NonTech

XOSKIN XOTOES socks

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

As always this will be a down and dirty type of review. It will be based in real world terms, not fancy marketing hype. Ready or not, here we go.

 

Disclaimer: These socks were provided to my free of charge, as a product ambassador for XOSKIN.

 

Common background information: I work-out and run a lot, I sweat profusely, and I have pretty large, pretty flat feet. How big you ask, US size 14 big. There is a reason This blog is called The Urban Squatch.

If you are unfamiliar XOSKIN products, read on and maybe find a new must have. If you’re already a XOSKIN fan, I hope you like my review.

I came across XOSKIN products through a few of their ambassadors, who also happen to be my fellow Orange Mud ambassadors. They came highly recommended from people whose opinion I have come to value and trust, so I gave them a chance. Long story short, I loved their gear and got to talking to Kroy and Rick at the company and they offered me the chance to become a product ambassador, which I decided was probably a good idea. Flash forward a few months and a few rumors of upcoming toe socks and we land where we are right now…

OK Enough chit chat, let’s dive in.

Good:

 

Comfort: These socks are pretty much completely seamless, which makes them comfortable. No seems, means no hot spots to rub on your foot. XOSKIN uses a proprietary material to make their clothing and some trippy 3D knitting techniques to make not only cool looking but really wearable socks.

Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-9-23,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Fit: OK, technically speaking these socks are designed for feet that realistically end at size 12, that being said, they don’t seem to be any worse for the wear having stretched over my big feet for the last few months. The material is weaved in such a way that they have plenty of give, and although stretched thinner than they would be for small footed individuals, still provide more than adequate performance and protection for your feet.

Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-9-23,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-9-23,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

 

Wicking: The truest test of any performance sock (or material) for me is wicking. When you sweat as much as I do having the material you’re wearing move moisture away from your skin as quickly as possible for as long as possible is a big deal. These socks pass the muster. They have done a great job of keeping my feet as dry as possible and as comfortable as can be while in the midst of some pretty grueling conditions.

Durability: These socks are tough. I have worn them 4-5 days a week, washing and drying them in machines, not by hand and air drying, and they show no real signs of visible wear. I’ve run somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 mile in them, worn them to the gym a few dozen times, walked around the yard in them, around the house and generally treated them like they deserved a good beating.

Maker:0x4c,Date:2017-9-23,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

 

Neutral:

 

Breathability: I know I just said that they wicked really well, and you would think that wicking and breathing go hand in hand; and they do. Don’t get me wrong they let you feet breath just fine. They allow air to flow right on in and help keep your feet cool and dry… when you’re moving.

When you are just lounging about in them, they seem to run a bit warm. Meaning that my feet always feel a bit warmer than I think they should when I’m wearing them and not actively moving around. You might wear them and think, that guy is crazy, or you might agree with me. It’s a personal thing.

 

Price: I’m putting this as neutral item for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don’t know what the actual price will be when they are set loose upon the world, but going by their other socks, I expect them to be in the range of 20-30 bucks a pair; which is steep if you’re short on cash. Secondly, I believe that you get what you pay for and if you want the highest quality and best performance, well you must pay for it. So pricing gets a middle of the road score.

 

BAD:

I really tried to find something I could put here, but honestly there isn’t anything. If hard pressed I’d say sizing, because they only make their socks in 3 sizes (1, 2, or 3) which are designed to fit a multitude of sizes; but even that is a hard press because like I said, even though these are designed for smaller feet they have held up just fine.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

Conclusion: The XOSKIN XOTOES are a good buy, even if you have to pay full retail price (whatever that will be). They have performed well for me so far and have been my go-to socks for working out and running. If you are in the market for toe socks or running socks for that matter, (and you really should be because protected feet are happier feet) give these a try. If the price point is outside your budget, keep your eye on their website, their Facebook page or my Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feeds for sales and discount codes. I believe that once you try their gear, you’ll be convinced that are setting the bar higher. You can check their gear out at http://www.xoskin.us

 

A Radically Moderate Post

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment
I’m going to share an opinion with everyone. I’m sure it will be unpopular with some, and that’s OK, part of what makes America great is we are all entitled to our opinion, no matter how wrong others feel it may be. It’s a long post, you have been warned.
Here it is…
.
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I don’t feel that we should be tearing down or destroying all the confederate statues and monuments, not because I believe in what they stand for, or the people they depict/represent. I feel this way because they are part of our history, no matter how good or bad, they are part of the story of America. Our past is riddled with things that we should be proud of, as well as things we shouldn’t be proud of. We have stumbled, we have made mistakes, we have totally dropped the ball; but we have also made great strides, built up what was at points the pinnacle of human endeavor, and made fantastic contributions to the world.
Removing our history is akin to being revisionist. Removing all traces of our past, no matter how bleak, wrong, or repugnant it may be will only strike it from memory and doom us to repeat it. I acknowledge that there are many statues and monuments that have been built to honor people, whom upon reflection, are less than stellar examples of the ideals set forth by our forefathers. There are also many more that do depict those that we should hold in highest regard. If we are going to start removing the bits of our past that we find ugly, than we also need to remove the parts that are pretty, shiny, and bright, because both sides are who we are, or who we were.
I suggest that these monuments not be destroyed, but rather I think we should build monuments for the opposing viewpoint next to them. For example how about this: for every Robert E. Lee statue, we put up one of Ulysses S. Grant, right next to it, with a plaque to describe why it is there. This way we can see both sides of our history, and while we may not be proud of some aspects of it, it is a part of every single one of us.
I know this may seem like a radically moderate view point, but that’s because it is radical. In a time when you are either on the right or on the left, we need more people who are more centered. Both sides have gotten so extreme that they don’t realize that they have essentially become the same. I know there is a lot of hate and vitriol in our present environment. It may really only be a small but overly vocal minority on either side, however it sure doesn’t feel that way. It feels like we are living in a fractured country. A country where your either one of those or one of them. Whatever happened to everyone being one of us? Whatever happened to “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union” America? There is an ever growing feeling of dread, an impending doom that seems to be lurking overhead, just out of the line of sight, but ever present. Everyday it seems we wake to a new scandal, a new breaking issue, or a new problem. Perhaps it’s just me, perhaps it my need for a sense of nostalgia, for a time when America was the “Greatest Nation”. Whatever it is, I want our country back, the one where anyone who came here was welcome, where if you worked hared and put in your due, you could make it; you could be anyone or anything you wanted.
I miss the United We Stand version of America.
So that’s it. my $0.02 on the state of things right now, If you stuck with the post this far, then I know that there is some hope for society. I’d be happy to hear what you think of my opinion, just please keep it civil.
Thanks.

