Illinois Brews & Baseball

Posted on by jeffreylatty

Congratulations to Cubs fans everywhere. Congratulations to Cardinal fans in Illinois for seeing a truly stellar team this year in the Chicago Cubs take away their pride. Since 1876 the Chicago Cubs have won 1197 games against STL and the Cardinals have taken 1147 from the Cubbies during regular season play. And in the all-time post-season the Cubs are 3-1 against STL. According to Wikipedia.

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I’m very excited to see and try many Illinois brewed beers and creations. For me, anyways, true local brews give you a sense of untouchable refreshmentism before even considering the smell, taste, feel or notes. Perhaps that is due to the freshness, but I believe it’s more along the fine lines of a thing called pride! Like rooting for your local high school football team, it may not be the best, but damn it, you’re happy to see it and experience it.

  
Breweries come and go, bought out and sold out. There are craft breweries now directly competing with the (has-been) big dogs Miller and Bud. I want to concentrate on the Illinois breweries who are not selling out. All of this information is from Wikipedia. Apologies if any info is incorrect.

  
My first favorite Illinois brewery:

  

  • Big Muddy Brewing opened in 2009 in Murphysboro, IL.

  
My go-to Illinois brewery:

   
   

  • Revolution Brewing out of Chicago since 2010.

   
   
Mead:

  

  • Wild Blossom Meadery – Chicago, IL.

  
Most versatile arsenal Illinois brewery:

   
  Destihl 2007 Normal, IL.

   
 Super local Illinois Valley breweries:

  

  • Radium City
  • Starved Rock Brewing

Most impressive Illinois brewed beer:

  

  • Tighthead Irie IPA- Mundelein, IL 2011

   
 I was watching the Cubs on Monday night and wanted some easy quick (Vegan) food. I tweeted Jimmy John’s, half inebriated. And with their awesome help, I was able to conclude and acquire a Vegan delivery. Their bread is not Vegan. I paid $18 for two lettuce wraps that were delicious and not so much filling. I was impressed with how well Jimmy John’s interacted with me via twitter and did not cower like a company that puts beef fat into their fries and probably soda. That was the first time that I have ordered out in quite a few months.

   
   
Try some Illinois brewed beers or mead and try some Illinois baseball! The Cubbies are something else this year.

Ⓥ Souper

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
My choice of Vegan lifestyle obviously started with the easy decision of Vegetarianism close to three years ago. And while maintaining 100% Vegetarian lifestyle, I progressively made Vegan adaptations.

  
Social media is a tool and often a tool for me to reference statistics or dates. Today I’m gonna search through my social diary in Twitter. At some point in my life, I want to write a book with basically just my tweets.

  • First purposely #VeganVriday was 1.9.15
  • First purposely #VeganVeekend was 5.29.15

I did not survive every VeganFriday and I think I failed only one VeganWeekend after starting. I did, however, notice a difference in my digestive system and stomach between Vegetarianism and Veganism. Ultimately bringing me to the no-brainer decision of upgrading vegetarianism into Veganism as of 7.8.15.

  
I have finally found my love for Earth Balance Vegan ‘butter’. “Better late than never.” Says everyone.

  
I made SOUP for the first time in this colder turning time. And I was going to name it Souper Ⓥ Supe, but chose to shorten to Ⓥ Souper.

  
I found out that Sweet Potato skins are very edible and very good.

  
I resurrected my very first “real” bicycle in honor of his second birthday on September 22nd, in a 2014 Trek CrossRip. I’ve named him the HulkRip. I’ve ridden him through hell and back at over 7,000 km. He needed new cables, brakes, chain, cassette, chain ring and tape and pedals which I put on. He sat up at the bike shop for a good month awaiting a chain keeper. I’d like to keep HulkRip rideable for a long long time. And rode him for the first time in months yesterday. Happy Birthday, HulkRip!

   
    
 Ⓥ Souper ingredients:

  • Tofu, soft
  • Soyrizzo, had to add another ‘z’ because I’m a cubbies fan
  • Mushroom, sliced
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled & I used non salted
  • Garlic, minced
  • Radish, sliced
  • Onion, Diced and julienne sliced
  • Green Pepper, shorter julienne sliced
  • Tomato, beefsteak diced and grape-whole
  • Spinach
  • BalsamicVinegar/Oil
  • Earth Balance ‘butter’, mmmmm
  • Jasmine Rice, cooked
  • Lentils, cooked
  • Kale, frozen & NonGMO mmm
  • Eggplant, chopped
  • Zucchini, chopped
  • Sweet Potato, chopped w/ skin
  • Red Potato, chopped w/ skin
  • Russet Potato, chopped w/ skin
  • Cilantro, frozen cubes mmm
  • SeaSalt/Pepper/Cayenne
  • Serrano & Hot Peppers, diced
  • Veggie Broth

Insanity:

  

I actually started out making a breakfast stir-fry and severely enjoyed it before later making into soup.

