Search found 96 matches for 2

Trilby #2

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1
This cocktail calls for Famous Grouse, a brand of blended Scotch whiskey. Parfait amour, a purple-colored liqueur, exhibits flavors of orange, vanilla, rose and almond.

Ingredients:

• Ice as needed
  
• 1 1/2 oz. Famous Grouse
  
• 3/4 oz. Dolin sweet vermouth
  
• 1/2 oz. parfait amour
  
• 2 dashes of orange bitters
  
• 2 dashes of absinthe
  

Related Recipes

• Mojito >
  
• Papaya and Lime Agua Fresca >
  
• Apple Cidercar >
  
• Negroni >
  
• Strawberry Daiquiris >
  

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, combine the Famous Grouse, vermouth, parfait amour, orange bitters and absinthe and shake until well chilled, 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and serve immediately. Serves 1.

Recipe by Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco.

Sparkling Fresh Paloma


Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1
This recipe for the tequila-based cocktail known as a paloma was created by the beverage experts at Bourbon & Branch, a well-known San Francisco bar.

Ingredients:

• Ice as needed
  
• 2 oz. tequila
  
• 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
  
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
  
• 2 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
  
• Mint sprig for garnish
  
• Curled lemon peel for garnish
  

Related Recipes

• Simple Syrup >
  
• Minty Cantaloupe Agua Fresca >
  
• Trilby #2 >
  
• Campari and Soda >
  
• Raspberry Champagne Cocktail >
  

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the tequila, lime juice, simple syrup and grapefruit juice and shake until well chilled, 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a highball glass, garnish with the mint sprig and lemon peel, and serve immediately. Serves 1.

Recipe by Bourbon & Branch, San Francisco.

Sakerinha

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: n/a minutes
Servings: 1
Combining lime and spirits is always a win: a margarita does it with tequila, a gimlet does it with gin and a mojito does it with rum. In this recipe, sake and lime juice are combined for a spin on Brazil’s national cocktail, the caipirinha.

Ingredients:

• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
  
• 2 tsp. superfine sugar, or to taste
  
• Crushed ice as needed
  
• 6 Tbs. (3 fl. oz./90 ml) sake
  

Related Recipes

• Citrus Caipirinhas >
  
• Campari and Orange Cocktails >
  
• Classic Manhattan >
  
• Blended Mojitos >
  
• Trilby #2 >
  

Directions:

Combine the lime wedges and sugar in an old-fashioned glass. Using a cocktail muddler or the end of a wooden spoon, crush the ingredients in the bottom of the glass, pressing to extract as much juice as possible from the lime wedges. Add a handful of crushed ice and top off with the sake. Stir and serve. Makes 1 drink.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Good Food to Share, by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan (Weldon Owen, 2010)

Back-to-Back Arctic Blasts Sending Midwest, Northeast into a Deep Freeze Through the Weekend

Chris Dolce
Published: December 15, 2016
A bitter cold arctic air mass has swept through a large swath of the central and eastern states to close out the workweek, sending wind chills into the teens, 20s and 30s below zero in some locations. Extreme cold will continue this weekend as an even more frigid blast of arctic air plunges into the central states on the heels of Winter Storm Decima.
(MORE: Another Winter Storm in the Midwest)
Some locations have seen or could see their coldest December temperatures in several years, and some record lows may be threatened. 
(MORE: What the Wind Chill Really Means)

Current Wind Chills

Arctic Cold Round #1: Through Friday

Great Falls, Montana, recorded its tenth straight day in a row with subzero lows on Wednesday morning. That is longest such streak there since February 1996.
Thursday morning, subzero low temperatures were recorded as far south as Iowa, northern Illinois and northern Indiana. Winds chills in the 20s and 30s below zero were widespread throughout the Upper Midwest.
Chicago saw its first December subzero low temperature since Dec. 24, 2013. The mercury plunged to minus 20 degrees in Grand Forks, North Dakota, making it the coldest December reading in the city since Dec. 23, 2013.