One Lazy Sasquatch

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

SO, it’s been really quiet around here lately. I mean It’s been a year since my last review, silly post or anything. I could chalk it up to life being crazy, and any other excuse you think of, but the truth is I just haven’t been inspired to write anything lately.

In short, I’ve been lazy. So to you the few poor souls who follow this meager blog, I apologize. I try to get back on track and wore reviews, or recipes, or other basic shenanigans soon(ish)

 

Squatch

Dr. Squatch Natural Soaps

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

Another bright Idea

As always this will be a down and dirty type of review, or clean as the case may be. It will be based in real world terms, not fancy marketing hype. Ready or not, here we go.

Disclaimer: None, the soap was not provided to me by the manufacturer, I obtained it myself, as I am a direct customer of theirs.

Common Background: I workout a lot, therefore I sweat. Let me restate that I workout and I sweat a lot. That’s more accurate. As a result I shower frequently. I’m always looking for that better product. One that works better, smells nicer, lasts longer, and is still gentle enough for those days that I need use it multiple times. I have tried many different brands of soap. Bars, powders, and liquid in my pursuit of cleanliness.

You may not have ever heard of Dr. Squatch (http://www.drsquatch.com), if you haven’t, read on and maybe you’ll find the surfactant  you’ve been looking for.

Dr. Squatch offers a wide variety of natural soaps all with classic manly scents. I prefer the Gold Moss Scrub bar as it has scent that reminds me of the the North woods.Right So let’s get into the good, the bad, and the other

 

GOOD:

All Natural: Being handmade soap, the glycerin is retained in the bar, and they use non GMO coconut, hemp, soy, and olive oils to help keep your skin moisturized and soft.

Cold Processed: Cold process soap has no need to add harsh chemicals or preservatives. That means it’s safer for your skin and the environment.

Scent: All of the soaps have great scents. the moment you open the shipping box you get hit with it. Don’t get me wrong it’s not overwhelming, but it is very present.

Lather: Being natural soaps loaded with glycerin these soaps have plenty of lather-ability

 

BAD:

Size: All of their soaps are square blocks, not the standard rectangle shape so they won’t fit in a standard carrier if your taking them on a trip.

Cost: I won’t lie, their soap isn’t cheap. It costs about $7 a bar. but if you get on their subscription plan it gives you a price break.

Durability: For the average person that showers everyday a bar will last about 2 weeks.

 

Other:

Uses: Because it’s all natural I actually use these soaps instead of shampoo. My hair is softer and smoother than it has been in years thanks to these products.

 

Conclusion:

In my opinion Dr. Squatch makes a fine product, one that I would happily recommend to friends and family. The cost is a bit high, but the quality outweighs the cost. If you are looking for a great soap that will leave you clean and smelling manly Dr.Squatch is the product for you.

 

Banana Bread

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

What you need
2-3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup of sugar (can easily use 3/4 cup, or drop it down to 1/2 cup if you want it less sweet)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
Or 1 1/2 cups of all purpose

What you do
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Butter and flour  a 4×8-inch loaf pan. (I use a stoneware bread pan)
In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.
Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.
Mix in the baking soda and salt.
Stir in the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.
Mix in the flours.
Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (check at 50-55 minutes), or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack.
Remove the banana bread from the pan.
Slice and serve.

 

IMG_20160117_203254

OrangeMud HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2 Review

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

Another bright IdeaLike all my reviews, this is a down and dirty, no mumbo jumbo review using my real world experience. Continuing in a new direction today, this will be a non-tech gear review. Today we will be looking at the OrangeMud HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2

So, you’ve never heard of OrangeMud (www.orangemud.com)? Yeah I hadn’t either until last year when a good friend and fellow runner (Yeah you, Ed) introduced me to their stuff by giving me his Double Barrel HydraQuiver.

I will say this before I get into the review, if you are into buying American designed and American made (As a note, OrangeMud is based out of Corona California) products, like I do, you need to check them out. OK enough chit chat let’s get to it.

Disclaimer: None, the manufacturer did not provide this to me, though I wouldn’t turn down anything from them (hint, hint Josh).

Pros:

Breathability: The VP2 is made from a mesh patterned synthetic material. It’s lightweight, allows plenty of airflow when in use and so far has proven to be extremely tough.