  

  • Cook Rice and Lentils together while stir-frying and later drain before adding.
  • Heat Oil and add Garlic, Hot Peppers, Potatoes, diced Onion and Eggplant.
  • Add Tofu, Soyrizzo, Sunflower Seeds and diced Tomato. Cover and sauté.
  • Add Seasonings, Rice/Lentils and BalsamicVinegar with generous Earth balance! Cover
  • Always stir occasionally…duh
  • Add Kale, Zucchini, Green Pepper, Julienne Onion, Radish, Mushroom, Cilantro& Grape Tomatoes
  • Can’t forget the SPINACH
  • Cover and simmer low

  
I served the stir-fry w/ wheat toast with Earth balance. I FREAKING LOVE EARTH BALANCE.

  
Rano Pano – Mogwai

  
To make Soup, I honestly just added Broth as it mixed and thickened extremely well. Very flavorful! And powerfully nutritious!

   
   
Go Cubbies as it’s almost playoff time! Have a good beer, take a good pic and ride a bicycle before the cold hits! Happy Thursday and Happy Weekend! Do something out of the ordinary!

  
  

Ⓥegan Pasta

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
Yesterday was my very first experience buying, cooking and consuming Earth Balance Vegan ‘butter’. It was extremely enjoyable and I’m officially now a lifelong customer. Along with Vegenaise, Earth Balance is better than animal-based dairy. SERIOUSLY. It could be the evolution of my palate, but serious tastiness anyway you consume these wonderful plant-based products is a no brainer.

   
   
Saturday night, immediately after work, I went for a ride via towpath to drink some beers and make a small night out of it. I noticed the super moon and was extremely impressed with the visuality of a normally immensely dark (death metal) towpath. I still used my light, but would’ve been fine without my NiteRider Lumina 700. When the moon casts shadows, you (me) know its close to our earth. For the second time this year, I completed a (my) local bars Hall of Foam where you get your name on a plaque for drinking 50 different beers. It was a great night! (Warning: not all in one night)

   
   
Here in northern Illinois, it has been unseasonably warm this September. And yesterday was the first Fall-like day this year (2015:). Chili (and Soup) season is HERE! Last night, after work, I had to make a buttery pasta with the amazing Earth Balance. I decided to make a Mexicano (Ⓥ) Pasta and I’ll just go ahead and call it Mexicano Ⓥasta.

   
 Mexicano Ⓥasta ingredients:

  • Earth Balance ‘butter’, mmmmmmmmm
  • Garlic, minced
  • Carrot, sliced small longways
  • Onion, (red) diced
  • Sweet Potato, WITH PEEL ON (try it!) chopped
  • Oil/BalsamicVinegar
  • SeaSalt/Pepper/ChipotleP/Cayenne/C.R.P./Paprika/FennelSeed
  • Cilantro, I used frozen cubes
  • Kale, frozen & NONGMOProjectVerified
  • Corn, kernels
  • Tomato, grape sliced
  • Rice, Jasmine & cooked
  • Lentils, cooked
  • Radish, sliced
  • Mushroom, sliced
  • Eggplant, chopped
  • Squash, Zucchini & chopped
  • Angel Hair pasta, cooked al dente & not rinsed
  • Thickening agent, instant mashed potatoes

  

T minus ______ until blastoff:

  • Added a bit of Oil to heated pan and sautéed Garlic with Carrot, Sweet Potato, Onion & Eggplant while cooking Jasmine Rice and Lentils on another burner.
  • I added seasonings, Corn, BalsamicVinegar & Zucchini, covering for a few minutes.
  • Once Rice/Lentils are done, I strained and added with Earth balance ‘butter’, Cilantro, Tomato, Radish & Mushroom, covering on a simmer.
  • I cooked Angel Hair (Capellini for those Italians:) al dente and strained. If you’d like, a little Oil on pasta…
  • I added a few pinches of instant mashed potatoes as a thickening agent and served over plated pasta!

  
I couldn’t stop eating this pasta. Not literally, but just about. I might eat the leftovers for breakfast!

  
I hope everyone is having a great week! I also hope no one witnessed any crazies during this Super Moon.

  
And go Chicago Cubbies! Happy Wednesday!

  
I also made Sweet Potato Chips 🙂 (to be mastered)

Ⓥegan Comfortisms

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
Vegan comfort food might not be as readily available as say fast food or other animal product junk. It is, however, easy to create with help from great non animal products. Any Vegan ‘junk’ food is healthier and Better for the world than animal base junk food.