Current Temperatures
Temperatures held in the 20s on Thursday afternoon along the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C. A large number of cities from the interior Northeast to the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest saw afternoon readings in the single digits or teens, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh.
Friday morning looks to be the coldest for many Northeast cities, with lows 15-30 degrees below average. Single digits above and below zero are expected in parts of upstate New York, northern/western Pennsylvania and New England. Wind chills will be in the single digits, teens and even a few 20s below zero across the interior Northeast and New England Friday morning. A few places in northern New England could see wind chills in the 30s below zero.

Forecast Morning Lows
(FORECAST: Bismarck, North Dakota | Chicago | Minneapolis | Boston | New York)

Cold Perspective

• Boston: A low of 8 degrees or colder would be the lowest official December temperature in the city since 2004.
  
• Pittsburgh: The first single-digit December low temperature since Dec. 31, 2009 (9 degrees), is possible Friday morning.
  
• Washington, D.C.: A low in the teens Friday morning would be the first time the mercury has dipped below 20 degrees there in December since Dec. 23, 2008. 
  

Arctic Cold Round #2: This Weekend

The second plunge of arctic air will begin seeping south of the Canadian border and into the northern Plains (western Dakotas, Montana) on Friday. That cold air will spread east and south across the Midwest and Plains during the upcoming weekend and into early next week.
This weekend's temperatures will be the coldest we've seen so far this month in some locales, and daily record lows may be threatened.

Forecast Highs This Weekend
(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)

• Lows: Temperatures in the teens and 20s below zero will infiltrate areas from Montana to the Dakotas and the upper Mississippi Valley this weekend. In some locations, this will be 20-45 degrees below mid-December average lows. Single digits below zero may surge into the Front Range of Colorado, Kansas, northern Missouri and northern Illinois on Sunday morning. By Monday morning, lows in the teens and single digits below zero could continue the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi Valley.
  
• Highs: Afternoon readings may not rise above zero in the northern Plains, upper Midwest and western Great Lakes this weekend, including Minneapolis and Fargo, North Dakota.
  
• This round of arctic air will move into the Northeast early next week, but it won't be as cold as we will see in the Midwest.
  

Forecast Low Temperatures Compared to Average Sunday

Cold Perspective For This Weekend

• Chicago: There is a chance that the Windy City may see a subzero high temperature on Sunday. The last high temperature that was below zero there was in January 2014. The last below-zero high temperature there in December was in 1983.
  
• Bismarck, North Dakota: Saturday's high may be in the teens below zero. The last time they recorded a high in the double digits below zero in December was 2008. They haven't had a high in the teens below zero in any month since January 2010.
  
• Minneapolis: If the mercury plunges into the 20s below zero, that would be the first time it's happened there in December since 1996. The last 20s below zero in the Twin Cities for any month occurred in January 2014.
  

Will Any Record Lows Be Set?

Some daily record lows could be approached in the Midwest this weekend into Monday. Below are a few examples with the record to beat for each city on that respective day shown.

• Saturday: Bismarck, North Dakota (-27 degrees); Omaha, Nebraska (-9 degrees)
  
• Sunday: Aberdeen, South Dakota (-28 degrees); Minneapolis (-24 degrees)
  
• Monday: Chicago (-14 degrees); Detroit (-6 degrees)
  

https://www.wunderground.com/news/back-to-back-arctic-cold-blasts-midwest-east-december-2016

Limoncello Martinis

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 6
When preparing cocktails, use ice made from purified distilled water instead of tap water to avoid off flavors. The crystal-clear appearance of purified ice will also lend a sparkle to your drinks. A few lemon slices in the shaker will add a pleasant flavor.

Ingredients:

• Ice cubes as needed
  
• 1 cup limoncello liqueur
  
• 1 cup gin
  
• 6 lemon twists
  

Related Recipes

• Balsamic Bloody Mary >
  
• Trilby #2 >
  
• The Barn Nail >
  
• The Hungry Cat Bloody Mary >
  
• Greyhound >
  

Directions:

Put 6 martini glasses in the freezer to chill for at least 15 minutes.