Weight: Weighing in at 9.4 ounces without the included bottles, and 14.7 ounces with them (that’s 264 and 416 grams respectively for my metric friends). This thing is light. Which aids in the comfort aspects

Durability: I’m not going to lie, I’m rough on gear, but the VP2 has proven to be just as rugged as the Double Barrel Quiver it replaced. I’ve had it for a while now, and put well over 500 miles in while using it. It’s been in the woods, and the city and has had zero issues.

Storage: The VP2 has plenty of storage space (198 cubic inches). Two (2) shoulder pockets that can accommodate smaller items like protein bars, gel packs, and energy chews and two (2) front pouches that are big enough to hold items like my phone (I use either a Nexus 6 in a case or a Note 4 in a case) with no issue. All of the pockets are made of a nice stretchy material so you can jam-pack them if you want. I routinely carry 3-4 gel packs in each shoulder pocket, my phone in a front pocket and whatever snack I want quick access to in the other front pocket. If that isn’t enough space for you you can buy an optional accessory pocket that can go in the elastic lashing straps between the bottles.

Hydration: The VP2 comes with two (2) 20-ounce bottles but can fit bottles up to 24 or more ounces thanks to the adjustment straps on the bottle sleeves.

Adjustability: The VP2 has 2 adjustment points. The side straps ,which you should set & forget and the chest strap which you should use for your fine tuning. Basically you put the thing on and make the side straps snug, really snug. Then you use the chest strap to find the right tension to keep it in place.

Comfort: The VP2 is very comfortable to wear, like the Double Barrel I have worn it for hours at a time and never had any issues with discomfort or chafing. The design of the mesh allows plenty of air flow and does not retain moisture.

Neutral:

Fit: OK, I’m a big guy; more than a couple of people have called me a Sasquatch. I’m 6’3” and anywhere between 235 – 250 pounds depending on the time of year. The VP2 fits me but it’s a little small in my opinion. Not small as it it’s hard to get on and off or adjust; small as it the bottom of the pack falls in a spot that feels a bit awkward for me. I’ve let OrangeMud know that I would like to see a Plus sized version of the Pack and Josh Sprague (the owner and all around nice guy) has said that it is on the road map. If you’re 6’ or under and of a medium or slighter build this will be great for you. If you’re bigger in the chest region, or of a larger build, like I am, you may want to look at the Double Barrel HydraQuiver, though you do lose the front pockets with that model.

Bottle Placement: I’ll admit it took me about 10 runs with the first HydraQuiver I had to get used to it. It takes a bit of finesse to reach behind your head and grab or place a bottle from the sleeve, though once you get the hang of it, it’s no big deal at all. In the beginning I probably dropped the bottles half a dozen times trying to put them back. They held up and are still in use today.

Bottle Sleeve: I’m listing this here because the Double Barrel had a fit that held the bottles a bit snugger than the VP2 does. I’ve been told that people requested a looser fit because they wanted it to be easier to get the bottles out. OK I can deal with that; I use a spray on adhesive (the stuff used to make rugs less prone to slipping) to make the sleeve grip the bottles a bit more.

Cons:

Price: At $149 MSRP the VP2 is expensive, but like most things you get what you pay for. The VP2 is well constructed, and is made by a small American company. Factoring in that I’d say that it’s a little high but not outrageously so.

Other:

Warranty: OrangeMud provides a 90-day money back guarantee, a one (1) year warranty on the workmanship of their accessories and a limited lifetime warranty on the packs.

Summary:

So looking at the HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2 , you can see the PROS outweigh the CONS. The pack is durable, lightweight, and good for road running & for trails. It has plenty of storage, and won’t chafe you, even after hours of sweaty use. Sure it’s a little bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. Also your purchase is with small company designing and manufacturing quality products here in the USA, and that’s always a good thing. I can wholeheartedly say that the VP2 is Rob approved.

HydraQuiver_VP2_Front_Black_web_1024x1024HydraQuiver_VP2_Profile_Black_web_1024x1024 HydraQuiver_VP2_Side_Profile_Black_web_1024x1024

Carson Footwear Iguana Racer Review

/ Rob Rowald / 4 Comments

Another bright IdeaLike all my reviews, this is a down and dirty, no mumbo jumbo review using my real world experience. We are taking a new direction today, this will be my first foray into non-tech gear reviews. What are we going to see today, what has the dubious honor of my first tech-free review? Carson Footwear’s Iguana Racers.

If you’re not familiar with Carson Footwear (http://carsonfootwear.com/) I can’t say it’s your fault. They are new player in the footwear world, but at 2.5 years old they are definitely making their way into this ever-burgeoning field.

I will say this before I get into the nitty and the gritty, if you are into buying American designed, American made (As a note, Carson Footwear is based out of Milwaukie Oregon), and almost entirely American sourced products, you need to check them out. If you like to buy from the underdog, the small guy, the hip new upstart, check them out as well. OK enough chit chat let’s get to it.

Disclaimer: I contacted Everett Carson after a mutual acquaintance introduced me to the product, and he was gracious enough to agree to let me have a pair of his premiere offering for review. This will not influence my review, but in order to have full transparency I want to let you know.

Pros:

Breathability: The upper of the shoe is made of a tough, synthetic fiber in a tight mesh weave. It’s lightweight, allows plenty of airflow when in use and so far seems to be pretty tough.

Weight: These shoes are light. I have big feet (size 13 or 14 depending), and shoes normally list the weight for a size 9-10. I can tell you that these are probably the one of lightest pair of shoes I own. 10.3 ounces is what the postal scale shoes the size 13 weighing at. Pretty light.