  
I’ve been a big fan of Apple Music the last couple of months and I decided to check up on some bands that I have not been keeping track of in the recent years like I used to. One of the bands that I have been keeping track of since day 2 is deftones. I’ve been purchasing albums since 1997. They are single handidly my favorite band and have been since probably 1998. Their first album, Adrenaline, came out in 1995. And it would have been one of my first albums ever purchased. If I remember correctly, this would be my first five CD and Cassettes:

  1. The Doors – Greastest Hits
  2. Ozzy – The Ozzman Cometh
  3. Limp Bizkit – Three Dollar Bill, Y’all
  4. Rage Against The Machine – Evil Empire
  5. Deftones – Adrenaline

  
I’ve learned over the years that in order to gain use out of your ingredients, you’ll (me) have to plan around bulk ingredients. And as I’m blogging these (all over your face) there is an overlap of ingredients. Use it or Lose it! I came up with a Ⓥlattaco, grilled apple ampersand The Post-Apolacalyptic Zombie Butcher VeggHead.

   
   
Just today I used Apple Music to check up on the band Korn and their new music. They really went downhill after Follow The Leader. Deftones have kept themselves very good and still make very interesting music and they appear to continue to. And because of this, I’m going to share a favorite song off of every album.

  1. FIST
  2. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
  3. Knife Party
  4. Deathblow
  5. Simple Man
  6. BEWARE
  7. Beauty School
  8. ROSEMARY

  
I really hope at least one music lover that has never experienced deftones took at least five minutes to click on one of the above links to enjoy. Now onto the food. I was impressed with the look and the simplicity of a grilled apple, but it wasn’t as tasty as I was hoping.

   
   
Ⓥlattaco ingrediets:

  • Whole Wheat Tortilla, Grilled on one side
  • Hummus
  • Guacamole, spicy 🙂
  • BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/dicedNonGMOfrozenGrilledEggplant:) cook in below seasonings
  • Sugar/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicAmpersandOnionP/ONEBayLeaf/ChiliP w/ water to cook above ingredients in
  • Daiya, ‘Cheddar’ & ‘Mozzarella’ mmmmmmmm
  • Fishless Filets, baked and sliced
  • Seitan, Chipotle Seitan 🙂
  • Onion, grilled for garnish
  • Fiesta Pico De Gallo w/ Pineapple, strained

  

Rocket Science:

  • This is a Taco Cookie, Flat Taco or better yet an open Quesadilla. It is very easy and very tasty! Smear the living shit out of the already grilled side of Tortilla with Hummus and Guacamole.
  • Generously, but carefully, place a layer of BrownRice/SplitPeas/Lentils/GrilledEggplant
  • Cover with both types of Daiya, Seitan and Fishlessness’
  • Place in nonstick pan and cook over low-medium heat while covering to murder and melt that Daiya
  • Garnish with grilled Onion and Pico De Gallo on top:)

  
I’ve been trying to come up with a name for this monster sandwich. And like many great Craft Beers, this sandwich deserves a unique and basically dark and disgusting name. It only took a couple of minutes of concentration. It has been named The Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Butcher VeggHead. I feel that is a name that confidently names this beastwich.

  
  
Vegenaise Upgraded ingredients:

  • Vegenaise, mmm
  • Mustard, organic
  • Cucumber, diced without seeds
  • Onion, diced
  • Tomato, diced and strained

MIX

  

The Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Butcher VeggHead ingredients:

  • Buns, multi-grain Ciabatta
  • Boca, Vegan
  • Daiya, ‘Cheddar’ & ‘Mozzarella’
  • Grilled Eggplant, NonGMOProjectVerified if possible
  • Seitan, NonGMOProjectVerified & Chipotle
  • Onion, Grilled then sliced
  • Hummus
  • Guacamole
  • Sugar/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicAmpersandOnionP/ONEBayLeaf/ChiliP w/ water to cook above ingredients in
  • BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/dicedNonGMOfrozenGrilledEggplant:) cook in below seasonings
  • Grilled Eggplant
  • Pico De Gallo, Fiesta w/ Pineapple
  • Potatoes, grilled
  • Sriracha, cock saucy and splashy
  • Vegenaise Upgraded, mmmmmm
  • ChipotleP

   

   
Survival to sanity:

  • Either toast or grill inner sides of Ciabatta Bun and save for later consumption.
  • Pan fry Boca and after flipping add Daiya, Grilled Eggplant and Chipotle Seitan. Cover and lower heat. Dash of Chipotle Powder on top:) 
  • Heat BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/dicedNonGMOfrozenGrilledEggplant
  • Grill Potatoes and Onion
  • Hummus on bottom Bun and Guacamole on top Bun (inner, inner Vegan DINNER of top and bottom)
  • Once everything is ready, build the masterpiece of death (LIFE)
  • From the floor it goes (architecturally) bottom Bun, Hummus, BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/GrilledEggplant, Vegenaise Upgraded, two Boca patties with greatness melted on top, Grilled Onion slices, Pico De Gallo w/ Pineapple, Guacamole and the top Bun.

