking my dinner in my makeshift outdoor kitchen in the back yard and eating it under a grapevine. There is something really special about eating food in the very spot that you grew it. Anyhow, here’s a few photos and a basic recipe.
Dice any vegetables that you have at hand, keeping onions, peppers, and others that you want to caramelize (brown) separate from the softer or more delicate ones. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for which to cook pasta. Heat a liberal amount of olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add any vegetables to brown, such as onions, peppers, carrots, or zucchini. Cook for a few minutes, tossing and turning in the oil until they begin to brown. Add a clove or two of minced garlic and a pinch of hot pepper if you like; continue to cook for a couple minutes. Add a cup or so of chicken broth to the pan and allow the vegetables to cook and soften as the broth reduces and concentrates. Meanwhile cook whatever pasta you like in the boiling water (slightly under cook it). Add softer vegetables to the pan–those that you don’t wish to caramelize–such as broccoli, green beans, spinach, tomatoes. Add a small addition of broth if necessary, along with a pinch of salt. When the vegetables are cooked and soft, and the broth has reduced and made a flavorful sauce, drain the past and add it to the vegetables. Gently shake the pan to toss the vegetables, broth, and pasta together. Allow the past to finish cooking and absorb some of the broth and flavors. Just before remove the pan from the heat stir in coarsely chopped basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.
“Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.”
“Life has got a habit of not standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it. If a day goes by that don’t change some of your old notions for new ones, that is just about like trying to milk a dead cow.”
“The world is filled with people who are no longer needed — and who try to make slaves of all of us — and they have their music and we have ours.”
“Anyone who uses more than two chords is just showing off.”
“If you walk across my camera I will flash the world your story.”
To read more in the Five Quotes series, click here.
Four picture frames (wrapped in plastic and paper). A canvas bag containing two books, an electronic reader, a journal, two new mechanical pencils, two sets of reading glasses, and a four-pack of printer ink cartridges (black and all three colors). A two pound canister of oatmeal, a pound of ground coffee, a quart of milk, and a coffee maker.
Okay. I’m back…and here’s a few photos of what I saw. But first I want to thank those who commented, emailed, and continued to visit my humble blog during my absence. This is been the longest stretch–nine days, I think–that I’ve gone without posting since I first began. Thus, I’m posting nine photos; one for each day. Anyhow, as you’ve probably figured from the pics, I was in Paris for a week. I went with my teen-aged son. I’ve been there a few times prior, but not since he’s been born (he’s 17)…so it’s been a while. Being a professional cook, an amateur photographer, and someone who loves beautiful cities and architecture…it was overwhelming to say the least. When I first came up out of the Metro I was on sensory overload for a few hours. I warned my son before we went that I would be taking a lot of photos, and he handled it pretty well (I snapped more than 600 photos in all). This is one of the beauties of digital photography…the last time I was in Paris I was using 35mm cameras and the cost of film adds up; with digital camera I can snap away and pick and choose only those I like. At-any-rate, I will post a few series in the coming days or weeks after I scroll through them, but I promise not to bore you with all of them. This first series is the most generic, and some of the photos are those that you’d expect from a person who just visited Paris. It’s interesting that I did a few things that I have not done before on prior visits–and maybe wouldn’t have if I weren’t traveling with a teenager–such as going to the top of Notre Dame…which is where the above photo was taken (and what a great time we had). The photo most immediately below was taken on a corner of Rue Saint-Jacques. The one just below that, of course, is the Eiffel Tower (and it’s heavier than it looks). Just below that is Notre Dame herself. Just below that is a lovely little cafe in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Next is the Pantheon. Then there’s a little hotel I spotted up in Montmarte while visiting Sacré-Cœur (which, of course, is the next photo). And the last photo is the view from the tiny balcony of our hotel on Rue Gay-Lussac. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the photos. It was an incredible time, but it also feels good to be back in my small but messy house with my two over-active and slightly over weight dogs in my little city in Western New york.
mir . a . cle [noun]
1. an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
2. such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
3. a wonder; marvel.
4. a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality: a miracle of modern acoustics.
Just a quick note to say a couple things. The first is that I will be away from my computer for the next week or so, thus postings will be sporadic if any at all. But also, I just wanted to say thanks for visiting and subscribing to my meager little blog (s). Over the past year readership has doubled and for that I am very grateful…it makes me know that I am not typing away into an empty void. Anyhow…be back soon, please stay tuned.
Until then…peace.
Joe
On the bike…a Fender Stratocaster guitar, two antique picture frames (which I rescued), and a double portion of Chinese take out.