Durability: I’m not going to lie, I’m rough on footwear, but these have been pretty darned good so far. I’ve run a couple hundred miles on the trails and the roads (combined) as well as walked around San Diego during Comic Con with these guys. They have also pretty much become my go to casual shoe, so they get a lot of mileage on them.

Sole: The sole on these is pretty nice, aside from the lug pattern, which is good on the trails it’s made from lightweight polyurethane instead of your typical EVA. From what I have read this material wa created especially for Carson with the help of BASF. I’ve also read that it helps to dissipate force horizontally as well os vertically so it can be thinner than its EVA counterparts.

Designed, Built and mostly sourced from America: For some of you that might not be a plus, but for me it is. I like supporting smaller, independent manufacturers and if they can add more to their local economy as opposed to somewhere in China or Bangladesh, even better.

Trailability: The PU sole with its unique lug pattern is great on multiple terrains. Dirt, gravel, sand, muddy areas; they performed admirably under most conditions. The one area where I saw a dip in gription (grippyness and friction) was in wet surfaces. They can be a bit slippery on wet stones and grass. Not terrible by any means but it seems to be their weakest point.

Neutral:

Zero Drop: I won’t mislead you; I like zero drop footwear. Inflated heel height is not natural and you shouldn’t stand for it (pun intended). I know a lot of people either don’t know the difference, don’t care, or think it’s weird but having the front and rear of your feet at the same point is where it’s at for me. For those who don’t know zero drop means that the front and the rear of the shoe are the same height. Typically running shoes have anywhere from 4mm – 16mm of difference between where the forefoot and the heel are in relation to the ground.

Stack height: Measuring in at 10MM the Iguanas fall squarely into the mid-range stack height for me. My work shoes are zero drop, .5mm stack height VivoBarefoot RAs and my marathon shoes are Altra Paradigms with a whopping 34mm stack height.

Don’t let the stack height fool you though, I have run 6-8 miles courses in these and they are as comfortable as some of my shoe with 18-24mm stack heights for the same distance.

Price: At $100 they fall right into the upper price point for non-professional runners, but factoring in the fact that they are manufactured and assembled here in the USA it’s a bargain as compared to most other companies that have everything made overseas.

Cons:

Fit: These run a bit smaller than I am used to. Truth be told I probably need a size 14 in them. They have a narrow toebox, and crowd my caveman toes together a bit. Luckily though the upper material is stretchy and they expand on the landing portion of my stride to allow my toes to splay a little bit.

No Rock Plate: Every shoe has to make compromises, weight for cushioning, breathability for waterproofing, or in this case no rock plate for flexibility. I get it, It’s not a huge negative but I wanted to make sure I let you know, being a minimalist shoe, they are very thin and flexible, which means no protective plate. For me that’s no a big deal but for some people it may be.

Other:

Warranty: Carson provides a one (1) year warranty on the workmanship of the shoes. You’ll get a nifty warranty card with the serial number of your shoes when you get them.

Packaging: like most shoes, they come in a box, but in that box is a nice bag to store your shoes in. In a world where companies like to give you less and less, it’s a nice touch.

Summary:

So looking at the Iguanas as a whole, you can see the PROS well outweigh the CONS. The shoes are durable, lightweight, good for road running, and great for trails. They are a little bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for, and really don’t you want your feet to have the best quality you can get for them? If you have wide feet consider getting a size larger than you usually wear. Don’t worry there are different patterns for the shoes, so you don’t have to have reptiles on your feet if you don’t want to. After a couple hundred miles and my daily life I can say that Carson Footwear is Rob approved.

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Rob’s Chocolate Rum Cake

/ Rob Rowald / 1 Comment

mAs7QCake Ingredients:
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces, reserve 1/4 cup
1 1/2 cups boililng water
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch process)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup gold rum, Bacardi

Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar (I use sugar in the raw for a deeper flavor)
1/4 cup water
1 stick butter
1/2 cup gold rum (I use Bacardi 8 for a more complex flavor, for more ummph use 1/4 cup Bacardi 151 & 1/4 cup Bacardi 8)
NOTE**The glaze needs to be prepared approximately 10 minutes before cake is ready.

Directions for Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spray a Bundt pan and spread pecans on the bottom of the pan.
Whisk the cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a medium bowl until smooth; set aside.
Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until combined.
Add the eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the cocoa mixture in a steady stream until just combined.
Pour in Rum, then finish mixing with a rubber spatula. (The batter will be thin.)
Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes.

Directions for Glaze:
Melt butter in saucepan and add the sugar and water, bring to a boil.
Once it starts to boil, take off the heat and add the rum.
Pour into a large measuring cup that will hold that amount or more.
Set Aside.
Once cake is ready, take out of oven and leave in pan.
Gently prick holes into the cake with a skewer.
Slowly pour half of the glaze over the cake making sure to fill in all the holes.
Once the cake has soaked up the glaze, turn cake over, removing pan, onto the base that the cake will stay on.
Gently prick more holes on other side and slowly pour other half of glaze over cake.
Fill the center of the cake with reserved pecans. Let cool and enjoy.
The cake is best if left at room temperature.
NOTE** Make sure you have plenty of paper towels underneath the base as the glaze will run down the sides of the cake.