   
    
 A deftones song, You’ve Seen The Butcher, my fandom of Vegan Zombie, my partial WordPress name VeggHead and the scary darkness of Post-Apocalypse helped mosh pit into the name of the beast which I did eat.

  
Happy Monday! Happy 50th Blog to me. Thanks for the likes and follows! Stay healthy, my friends! And have fun!

Vegan Ⓥhinese

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
In a recent blog, I briefly shared an easy Chinese-style concoction that is super easy to make however you’d like. I made a massive batch and decided to go out with a bang and fix it up just a bit in the end.

  
I tell ya what, Non GMO Project Verified Food sells me every time. And I usually pay more, but for the pride it delivers me, it’s well worth it. I wrapped my handlebars with new Bontrager tape. And I’m loving the new look.

  
  
Ⓥegan Ramen ingredients:

  • Ramen Noodles, seasoning discarded
  • Potatoes, diced and boiled (or roasted)
  • Broccoli, fresh or frozen florets-blanched
  • Garlic, minced
  • Ginger, minced
  • Soy Sauce, Vegan
  • SeaSalt/Pepper
  • BalsamicVinegar/Sriracha
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Peanut Oil
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled
  • Fishless Filets, baked & sliced
  • Grilled Eggplant, baked

  

Chopsticks to mouth:

  

  • Cook Ramen slightly undercooking, draining and leave separate seasoned with Soy Sauce and Sriracha.
  • Cook Potatoes and blanch Broccoli and leave aside.
  • Add Oil/Garlic/Ginger and sauté for a couple of minutes before adding everything else and mixing.
  • This time around I baked Fishless Filets and Grilled Eggplant and just sliced the Fishless Filets and put on top
  • I could have brought more Broccoli to top, but I’m lazy and I was hungry!

Eat healthy to be healthy! 

  

Vegan Ⓥuesadilla

Posted on by jeffreylatty


Spontaneous cheffing is often extremely successful for me. Spontaneity isn’t for everyone and often kicks my ass, but not all the time. I had a long day at work and got off around 2000 (8:00pm) and commuted home and broke my THIRD damn spoke in two months and had an urge to buy beers and good food.


And out of know where, I had the idea of making Ⓥegan Quesadillas. Here is my shopping list (not premeditated):

  • 6-pack 16oz. PBR
  • 12oz. Funky Pumpkin
  • Bomber Thunderstruck IPA
  • Daiya ‘Mozzarella’
  • Daiya ‘Cheddar’
  • Hummus
  • Guacamole
  • Fiesta Pico de Gallo
  • Buns
  • Whole Wheat Tortilla
  • Lightlife Smart Dogs
  • Chipotle Seitan
  • Gardein Fishless Filets
  • Woodstock frozen Grilled Eggplant
  • (2) Vegan Nugo Dark Chocolate Pretzal



Ⓥuesadilla ingredients:

  • BrownRice/Lentils/SpiltPeas/dicedNonGMOfrozenGrilledEggplant:)
  • Sugar/SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicAmpersandOnionP/ONEBayLeaf/ChiliP
  • Whole Wheat Tortillas, pre grilled
  • Daiya, yellow and white-mmmmm
  • Pico De Gallo, strained
  • Hummus, spreadily readily
  • Guacamole, readily spreadily
  • Chipotle Seitan or Fishless filets (sliced) or party hard and do both!


40 ounces to freedom:

  • Quesadilla makers are for cowards and T-Rex armed godzillas (not that they would have weapons shooting T-Rexs, just their ARMS BEING SHORT)
  • Cook Legumes and Brown Rice with the seasonings below where I mentioned above? Throw diced Eggplant in, also.
  • Grill Tortillas before hand, the tops on both sides and the bottoms just on the inside. Cast Iron with a Grill?
  • On the inside (grilled side tortilla), smear hummus, Legumes/Rice/Eggplant then add Daiya, Seitan or Fishlessness, Daiya, Pico De Gallo
  • Place completed Quesadilla on non stick surface and cook readily. you could even build the Ⓥuesadilla on your non stick pan. I did cover with a lid to help melt the Daiya. I cut with my sharp ass chef knife into four.


DO NOT CUT YOURSELF ON ACCIDENT


Also, hopefully not in person, planned. (I became a little tipsy last night and again couldn’t finish a blog)


Last year I bought a low end FatBike. It was a Corsa Mammoth. I bought it for like $650. I basically rode it into the ground. It’s existence made it almost 1,000 km. And now I plan on either eventually fixing that FatBike up and buying a new one or selling it for cheap, but still buying a new one. And I think I’m gonna go with a Charge Cooker (pronounced Koker). I just need to get some cash together. A FatBike brings permit-smiles and winter cycling easier.


