Still My Favorite…

Though this has not been my best year for the garden–mostly because of this years experiment of seeing how close I can plant things and then neglect–I’ve still managed well enough. But tomatoes are by far still my favorite vegetable to grow. The one pictured above I ate today, and even though it is closer to October than it is August there are still plenty of green ones hanging on their vines. Anyhow, thought I’d share a couple recipes…click here and here for more recipes and regarding tomatoes.

Summer Tomato Sauce 
Makes about 2 cups

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2-3 tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
5-6 basil leaves, chopped


Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium skillet, then add the onion. Cook the onion until it just begins to brown, then add the garlic, sugar, salt, fennel, and hot pepper; cook for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes and broth; bring it to a boil then lower it to a simmer. Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, or until it reduces by half. Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan and add the basil leaves. 

Cream of Tomato Soup
Makes about 2 quarts

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
8 cups diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream


Heat the butter in a small soup pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic; cook them for a couple of minutes, until they are translucent but not browned. Stir in the tomatoes, broth, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then lower to a slow simmer. Cook the soup for about 30 minutes. Add the cream and cook for a couple minutes. Transfer to a blender and process until smooth.


Still My Favorite…

Though this has not been my best year for the garden–mostly because of this years experiment of seeing how close I can plant things and then neglect–I’ve still managed well enough. But tomatoes are by far still my favorite vegetable to grow. The one pictured above I ate today, and even though it is closer to October than it is August there are still plenty of green ones hanging on their vines. Anyhow, thought I’d share a couple recipes…click here and here for more recipes and regarding tomatoes.

Summer Tomato Sauce 
Makes about 2 cups

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2-3 tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
5-6 basil leaves, chopped


Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium skillet, then add the onion. Cook the onion until it just begins to brown, then add the garlic, sugar, salt, fennel, and hot pepper; cook for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes and broth; bring it to a boil then lower it to a simmer. Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, or until it reduces by half. Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan and add the basil leaves. 

Cream of Tomato Soup
Makes about 2 quarts

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
8 cups diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream


Heat the butter in a small soup pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic; cook them for a couple of minutes, until they are translucent but not browned. Stir in the tomatoes, broth, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then lower to a slow simmer. Cook the soup for about 30 minutes. Add the cream and cook for a couple minutes. Transfer to a blender and process until smooth.


Things That Can Be Carried in a Cart

$36.79 in groceries.

Sometimes I just have to use my feet.

To me, walking is to bicycling as bicycling is to driving…it slows things down and brings things into perspective; I see and notice things when I walk that I likely wouldn’t if on a bike and definitely wouldn’t if in a car. 

I needed a few things from the store and had planned on riding a bike the six blocks to get them but when I stepped outside it was such a lovely early-autumn evening that I wanted to savor it. I walked with my son and we had a really nice conversation.

Sometimes–especially on such a fine and carefree evening–my feet trump my bike(s).

Happy World Car-Free Day.

Things That Can Be Carried in a Cart

$36.79 in groceries.

Sometimes I just have to use my feet.

To me, walking is to bicycling as bicycling is to driving…it slows things down and brings things into perspective; I see and notice things when I walk that I likely wouldn’t if on a bike and definitely wouldn’t if in a car. 

I needed a few things from the store and had planned on riding a bike the six blocks to get them but when I stepped outside it was such a lovely early-autumn evening that I wanted to savor it. I walked with my son and we had a really nice conversation.

Sometimes–especially on such a fine and carefree evening–my feet trump my bike(s).

Happy World Car-Free Day.

A Link and Clip

I’ve posted in the past of famous people on bikes, click here and here. Anyhow I thought I’d pass along a link of to site I’ve visit periodically, it posts only pictures of famous people on bikes–mostly from a bygone era–it’s called Rides a Bike. Click here, for example, to see a picture of Brian Jones on a cargo bike. I came across the above photo today and it’s one of my favorites. It’s Cliff Edwards (aka Ukulele Ike) playing his ukulele on a bike. While he was most known as the original voice of Jiminy Cricket, he was a multifaceted entertainer with many talents, on of them being the ukulele (a true virtuoso on the instrument). If you Google him you’ll find plenty of songs and clips of him performing, but the one below I found particularly entertaining. To me a ukulele brings me the same joy as a bike…it’s nearly impossible to play it without it making a person smile.

