A Mid-Autumn Surprise

I found the above berry (and two others) growing in my front yard this morning. Yup, even on this chilly autumn day (big difference in temperature today…feels more like autumn or early winter). I had planted a strawberry plant this past spring and didn’t expect any fruit until next spring. And as I was wheeling the Mundo down the plank of gratefulness this morning, as I was leaving for work, the little red dot caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. On closer inspection I could see there were a few of them. How weird, I thought–and still think–that this is growing and bearing fruit in mid-November. Anyhow, it made my morning…not wanting to go to work because it has been stressful lately this was a nice way to start the day: I popped two of them in my mouth as I hopped on the bike. They were delicious. Sometimes it’s the little things, literal and metaphorical…

A Mid-Autumn Surprise

I found the above berry (and two others) growing in my front yard this morning. Yup, even on this chilly autumn day (big difference in temperature today…feels more like autumn or early winter). I had planted a strawberry plant this past spring and didn’t expect any fruit until next spring. And as I was wheeling the Mundo down the plank of gratefulness this morning, as I was leaving for work, the little red dot caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. On closer inspection I could see there were a few of them. How weird, I thought–and still think–that this is growing and bearing fruit in mid-November. Anyhow, it made my morning…not wanting to go to work because it has been stressful lately this was a nice way to start the day: I popped two of them in my mouth as I hopped on the bike. They were delicious. Sometimes it’s the little things, literal and metaphorical…

Another View From My Handlebars (and another reason I like to ride a bike)

The above image is one I took while waiting for the traffic light to change earlier this evening; I was at the corner of Allen Street and Elmwood Avenue (here), which is not only one of my favorite intersections in our city but also the heart of the Allentown neighborhood and the one in which I reside. It was a little after 5pm and just getting dark. I had a crazy day at work (a really crazy day) and felt like going to the health club for a steam and swim (nothing like an endorphin rush to change your mood) and as I was waiting for the light to chang I was in awe at what a beautiful evening it was. It also felt so good to be out of the stuffy kitchen and on a bike in the fresh air. The high temp today was freakishly warm for this time of year…something like 72F/22C. And as I sat there watching cars pass before me I couldn’t help but think that how glad I was to be on my bike and not confined in my truck; I was glad to be an active rider rather than a passive driver; I was glad to hear the sounds of the city rather than the 5 o’clock news on my radio (should I go on?). Anyhow, you get the picture. So I suppose if I had to say another reason that I like to ride a bike it would be that it is relaxing and enjoyable, not just a mode of transport (or a way to carry things). About an hour later I exited the health club just after it had just stopped raining…it had that damp feel and smell in the air that only happens after a rain. On my way home I stopped for a couple things for dinner at two different stores and pedaled and coasted refreshed from my steam and swim. There are so many reasons to ride a bike–some obvious and some not so much–and some of the reasons are likly personal to the rider, but for me one of the main reasons is that I enjoy it. I’ve posted the video titled A Reason to Ride on more than one occasion and thought about posting it again but opted not to (but you can see it here). Instead, on my way home I held out my camera and captured a few seconds of my evening commute. Nothing happens really; no excitement. It’s just a middle-aged guy pedaling and coasting home with a few things for dinner strapped to his bike. But that’s just it, I supposed…it’s not really about anything other than daily life.

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Another View From My Handlebars (and another reason I like to ride a bike)

The above image is one I took while waiting for the traffic light to change earlier this evening; I was at the corner of Allen Street and Elmwood Avenue (here), which is not only one of my favorite intersections in our city but also the heart of the Allentown neighborhood and the one in which I reside. It was a little after 5pm and just getting dark. I had a crazy day at work (a really crazy day) and felt like going to the health club for a steam and swim (nothing like an endorphin rush to change your mood) and as I was waiting for the light to chang I was in awe at what a beautiful evening it was. It also felt so good to be out of the stuffy kitchen and on a bike in the fresh air. The high temp today was freakishly warm for this time of year…something like 72F/22C. And as I sat there watching cars pass before me I couldn’t help but think that how glad I was to be on my bike and not confined in my truck; I was glad to be an active rider rather than a passive driver; I was glad to hear the sounds of the city rather than the 5 o’clock news on my radio (should I go on?). Anyhow, you get the picture. So I suppose if I had to say another reason that I like to ride a bike it would be that it is relaxing and enjoyable, not just a mode of transport (or a way to carry things). About an hour later I exited the health club just after it had just stopped raining…it had that damp feel and smell in the air that only happens after a rain. On my way home I stopped for a couple things for dinner at two different stores and pedaled and coasted refreshed from my steam and swim. There are so many reasons to ride a bike–some obvious and some not so much–and some of the reasons are likly personal to the rider, but for me one of the main reasons is that I enjoy it. I’ve posted the video titled A Reason to Ride on more than one occasion and thought about posting it again but opted not to (but you can see it here). Instead, on my way home I held out my camera and captured a few seconds of my evening commute. Nothing happens really; no excitement. It’s just a middle-aged guy pedaling and coasting home with a few things for dinner strapped to his bike. But that’s just it, I supposed…it’s not really about anything other than daily life.