Happy weekend! Be safe! Have fun!

Labor Day Mayhem

Posted on by jeffreylatty

  
The thing that I miss most about not being Vegetarian and even not being Vegan is, I think, that gross euphoric sense of accomplishment of consuming something that took time off of your (my) life. I believe I’ve been trying to recreate that sense with Veganism, but any way I go about it, Veganism is super healthy without that sick feeling. Even Vegetarianism provides that sense that ultimately contributes to obesity and copes with horrible days.

  
I’ve been Vegan for over two months and this Monday (Labor Day) brought myself urging for that disgusting sense that would make a bad day, good? I had the worst ride of my life.

  
I lost a screw to one of my cleats to one of my cycling shoes right off the bat and I also was stranded with a flat tire and a failed patch kit in BFE. I chose to be dropped off 60 minutes from home and ride home in round-about fashion. I had a gravel climb that made me stop and change my auto-pause speed to 2 km/h instead of 12 on my Garmin Edge 1000. 

  
That climb also made me want to quit cycling forever. And that was part of an oncoming gravel ride later this month. Being labor day, most assholes didn’t have to work and were all driving around like assholes. I had to cross a bridge over a bigger sized river with no freaking shoulder. I took the wrong way on a highway without a shoulder where it was super busy. I had to backtrack and I saved my life by walking back on the nonexistent shoulder.

   
 I found a really cool area of rolling gravel roads and obtained that flat. I believe it was a pinch flat… And made sure to bring tools, but when i was ready to use my patch kit, the glue was all dried up. I had to walk (of shame) with a bicycle on my shoulder for 90 minutes before I could even get service where I could call to be picked up in the closest town. 

   
 The entire time I was pissed that I used my only spare tube in order to replace a slow leak in an old tube putting different tires on and keeping tubes in my (now off) road tires and dreamed of justifying the day by crushing a cheese pizza.

  
I brought just enough water and two Smart bars and was eventually picked up.

  
It’s set in stone that I’ll be Vegetarian for the rest of my life. Not so much with Veganism (yet). I did not crush a cheese pizza, but made a big batch of chinese-style noodles and a Vegan Mayhem sandwich. I found squeezable ginger that had me super excited until I saw the bullshit preservatives added. I still had to buy it.

I was so hungry and exhausted that I had energy to make a huge batch of Vegan Ramen. Noodles are Vegan, seasoning is not.

  
Ⓥegan Ramen ingredients:

  • Ramen Noodles, seasoning discarded
  • Potatoes, diced and boiled (or roasted)
  • Broccoli, fresh or frozen florets-blanched
  • Garlic, minced
  • Ginger, minced
  • Soy Sauce, Vegan
  • SeaSalt/Pepper
  • BalsamicVinegar/Sriracha
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Peanut Oil
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled 

Chopsticks to mouth:

  • Cook Ramen slightly undercooking, draining and leave separate seasoned with Soy Sauce and Sriracha.
  • Cook Potatoes and blanch Broccoli and leave aside.
  • Add Oil/Garlic/Ginger and sauté for a couple of minutes before adding everything else and mixing.

  

    Vegenaise Upgraded ingredients:

    • Vegenaise, mmm
    • Mustard, organic
    • Cucumber, diced without seeds
    • Onion, diced
    • Tomato, diced and strained

    MIX

      

    Ⓥegan Mayhem:

    I then panfried two Vegan Boca patties and a Ciabatta bun (insides down). I put the two patties on the bottom bun and added noodles without any Broccoli and put a scoop of Vegenaise Upgraded on top and broiled for three minutes.

      
    It was tasty and still healthier than anything animal based. Perhaps I didn’t achieve that early death feeling, but I honestly didn’t need it. My ride was horrible, but I took a few good pictures, rode in the rain and wasn’t hurt in any way. #RideOn

      

    Ⓥloggings

    Posted on by jeffreylatty


    I had some horrible news last night. After deciding to ride my only day off this week, I wanted to attempt another live blog. I’m not too sure if I’m totally feeling it today. I’m gonna go about this as a draft. And then let my blog explode on everyones face at once, if it works out alright.


     It’s 10:00 am central time and I’ve missed my original departure time of 10:00. I’m ready to go, though. Apologies for that unconscious rhyme breeze from me’s. It’s 10:15 and I’ll be on the bike by 10:30.


    It’s 10:52 and I’m in a great small town of Utica, Illinois and it’s getting hot, my feet are going numb again, and my back is sore. Ever since I switched to clipless peddles, my feet get numb and hurt. To counter those effects, breaks are needed with walking and stretching. It could very well be the cleat position.