A Link and Clip

I’ve posted in the past of famous people on bikes, click here and here. Anyhow I thought I’d pass along a link of to site I’ve visit periodically, it posts only pictures of famous people on bikes–mostly from a bygone era–it’s called Rides a Bike. Click here, for example, to see a picture of Brian Jones on a cargo bike. I came across the above photo today and it’s one of my favorites. It’s Cliff Edwards (aka Ukulele Ike) playing his ukulele on a bike. While he was most known as the original voice of Jiminy Cricket, he was a multifaceted entertainer with many talents, on of them being the ukulele (a true virtuoso on the instrument). If you Google him you’ll find plenty of songs and clips of him performing, but the one below I found particularly entertaining. To me a ukulele brings me the same joy as a bike…it’s nearly impossible to play it without it making a person smile.

Sometimes I Get Overwhelmed

I snapped this picture a few seconds after taking the bottom of the two previous photos. I was marveling at the beauty of the flowers–and that I had the day off–when I looked up at the sky (I find myself looking at the sky a lot these days). The jet pictured was flying directly overhead and there was not a cloud in the sky. I felt in awe and somewhat overwhelmed by the magnificence of it…that big chunk of metal and other stuff hurling through the air and likely full of human souls (oddly–or maybe not–while I found this an incredible sight, and I love to travel, I also have a slight-to-medium phobia of flying). Anyhow, it struck me as–first–how high above me the plane was, and then–secondly–how it was nothing compared to what was behind it…infinity. I suddenly felt minuscule. I, like many, tend to get caught up in my own “little world,” my own insignificant worries and problems…seeing only the little things in front of me and not seeing the bigger picture (that we are all connected and that what we do–no matter how big or small–really does effect others). And as I was thinking this I began to hear an audible buzzing sound. I looked down to see a bee on the flower below…so I held my cheap little camera as close to it as I could–without getting stung or scaring away the bee–and snapped another picture.

Sometimes I Get Overwhelmed

I snapped this picture a few seconds after taking the bottom of the two previous photos. I was marveling at the beauty of the flowers–and that I had the day off–when I looked up at the sky (I find myself looking at the sky a lot these days). The jet pictured was flying directly overhead and there was not a cloud in the sky. I felt in awe and somewhat overwhelmed by the magnificence of it…that big chunk of metal and other stuff hurling through the air and likely full of human souls (oddly–or maybe not–while I found this an incredible sight, and I love to travel, I also have a slight-to-medium phobia of flying). Anyhow, it struck me as–first–how high above me the plane was, and then–secondly–how it was nothing compared to what was behind it…infinity. I suddenly felt minuscule. I, like many, tend to get caught up in my own “little world,” my own insignificant worries and problems…seeing only the little things in front of me and not seeing the bigger picture (that we are all connected and that what we do–no matter how big or small–really does effect others). And as I was thinking this I began to hear an audible buzzing sound. I looked down to see a bee on the flower below…so I held my cheap little camera as close to it as I could–without getting stung or scaring away the bee–and snapped another picture.

How To Lock Your Bike

This is another short, informative, and exceedingly entertaining video put out by StreetFilms. Hal Ruzal, who has been a bike mechanic at Bicycle Habitat since 1978 (gotta love his Cheap Trick t-shirt), and Kerri Martin, founder of Bike Church, walk around and rate how people’s bikes are locked up. I remember some years ago when I purchased my Kryptonite u-lock, which I still use, I read the fine print on the package and they stated they guaranteed the price of your bike but not within the confines of NYC (where this video was filmed).  It’s a film that is both entertaining and informative. Enjoy.

from on .

