Hearty and Meaty Spring Ragout

I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog that while I am far from being vegetarian I have been making efforts to eat less meat for a variety of reasons…but sometimes I crave it. Today was one such instance. Maybe it was that I swam 1/2 mile and hauled concrete blocks about 5 miles (one way) on my Mundo–what, do I think I’m Jack Lalanne or something–but I really had a hankering for lamb, which is my favorite meat, by the way. Anyhow, I made the pictured recipe for Lamb Ragout and ate it tossed with whole wheat penne. Like most of what I post here…it is really easy to make, nutritious, and really delicious. It would also be great over rice or as a pizza topping.

Tomato, Carrot, andLamb Ragout
Makes about 4 cups
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lamb, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon crushed hot pepper
1 teaspoon basil leaves
1 teaspoon oregano leaves
2 cups tomato puree
½ cup red wine
2 cups chick broth
Heat the olive oil over medium-highheat in a heavy sauce pot. Add the lamb, onion, and carrot; cookuntil the lamb and vegetables just start to brown, then add thegarlic, sugar, salt, fennel, pepper, basil, and oregano; cook anotherminute. Stir in first the red wine, then the tomato and chickenbroth. Bring to a boil then lower to a simmer. Cook the ragout forabout 30 minutes, or until it has reduced and thickened, and the lambis tender. Toss with pasta, serve over rice, or use as a pizzatopping.

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

Four cement blocks and four cement bricks (totaling, at best guess, about 150lbs/68kgs), a 3ft/.91m floor support jack, two new tie-down straps (which were put to use straight away), four new bungees (which were also put to use), 2lbs/.9kg fresh lamb meat, a tin of tomato puree, an Artvoice paper, and a cup of hot coffee.

Urban Simplicity.

Salute the General

I made this for staff lunch at work today…General Tso’s Chicken. It is not that difficult to prepare and really rewarding because when you make it yourself it is not greasy or sickeningly-sweet. The only differences in the version I prepared today (the one picture) is that I added a sliced orange and toasted sesame seeds to the recipe. Other than that the recipe listed below is the one that I used (but multiplied by six times). If you want to prepare a simple yet delicious Chinese recipe at home–one where guests or family members may think you ordered out–this is the recipe. I originally published this recipe in Artvoice a few years ago, and also on this blog around the same time. If you’d like to read the story behind this recipe, and how I came about it, click either here or here.

General Tso’s Chicken
Yield: 3-4 servings

For the chicken:
1 pound boneless chicken thighs, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 egg
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon flour

For the sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sherry
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1-2 tablespoons cornstarch

Additional Ingredients:
6 small dried red chilies
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 green onions, sliced
peanut oil for deep frying

Combine all of the chicken ingredients together in a bowl, mix to evenly coat, and set aside. Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a separate bowl and set aside. Heat a couple inches of peanut oil in a wok or skillet until 350F. Stir the chicken again, then carefully deep fry it piece-by-piece and remove to a plate lined with paper towel. Cut a piece of the chicken to make sure it’s thoroughly cooked. Carefully transfer the oil to a tin can or other pot to cool, reserving a few tablespoons in the wok or skillet. Over medium-high heat stir-fry the chilies for a minute, then add the ginger and garlic. Stir the sauce ingredients again, then carefully add it to the hot pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. Add the cooked chicken and green onion. Toss to coat. Serve with steamed rice.

Urban Simplicity

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#419)

A gym bag full of wet clothes (front rack), a large cardboard box containing $52.54 in groceries, a smaller cardboard box on top of the large cardboard box containing two slices of pizza.

Urban Simplicity.

Barley Tabbouleh

Yesterday I made mushroom-barley soup but cooked too much barley (it’s amazing how it just keeps expanding isn’t it). The outcome was that I had an excess of cooked barley today. So I made a variation of tabbouleh for staff lunch today. I had never made this with barley before but it was delicious. And it was a real variation–a sort of stone soup version of tabbouleh–because every time I went to the cooler I grabbed another vegetable and chopped it up and mixed it in. It really ended up being a sort of barley-vegetable salad with lemon-garlic-mint dressing. Nonetheless, it was truly delicious (and simple to make). Anyhow, the recipe I made today is below, and the recipe for classic tabbouleh is just below that.