    Due to a poor state and incorrect priorities, a washout has been ruining the I & M Canal for years. And because of that washout, I just had to basically almost commit suicide taking a busy Dee Bennett speedway to surpass the stupid washout. I’m talking cars going 60-70 mph in a 55. There’s sometimes a small shoulder, but usually not.


    After murderous Dee Bennett Rd, I decided to not ride as big as I had dreamed. I also swallowed a bug while on Dee Bennett Rd. It is never fun riding 30 ish km/h and confusing yourself with regurgitating or swallowing this damn bug in your throat while pedaling and trying not to swerve and get hit by a speeding vehicle. I washed it down with water and rode on. #RideOn


    In 2011, I was traveling home via Amtrak and read that my last grandfather had passed two days before christmas…. In 2015, i found out my paralyzed uncle who is a doctor of psychology passed by reading also on Facebook. I hate Facebook. I hate most of my asshole Facebook friends and they probably hate me. I was convinced to delete Facebook until my cousin added me today, throwing my plans completely. My new plan is eventually unfollow everyone. I’d like Facebook more if I could decide more what I have to view. I do not wanna see 100 kids before their first day of school. I do not wanna see lame jokes that people find super hilarious. I want Facebook to go back to my early twenties. Be funny, be crazy, be sexy.


      
     I rode to Ottawa, Illinois. I decided to pickup a couple of beers and attempt to go through the washout. The Dee Bennett Rd completely destroyed my ride as it almost does my life every time that I am on it. I picked up a Fresh HopWired IPA by 8 Wired Brewing Co. out of New Zealand. I’ve had a few of their beers in the past and all have been better than good. And same deal with this one. Unfortunately, other countries cannot top most of the USA’s IPAs. We have it figured out. I also picked up a Trade Winds Tripel by The Bruery. Trying to get back onto the I&M Canal, I was going to make a left turn, so I was awaiting my turn in the middle of the road (my lane) and a truck behind me started honking at me.. A bicycle trying to go left on the left hand side of the lane?


     I flipped that asshole off. When riding on the right side of the road especially turning left with traffic behind you, is an accident waiting to happen. Cars try and hurry by cyclists instead of slowing down. It is our duty as cyclists to put ourselves in danger in trying to get vehicles to notice us and slow down. THEY DO NOT LIKE IT, usually.


     Passing Buffalo Rock, basically the last point of upkeep and civilization moreover, was a feat on its own without even talking of the washout. One, it was muddy. Two, the bushes and grass were overgrown. And three, there were numerous trees down. Trying to ride through those conditions are almost impossible, confusing and tedious. I say confusing because I’d rather ride than walk my bike. Having clipless peddles and shoes on are not very convenient in that situation. I had my left unclipped basically the entire time to be ready to stop because of all of the debris. I found a stretch of clear path and itching to peddle hard, I fully clipped in and rode for a good minute. It was 12:44 and I ran into another downed tree and I slowed almost completely, went to put my left foot down and climb over probably the 20th downed tree and BOOM, I was still clipped in.


     I walked through the washout and continued on. I was all muddy, bloody and thirsty. I cracked open the IPA and continued walking, tree hurdling and drinking. A jogger passed me and said, “maybe they’ll fix it one day”, I replied “I doubt it….” That was most of my riding experience. I did BYOL!


    Bring Yo Own Lunch = #BYOL

      
    I chose to bring Nuts and Ⓥurritos.


    Last week I made a Mexican concoction and have been slacking to consume the massive pot. I’m going to try my best to remember what exactly is in it. It is very good, just haven’t been exactly in the mood for it lately. Tomorrow, I plan to make Vegan Burgers out of the remaining concoction. I have been totally listening to this band, Native, lately. They are so good.

    Native (live)

    I actually took this video on 10.19.12 in Dekalb, Illinois via iPhone 4S.

    Yesterday I learned that “&” had a freaking name.


    Mexican concoction ingredients:

    • Brown Rice
    • Lentils
    • Split Peas
    • Potato
    • Carrot
    • Scallions
    • Cilantro
    • Eggplant, iThink
    • Onion
    • Japonica Rice
    • SeaSalt/Pepper/GarlicP/OnionP/Cayenne
    • Parsley
    • Pinto Beans


    Things that PISS ME OFF:

    • Police patrolling a park via car/SUV
    • Vitamins that contain LACTOSE?? WTFFF? (What The Fucking Flying Fuck)
    • Dogs that uncontrollably bark, should not be allowed outside without owner presence.


    I basically overcooked everything a bit because I knew I was gonna make Veggie Burgers. If police are going to enter a park where vehicles are not allowed, THEY NEED TO GET OFF OF THEIR FAT ASSES AND HOP ON A BICYCLE. And I would’ve never thought that I would have to check ingredients in Vitamin C in being Vegan.