Just before serving, fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Pour half of the limoncello and half of the gin over the ice. Cover with the lid and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain into 3 of the chilled glasses, dividing evenly. Repeat to make 3 more drinks. Garnish each glass with a lemon twist. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Easy Entertaining, by George Dolese (Simon & Schuster, 2005).

Gin Sling



Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1
This is a late-19th-century sling recipe that the author served for years at the Rainbow Room with great success. The ladies from the photo-editing department of the Associated Press next door were especially fond of this recipe. The cocktail was first described in print as a bittered sling. Before the addition of bitters, a sling was spirits, sugar water and sometimes lemon.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. gin
  
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
  
• 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
  
• 1 oz. simple syrup (see related tip at right)
  
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
  
• Ice as needed
  
• Soda water as needed
  
• Lemon-peel spiral for garnish (see related tip at
    right)
  

Related Recipes

• Plum and Nectarine Sangria >
  
• Limoncello Dirty Martini >
  
• Trilby #2 >
  
• Cosmopolitan >
  
• Cranberry Martinis >
  

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, vermouth, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters and ice. Shake, then strain over ice into a collins glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a lemon-peel spiral. Serves 1.

Adapted from The Craft of the Cocktail, by Dale DeGroff (Clarkson Potter, 2002).

Related Tips

• Making Simple Syrup >
  
• Making a Lemon-Peel Spiral Garnish
  

Classic Manhattan

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 1
This cocktail made its debut at New York's Manhattan Club at a banquet given by Lady Jenny Churchill for Samuel Tilden, the lawyer who prosecuted the infamous Tweed Ring in the 1870s. Unlike the dry martini, which will be a success if you simply combine a decent amount of a good London dry gin with a splash of your favorite dry vermouth, the Manhattan is a challenge to mix because its ratio of whiskey to vermouth is absolutely critical. Results also depend on the type of whiskey you use. Although blended Canadian whiskey works fairly well, using straight rye or bourbon whiskey will produce a superior beverage.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 oz. rye, bourbon or blended Canadian whiskey
  
• 1 1/2 Tbs. sweet vermouth
  
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  
• 1 maraschino cherry, for garnish
  

Related Recipes

• Elderflower White Cosmopolitan >
  
• Watermelon and Tequila Frescas >
  
• Rye Maple Fizz >
  
• Trilby #2 >
  
• Sparkling Apple Punch >
  

Directions:

Pour the whiskey, vermouth and bitters into a mixing glass two-thirds full of ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherry.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Guides, The Bar Guide, by Ray Foley (Time-Life Books, 1999).

10 American Foods that are Banned in Other Countries

by DR MERCOLA
Americans are slowly waking up to the sad fact that much of the food sold in the US is far inferior to the same foods sold in other nations. In fact, many of the foods you eat are BANNED in other countries.
Here, I’ll review 10 American foods that are banned elsewhere, which were featured in a recent MSN article.₁
Seeing how the overall health of Americans is so much lower than other industrialized countries, you can’t help but wonder whether toxic foods such as these might play a role in our skyrocketing disease rates.

