September 2nd, 2014 
Blog, Fitness/Health 
Comments Off on Guacamole with White Beans – Great Flavor & Fiber All in Pictures 
In addition to tasting great, avocados are uniquely rich in heart healthy and anti-inflammatory properties. Here’s a terrifically easy, flavor and fiber packed variation on “chop & smash” guacamole that includes tips on using regularly processed vs. sodium reduced canned beans as well as how to check avocados for ripeness and/or ripen them as quickly as possible.
August 25th, 2014 Blog, Salads & Salad Dressings Comments Off on Heirloom Tomato, Fresh Basil, and Feta Cheese Salad – All in Pictures 
If you’re a tomato fan but never tried a fresh heirloom tomato – and you’re fortunate enough to have them available where you live, have at ‘em! They’re awesome!
Heirloom tomatoes are tomato varieties of different sizes, shapes and colors that have been passed down from generation to generation to maintain their favorable flavor, color and texture characteristics. Heirloom tomatoes are most plentifully available at the end of summer and are best when they’ve been ripened on the vine taken fresh off the field.
Been a while since I laid down a word here – but for good reason. Right after popping off the last piece about the end of the Tour (de France) weeks ago, I flew off to spend time with my dear ol’ mom in California for her 92nd birthday.
Mom’s always been one unique and fiercely independent woman. She was one of the first woman radiation oncologists and always a champion for compassionate care. For the past three years, she’d been living with her now 93 year old, very spry, and incredibly supportive best friend in Laguna Beach. But just before getting to California two weeks ago – a trip my girl and I had planned along with one my younger brothers months in advance – my mom ended up in the hospital and then rehab facility due to degrading physical strength. Read more »
July 27th, 2014 Bar Drinks, Blog, Cycling Food, Drinks Comments Off on Tour Toast to Vincenzo Nibali – Sparkling Wine and Rum Punch Blast
By holding the overall leader’s yellow jersey virtually end-to-end, Italian cycling champ Vincenzo Nibali has more than proven his hard-earned magical dominant status this Tour de France 2014. En français: Incroyable (incredible)! In italiano: Congratulazioni, Vincenzo!
As a toast to Vincenzo’s victory, which he’ll nail down during the Tour’s final stage ride into Paris today, here’s a really cool drink that combines the crisp, bubbly flavor of dry Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) with the tropical flavors of rum and citrus juice: Sparkling Wine and Rum Punch Blast.
July 26th, 2014 Blog, Breakfast, Cycling Food, Eggs, Fitness/Health, Special Recipes Comments Off on Power Finish to Tour & Fully Flavorful Microwave Omelet S2E – In Pictures Wet & nasty stage 19 of the Tour de France yesterday. Powerful 30-plus time trial today. On to the Paris tomorrow. Wow, it’s been a rip of a tour!
Here’s something that no matter the weather or need for power will give you a bright breakfast smile: Microwave Cooked Omelet – From Simple to Exciting. Aside from the flavor, the really cool thing about making this omelet is that you can mix, cook, and eat the omelet from the same plate. I dig that – a lot!
July 24th, 2014 Blog, Cycling Food, Fitness/Health, Special Recipes, Video & Picture Ebooks Comments Off on High Protein Power Tuna Salad – All in Pictures & Video 
Had to launch early yesterday morning and reluctantly missed the four grueling stage 17 Tour de France climbs in the Pyrenees. Gotta’ a good feeling some of the riders wish they could say the same – and still live to ride another day to tell about it.
In the end, it’s all about what you use to burn in your tank when you’re pushed to the limit. Here’s a great recipe to power you when you need it – with full-on flavor: Power Tuna Salad.
July 23rd, 2014 Blog Comments Off on Tough Pyrenees Climbs: Easy One-Bowl Power Cereal Breakfast – All in Pictures 
Congratulations to Michael Rogers, who took an early lead from the pack yesterday and won stage 16 from Carcassone to Bagneres de Luchon with rivals nipping at his heels.
I know I’ve laid down quite a few breakfast recipes lately, but that’s the meal I have when I click on the Tour in the morning. Breakfast is also the foundation meal for the men before they take off to crush miles on the road.
Here’s a breakfast I’ve had many times before a ride that’s easy to make, easy to clean up afterward, and best of all, is fantastically flavorful: Microwave Power Cereal that you can get by clicking any picture on this page.
July 22nd, 2014 Blog, Breakfast, Cycling Food, Special Recipes Comments Off on Pre or Post Ride Nut Butter and Trail Mix on Toast – All in Pictures 
Rest day over. The men of the Tour crank it into the Pyrenees for 237 kilometer (147 miles) of serious climbing. Here’s what the profile looks like. Ouch!
Didn’t see stage 15 of the Tour live yesterday, though I’m watching a replay now. No shame – not a drop. I was on the road yesterday morning laying down a very fun, gorgeously cool (for July) 25 mile ride on the Nashua River Trail in North Central Massachusetts with a darn good friend who’s recently gotten back to biking – and absolutely loves it! Terrific!
July 20th, 2014 Blog, Breakfast, Cycling Food, Dessert, Fitness/Health Comments Off on Tour de France Rice Pudding – All in Pictures
Stage 14 of the Tour de France was another brutal assault up the Alps from Grenoble to Risoul. Now, where the men rode wasn’t quite like the upper left picture, but then again, it wasn’t far from it.
On the food side of life, I got a real thrill hearing recently retired Tour racer and now NBCSN announcer Christian Vande Velde talk yesterday about a typical Tour cyclist’s daily course of meals. One thing that caught my ear was his – and I’m sure other racer’s – particular love for rice pudding as a healthy dessert. All right!
Though I’m a fan, I’d never before made rice pudding myself. So, I checked out some recipes, figured out my own way – and laid it down in picture book format.