Cranberry Torte

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

mAs7Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 cups fresh cranberries (2 -12 oz packages)
  • 2 cups sugar, divided into 1.5 cup and .5 cup amounts
  • 2 cups flour (standard, almond, or coconut)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 cup water
  • Pinch Sea salt

 

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 or 325F. (Explanation later)
  2. Rinse the cranberries and put in to lightly greased 13×9 glass pan
  3. Sprinkle .5 cup of sugar over cranberries and set aside
  4. In a medium bowl beat the eggs (low speed)
  5. Add 1.5 cups of sugar and continue beating
  6. Add melted butter
  7. Once incorporated slowly add flour in .5 cup increments fully incorporating each before adding the next.
  8. Slowly add water to mixture until it reaches a smooth, batter like consistency
  9. Mix in walnuts
  10. Pour mix over cranberries in 13×9 pan
  11. Let sit for a couple of minutes to make sure the batter fully covers the cranberries
  12. Bake for 70 minutes at 300 or 60 minutes at 325
  13. When the torte is golden brown remove from oven and let cool completely.
  14. Serve and enjoy

Store refrigerated or freeze to enjoy later

Baconized Meatloaf

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment 
 INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups marinara sauce (from a jar or homemade)
• 10 slices bacon
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

PREPARATION
1.  Preheat your oven to 350 F.

2.  Mix the ground meat with the almond flour, eggs and half the marinara sauce together in a bowl. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

3.  Form two loafs in snug fitting baking dishes and cover the loafs with the bacon slices.

4.  Put in the oven to bake for about 45 minutes, until well cooked.

5.  Put the oven on broil for another 10 minutes to crisp up the bacon.

6.  Remove the loafs from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

7.  Heat remaining marinara sauce on the stove top.

8.  Slice the loafs, serve into plates and top with hot marinara sauce.

Meatzza

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

This is an almost Paleo pizza. If you leave out the cheese it is, but I like cheese.

 

INGREDIENTS
Crust
• 1 lb lean ground beef;
• 1 lb ground pork;
• ¼ cup onion, finely chopped;
• 1 clove garlic, minced;
• 1 egg;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste;

Topping
• 6 slices bacon, cut into pieces;
• ¾ lb button mushrooms, sliced;
• 1 cup bell peppers, thinly sliced;
• 1 cup sugar-free tomato sauce;
• 1 tsp dried oregano;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste;
• Shredded Cheese of your choosing, I prefer an Italian blend

PREPARATION
1. Preheat your oven to 450 F.

2. In a bowl, mix the ground meat with the egg,salt, pepper, onion and garlic.

3. Spread the mixture on a 16-inch pizza pan and bake for 10 minutes.

4. While the crust cooks, heat a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the bacon for about 5 minutes so it’s still a bit soft.

5. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking until they are almost cooked.

6. Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Remove the crust from the oven and pour out the juices which can be reserved for other recipes. At this point the crust will have shrunk a bit.

8. Preheat your oven broiler.

9. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the crust and spread the bacon, mushrooms and bell peppers on top of the sauce. Sprinkle with the oregano.

10. Put the Meatzza back under the broiler and broil until to top starts to brown.

11. Distribute cheese over the meatzza and return to oven until cheese is bubbling and starts to brown.

Jambalya

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

I’m a bit of a foodie. I love experimenting with food preperation, creating and tweaking recipes. To that end I present my spin on a New Orleans classic. This recipe has been used and found tasty by a few people.

I hope you like it.

Rob’s Jambalaya: feeds A Whole Mess Of People

3 bay leaves

5 pounds ham, diced

1 gallon water

Oil, for sautéing

3 pounds chicken breast, diced

2 pounds shrimp, deveined

1 pound crawdad tails

5 onions, chopped

2 pounds celery

5 green peppers, chopped

1 cup green onion, chopped

5 tomatoes, diced

2 cups tomato paste

3 tablespoons parsley, chopped

4 ounces garlic, crushed

2 teaspoons dried thyme

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

3 pounds smoked (andoullie) sausage

3 pounds brown rice

Salt, to taste

Rob’s Spice Mix* to taste

1.       In a boiler, add bay leaves, diced ham and water. Let boil for 1 hour.

2.       In another boiler pan, heat oil.

3.       Add diced chicken, onions and celery. Saute until tender then add peppers, onions and diced tomatoes.

4.       Add tomato paste, chopped parsley, crushed garlic, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, shrimp and smoked sausage.

5.       Cook for 10  minutes.

6.       Add crawdad tails

7.       Cook for 5 minutes

8.       Add Rice to first boiler, and boil until tender

9.       Add cooked rice to jambalaya in second boiler.

10.   Salt and spice to taste

* Spice mix

2 tablespoons part fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons part cayenne pepper

6 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning

2 tablespoons garlic power

2 tablespoons onion powder

Hope you enjoy it.

Rob’s Paleo Mayo

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

mAs7Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Ingredients:

1 large egg yolk (2 if you like it yolky)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 cup macadamia nut oil or avocado oil or walnut oil

**All ingredients should be at room temperature**

Place all the ingredients except the oil in a large bowl and whisk until the yolk is thickened and the color brightens (around 30-45 seconds).

Add 1/4 cup of the oil in a slow steady stream while whisking vigorously (~1 minute).
To keep my bowl in place, I put it on a rubber mat. If there’s someone else in the house, recruit him or her to slowly pour in the oil while you whisk.

After the oil is incorporated, slowly add the second 1/4 cup of oil and incorporate it the same way as the first (~30-45 seconds). I

Add the last 1/4 cup of oil all at once and whisk it to emulsify the mayo completely (1.5 – 2 minutes).

Music, what I’m listening to these days

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

Ever wonder what kind of music I listen to? Well it varies from day to day, but here are a few of the artists I’ve been listening to lately… Hope you enjoy.

