Summer Games and Slaw

Inspired by—who else?!—Colleen, I'm going to be part of the Let's Go Ride A Bike Summer Games!

My first entry, a group ride, still awaits photos. But I have from now till June 6 to complete one other task:

• Go on a group ride
• Leave a friendly note on a bike, or say hi to a cyclist at a red light
• Schedule a bike date with a friend or partner — dress up!
• Recruit a non-biking friend for a ride
• Take a ride with your family

So many options! I would really like to aim for the last task—taking a ride with the family. My dad and stepmom are quite the athletes. Dad still logs about 6 miles every day, and he met his wife at a road race. While neither participate in the same kinds of triathlons as a few years ago, Dad rides his bike from time to time—they have matching road and tri bikes—and will probably commute to work if I coax him into it enough.

In fact, I doubt he's ridden to work since the bridge re-opened. Dad rocks this mid-80s Bianchi commuter. I wouldn't be surprised if it's an old Volpe, very similar to my own commuter workhorse.

Friday night I went on a small group ride of sorts. After watching some interesting presentations at Chattanooga's PechaKucha night, the city's sixth event, J and I were joined by two others and headed out to St. Elmo. After a few wrong turns and hills, we made it and were rewarded by some new friends who made AMAZING pot stickers. Big noms before the four of us pedaled back downtown and stayed out too late.

Yesterday Grace and I fully utilized my CSA from Crabtree. I'm in week two of produce. J and I are splitting it with friends/co-workers who live on the Southside. So far, I've gotten lots of greens (mustard, kale, chard, arugula, beets), some cute little strawberries, radishes, garlic shoots and the odd, single kohlrabi.

Using all the veggies takes some effort, though greens are easy to pair with many dishes. Yesterday for breakfast I whipped up a fritatta with

• mustard and beet greens
• onions
• mushrooms
• goat cheese

Grace and I were furiously rinsing, chopping, salting, tasting (repeat). She brought over two jars of sprouted lentils, and I HAD to use last week's kohlrabi. We went ahead and made a delicious slaw-like salad.

So after a day of sweating and moving, Grace brought over spring roll wrappers and homemade seitan (YUM!) and we whipped up the most amazing spring rolls stuffed with the day's slaw, which included:

• grated kholrabi
• chopped chard
• some beet greens
• apple
• sprouts
• grated carrots
• vinegar, salt, seasonings

It was a fresh, light oven-free way to end the long day. I need to secure some spring roll wrappers of my own this week. That is a fabulous way to make a delicious AND filling meal with CSA bounty.