Armed with the ingredients listed in the picture above and my trusty sous chef, we were embarking on unknown territory fortunately we are no strangers to the kitchen. Getting things started, the first steps include prepping the ingredients by removing the hulls, stems, pits, skins, etc of the fruit which in my case was raspberries. Beyond the ingredients themselves, we also needed to prep our equipment. Reminiscent of my homebrewing days, we set out to sanitize the gear by bringing the lids and rings to a boil, then turning down the heat and letting them stand in hot water.

After keeping Loki away from devouring the ingredients, next steps included measuring out the crushed fruit into a pan and adding in the proper amount of calcium water stirring well. Bunsen burners and schematics aside,  the calcium water mixture is meant for something outside of your high school chemistry class. The mixture will help the pectin solidify as it cools to make it more solid and resemble traditional jam/jelly. Trying to keep things as natural as possible, I opted for honey instead of sugar to sweeten things up so we measured that out and threw it into another bowl with the pectin mixing thoroughly.

Bringing the fruit to a boil and adding the pectin-honey mixture made Loki raise his nose to the stove because things were starting to smell pretty good. After beating the mixture up until the pectin dissolved, we returned the mix to a boil for a few seconds and then took it off the stove to cool. Next came the time to begin filling the jars that we cleaned earlier up to about 1/4″ of the top. The last steps included wiping the rims clean, screwing on the 2-piece lids and putting the filled jars in boiling water to cover and boil for 10 minutes. Waiting a bit to get a few frisbee tosses in for Loki, I learned that apparently when canning you need to add about a minute for every 1,000 feet you are above sea level. As the jars cooled, the lids suctioned shut preserving the contents and when left unopened, they should last about 3 weeks.

So can you make your own goods?

The short answer is no doubt. Don’t throw out those fruits that still have some life yet as making your own jam is definitely possible. The long answer is that it may take a few rounds of practice to get things things where you want them. Either way, it’ll still taste good. Other ways to make your jam taste as good as possible is to use real ingredients like organic fruits and natural honey so you feel good about eating them. Naturally with ingredients like that, you pay a little more for them. But hey, not having to eat chemical sugars again is worth it.

Founded in 1869, Cragganmore has a few years under its belt in making a definitive Speyside single malt scotch. Founded by “Big John” Smith, the distillery’s private location high on the Spey makes it a perfect place to make a solid scotch thanks to the neighboring barley crops, Scotland’s fastest flowing river and the quick access to peat from the uplands to the south via the Strathspey railway line. Putting as much thought into the distillery’s location as Bruce Wayne would do for the Batcave, just imagine how much thought and calculation Big John put into the scotch.

Much like myself, most drinkers will find Cragganmore’s ($50) taste to be mild and inoffensive thanks to the sweet and complex malts. Speaking of malts, if you are a Johnnie Walker Black fan, then you will probably like Cragganmore even more as the JWB shares the same malts as Cragganmore since both are owned by Diageo. To help reduce the woodiness that comes with first-fill barrels, Cragganmore 12 year comes exclusively from 2nd-fill bourbon casks and feature a slight nutty and sweet taste. This is a great scotch and would make a fine addition to your cabinet representing the Speyside region.

Buy Now: $50

Learn More

Halfway through 2012, I decided I did enough reading about the Challenge and it was time to experience it myself. Having a variety of GORUCK gear already including the battle-tested GR1, I already had one of the main components to complete the Challenge, however completing the Challenge takes more than just having the right gear. Despite all the research into GORUCK, what the Challenge actually involved was an unknown to me but one of the main components promised during the Challenge is “Good Livin.’” The unknown is a basic prerequisite to the Challenge because the Challenge makes you face that unknown head on and teaches you how to overcome it but before I get too deep though, how about we start from the beginning.

In GORUCK teamwork fashion, classes 297 and 298 gathered along the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, OH which in my mind only meant one thing; get ready to get wet early. To further enhance the good livin,’ 10/27/2012 was the beginning of Hurricane Sandy hitting northeast Ohio. With temperatures in the 40s, winds in the 50+mph range and the occasional downpour in the forecast, the team was in store for plenty of good livin.’