Alt-J – Tessellate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg6BwvDcANg
White Denim – Pretty green http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCoiehkH8U
MS MR – Think of you (Haerts remix) https://soundcloud.com/msmrsounds/msmr-think-of-you-haerts-remix
Lorde – Tennis Court http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Ymd-OCucs
The 1975 – Chocolate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBKqaVk2Co
Tinashe – Vulnerable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha5vw3OlMx0
Of Monsters and Men – Dirty Paws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pWlvu0MyKM
Bastille – Bad blood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrXnXpCD8Ps
Strange Talk – Falling in love (Chris Alarcon remix) https://soundcloud.com/strangetalkmusic/falling-in-love-chris-alarcon/s-d3Q0t
Young the Giant – Cough Syrup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAsTlnjvetI
American Authors – Best Day of My Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y66j_BUCBMY
AWOLNation – Kill your Heroes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4MzF53je5M
Fast Times – Bodytalk http://vimeo.com/60901749
Flogging Molly – Worst Day Since Yesterday http://vimeo.com/8009720
Kodaline – All I Want http://vimeo.com/41579051
The Night IV – Fears https://soundcloud.com/thenightvi/fears
Grouplove – Ways To Go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvHnDeS12o
M83 – Midnight City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE
Alt-J – Breezeblocks http://vimeo.com/39435342
J. Roddy Walston & The Business – ‘Heavy Bells’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc_6nRP-jC0
Broken Bells – Holding On for Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBlRcLfHVAk
Django Django – Default http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDjpOrlfh0Y
Capital Cities – Kangaroo Court http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJinWua98NA
Dirty Heads – Hiphop Misfits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grFasdatldU
Hollywood Undead – We Are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocXjr9nPnvg
Artic Monkeys – One For The Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN7gSMPQFss
Warpaint – Biggy https://soundcloud.com/warpaintwarpaint/biggy-1
Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band – Bubblegum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btrc15wfY7Y
Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_qKmTLbEPc

The measure of true fitness – I’m a Work in progress

/ Rob Rowald / 1 Comment

Let me preface this post by saying, I’m still working on my true fitness. I am in no way near where I want to be, but everything takes time. Maybe someday I will be truly fit, until then I’m a work in progress

Crossing the finish at the warrior dash

The thing that most people fail to comprehend is what true ‪‎fitness is.
It’s not a specific weight, a body type or even an appearance, but rather a measure of ones capability.

True fitness doesn’t come from having the physique you see in magazines, being able to lift the most weight, or from the number of reps you can do in any given exercise. True fitness is being the best you, that you can be.

Overcoming your personal obstacles, out performing the you of yesterday. True fitness is a measure of your endurance, you capacity for change and your ability to accept the things that you cannot change.

Having rock hard abs and the perfect V shape would be great, don’t get me wrong, but they are not the true measurement of your fitness. Running two miles when you used to only be able to one, is a much better measurement.

Recognizing your stumbling blocks, both mental and physical, and working to correct and eventually overcome them is a better measurement of your true fitness.

Being physically fit is only a part of your true fitness, the greatest aspect of true fitness is mental. it’s not hoping, or praying that you are able to do something. It’s not being afraid to try, even if you do not succeed at first.

Having the mental attitude of “I believe I can do this” or better yet “I know I can do this” that is the biggest part of true fitness.
When we can look at ourselves and say “I give you permission to fail, so long as you have given your best effort”, that is when we are at our best.

Once you allow yourself to get over the preconceived notions of what fitness is, you can focus on raising your capabilities and your functional abilities.
When you give yourself permission to move past the obstacles that you have placed in your own way, and allow yourself to live up to your potential, then you will know what true fitness is.

True fitness is functional fitness, not physical fitness.

“Brownies”

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

mAs7QToday’s kitchen experiment: “brownies”

1 stick butter melted (or 2/3 cup ghee)
2 TBS walnut oil
1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup raw sugar
2 Tbs agave nectar
2 Tbs maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 package dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

in a small container mix sugar, agave, maple syrup, oil and butter
in a medium bowl mix coconut flour, cocoa powder, eggs, vanilla, pecans, chocolate chips
Add sugar mix to flour mix and stir until fully combined
add to greased 9×9 pan

either bake for 45-50 minutes at 325 degrees or microwave for 6 minutes
let cool
enjoy

20130707_141345

Calculating Calories Burned: How I do it

/ Rob Rowald / 1 Comment
Hey Look It's Me

Hey Look It’s Me

It’s been a while since I have posted anything so I figured I would go over something.

I have been asked before and some of you may be wondering how I figure my calories burned, well here is my method:

It begins with heart rate monitors, these wonderful and frustrating devices are the crux of any method of figuring calories burned.

I use two different HRMs one is a Polar FT4 with a rigid chest strap (http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/get_active/fitness_crosstraining/FT4), the other is a Scosche Rhythm with an arm strap (http://www.scosche.com/rhythm/). I use both of these great devices to record my numbers for my various exercise routines. When I finish a routine I then add the results from each HRM together and divide the sum by 2 to get an average (the results from each device are pretty close to each other but never the same).

Next I take this averaged number and then subtract my Basal Metabolic Rate (the calories I would have burned just sitting around on my arse in the same period). You can find a rough estimate of yours here: http://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html

Take the number you get for a BMR and divide it by 1440 (the number of minutes in a day) and that is how much you burn per minute just sitting on your butt doing nothing.

For me that number is 1.5 (well actually 1.4868 but I round up) so if I do 30 minutes of exercise and burn 600 calories I would need to subtract 45 calories from the result (30 minutes x 1.5 per minute) because I would have burned that amount of calories even if I was just being a bum, that leaves me with 555 calories burned for that routine.