    Ⓥeggie Burger ingredients:

    • Mexican Concoction
    • SeaSalt/GarlicP/OnionP/Pepper
    • Sriracha/BalsamicVinegar/PeanutOil/Honey/Broth
    • Go Veggie! “Cheese”, non-dairy
    • Corn Starch


    This time around I cooked these patties at 250 degrees F for 12-15 minutes before upping the temperature to 325 degrees F for another 10. I usually love the burnt flavor, but for these the texture is not good when overcooked.


    As for these Ⓥurritos I made for BYOL Friday, here we go.


    Ⓥurrito ingredients:

    • Mexican Concoction, heated with Seitan, Broth and Corn
    • Iceberg Lettuce, chopped
    • Cilantro, finely chopped
    • Scallions, finely chopped
    • Sunflower Seeds, shelled obviously
    • Guacamole
    • Sriracha
    • Tortilla Shells, Large

    Easiness:

    Mix everything up and wrap burrito-like. Grill both sides and wrap in foil and enjoy. Unfortunately, I did not capture any photos of the finished product. Not sure what I was thinking. (I actually just found a pic of a similar Ⓥurrito that I made)


     This was the start of my Facebook status, letting people know that I was gonna be deleting. Not sure what I’m gonna do.

    -Unfortunately, my love and respect for animals does not carry onto most humans. Most of you are fucking horrible people and complete assholes. Not to say that I am not in that same group. As a species overall, we fucking suck. I do not care for most of you and most of you do not care for me. I’ve finally got big enough balls to peace out of this Facebook world that is basically a disease anyway. Social media is great and I still love it, but Facebook is no longer for me. I am in no way suicidal, but Jesus fucking Christ, this feels like social media suicide.-


    It’s almost September. Have a good Week! Enjoy life as best as possible while taking good pictures! And seriously, go for a bike ride:)

    Birthday Bloggy Business

    Posted on by jeffreylatty

    VeggHead BeerCyclist        π

    Began:  0852    Finished:  0922

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    Tags: pi, day, birthday, strava, membership, beer, craft, blood, pics, brewery, VeggHead BeerCyclist      3.14
    Began:  0852    Finished:  0922

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    Tags: pi, day, birthday, strava, membership, beer, craft, blood, pics, brewery, cooking, vegan, vegetarian, quote, funny
    Title: Birthday Bloggy Business
    Daily Ride: Hopefully
    3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510
    ∭π {Ἦλρρϒ ρἷ  ∂λΨ} π≠∞
    
    Happy Pi Day. Also, happy birthday to me. I am 30 years of age today. I feel fine. Secretly, I wanted to be in the 27 club, but I never became a musician. They would’ve kicked me out. I can party like a rockstar. That has to account for something. 
    
    I had a knifing accident yesterday. No worries, no animals were harmed. Really the only thing affected is my texting abilities as my left thumb is out-of-order. I was making Vegan Gyros completely from scratch and it was the romain being chopped that made me over confident and BOOM. I wish it could’ve been something cooler like somehow a pita making massacre. I will not be going over the Vegan Gyro Blood-ssacre because it will take me two days to text it out on my notes with only one thumb. I’m not sure who’s quote this is, but it is hilarious. I looked it up… “I am not vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.” A. Whitney Brown. A writer and comedian, of course. 
    
    The gyros were delicious. 
    
    I do not know if I go for a ride, my thumb will start bleeding uncontrollably again. I might have to exercise a small bicycle hiatus again, unfortunately. Which isn’t much exercise. 
    
    Rule of thumb is, don’t drink and knife. Or at least, don’t tell your mom. I did try a new (to me) Californian brewery yesterday. Out of Coronado, California comes the overly creative brewery name Coronado Brewing Company. For the lack of creativity of the brewery name, their beers so far are creatively named and very good. 
    

    

    I have to pay a bill today that I cannot make payment to because of Strava. I like Strava and what they’re about, but I chose to take a break from the premium membership before my membership renewal date and I’ve been charged three times. The first time, they refunded me. As of right now, I have two monthly premium membership fees pending on my banking app. So I am literally a few dollars short of paying my bill. They have been emailed and I received two emails (one as a free member and one as a premium member) confirming that I emailed them. Has Strava been drinking? I hope they are not chopping romain lettuce. Do they have injured thumbs? Explaining the dumbness going on with my debit card kind of like my current texting skills. Just wanted to vent. Thanks for reading and Happy Pi Day and Happy Weekend! 

    History of Me

    Posted on by jeffreylatty

    VeggHead BeerCyclist 2.28

    History of Me
    
    My name is Jeffrey. I turn 30 next month (March starts tomorrow). Life has been a turbulent roller coaster of a ride for me thus far. I wish I would’ve gotten a FatBike much earlier. I’m not going into my life story. I would like to go over my cooking, cycling and beer history. 
    
