Stewart’s

Pumpkin Time 🎃

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With autumn coming, I’ve thought about different ways I can either use either canned pumpkin or baked sugar pumpkin in various meals without it becoming junk food. I thought what better to ask ChatGPT for ideas on pumpkin meals. As he notes, pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes beyond just pie. Here are some delicious recipes to try:

  1. Pumpkin Soup:
    Make a creamy and comforting pumpkin soup by sautéing onions, garlic, and a bit of ginger in a pot. Add canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, a touch of cream or coconut milk, and your favorite spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin. Simmer and blend until smooth.
  2. Pumpkin Pancakes:
    Add canned pumpkin to your pancake batter for a fall-inspired twist. Mix it with your dry ingredients, along with some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then cook as usual. Serve with maple syrup and whipped cream.
  3. Pumpkin Smoothie:
    Blend canned pumpkin with a ripe banana, Greek yogurt, milk or a milk alternative, a dash of honey or maple syrup, and your choice of spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Add some ice cubes and blend until smooth.
  4. Pumpkin Pasta Sauce:
    Create a rich and creamy pasta sauce by sautéing garlic and shallots, then adding canned pumpkin, vegetable broth, and a bit of heavy cream or coconut milk. Season with salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss with cooked pasta.
  5. Pumpkin Chili:
    Add canned pumpkin to your favorite chili recipe. The pumpkin adds depth and a slightly sweet flavor to balance out the spices. Include beans, tomatoes, ground meat or plant-based alternatives, and your preferred chili spices.
  6. Pumpkin Hummus:
    Give classic hummus a twist by blending canned pumpkin with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, and your choice of spices. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.
  7. Pumpkin Oatmeal:
    Mix canned pumpkin into your morning oatmeal for a hearty and nutritious breakfast. Add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, along with your choice of sweeteners and toppings like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
  8. Pumpkin Curry:
    Create a warming pumpkin curry by cooking cubed pumpkin with your favorite curry spices, coconut milk, and vegetables. Serve over rice or with naan bread.
  9. Pumpkin Energy Bites:
    Make a healthy snack by mixing canned pumpkin with oats, nut butter, honey, and a variety of add-ins like chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and chopped nuts. Form into bite-sized balls and refrigerate.
  10. Pumpkin Muffins:
    Bake moist and flavorful pumpkin muffins by adding canned pumpkin to your favorite muffin batter. Include spices like cinnamon and cloves, and add nuts or raisins for extra texture.

Canned pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient to experiment with in both sweet and savory dishes. Enjoy your culinary creations!

Types of Mountain Biking 🚵

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Mountain biking encompasses a variety of disciplines, each catering to different terrain and riding styles. Here are some of the most common types of mountain biking:

  1. Cross-Country (XC) Mountain Biking: XC riders focus on covering long distances efficiently. This discipline involves both uphill and downhill sections and often includes technical trails and endurance challenges.

  2. Trail Riding: Trail riding is a versatile form of mountain biking, suitable for a wide range of riders. It typically involves riding on well-maintained singletrack trails with varying terrain and obstacles.

  3. Enduro Mountain Biking: Enduro racing combines elements of downhill and XC riding. Riders are timed on downhill sections, but they must also complete liaisons (uphill or flat sections) within a specific time frame. It requires a combination of technical skills and endurance.

  4. Downhill (DH) Mountain Biking: DH is all about descending steep, technical, and often rocky trails at high speeds. Riders use full-suspension bikes and typically rely on chairlifts or shuttles to reach the top of the trail.

  5. Freeride Mountain Biking: Freeriders perform tricks and stunts on natural or man-made features like jumps, drops, and ramps. This discipline emphasizes creativity and style, with riders often customizing their bikes for specific tricks.

  6. Dirt Jumping: Dirt jumpers ride on specially designed jumps and tabletops, performing aerial maneuvers and tricks. These bikes are built for maximum control and maneuverability in the air.

  7. Bikepacking: Bikepacking combines mountain biking with long-distance, self-supported multi-day adventures. Riders carry their gear on the bike and explore remote and rugged terrain, often using a combination of trails and roads.