A couple quick comments…I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions the many comments I get while riding or parking this bike (and if you ride a long-tail or other cargo bike you understand this completely). The most common comment is whether I built the bike myself. Today, for example, while I was locking up the bike in front of a Chinese restaurant to pickup the aforementioned food, the bike quite literally stopped a guy in his tracks. He asked me all about it and even pulled out a pad to write down the bike’s name and website (I told him I felt like a cargo bike evangelist). A couple minutes later, as I exited the restaurant and was securing the food to the front rack, the owner and cook of the restaurant came out for a smoke. He too asked me about the bike. Then I asked him if he weren’t from China (he is) and hasn’t he seen more impressive bikes and loads being carried by bike there. He has, he said, then he pointed at the bike and said…but that is pretty impressive. And as I hopped on the bike he called out…have a nice day, Joe. It made me smile. I waved and called back to him that I hope he does the same.
Sometimes I forget, or at least take it for granted. I often–on this blog and elsewhere–voice my views how great bikes are as a means of personal transport and that they are a viable vehicle in today’s world, and also that they can carry all sorts of stuff…most everything you need, in fact. I’m on bikes all the time and never forget the freedom they offer…but sometimes I forget how simply fun they are to ride. And in the last couple days I came upon a few people that were riding bikes for the sheer fun of it. On my way home from work this afternoon I turned a corner and just ahead of me was the above fellow, Matt. He was moving at a snail’s pace and his legs were pedaling rapidly. It immediately made me smile. I took out my camera as I pedaled and took a few photos, and as I approached him I could see that he was smiling too. At the next traffic light we chatted a bit and he agreed to have his photo taken (thanks Matt!). He also says that he owns a few unicycles and has been car-free for years. Nice! The photo below I took under similar circumstances a couple days ago. I was pedaling home and looked ahead and saw two people pedaling side-by-side but on the same bike, a Buddy Bike. I chatted with them at the next stop light as well but never did catch their names before they happily and slowly pedaled away on a warm summer afternoon.
I’ve mentioned this before but I will again. I find it interesting when on a bike how keenly aware you are of the weather (how could you not be). Last week, for example, we had a mini-heatwave and I was conscious of being a sweaty mess wherever I pedaled. Today, though, was just lovely…I know it sounds hokey but that is the word that best describes the weather today. It was breezy and cool with big fluffy clouds moving rapidly across the sky. And–as is often the case–I had camera with me so I snapped a few photos. It’s also interesting, I think, how the sky kept changing…from overcast to clear and sunny, and then finally the incredible sunset seen in the bottom photo. The bottom photo, I have to add, is the only one that is not viewed from my handlebars…I took it while standing on my front porch 🙂
#453, top photo (on my way to work this morning)…A canvas bag containing a couple books, a journal, and a camera. A dough rising bucket containing raw Ezekiel Bread dough, and a smaller bucket containing a quart of kim-chi.
#454, bottom photo (on my way home in the late afternoon)…A canvas bag containing a couple books, a journal, and a camera. An empty dough rising bucket, and three freshly baked loaves of Ezekiel Bread.
I haven’t posted this recipe or a variation of it in a while (actually, I haven’t made it in a while) so thought that I would. I’ve mentioned before that, oddly, with all the various content on this blog this recipe is still the number one reason first time visitors find their way here. So if you just stumbled upon this blog through a search engine or a link for this recipe this is it…but I hope you stay for a few minutes longer and look around a bit. But, with that said, this is till my favorite bread recipe…it is a meal in itself (and it is a lot easier to make than it may seem at first). I boiled the beans and grain outside last night to keep the kitchen cool, let them ferment overnight, and made the dough at home this morning and carried the raw dough to work on my bike and baked it there. And also, if you are a first time visitor or if you just noticed this Ezekiel Bread Recipe for the first time, I hope you read this link as to my views on this recipe (it also contains additional directions and pictures of the bread being made). The only variation I used in the recipe I made today than the one that is listed below is that I topped the raw dough with sesame seeds for a little added crunch.
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the grains in the water in logical succession according to cooking times: first the white and red beans (about 60 minutes), when they are soft add the, spelt berries, lentils, and barley (about 30 minutes); lastly, add the millet and bulgar (about 10 minutes). The key is that after each addition the previous grain must be soft enough so that when all of the grains are in the pot they will all be equally soft; undercooked grains (especially the beans) can really ruin this bread. And as the grains cook add more water to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which is full of nutrients, will become part of the recipe (keeping a lid on the pot will slow it’s evaporation). After the grains are cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. After the grains are cooled drain them, squeezing them with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
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.
Urban Simplicty