Splitting the group into two teams, class 298 was honored to have Cadre Carlos give them a tour of Cleveland we all would never forget. A seven year Marine Recon Corpsman with two deployments and longtime student of the ruck, Carlos restores my faith in humanity. He is a solid guy who is just a genuine American hero. He served and sacrificed for his Country and wants to teach that same discipline and sacrifice to others via the Challenge. Similar to myself, Carlos is not a yeller. He never raised his voice during hours of a calisthenic filled “welcome party” and based on my previous experiences, you typically have to worry about the guy who is always cool, calm and collected much more than you do about the guy who is just screaming his head off because the quiet guy can and will eat your soul with the blink of an eye.

Throughout that night, Cadre Carlos gave us a 17+ mile tour of Cleveland while battling rain, crazy Lake Erie waves that would make you think you were staring at the Pacific, fierce winds, water hazards of 30-49 deg F, and GORUCK Hunger Games that would make you think twice to volunteer as tribute (sign up for the Challenge to know what the Hunger Games is all about). All in 40 degree weather. While the inevitable highs and lows of the Challenge were discovered as members of the team struggled and some were forced to drop due to injuries  after effects of frigid water, cool temps and the Games, the general attitude from everyone on the team was a shared attitude to persevere and be strong for not only yourself but for the person next to you. Minutes into the Challenge strangers become family that motivated and cheered each other on, passed off 40 pound rucks during multi-mile indian runs and carried a tree through city all while carrying 4-6 bricks in their own rucks. Definitely stuff you won’t see at any local 10k. The GORUCK Challenge truly is a team event, never a race.

The scene at the finish included a cleansing of sorts that made each of us build some character and one that left us shivering through that the final rounds of flutter kicks and push ups that simply turned into a soundtrack of people vowing/asking, “When do you want to do your next Challenge?” At the end, we all understood the meaning of Good Livin’ because Good Livin’ is when life is tough but you love it, your attitude is great, and you smile. Naturally, life is tough place and the world doesn’t care about you from time to time, but smiles always matter and attitude is everything.

Gear Notes: 

Finishing the Challenge is all mental, but the right gear (and prior training which I will delve into more later as I am training for my second Challenge now) can certainly make it easier. Here’s my thoughts regarding some of the gear I took on the Challenge:

• GORUCK GR1 Rucksack: Hands down the best rucksack/backpack I’ve ever owned. It went through the Challenge,dozens of backpacking trips, hikes and 40lb+ rucks and it still looks brand new. 
• GORUCK GR TAC Tactical Ballcap: Great hat, but I would leave it behind for the Challenge because it is just going to get in the way during the calisthenics and endless bear crawls.
• Tight fitting synthetic tops, bottoms, socks and windbreaker: You’re going to get wet so the quicker you dry the happier and lighter you’ll be. A long sleeve top and sturdy windbreaker for cold weather events is key. Any Dri Fit, Cold Gear or any of these is a good place to start.
• Merrell Mix Master 2 Shoe: Providing a solid footing good enough for the trail or the pavement, the Mix Master 2′s were a great choice as they were light, dried quickly and gave me the support I needed.
• Fuel: Gear gets you so far but proper nutrition is key. Skratch Labs and Picky Bars were absolutely clutch and a prereq for this Challenge and all my future ones.

Entry Price: $95 – $140

Photo Credit: Rachel Detweiler Brookes & GORUCK

With the weekly reminders of the forthcoming zombie apocalypse and the constant beatings from mother nature lately, the end of the world may very well be sooner than we all hope. Assuming you make it past the onslaught of Twinkie rioters with your ninja-like skills, having the right gear is more important than ever. Essentially a plug and play generator that is small enough to take wherever you may find yourself, the Goal Zero Yeti 150 Solar Generator weighs in at just 12 pounds and sits at roughly 8 inches in size yet packs the electrical punch to charge your  smartphone 15 times or even your laptop twice.

Sporting a variety of outputs, including an integrated USB port, two 12V ports or a built-in A/C outlet, the Yeti can be charged ahead of a forthcoming outage or camping trip in just 4 hours from a wall socket or in 5-10 hours using Goal Zero’s companion Nomad 13 solar panel. Despite no official go for launch date, word on the street says that the Yeti will be curing your apocalyptic woes later this year for just about $400.