    I just went for a 35 km ride out of town, around town and then back in where I stopped at the liquor store for a few beers. I bought seven beers and a bottled water because my water froze again. I need to start holding a bottle in my pack when I bring my pack with me in the winter. There is a rumor that a little whisky in your water keeps it from freezing. I disagree. I’m all for it as it does add life to your water before it dies a frozen temporary death and I love (good) whisky. Canadian Club is forever the cheapest best whiskey out there. Today’s ride was super sunny, not too windy and not too bad traffic-wise. 
    
    Here is my ride:
    Another thing I’ve been working on is becoming more familiar with the metric system. Celsius makes much more sense and so does the measurements. I love the USA, but we’re kind of dumb and just want to be different. Zero degrees Celsius is freezing. Simple. 35 kilometers is 35,000 meters. Simple. One mile is 5280 feet and 63,360 inches according to Google. Now, tell me how many feet and inches are in 1.5 miles without Google. Good luck. Did someone mention ketchup. Probably. 
    
    A few months ago, I switched my Garmin to metric.  
    The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw
    Spring is approaching and that is a great album from the band Pelican. They are instrumental (until their new album?) post-rock post-metal. Good music!
    
    I learned how to sauté from Pizza Hut. That was my first job and I worked for them for a total of 14 years. I did leave for school, but returned. In 2007 ish, the regular falling apart Pizza Hut built a new building and converted into an Italian Bistro Pizza Hut. It was really cool and actually gourmet until they started cutting costs and ingredients. I did not maintain that understanding of sautéing much. I do not remember much of the style. The ingredients were great! That is where I was first introduced to a chef hat and chef coat. White is an awful idea unless you get like five. The Pizza Hut Italian Bistro also had gourmet pizzas and sandwiches. They quickly began believing in the opposite of what I believe in, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. 
    
    I started at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in January of 2009. A friend hooked  me up with a cooking gig at a hole-in-the-wall Italian pizza place called DiMaggio’s. There are actually quite a few in Southern Illinois and one or two in Indiana. I believe all are connected and actually within the same family. My boss, Sebastian, was born in Sicily and lived in France before crossing the pond. He is an awesome guy and knows how to chef it up! They actually made a transformation into a more legitimate sit-down restaurant in 2011. Before that, Sebastian kept it simple. From scratch pizza, pizza by the slice, pasta, sandwiches, salads, etc. we did grind our own cheese, but didn’t make much other than pizza from scratch. 
    
    DiMaggio’s moved into an old Godfather’s building in early 2011. I was working as a seafood clerk and helping moving and prepare the building for three months before DiMaggio’s was ready to open. I learned a lot during my time as a seafood clerk. DiMaggio’s offered me a pizza kitchen management position with very good pay. I accepted and quit the grocery store job and dropped out of school. The way the entire kitchen was set up was the pizza kitchen was in front close to the dining room and the line kitchen behind it more in the BOH and hidden. I soon took over the entire kitchen and worked 60 hours a week, making schedules and prep lists, food orders, and dish creations. This is where I first learned to cook. It was my most favorite job. 
    

    

    I then grew cocky and homesick after most of my friends graduated and moved on. I took a job back home in charge of a kitchen of a restaurant that I’ve always enjoyed. It was also Italian and taught me more of a northern Italian style. Unfortunately, it became a horrible job and I had to quit. From there I went back to Pizza Hut. Recreational cooking has not stopped. 
    

    

    As for my love for Cycling, I’ll need to mention college and Carbondale. Carbondale, IL is a great cycling town. I bought a cheap “mountain” Schwinn bike mostly to participate in Tour de Carbondale. 
    

    

    The Tour de Carbondale was just a drunkiness bike ride with 4-6 stops with a different theme of booze each stop. And my house was the first stop! Margaritas at 11:00 am are the way to start off a drink fest. 
    We had a beer stop, a jungle juice stop, a wine stop and then the completion stop. Apologies for the quality of pictures.
    
    I then continued to ride my Schwinn as much as possible. I rode it to commute and for fun. In late 2013 I bought a 2014 Trek CrossRip. I became a part of the Strava community in mid 2013. I joined a cycling club in 2014. I have not yet competed in racing or organized rides/races. I love riding with others and I like to go fast and far when I can. 
    I’ve always been trying to document my experimenting with Beers. And then came Untappd. I became a member in 2012. I’ve always extremely enjoyed photography. I like beer. I’ve had three since I’ve started writing this. They are on Untappd. 
    My MacBook Pro stopped charging late last year after I quit my job. I’ve been writing these blogs on my iPhone. 
    
    I found this picture a few months ago. It was in 2005. Just a little #ProveIt. Strava.