Blog

I like to cook from scratch, but some days I simply want to assemble previously cooked ingredients. The solution is to have a selection of “subassembly” ingredients in the freezer. I’ve written about one of these ingredients: stock. Another is mirepoix. Mirepoix is the “holy trinity” of two parts onion and one part each of… Continue reading Mirepoix

We’re almost through a week of exploring the Superior Hiking Trail. We visit this trail just about every year. One year we hiked from lodging to lodging, but usually we just do day hikes. The twist this year was to bring two cars. That way we could explore sections of the trail as a series… Continue reading Superior Hiking Trail 2015

I hold my phone close, but the boarding pass scanner rejects me. The agent guarding the gate gestures me to scoot sideways towards his colleague at the podium. Podium Colleague does not make eye contact, she sighs as she pokes at her keyboard. “Your seat has been reassigned to someone with higher status,” she informs.I… Continue reading A Gate Agent’s Conundrum

I’m pausing for a few days before I complete my 500-mile Walk Around Newcastle, a walk I started in 2010. The walk does not include Newcastle upon Tyne, the town where I grew up: after all, it’s a walk “around” Newcastle. Today, though, I’m pausing the walk, and wandering in Newcastle. Today’s central Newcastle upon… Continue reading Sometimes You Can Go Back

I’ll soon be crossing The Pond to hike in my beaten-up boots. At the end of the trip the boots might be good for a few more day hikes. All this leaves me with The Big Question: Should I bring the boots home to the USA at the end of my trip? The Carbon Footprint… Continue reading Travel Gear: The Carbon Footprint of Hiking Boots

From Karakunidake. There’s nothing like a decent hike after a long series of flights. I previously posted how to get from Kagoshima Airport to a hotel on the edge of the Kirishima Volcanic Group of Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park. The hourly bus from the airport takes you to the Kirishima Iwasaki Hotel in 47 minutes. If you arrive… Continue reading My Kagoshima: Kirishima Volcanic Group Practicalities

September 2010, I felt sad as Bamburgh Castle loomed in front of us. For three weeks my partner and I got up each morning, enjoyed a hearty breakfast, then walked. I wanted to walk forever, but this Northumberland castle on the North Sea marked the end of our walk. We had started down the coast at… Continue reading The End of a 500-Mile Walk

Risottos, soups, and gravies taste best when they’re made with homemade stock. I want to make these dishes quickly, but stock takes a long time to prepare. My solution is to make stock in bulk and freeze it. My stock is basic, and varies from batch to batch depending on ingredients on hand. It provides… Continue reading Freakin’ Cheap: Almost-Free Homemade Stock