  8. Fat Biking: Fat bikes have oversized tires that excel in snow, sand, and other soft terrains. They are designed for off-road exploration in challenging conditions.

  9. Trials Riding: Trials riders navigate through obstacle courses, balancing and hopping their bikes over various barriers without putting their feet down. It’s a test of precision and control.

  10. Single-Speed Mountain Biking: Some riders opt for single-speed bikes with no gears, which can add an extra challenge to any type of mountain biking.

Each type of mountain biking offers a unique experience and challenges, catering to different preferences and skill levels. Riders often choose the discipline that aligns with their riding style and the terrain available in their region.

Should I bring my mini-food processor camping?

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That’s the debate in my mind. I don’t really need it, but it makes so many good meals and it’s not like it takes up that much space. I really want to make more of those red lentil pancakes, and I think at least on Friday night, it would be cool to soak the lentils in my truck and run them through the food processor. Maybe try to get the mix with enough water to make actual thin wraps rather than pancakes. They were so delicious.

And then I could make really good omelets with the food processor — the way it beats the eggs with the addition of a little cornstarch and milk is amazing. Then put lots of fresh veggies in the omelets, lots of fresh spinach, a little cheese, and maybe even some pulverized garlic, onion, and tomato. Some things are better chopped rather than turned into a sauce, but you get much more of the garlic flavor when the cloves are really chopped, and I like a good tomato sauce in my eggs.

At the same time, I do worry a bit about potentially damaging my food processor by bringing it up to camp. The modified sine wave inverter probably isn’t going to work well with the electric motor. But will a rough sine wave matter for a few minutes of use? It might get dirty, dropped, or wet. But on the other hand, the products it creates are so delicious, and it’s not the biggest expense ever if I have to replace it. The risk is probably low for the relatively low use I will have at camp. Plus, there should be a lot of sun to keep my battery well charged in my truck.

I will bring the food processor along with the red lentils. I also have bread that I baked earlier in the week. I’ll bring that too. I can get turmeric and make red lentil dahl to go with the meal, maybe with chicken or rice. I don’t have any ready to bring to camp, but I can always bring a bag with me and boil it up at camp during the day on the camp stove.

Forties as a Positive Life Experience

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The forties can be considered a good decade for several reasons according to my good friend Chat GPT, many of which I’ve been realizing in the past six months since I turned forty:

  1. Personal and Professional Growth: By your forties, you’ve likely gained a significant amount of life experience and knowledge, which can lead to personal and professional growth. You might have a better understanding of yourself, your strengths, and your values, which can guide your decisions and actions.
  2. Career Stability: Many individuals have established their careers by their forties. With several years of work experience, you might have reached a stable position within your chosen field, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of your hard work and dedication.
  3. Financial Security: With a stable career often comes increased financial security. By your forties, you might have paid off student loans or other debts, and you might be in a better position to plan for the future, including retirement.
  4. Family and Relationships: Many people have established families and nurturing relationships by their forties. This can be a time of bonding and growth with your children, as well as a chance to deepen your connection with your partner or spouse.
  5. Self-Confidence: As you age, you might find that you become more comfortable with who you are and what you want out of life. This increased self-confidence can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
  6. Health Awareness: Your forties can be a period where health awareness becomes more pronounced. Many people start paying closer attention to their physical and mental well-being, adopting healthier habits and routines.
  7. Time for Hobbies and Interests: With career and family life becoming more stable, you might find that you have more time to dedicate to hobbies, interests, and passions that you might not have had time for in your younger years.
  8. New Opportunities: Your forties can also be a time of exploration and trying new things. Some individuals might choose to switch careers, start a new business, or take up a new hobby, finding fulfillment in the novelty of these experiences.
  9. Wisdom and Perspective: With age comes wisdom and perspective. By your forties, you’ve likely navigated through various life challenges, and this experience can provide you with valuable insights that you can share with others and use to make informed decisions.
  10. Appreciation for Life: Many people in their forties develop a deeper appreciation for life itself. This could be driven by a combination of factors, including personal growth, the realization of life’s fragility, and a desire to make the most of the years ahead.