#1: Farm-Raised Salmon

If you want to maximize health benefits from fish, you want to steer clear of farmed fish, particularly farmed salmon fed dangerous chemicals. Wild salmon gets its bright pinkish-red color from natural carotenoids in their diet. Farmed salmon, on the other hand, are raised on a wholly unnatural diet of grains (including genetically engineered varieties), plus a concoction of antibiotics and other drugs and chemicals not shown to be safe for humans.
This diet leaves the fish with unappetizing grayish flesh so to compensate, they’re fed synthetic astaxanthin made from petrochemicals, which has not been approved for human consumption and has well known toxicities. According to the featured article, some studies suggest it can potentially damage your eyesight. More details are available in yesterday’s article.
Where it’s banned: Australia and New Zealand
How can you tell whether a salmon is wild or farm-raised? The flesh of wild sockeye salmon is bright red, courtesy of its natural astaxanthin content. It’s also very lean, so the fat marks, those white stripes you see in the meat, are very thin. If the fish is pale pink with wide fat marks, the salmon is farmed.
Avoid Atlantic salmon, as typically salmon labeled “Atlantic Salmon” currently comes from fish farms. The two designations you want to look for are: “Alaskan salmon,” and “sockeye salmon,” as Alaskan sockeye is not allowed to be farmed. Please realize that the vast majority of all salmon sold in restaurants is farm raised.
So canned salmon labeled “Alaskan Salmon” is a good bet, and if you find sockeye salmon, it’s bound to be wild. Again, you can tell sockeye salmon from other salmon by its color; its flesh is bright red opposed to pink, courtesy of its superior astaxanthin content. Sockeye salmon actually has one of the highest concentrations of astaxanthin of any food.

#2: Genetically Engineered Papaya

Most Hawaiian papaya is now genetically engineered to be resistant to ringspot virus. Mounting research now shows that animals fed genetically engineered foods, such as corn and soy, suffer a wide range of maladies, including intestinal damage, multiple-organ damage, massive tumors, birth defects, premature death, and near complete sterility by the third generation of offspring. Unfortunately, the gigantic human lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from tabulating the human casualties.
Where it’s banned: The European Union
Unfortunately, it’s clear that the US government is not in a position to make reasonable and responsible decisions related to genetically engineered foods at this point, when you consider the fact that the Obama administration has placed former Monsanto attorney and Vice President, Michael Taylor, in charge of US food safety, and serious conflicts of interest even reign supreme within the US Supreme Court! That’s right. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is also a former Monsanto attorney, but refuses to acknowledge any conflict of interest.

#3: Ractopamine-Tainted Meat

The beta agonist drug ractopamine (a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis) was recruited for livestock use when researchers found that the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular. This reduces the overall fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is currently used in about 45 percent of US pigs, 30 percent of ration-fed cattle, and an unknown percentage of turkeys are pumped full of this drug in the days leading up to slaughter. Up to 20 percent of ractopamine remains in the meat you buy from the supermarket, according to veterinarian Michael W. Fox.
Since 1998, more than 1,700 people have been “poisoned” from eating pigs fed the drug, and ractopamine is banned from use in food animals in no less than 160 different countries due to its harmful health effects! Effective February 11, 2013, Russia issued a ban on US meat imports, slated to last until the US agrees to certify that the meat is ractopamine-free. At present, the US does not even test for the presence of this drug in meats sold. In animals, ractopamine is linked to reductions in reproductive function, increase of mastitis in dairy herds, and increased death and disability. It’s also known to affect the human cardiovascular system, and is thought to be responsible for hyperactivity, and may cause chromosomal abnormalities and behavioral changes.
Where it’s banned: 160 countries across Europe, Russia, mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan)

#4: Flame Retardant Drinks

If you live in the US and drink Mountain Dew and some other citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks, then you are also getting a dose of a synthetic chemical called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which was originally patented by chemical companies as a flame retardant.
BVO has been shown to bioaccumulate in human tissue and breast milk, and animal studies have found it causes reproductive and behavioral problems in large doses. Bromine is a central nervous system depressant, and a common endocrine disruptor. It’s part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. When ingested, bromine competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. This can lead to iodine deficiency, which can have a very detrimental impact on your health. Bromine toxicity can manifest as skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias. According to the featured article:
“The FDA has flip-flopped on BVO’s safety originally classifying it as ‘generally recognized as safe’ but reversing that call now defining it as an ‘interim food additive’ a category reserved for possibly questionable substances used in food.”
Where it’s banned: Europe and Japan

