Every Day Adventurers

Reason number 411 for owning an Xtracycle: curb sales.

Peter and Rick, on their way home from work yesterday, stumbled across a frequent site these days: piles of furniture and other abandoned belongings on the curb.

We parked our Xtracycles and began checking out what we may want/need/etc. Peter snagged a collection of kids bikes to harvest prototype parts from. Here’s how that load looked:

Peter scored this collection of bikes for prototyping efforts

Rick poked around a bit and found a tall, unbroken mirror and a small Radio Flyer tricycle. His neighbor’s daughter had a birthday recently (as evidence of the piñata in the recycling bin) and thought she’d love a trike. Turns out, her birthday was that exact day. It’s these magical moments that make our jobs worthwhile.

An unbroken mirror and a tricycle for a 2-year-old birthday girl

Roll to your next holiday party on your Xtracycle with the gift of deliciousness. This recipe is a fun twist on the common cookie. Modified from this month’s recommended reading, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

For the visual learners amongst us, visit our flickr set.

Makes four dozen cookies, perfect for sharing!

1. Liquid Bowl: Combine in large bowl, set aside

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup honey, go local!
2 tbsp. vanilla extract, go fair trade!

2. Dry Bowl: Combine in separate, medium bowl

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg, for that holiday flavor!

3. Magic Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350º, shred zucchini

4 cups zucchini, skins on (roughly 3 medium zucchini)
18 oz. chocolate chips or raisins or cranberries, etc.

4. Combine Liquid and Dry Bowls, mix Magic Ingredients well

5. Spoon dough onto greased baking sheet, flatten

Fills four cookie sheets; using only two requires two batches

5. Bake 10-15 minutes @ 350º

Allow cookies to cool on waxed paper.

Dress warmly and go deliver your efforts to those who could use some love and sweetness in their life.