Barley Tabbouleh
Makes about 6 servings
2 cups cooked and cooledbarley
1/2 pint grape tomatoes, cutin half
1 small red bell pepper,diced
1/2 English cucumber, seedsremoved and diced
1 ripe avocado, diced
1/4 cup kalamata olives,coarsely chopped
1 bunch fresh mint, coarselychopped
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley,coarsely chopped
3/4 cup virgin olive oil
1/3 lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
In a medium bowl, combinethe barley, tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, avocado, olives, mint,and parsley. Gently mix together and set aside. Combine in a blender,the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic cloves, and salt. Process theseingredients for about 20 seconds, or until the garlic is pureed andthe liquids are emulsified. Pour the dressing over the saladingredients and mix gently. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
 Classic Tabbouleh
Makes about 4 servings
3/4 cup bulgur wheat
2 cups warm water
2 cups chopped parsley
3/4 cup chopped mint
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoon lemon juice
2 diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Soak the bulgur in the warm waterfor 1/2 hour, or until soft, then drain and squeeze out any excess water. In a medium bowl, combine the bulgur, parsley, mint, green onions, olive oil, lemon juice, tomatoes,salt, and pepper. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

One Photo One Day Later

This flower was part of a series I posted yesterday. It’s a flower in my next-door neighbor’s front yard. It had rained for a good part of the day and when I came home in late afternoon it had stopped, and as I was unloading my bike in front of my house I saw this glistening and swaying in the wind…so I took another picture of it. Later, when I uploaded it to my computer it took my breath away. It still does. I remember hearing somewhere that what drives a painter to paint is to capture on canvas what they see so they can share it with the world. I don’t remember where I heard that, or if it was attributed to a specific artist, or if I actually heard it at all. But I’ve come to realize that this is the reason I post pictures…to share what I saw. Beauty in everyday life. It inspires me (share what I saw). And this is what I saw today. Click it for a larger view.

Urban Simplistic.

Pug-Antics

That’s Maxwell on the left and Franklin on the right; they are brothers from the same parents but separate litters (Max is a year older). I’ve posted on them before and thought I’d share today’s brief story. That’s their new bed Franklin is lying in. I posted a picture of them both in it here and a picture of me recently bringing it home on my bike here. They are really good dogs. They spend a good portion of their time home alone while I work or do other things (that’s why I got two, to keep them company…pugs are known to get lonely). They are 99.9% house trained and rarely have an “accident” and they rarely do damage around the house (such as chew things other than their toys). But every once in a while they do a bit of wilding while I’m at work; today was on such day. Apparently they needed to make their new bed a bit more comfortable by removing some of it’s stuffing…that’s it strewn about the picture (and throughout much of the house). The yellow scrap of cardboard behind Max and next to his bone is what remains of the box of a bicycle inner-tube I had on a table near my bikes; the tube itself is out of view but stretched out straight in the dining room as if they were having a tug-of-war and just set it down when they became tired (how, I wonder, did they get it off the table). Anyhow, the look on their faces when I walked in is what cracked me up. I know I should have been mad, but I had a stressful day at work today and when I came in and saw them all I could do was laugh. Both of them looking at me like, “he did it.” You may or may not know, but pugs are an old breed of dog with a rich history. They are known pranksters (sometimes referred to as big dogs trapped in small dog’s bodies) and one of the reasons they were first breed was to entertain the emperor of China. Well they sure do their job with here..they entertain the emperor of this house. Currently they are both sprawled next to the wood stove sound asleep…likely tired from their exciting day.


Urban Simplicity.