How To Lock Your Bike

This is another short, informative, and exceedingly entertaining video put out by StreetFilms. Hal Ruzal, who has been a bike mechanic at Bicycle Habitat since 1978 (gotta love his Cheap Trick t-shirt), and Kerri Martin, founder of Bike Church, walk around and rate how people’s bikes are locked up. I remember some years ago when I purchased my Kryptonite u-lock, which I still use, I read the fine print on the package and they stated they guaranteed the price of your bike but not within the confines of NYC (where this video was filmed).  It’s a film that is both entertaining and informative. Enjoy.

from on .

Five Quotes From Carlos Castaneda

Image found here.

“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”

“The aim is to balance the terror of being alive with the wonder of being alive.”

“In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.”

“You say you need help. Help for what? You have everything needed for the extravagant journey that is your life.”

“Think about it: what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.”

Five Quotes From Carlos Castaneda

Image found here.

“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”

“The aim is to balance the terror of being alive with the wonder of being alive.”

“In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.”

“You say you need help. Help for what? You have everything needed for the extravagant journey that is your life.”

“Think about it: what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.”

Whole Wheat Brown Rice Garden Fresh Pizza

With the weather turning cooler I’ve been baking bread at home again (opposed to taking the raw dough to work to bake it where the ovens are on all day long everyday). And is often the case when I bake at home I’ll take half the dough and make pizza for dinner…and this is just what I did for my son and I tonight (seems like there should be a comma or two in the title of this post/recipe). I’ve posted on pizza making a few times before and this is just another variation. For printable recipes, including the whole wheat honey-brown rice dough I used for this pizza, click here. As aforementioned, this is just a variation on a theme…but what is pizza anyhow, just flat-bread with stuff on it, right? Anyhow, the garden still has plenty to offer so after foraging through the choking weeds I came up with: sweet and hot peppers, tons of basil and Italian parsley, Swiss chard (which I par-cooked), and a small amount of broccoli. I also used sauce that was made from tomatoes from the garden (click here for a recipe), and a shredded three-cheese blend I had in the freezer. Chock full of vegetables and made with whole wheat brown rice dough this not only tastes great but it’s likely packed full of nutrition.  And now after typing these words and looking at the pictures as they upload I find myself salivating a bit…so if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll go grab another slice.

Whole Wheat Brown Rice Garden Fresh Pizza

With the weather turning cooler I’ve been baking bread at home again (opposed to taking the raw dough to work to bake it where the ovens are on all day long everyday). And is often the case when I bake at home I’ll take half the dough and make pizza for dinner…and this is just what I did for my son and I tonight (seems like there should be a comma or two in the title of this post/recipe). I’ve posted on pizza making a few times before and this is just another variation. For printable recipes, including the whole wheat honey-brown rice dough I used for this pizza, click here. As aforementioned, this is just a variation on a theme…but what is pizza anyhow, just flat-bread with stuff on it, right? Anyhow, the garden still has plenty to offer so after foraging through the choking weeds I came up with: sweet and hot peppers, tons of basil and Italian parsley, Swiss chard (which I par-cooked), and a small amount of broccoli. I also used sauce that was made from tomatoes from the garden (click here for a recipe), and a shredded three-cheese blend I had in the freezer. Chock full of vegetables and made with whole wheat brown rice dough this not only tastes great but it’s likely packed full of nutrition.  And now after typing these words and looking at the pictures as they upload I find myself salivating a bit…so if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll go grab another slice.

Autumn…

It may not officially be autumn but it sure feels it…and I like it. The fall season has always been my favorite season…cool days and crisp nights. And there’s something about the death of summer and all that it offers that puts me in a contemplative state. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve been enjoying this time of year less because I know what is directly behind it…frigid winter and tons of snow. It–the snow–is not here yet, so for now I’ll just enjoy these beautiful autumn days (and it’s great weather to bike in…no sweat).