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

An Evening View From My Handlebars…

It was such a beautiful evening tonight as I pedaled home…unseasonably warm for this time of year, not a breeze or cloud to be found, and the nearly full moon shone high in the sky (if you look close you can see a star or planet clearly visible to the moon’s lower left). It was such an awesome night I snapped a few photos and thought I’d share. This photo was taken here. (click for a larger view).

An Evening View From My Handlebars…

It was such a beautiful evening tonight as I pedaled home…unseasonably warm for this time of year, not a breeze or cloud to be found, and the nearly full moon shone high in the sky (if you look close you can see a star or planet clearly visible to the moon’s lower left). It was such an awesome night I snapped a few photos and thought I’d share. This photo was taken here. (click for a larger view).

The Story of Broke

I came across this 8-minute video tonight. It’s the second video from the same person that brought us The Story of Stuff, which is somewhat longer but both are really interesting. Anyhow, if you have the 8-minutes to spare I hope you watch it…it may make you a bit angry (it did me), but it’ll likely make you think. I–by-the-way–mailed off my first return of an unsolicited junk mail to a bank with the envelope stuffed full of other unrelated junk mail….an idea I got from this video.

Click here to go to the Story of Stuff website.

The Story of Broke

I came across this 8-minute video tonight. It’s the second video from the same person that brought us The Story of Stuff, which is somewhat longer but both are really interesting. Anyhow, if you have the 8-minutes to spare I hope you watch it…it may make you a bit angry (it did me), but it’ll likely make you think. I–by-the-way–mailed off my first return of an unsolicited junk mail to a bank with the envelope stuffed full of other unrelated junk mail….an idea I got from this video.

Click here to go to the Story of Stuff website.

Rural Simplicity

 

This image has nothing do do with this blog other than it has a girl on bike and I like the photo. There’s something about the image that moves me; it’s very yearning. It makes me want to visit this place. If you’d like to read the NY Times article from which this image was culled click here.

100% Whole Wheat-Honey-Brown Rice Bread

This bread is another example of whole wheat bread that is not only really delicious, but super nutritious as well. That’s them pictured above after just being placed in the oven…beautiful, aren’t they? It is easier to make than the recipe may seem at first glance, and the resulting bread is as soft and airy as any supermarket bread (yet it still only has a handful of wholesome ingredients, all of which are pronounceable). This is actually not unlike my Ezekiel bread recipe but is a bit easier (less ingredients to boil), and while it is called a brown rice bread nearly any grain can be substituted (I used a mixture of brown, black, and wild rices). For an Ezekiel bread recipe, click here; for other bread recipes, click here; for recipes using all whole wheat, click here.

Whole Wheat Brown RiceBread
Makes 3 loaves
1 cup (6.6oz/187g) brown rice
3 quarts (96floz/2.83L) water
____________
cooked rice
2/3 cup (5.3 oz/157ml) cookingliquid
2 cups (11oz/312g) whole wheatflour
2 teaspoons (.2oz/5.6g) instantyeast
____________
4 cups (21oz/595.3g) whole wheatflour
3 tablespoons (.75oz/21g) vitalwheat gluten
2 cups (16fl oz/.47L) cookingliquid
____________
1/4 cup (2fl oz/59.1ml) honey
1/4 cup (2fl oz/59.1ml) olive oil
3 teaspoons (.3oz/8.5g) instantyeast
3 teaspoons (.5oz/14.1g) koshersalt
Combine the grain and water in a mediumpot and bring to a boil; lower the heat to simmer and cook the ricefor about 45 minutes or until very soft. As the grain cooks add morewater to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which isfull of nutrients, will become part of the recipe. After the grainsare cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature,refrigerating if necessary. Then drain it, squeezing it with yourhands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
Place two bowlsside-by-side; one will hold the pre-ferment, the other autolyse. Inone bowl combine the cooked and drained 7-grains with 2/3 cup (5.3oz/157ml) of the cooking liquid, 2 cups (11oz/312g) whole wheatflour, 2 tablespoons (.5oz/14g) vital wheat gluten, and 2 teaspoons(.2oz/5.6g) instant yeast. Stir just until combined then cover itwith plastic wrap. In the other bowl combine 4 cups (21oz/595.3g)whole wheat flour and 1 1/3 cups (10.5fl oz/315ml) cooking liquid;stir just until combined then cover it with plastic wrap (take carenot to get yeast into this bowl). Allow the bowls to rest at roomtemperature for about an hour, during which time the preferment willbegin it’s job multiplying yeast and fermenting flour, and theautolyse will soak liquid, swelling the gluten.
After an hour or so, combinethe ingredients from both bowls into the bowl of an upright mixerfitted with a dough hook. Add the honey, olive oil, salt, and 3teaspoons (.3oz/8.5g) of yeast (add the yeast and salt on oppositesides of the bowl). Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover itloosely, and allow to ferment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled inbulk. Deflate the dough and allow it to ferment an additional 30minutes.

Turn the dough out onto afloured work surface and cut it into 3 pieces. Shape into loaves andplace into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plasticwrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in sizeand when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.Preheat an oven to 450f (232.2C).

Bake the breads for about30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with icecubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes.The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow whentapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cookon a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.