#5: Processed Foods Containing Artificial Food Colors and Dyes

More than 3,000 food additives — preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients — are added to US foods, including infant foods and foods targeted to young children. Meanwhile, many of these are banned in other countries, based on research showing toxicity and hazardous health effects, especially with respect to adverse effects on children’s behavior. For example, as reported in the featured article:
“Boxed Mac & Cheese, cheddar flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids’ cereals contain red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and/or blue 2, the most popularly-used dyes in the United States. Research has shown this rainbow of additives can cause behavioral problems as well as cancer, birth defects and other health problems in laboratory animals. Red 40 and yellow 6 are also suspected of causing an allergy-like hypersensitivity reaction in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also “contaminated with known carcinogens.”
In countries where these food colors and dyes are banned, food companies like Kraft employ natural colorants instead, such as paprika extract, beetroot, and annatto. The food blogger and activist Vani Hari, better known as “Food Babe,” recently launched a Change.org petition₂ asking Kraft to remove artificial dyes from American Mac & Cheese to protect American children from the well-known dangers of these dyes.
Where it’s banned: Norway and Austria. In 2009, the British government advised companies to stop using food dyes by the end of that year. The European Union also requires a warning notice on most foods containing dyes.

#6: Arsenic-Laced Chicken

Arsenic-based drugs are approved for use in animal feed in the US because they make animals grow quicker and make the meat appear pinker (i.e. “fresher”). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated these products are safe because they contain organic arsenic, which is less toxic than the other inorganic form, which is a known carcinogen.
The problem is, scientific reports surfaced stating that the organic arsenic could transform into inorganic arsenic, which has been found in elevated levels in supermarket chickens. The inorganic arsenic also contaminates manure where it can eventually migrate into drinking water and may also be causing heightened arsenic levels in US rice.
In 2011, Pfizer announced it would voluntarily stop marketing its arsenic-based feed additive Roxarsone, but there are still several others on the market. Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the FDA calling for their removal from the market. In the European Union, meanwhile, arsenic-based compounds have never been approved as safe for animal feed.
Where it’s banned: The European Union

#7: Bread with Potassium Bromate

You might not be aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours. The use of potassium bromate as an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to bromide overload in Western cultures.
Bromated flour is “enriched” with potassium bromate. Commercial baking companies claim it makes the dough more elastic and better able to stand up to bread hooks. However, Pepperidge Farm and other successful companies manage to use only unbromated flour without any of these so-called “structural problems.” Studies have linked potassium bromate to kidney and nervous system damage, thyroid problems, gastrointestinal discomfort, and cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies potassium bromate as a possible carcinogen.
Where it’s banned: Canada, China and the EU

#8: Olestra/Olean

Olestra, aka Olean, created by Procter & Gamble, is a calorie- and cholesterol-free fat substitute used in fat-free snacks like chips and French fries. Three years ago, Time Magazine₃ named it one of the worst 50 inventions ever, but that hasn’t stopped food companies from using it to satisfy people’s mistaken belief that a fat-free snack is a healthier snack. According to the featured article:
“Not only did a 2011 study from Purdue University conclude rats fed potato chips made with Olean gained weight, there have been several reports of adverse intestinal reactions to the fake fat including diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels. And because it interferes with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, the FDA requires these vitamins be added to any product made with Olean or olestra.”
Where it’s banned: The UK and Canada

#9: Preservatives BHA and BHT

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are commonly used preservatives that can be found in breakfast cereal, nut mixes, chewing gum, butter spread, meat, dehydrated potatoes, and beer, just to name a few. BHA is known to cause cancer in rats, and may be a cancer-causing agent in humans as well. In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program’s 2011 Report on Carcinogens, BHA “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” It may also trigger allergic reactions and hyperactivity, while BHT can cause organ system toxicity.
Where it’s banned: The UK doesn’t allow BHA in infant foods. BHA and BHT are also banned in parts of the European Union and Japan.