Sometimes it’s the Little Things…

Here’s a brief story to explain this picture. At least six months ago a co-worker gave me two reflective dog collars knowing I had two dogs. Though it was a nice gesture I am still uncertain as to why she gave them to me. They were too small for the dogs so I put them in the back room of my house and they became absorbed in the vortex of other various items that seem to disappear there. Anyhow, over the weekend I was back there rearranging things and came across one. And not only did I notice that it had Velcro clips on it but when I picked it up it lit up (and I thought it was simply reflective). The Velcro is great for attaching to the rear rack of a bike. So, yup…you guessed it…two of my bikes are now sporting dog collars. So when I go into work tomorrow I have to remember to offer a belated thank you to this gift-giver. Sometimes it’s the little things that really make my day.

Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes from Frederick Buechner

“What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are . . . because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing.”

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” 

“The original, shimmering self gets buried so deep that most of us end up hardly living out of it at all. Instead we live out all the other selves, which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather”

“To be wise is to be eternally curious.” 

Okay, here’s one more…

“Much as we wish, not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours, and it will not be ours for long, and once it is gone it will never in all time be ours again.” 

Urban Simplicity.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#418)…plus a brief comment and a video

On the bike…A gym bag containing wet clothes, a canvas bag containing an extra camera and batteries, and 3 liters of red wine.

A brief comment…If you’ve been to this blog more than once you likely know that my “adult beverage” of choice is red wine (coffee is my other vice but that’s in the early part of the day). I’ve carried many things on bikes but one of the more difficult is liquids…they are heavy and sloshy. But these too are easily carried on a bike. The picture above is an example. I’ve recently discovered the the front rack on both the Cargo-T and the Mundo are perfect for carrying 1.5L sized bottles of wine. Simply place a paper bag or a piece of cardboard between them and strap them down tight. I just thought I’d pass this along as a household tip of the day 🙂

The video (an oldie but a goody)…

http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xcuh7c
UB40 – Red Red Wine by EMI_Music

Urban Simplicity.

Carrot, Lentil, and Brown Rice Burgers (recipe and pics)

I am far from being a vegetarian but over the years I have drastically reduced my meat consumption, and this is another example of how delicious a meatless meal can be. In the title of this post I referred to these as burgers but I made them into smaller patties for dinner and ate them with a salad. They are really easy to make and so delicious my mouth is watering looking at the photo. Keep in mind that these are on the delicate side, meaning if you make them as full sized burgers they are a bit crumbly…that’s how homemade vegetable burgers often are, it would be difficult to emulate the highly processed store-bought burgers with tons of salt and paragraph-long ingredient list. I added curry to these but any of your favorite seasonings would work (chili, cumin, and cheddar cheese, for example for a southwest flare, or basil, feta, and sun dried tomatoes for Mediterranean flavors). Anyhow, while the recipe may sound a bit complicated after reading through you’ll see it’s not. If you are attempting to go meatless permanently or for just a meal this is a simple and delicious option (did I mention they were delicious).

Carrot, Lentil, andBrown Rice Burgers
Makes about 8 small patties or 4 largeburgers
3 tablespoons canola oil, plus more forcooking the patties
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons curry
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup brown rice
½ cup brown lentils
4 cups water
1 large egg
1 slice whole wheat bread, diced withcrust removed
1 medium carrot, grated
Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a smallpot. Add the onion and garlic; cook for a minute or two, then add thecurry; cook for another minute. Add the salt, rice, and lentils; stirto coat with the oil and spices, then add the water. Bring the waterto a boil then lower it to a simmer. Simmer for about 45 minute, oruntil the rice and lentils are very soft and most of the water hasbeen absorbed (add more if too much evaporates before the rice iscooked). Drain the lentils and rice, squeezing out excess liquid.Allow to cool for a few minutes; preheat an oven to 350F. Puree haveof the lentil-rice mixture in a food processor then transfer it to abowl with the remaining un-processed mix. Add the egg, diced bread,and shredded carrot. Stir until thoroughly combined and allow to restfor 5 minutes, then shape into burgers or patties. Heat a skilletwith canola oil over medium high heat and brown the patties on bothsides, then transfer to a baking sheet. Bake the patties for about 10minutes, or until cooked throughout.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#417)

A gym bag full of wet clothes, 10lbs/4.5kgs of dog food, a new dog bed, and $47.52 (US) in groceries.

