Seattle – my fair city

I went riding as I do most weeks to buy vegetables at the Vietnamese grocery shop in Downtown. It was a beautiful warm (for early Feb 55+!) day in Seattle. I rode my carbon bike for the first time this year. I have been riding my cyclocross bike for most of the winter so far. I felt good and it was a most beautiful day.

I first started by climbing up to Phinney for a cup of delicious Lighthouse coffee, then down to the International district at the Vietnamese store.

I got Radishes, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Guava, Pears, Beets, Cilantro, Shallots.and Bell Peppers.

On the way back I purchased at the Indian grocery store a big coconut, some Sounth-Indian snacks, curry leaves,mustard oil,grains and spices. I came home and contemplated cooking for a bit and took this picture.

Look at all the things that came out of my back pack! I broke the coconut for the milk which Cam and I usually like to have before dinner.

I made a Radish Sambar with two full skillets of Eggplant and Cauliflower Stir fry and a Carrot-Beet salad. I also broke the coconut for the milk, I will grind it tomorrow (I did not need that for cooking today). It was vegan today with no milk or dairy products.

I first started the brown rice and lentils in the Pressure Cooker

The Radishes and Shallots for the Sambar are being stir fried in mustard oil.

In goes the Tamarind juice

I needed two simultaneous frying pans for making all of the egg plant and cauliflower that I purchased!

Out comes the Brown Rice and Lentils which cook in their own stacked vessel simultaneously in the Pressure cooker

Add the cooked lentils and cilantro – Sambar is done

Grate the beets, and carrots, garnish with oil-burst mustard seeds, and add lime juice plus salt to taste – Carrot salad is done

Then shower and eat at a stylishly late hour of 8:00 PM. Blog about it and retire for the night. I will going on a group ride tomorrow.

I am writing about something I am very proud of, and applauding my company – Crane Co. for – their generosity in donating to the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation. Several of us from Crane have been riding the Courage Classic over the last 5 years and raising money for the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation in support of abandoned and abused children in the Sate of Washington. Today, Crane Co. donated $5,000 to this worthy cause.

Over the last 5 years our total contributions to Mary Bridge exceed $17,000, raised through generous donations from our colleagues at Crane Aerospace, many personal friends and relatives. This seems small in comparison to the daily contributions made over 20 years by the Mary Bridge staff, who care for the children in need. Our helmets off to them!!

Here is a special video compilation tribute especially made for the kids, Mary Bridge, donors and volunteers who help our kids in need. This 9-minute video covers the 5 years 2007-2011 during which we have done the Courage Classic.

We hope that you will join our team once again in 2012 in the Courage Classic Bike Ride and raise funds to help our Children!

Some of us from the bike-to-work team (Chandru, Tim, and Dave) went for a lunch-time Run on the Interurban trail and returned on 13th Avenue. It was delightful and the weather was beautiful. There was some talk of making this a weekly run, watch out, this could catch on!

Here are our stats from today.

My first Run after my return from Mexico. I felt good today after not feeling well for the last 2 days. I went around Lake Union and then Green Lake with the steep steps climb on Blaine and also steps at the Stadium on Green Lake. I did this run with my “Barefoot Shoes” Saucony Hattori. My feet hurt a bit, but not bad. I will see how I do tomorrow! A nice calm day in Seattle with a slight drizzle and not too cold. A very different feel than running in Mexico!