Our funny pack

The funny thing about Dawn, who we adopted when she was 7, was she can be the sweetest little thing but she still has these nervous little ticks like she's still surviving on the streets.

And the boys, the two mutts, I love when they do this synchronized sleeping routine.

In the Woods at Dusk

Town Run Park, Indianapolis IN

Lap 1 - 7.1 miles - 39:20
Average and max speed - 10.8 and 19.9 mph

Lap 2 - 7.1 miles - 39:32
Average and max speed - 10.8 & 20.1 mph

Today I was not feeling so good and I gpt to the trail late again, but I really wanted to get some riding in but for the spring rains came back. I started out steady and towards the middle of the first lap I was feeling better though very slow. Decided there was just enough light out for a second lap and took that out easy again. Through the ride the woods got dark quick but I was able to make it through cleanly and it seemed the sun set almost as soon as I was done. During the last lap I really got into the rythm of the ride expecting my time to better so I am a little disappointed about the time but being out on an uncrowded trail made up for it.

Near the beginning just little bit before the Talking Tree.

Down and up the embankments, towards the end of the trail.

Homemade Jerky

My better half made some homemade beef jerky with the food dehydrator we got for our wedding last October. Turned out amazing and was so good that I hope she keeps churning it for us.

Ingredients

· Flank steak

· 2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

· 2/3 cup soy sauce

· 1 tablespoon honey

· 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

· 2 teaspoons onion powder

· 1 teaspoon liquid smoke

· 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

· Special Equipment: 1 box fan, 4 paper air-conditioning filters, and 2 bungee cords

Preparation

Trim the flank steak of any excess fat, place in a zip-top bag, and place it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours in order to firm up. Remove the steak from the freezer and thinly slice the meat with the grain, into long strips.

Place the strips of meat along with all of the remaining ingredients into a large, 1-gallon plastic zip-top bag and move around to evenly distribute all of the ingredients. Place the bag into the refrigerator for 3 to 6 hours.

Remove the meat from the brine and pat dry. Evenly distribute the strips of meat onto 3 of the air filters, laying them in the grooves and then stacking the filters on top of one another. Top these with 1 empty filter. Next, lay the box fan on its side and lay the filters on top of it. Strap the filters to the fan with 2 bungee cords. Stand the fan upright, plug in and set to medium. Allow the meat dry for 8 to 12 hours. If using a commercial dehydrator, follow the manufacturer's directions.

Once dry, store in a cool dry place, in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months.

Results

Yummm!!! Love beef jerky, love home made--this was doubly good and affordable to feed my beef jerky habit.

 

 

Brining.

The finished product.

Quick ride then hockey

Town Run Park, Indianapolis IN

7.1 miles - 36:49
Average and max speed - 11.6 and 19.7 mph

Was held up with work longer then I expected and with hockey playoffs going on I had to get home quickly to watch my Flyers. All this made for only a 1 lap ride, unfortunate especially with the coming rain this weekend. I went out fast and as always happens when I do this the time was a little disappointing. Still a fun ride and getting out is still better then nothing.

First ride of the year

Town Run Park, Indianapolis IN

7.1 miles - 35:39

Boy I have missed the trails. This winter and early spring I have been cooped up studying for a graduate entrance exam. Glad to get that over with and the trail at Town Run has never been better, excellent shape with a couple new features and jumps. My time was better than expected, always seems that way when I start out easy. Overall very happy with the ride.

Town Run about 1/8 mile past the hairpin turn around.

- Posted from my iPhone

Plum Good Stew

Been eating a lot of dried plums as a snack and thought it would be good to try to cook with them. Saw this on Pinterest and wanted to give it a try right away.

From: Traders Joe's Blog

Ingredients
• 2 raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped (or 1 cup of bagged diced onion)
• 2 cups Organic Free-Range Chicken Broth
• 8 oz (1/2 a 16-oz bag) Non-Sorbate Pitted Prunes
• 1 bag (16 oz) baby carrots or sliced carrots
• 1 tsp saffron (about ½ the jar)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 bags (16 oz) cubed butternut squash
  
  Perpetration
  1) In a lidded deep skillet, brown the onion and chicken in 2 Tbsp oil. Add the broth, prunes, carrots, saffron, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
  2) In another skillet, brown the squash in 2 Tbsp oil. Add the squash to the pot and simmer for an additional 20 minutes.

What I Did
There was no buttermilk squash at the store so I used acorn squash with a pinch of brown sugar to sweeten it up. Also saffron is expensive so I used turmeric with a little paprika for coloring and then doubled the chicken (for more protein) and cut down on the onion.

Results
I should of also cut down on the carrots like I did the onion. The cinnamon spice was a little over powering but overall this was a nice and hearty winter stew.

Slow day in Anderson

Rangeline Nature Preserve, Anderson IN

5.8 miles - 45:23

My recent snail pace on the bike continued in Anderson. When I did pick it up some I ended up taking some spills on the slick fall leaves—nothing big, just funny, a little muddy and bruised ego. As always Anderson was quiet and despite a few cars in the parking lot I still did not encounter any other bikers on the trail. Temperatures were in the high 40's and the day felt refreshingly cool. I am glad I just wore a thermal top and some shorts, I was worried at first I might of needed to wear more but I quickly warmed up with my heart pumping fast. The sun looked like it wanted to shine some, but was mostly hidden behind the clouds as it quickly set during my "late" afternoon ride that was only around 4 or 5. I am already missing summer and those late evening rides.

- Posted from my iPhone