Urban Simplicity.

Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread (recipe, pics, and step-by-step instructions)

It’s interesting, I think, in that I post on this blog everyday, sometimes more than once, and write about all sorts of things–mostly things related to bicycling, cooking, living simply, and things that inspire me–but still the most common reason people visit this blog is for Ezekiel Bread Recipes. Well, fellow whole grain bakers, I’m glad that’s how you found your way here (through Googling “Ezekiel Bread Recipe,” no doubt), but I hope you stick around for a while, maybe you’ll find a few things interesting. So this one is for you, my whole wheat baker friends….maple-oatmeal bread (which is a variation of honey-oatmeal with yogurt). For an Ezekiel Bread Recipe, click here. To read about my views and interpretation of Ezekiel Bread, click here.
Anyhow, this is how to make maple oatmeal bread (a printable recipe is at the bottom of the post).

Place two bowls side-by-side. In one, start an autolyse with the bulk of the flour, oatmeal, and some water. In the other, start a preferment (biga) with the remainder of the flour, water, and a portion of the yeast. Allow these mixtures to rest and ferment for at least an hour but up to 12 hours.

Next you’ll combine the two mixtures together, and add the maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and remaining yeast. Knead the dough until it passes the windowpane test.

Transfer the dough to a bowl or dough bucket, and allow it to rise, double in size, and ferment for about an hour. Push the dough down and allow it to rise again.

Cut the dough into two or three pieces, shape them into loaves, roll them in oats, and place them in loaf pans. Allow the bread to rise for about an hour, and bake them in a pre-heated oven. Simple and delicious. (a recipe is below).

Whole-Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread
Makes2 or 3 loaves
6cups whole wheat flour, divided
2cups oatmeal, plus additional for coating
2tablespoons vital wheat gluten
3½ cups water, divided
2tablespoons instant yeast, divided
¼cup olive oil
¼cup maple syrup
2teaspoons kosher salt
Separatethe ingredients into two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine4 cups of flour, two cups of oatmeal, the wheat gluten, and 2 ½ cupsof water; stir until just combined. In the second bowl combine theremaining 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of yeast, and 1 cup of water;stir until just combined. Cover the bowls and allow the ingredientsto rest and begin fermenting for at least an hour, but up to 12. Then combine the contents of bowl bowls into the bowl of an uprightmixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the remaining tablespoon ofyeast, along with the olive oil, maple syrup, and salt. Knead thedough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover and allow torise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it intotwo or pieces, gently shape it into loaves. Dust the counter withextra oatmeal and roll the loaves in it, gently pressing oatmeal intothe surface of the raw dough. Place the loaves into oiled loaf pans,cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat anoven to 425F. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until goldenbrown and sounds hollow when tapped on. Remove the bread from theirpans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
 

Good Friday Moon

The moon is amazing tonight. I was out on my bike and couldn’t take my eyes off it as I pedaled and coasted. The above image I took from my backyard (not bad for a point-and-shoot camera), and the below image is the Liberty Building with a low lying moon to its right. And if you’ve ever wondered about why the date of Easter changes each year it is because of the moon cycle. Easter takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox (sounds sort of Pagan to me). If you want to learn more follow some of these links. And it’s interesting–I think–that in the Christian calendar, tonight being a night of darkness it is also a night of such immense light; literally and metaphorically. It’s as if there is a large nightlight showing outside illuminating the earth. While I consider myself a practicing Christian, I also believe that all major religions walk a similar path. That being said, I also consider nearly everything in the Bible a metaphor–to help each of us to discover our own inner truth–and right now I cannot think of a more direct physical metaphor than that incredible moon shining in the darkness like a beacon of hope and newness.

Urban Simplicity.