I am the only guy I know that uses a calculator at the gym, but I feel it gives me a more accurate set of numbers, which will be better in the long run. I hope this makes sense to you guys and perhaps you will start using this method for yourself.

Yet another trip around the Sun

/ Rob Rowald / 2 Comments

Hey Look It’s Me

Well Yesterday was the 41st anniversary of my arrival on this, our home planet. It’s a small blue marble floating around in the vastness that is space. Light years from anything of real interest, far removed from the hub bub that lies in the center of our galaxy, let alone our universe. What did I do to commemorate such a momentous day, you ask? Well I’ll tell you, in a nice timeline format.

4:30 a.m. – woke
4:35 a.m. – brushed teeth, got dressed for gym
4:40 a.m. – ate breakfast
4:50 a.m. – out the door
5:10 a.m. – at the gym for my Tuesday workout
7:10 a.m. – hit the showers
7:25 a.m. – off to work

BIG chunk of day gone

4:55 p.m. – head home
5:35 p.m. – off to the mall (wife was supposed to pick up some clothes that were being altered)
6:15 p.m. – TO DINNER! (at a great local restaurant that specializes in american comfort food)
8:00 p.m. – back home doing a little bit of work remotely (checking on a big data transfer)
8:15 p.m. – geeked on the computer
10:00 p.m. – called it a night

Exciting stuff I know, but it was a good day.

Since you’re here I might as well expand upon my workout routine as well. My Tuesday workout? well as of late I have switched it up a little bit. Here is what I have been doing for Tuesdays:

Strength:
30 Dips
10 Overhand pull-ups
10 Underhand pull-ups
10 Front grip pull-ups
30 Crouched row 110 pounds
30 Tricep extensions 55 pounds
30 Push ups
40 Sit ups, ledge style* (10 front, 10 right, 10 left, 10 front) 15 pounds
30 Bar dips neutral grip
30 Renegade rows with should press 70 pounds (35 pounds per hand)
30 Crouch and punch 15 pounds each hand
30 Mountain climbers
30 Lunges 70 pounds
Typical time 40 – 45 minutes
Typical Calories Burned 250 – 300

Cardio:

5k run 7.5 mph
10 mile bike ride
Typical time: 50-60 minutes
Typical calories burned: 1200-1700 depending on incline and and other variables

*this is done with a piece of equipment or hanging off the edge of a platform so that your whole upper body is just hanging out in the wide open with no floor, so that you can get a wider range of motion.

It’s been working well for me, I’ve noticed I’m getting more definition in my arms and my stomach area is starting to tighten up a bit, which is a good thing as I have a lot of excess skin to deal with.

On a related note I discovered a new brand of exercise clothing that I really like. Hylete makes a nice collection of workout and competition gear for cross-trainers/cross-fitters and other exercise enthusiasts . I liked the shorts I got from them so much, that I applied to and was accepted into their athletes program.

Basically they help to sponsor me with gear for telling people about their stuff. It’s a simple premise, I tell people about the gear I like and direct them to the Hylete web page, if people use me as a referral when they buy stuff, I get money to buy gear at a reduced price (which helps me save money to pay for more races and such). It’s a win for everyone. Hylete gets more customers, I get more gear, and my friends get high quality gear from a small company trying to make it big.

So if your in the market for some workout clothes give them a look. If you buy something and use me as a referral, great; if you buy something and don’t use me as a referral that’s fine too. I’m just trying to help a small company get their product seen by more people. In the end it isn’t about me getting stuff, it’s about someone building a business that will provide a quality product and employ more people right here in the US. If I get a benefit from it I’m all for it, but even if I don’t I hope see them succeed. Our economy can use all the help it can get these days.

That’s it for now.

Go.

Do.

Be.

Rob

Warriors Dashing, Mudders Toughing it out, and other things I’ve been up to lately

/ Rob Rowald / Leave a comment

It’s been a while since I wrote anything of any substance, well intrepid readers don’t worry, you’ll find no real substance here. So, you can continue to breathe easy. This is a light post about things I have been up to as of late, nothing too heady, or heavy, just a nice easy jaunt down recent memory lane. Lace up your running shoes, grab your water bottle & let’s hit the road…

stolen from http://experimentinginhappiness.files.wordpress.com

As some of you may know I’m a bit of a workout guy. 4 days a week, 1.5 – 3.0 hours, about 1500 calories per workout, depending on what I’m doing. I have been on a maintenance course lately, just keeping my weight in check and getting more fit. I had ulterior motives though, while not insidious by any means, some people may think them a bit kooky.

I was training for the Warrior Dash (http://warriordash.com) and the Tough Mudder (http://toughmudder.com). If you are unfamiliar they are obstacle course runs. The first being a 5k run with 10+ obstacles to over come to get to the finish line. The second being a 12 mile course with 21+ obstacles standing between you and the finish line. When I tell most people that I do these for fun (and to help raise money for charities) they look at me funny and I know that they are mentally scratching their head and saying “This dude’s cheese must have slid right off his cracker.” while that assessment may or may not be accurate, the fact remains that I do enjoy the grueling punishment that these courses afford me. They push me to do better, run harder, get stronger and generally prove to myself that I am still alive.

I participated in the 2012 Wisconsin Warrior Dash on 8/18. I used it as my primer for the Tough Mudder that I ran on 9/8. It was great. I finished in just over 31 minutes. 36th in my age bracket (out of 600+ runners) and 253rd over all (out of 6510 runners). I also raised over $350 for ST. Jude’s Hospital. The course was great and I was in an early heat so as to avoid the hot mid-day sun. I had set my go to finish in 40 minutes, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that I was well below that time. I’m not one for Timed races, as I care more about completing the course than competing on it. which leads us nicely to the next run.

