Saturday, August 14, 2010

Pedaling for Fettuccini in Bechamel Sauce




Spring is just a couple of weeks away and the sun came out beckoning me to go for a ride. I decided to pop over to Peta and Tommi’s home in Riverton some 10km away to learn the art of making a good French Bechamel (cream) sauce.
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Taking the XO5 along the scenic Shelley Foreshore bike path with its new French Michelin Dynamic tires was sheer joy. I have forgotten how nicely a 700c wheel spins so easily, and the fat and cushy rubbers glided through any irregularities like silk.
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The Bechamel sauce is unbelievably simple to make, equal portions of butter with equal portions of flour heated with milk. The skill however is ensuring it does not come out lumpy and this involves knowing how to use the heat appropriately and whisking consistently. Anyway, I was glad to have my Orb pannier as I could bring back the sauce, together with some food effortlessly. It had enough room too for a 2 litre milk container which I got on my way home from the supermarket.
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The 20km ride somehow got me feeling peckish and I immediately went about making lunch. Fettuccini in Bechamel sauce sprinkled with bacon, Swedish meat balls, Lennard’s chicken sausages and with mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini and lots of cheese made for a satisfying meal. Jem, my ever discerning foodie son, enjoyed it and gave me a 7.5/10 rating. Not bad for a first attempt!

It’s amazing how a bike can provide the much needed motivation to pedal far and long, for good food. Viva la Velo!


That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all this toil – this is the gift of God. Ecc 3:13

3 comments:

Taiwoon said...

ride to eat..eat to ride! The best combo! BTW, seems like perth also have lots nice bike paths... What's ur fav route?

Oldyonfoldy said...

Hi TW. Gd to see you! Yes, heaps of great bike paths around here in Perth. Not quite the Nordic countries but still way ahead of Spore.

The schools encourage the kids to ride as well and provide very safe parking cages for bikes. I was impressed.

Fav route? Well, I will say the loop around the Swan River just outside the Esplanade is breathtaking.

Check this excellent site out: http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling/1925.asp

Come visit!

Taiwoon said...

wow... that looks like a nice ride!
btw here is a bike related competition to improve biking in Australia.. see if u are interested.
Bike rack as art competition

http://www.dhub.org/bikeracks/entryform.php#who