Thankfully I am not alone in this opinion as Vibram’s new Lontra ($150) answers my winter wetness quandary. The Lontra keeps your feet protected from the frozen/slushy elements thanks to a multi-layer laminate upper with fully taped seams that keeps the wetness out. Tack on the sweat-wicking micro-pile fleece liner and neoprene heel cuff that keeps out debris and you have yourself the best minimalist winter running show I’ve ever seen. Also if the snow and slush don’t provide you enough cushion already, Vibram’s Lontra has a 4mm EVA midsole and the TC-1 Dura outsole provides traction so your morning run doesn’t look like a ice skating blooper reel, however they won’t help you with your similarly inspired running outfit.

Loki and I are taking Tuesday off to get some well deserved peace of mind and most likely a few beverages/frisbee throws in the woods or a snowy open space. In the spirit of starting 2013 on the right step, we look to American writer and author William Arthur Ward and his guidance. Advice that is as true today as when it was first said. Our best to you in 2013.

Many staunch believers out there uphold the idea that proper New Year’s celebrations require popping a bottle of bubbly and, God willing, endless company amongst good food and friends. However, the joys and festivities of the celebrations can leave you in a fetal ball of hurt the following morning when you stock the party haphazardly. Before we dive into developing a bubbly shopping list that not only will make you look more cultured than your friends thought without breaking your wallet, lets take a look at how the drink of New Year’s came to be.

Quick Recap on Champagne History

Originating as a pale pinkish Pinot Noir in the northeast region of France, champagne has come a long way from its early roots as a competitor to its neighboring Burgundy wines into the festive beverage we know today. Originally seen as a defect, the bubbles that developed in the Champenois’ wine were a byproduct the the region’s climate and natural release of carbon dioxide from the fermentation process. Unpopular with the Champenois and their French neighbors, this bubbly concoction gained popularity with the wealthy royal Brits and eventually French nobility. By the 19th century, the Champagne industry hit stride and eventually turned into the drink associated with both luxury and celebration we know today with sales quadrupling since the 1950s. Not too shabby right?

Harvesting the Drink Selection

Now that you have material to drop some knowledge on your guests, it is time to get back to properly stocking your party.

Before the celebration, map out your game plan for not looking like a penny pinching, uneducated guy still throwing college parties and, worse yet, waking up the first day of 2013 in worse condition than your body can handle. One key to remember when seeking your effervescence is residual sugar. The higher the residual sugar the more the bubbly will wreak havoc on your body in the form of a killer hangover so stick with bottles of ‘brut’ or ‘extra brut’ as in less than one percent sugar or, if you can afford it, ‘brut nature.’ Shy away or limit yourself from those that are labeled “dry” or “extra dry”  as they are five to six percent residual sugar and if you sip on these all night, you are only asking for a giant headache in the morning. Here is a quick rundown of a few options that keep your guests happy as well as your wallet.

• Sofia Coppola’s Blanc de Blancs Mini Cans: Be different this year and environmentally-friendly. Despite looking like a French version of a fancy Coke, the four-packs will cost you approximately $20 and will give you a peachy brut that your guests will appreciate.
• Argentina’s Hom Extra Brut: Made using the Chaussepied method that includes natural fermentation in hermetic stainless steel tanks, peach and apple tartness with a white wine aroma makes this bubbly a good value at approximately $10/bottle.
• Gruet Brut: A full bodied sparking wine, the Gruet Brut with its developed apple and citrus flavor will sure to be a crowd pleaser.
• Limited Edition Bollinger 002 for 007: Sure you can head to the local grocery store or even Trader Joe’s to find a $5 bottle of champagne, but if you want a truly unique bottle, the Bollinger 002 for 007 would be it. Given the ‘Q Branch’ treatment, this bottle of Grand Année from the outstanding 2002 Vintage comes in a gun silencer-shaped gift box that naturally opens with the code ’007.’

Hold your head and glass up high to revel in the joy and commiserate in the earned pain. My best to you in 2013.