Crossing the finish at the warrior dash

The Tough Mudder, I ran this in the first heat on 9/8. 12 miles of varying terrain littered with many obstacles. Unlike the Dash, this is non timed course that focus more on camaraderie than on time. As fate would have it my cousin, who was supposed to run it with me, was forbidden to do so by his physician. I was a team of one, or so I thought. About 1 mile in I met up with a 34 year old Fireman from Milwaukee named Kevin. His teammate was out as well, due to elbow that got broken in a MMA match. He asked if I wanted to team up and I was happy to do so. He had run the Mudder the year before and was glad to find someone to run it with.

Being 7 years younger than me, a fireman, and a previous runner in the Mudder, meant that I would have to keep up with him, as his pace would no doubt be faster than mine (you do remember me saying I like to be challenged, right?). Well his normal pace was a bit faster than my normal pace, but I stepped it up and kept up with him (except on a couple of hills where he slowed to wait for me.) We ran at about 6.5 mph for the first 5 miles where we happened to meet up with a third guy, and I knew this one. Tom is a guy from my gym whom I have talked to a few times. Here I am just plodding along at about mile 5 when I turn and see him just jogging along as if it’s no big deal; I started talking to him and he gladly joined our twosome. Now a threesome we were like a team, 3 different guys, with different strengths to compliment each other. It turns out the Tom was supposed to be in the 9 am heat, but like me he decided to go early, to beat the heat.

So picture the scene if you can, 2 guys that are younger and in better shape then yours truly, trudging along the mud laden, obstacle filled course with about 7 miles to go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in OK shape, I run, I lift, & I bike, but these guys are not former fat guys with loads of spare skin flopping around, I looked a bit out of place next to them, but never the less here we were, 3 guys, out to beat this course. As it turned out I was kind of built for this type of thing. I’m tall, fairly strong, and can run for decent amounts of distance without really slowing down. I could grab the tops of the tall walls with just a slight jump, I was tall enough to hop over the smaller barriers with ease, and limber enough to go under the others with little difficulty.

I surprised not only myself but my teammates by being the pace setter at about mile 9. Both Kevin and Tom started to get worn out at that point and I had to take point and keep them motivated. That was easy, seeing the old man of the group plodding along at the same pace he had from the get go, does wonders to get younger guys going.

I was in my zone, the place I go when I exercise, be it biking, hiking, or running. I get into a mental state where I have a sort of tunnel vision, all I see is my end point and I focus on that. I was there; running through smoke and fire; the zone; Climbing up an incline and jumping off a 27 foot tall platform into water; the zone; running up a steep hill, then dropping down a sheer dirt cliff; the zone; running through the muddy forest area, and dodging barbed wire; the zone; swimming through water and getting shocked by up to 10000 v of electricity yep, the zone. At one point Kevin turned to Tom and said, “this guy is like a machine, he just keeps right on going without stopping”. It’s funny the guys I go hiking with have said the same thing. It’s the zone and it is my secret weapon to conquering the course.

Even though the Tough Mudder isn’t timed, I started my HRM when I crossed the starting line and stopped it when I crossed through the “Electroshock Therapy” obstacle. Yeah you read that right 2 obstacle both involving water and electricity. The first one was called the Electric Eel, where you crawl and swim through water with live wires danging down so that you cannot avoid them. ZAP! ZAP! ZAP! I got one to the forehead in the eel that made everything go black for a second. You want motivation, getting shocked will motivate you to move your arse faster. The second electric obstacle is the very last one on the course, no crawling this time, you’re running through an archway laden with over 1000 wires. Random wires have a live charge and will zap the unlucky. I got 3 zaps running through; more motivation. In total I clocked in at 01:58:02 from start to finish. Not too shabby for a guy who less than 2 years ago only ran to kitchen to get a snack.

So Rob, having run the Dash and the Mudder what are you going to do now? I’m going to Disney Land!
Well not really. I went to Kentucky, for a few days of hiking in the Red River Gorge Geological Area of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I hiked a lot, I took a lot of pictures, and generally relaxed for 4 days in one of the most scenic places I have been. Want to see my pictures? There are over 300 of them, most of trees and rocks and other nature stuff…

Suspension Bride over the Red River

If you ever get the chance go to the Red River Gorge and the Natural Bridge Parks in Kentucky. I was once again awed by the beauty and power of the world around me. Nothing can make you feel small quite like seeing the enormity of the world we live in up close.

Now I have had to return to the real world, where there are project, deadlines, and problems to be fixed. It’s amazing how much can pile up in a 6 day absence from work. I have servers to repair, new switches to put in place and a 24TB Equalogic ISCSI SAN to implement as well finishing up the office remodel that I am overseeing. I keep the memory of my recent obstacle course in my head along with the pictures of my visit to KY. Filed away to remind me that there are better things waiting for us, just beyond the doors and walls of home and office.

I have about a year to get ready for the next Tough Mudder, Spartan Beast, or maybe the Zombie Run. Who knows what lies around the next corner, just waiting for me, you, hell all of us, to grab hold of and run with. Adventure waits for us, and will always be there when we are ready for it.

Rob

Update If anyone would like to see me get zapped in the Electroshock Therapy obstacle at the end of the 2012 ToughMudder, here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MqJneBi_kk&feature=youtu.be