Pesce (e Pasta) Fra Diavolo

I’ve mentioned it before but I have to again…this is without doubt my favorite pasta dish. It’s easy to make and super delicious (and you can use whatever seafood you like). The recipe is below, but if you would like more photos and info about this dish (including it’s history and etymology), click here. Now if you’ll excuse me I believe I’ll go have a second helping 🙂

Penne Fra Diavolo with Halibut
Makes 4 portions
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 anchovy fillets
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons minced parsley
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2/3 cup red wine
2 cups tomato purée
1 pound diced halibut
1/2 pound linguine
Combine the olive oil, onion, garlic, anchovies, red pepper, basil, parsley, and salt in a skillet over medium heat. Stir and mash the ingredients with the back of a wooden spoon until the onion and garlic is translucent but not browned. Stir in the wine and simmer it for a minute or two, then add the tomato puree. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook it for 5 or 10 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick thin it with a little water. While the sauce is simmering boil the pasta until al dente. Stir the fish into the sauce, bring it back to a simmer and poach it for about 5 minutes. When the fish is cooked gently fold in the pasta. Remove the pot from the heat and let it rest for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors of the sauce and fish permeate the pasta.

Urban Simplicity.

10mpc / 16kpc (miles/kilometers per coffee)

A couple things. Firstly, I had to drive my son in the wee hours to my sisters house this morning (they were leaving for vacation at 6am) and my truck was quite literally running on empty. And as I have a disdain for spending money on petrol I put $10US in the tank and the needle barely moved. At any rate, after dropping my son off I drove home and parked the truck and there it will sit for the next week or so. I had the day off and planned on running some errands–which I did–and decided to ride the Mundo, which I haven’t ridden for a couple weeks (since getting the Cargo-T). What a joy it was to ride this bike again. Not that I am not enjoying the Cargo-T, but I forgot how comfortable and smooth this bike rides…it’s a great ride even when carrying just a few items or just myself. The irony is that on my ride today I stopped at the very same gas station as I did this morning only this time for just a cup of coffee (they have a coffee shop inside) and I have to admit that I felt a bit smug as coasted past the pumps. My guess is that I pedaled for about ten miles but I also stopped to “fuel up” (lunch). So the correct title of this post should be 10 miles per cup of coffee and three vegetable tacos. But here I am being smug again…I’ll get off my little soapbox now. Anyhow, it did feel really good to be riding this long bike on such a lovely sunny Spring afternoon.

Urban Simplicity.

A View from my Handlebars

This was a view from my handlebars on my way to work this morning; I was at a traffic signal at this corner. There’s a lot going on in this picture. There were a group of guys doing something where they had to take up the sidewalk (pavements to my friends in the EU). I’m not sure what they are doing but whatever it is they were doing it to the opposite corner yesterday. You can see the guy in the lower left…he’s the one creating all the smoke with a concrete saw; it was loud. The group on the right were discussing loudly–arguing–over how to do something. And there’s the guy in the center who just finished fueling his car at the petrol station behind them. I’m not sure if he is looking at me–sitting on a bike taking his/their picture, or if he is looking at all the activity as I am. Incidentally, the gas at this satation was $4.13 US/gl this morning…I know that’s not a lot to other parts of the world, but it sure has people squawking around here. But what you, the reader of this blog, cannot see, is the car to my direct left and adjacent to me. A man in a suit in the driver’s seat who appeared to be about my age and looking bored (I of course, have no idea what this man was thinking or feeling, obviously I’m projecting). And when I looked over and saw him it made me remember. It made me remember how grateful I was to be on a bike–out in the elements with the sites, smells, and feeling of wind on my face. This morning I was heading into another stressfull day at work and already a few minutes late, but this respite–however brief–really made for a nice beginning to my day. And this is what I was thinking as I sat on my bike on a chilly Spring morning looking over my handlebars.

Urban Simplicity.

Five Quotes from Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson; April 4, 1928

I posted the below quotes nearly two years ago. Often when I re-post quotes I will change them up a bit. But these move me still.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” 

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” 

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

Okay…I said five, but here’s one more. 

“I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water.”

To read five quotes from other people that inspire me, click here.

Urban Simplicity.