#10: Milk and Dairy Products Laced with rBGH

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is the largest selling dairy animal drug in America. RBGH is a synthetic version of natural bovine somatotropin (BST), a hormone produced in cows’ pituitary glands. Monsanto developed the recombinant version from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria and markets it under the brand name “Posilac.”
It’s injected into cows to increase milk production, but it is banned in at least 30 other nations because of its dangers to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones. Non-organic dairy farms frequently have rBGH-injected cows that suffer at least 16 different adverse health conditions, including very high rates of mastitis that contaminate milk with pus and antibiotics.
“According to the American Cancer Society, the increased use of antibiotics to treat this type of rBGH-induced inflammation ‘does promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the extent to which these are transmitted to humans is unclear,'” the featured article states.
Many have tried to inform the public of the risks of using this hormone in dairy cows, but their attempts have been met with overwhelming opposition by the powerful dairy and pharmaceutical industries, and their government liaisons. In 1997, two Fox-affiliate investigative journalists, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson, attempted to air a program exposing the truth about the dangers of rBGH. Lawyers for Monsanto, a major advertiser with the Florida network, sent letters promising “dire consequences” if the story aired.
Despite decades of evidence about the dangers of rBGH, the FDA still maintains it’s safe for human consumption and ignores scientific evidence to the contrary. In 1999, the United Nations Safety Agency ruled unanimously not to endorse or set safety standards for rBGH milk, which has effectively resulted in an international ban on US milk.₄ The Cancer Prevention Coalition, trying for years to get the use of rBGH by the dairy industry banned, resubmitted a petition to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, in January 2010.₅ Although the FDA stubbornly sticks to its position that milk from rBGH-treated cows is no different than milk from untreated cows, this is just plain false and is not supported by science. The only way to avoid rBGH is to look for products labeled as “rBGH-free” or “No rBGH.”
Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada
Source: Mercola.com

http://www.realfarmacy.com/10-american-foods-that-are-banned-in-other-countries/

By Ray Gano
EDC… you hear that term a lot in the prepper circles and it is starting to become more main stream.
What is EDC ?  … Every Day Carry.
I got the following email from a reader…
Hello Ray,
My husband and I enjoy your articles on Steve Quayle’s website and have found them to be really informative. I like your writing style and it seems like you writing specifically to us.
I have an idea and I need your help.
I want to make a mini EDC bag that my husband can carry on his belt. He is a business man and can not wear his cargo pants. So he really does not have anywhere to keep his EDC items on him.
The problem is that I do not know what to get him and what sort of things he might appreciate. We are new preppers, and I don’t want to waste a lot of money getting all that “cool guy stuff”, as you like to call it, but I do not want to get him shoddy stuff that is a waste of money.
Please point me in the right direction.
Thank you,
Bev
I started to write Bev back and thought, HEY… this would make a great article So I hope that you do not mind Bev that I will share this with the world and possibly help some other wives put together a “Mini EDC Pouch.”

My EDC

Just so you know, my daily EDC is pretty minimal. Here is what I carry daily…
First…If I carry nothing else, I carry a knife and in fact the few times where I have ran out the door and forgotten it, I have stressed out knowing that I do not have a knife on me. I have two knives that I rotate…
Cold Steel Voyager Clip Point XL … OR
Cold Steel Ti-Lite 6”
Both of these are great knives and depending on where I am going I have one of these on me at all times.
– Cold Steel Voyager Clip Point XL – this is a great all duty knife. I use this for just about everything. I cut meat, chop small trees and branches, skin a chicken, and it makes for a great self defense weapon. This is the knive that I carry most of the time.
– Cold Steel Ti-Lite 6” – This is my go to battle blade. This is the knife I wear when I know that I am going down town and could possibly run into a situation. When people see this knife, well they kind of freak out because it is so large. I tell them it is my “pocket sword.” This thing is long. But what I like about it is that it is very versatile in the fight. You can use it as a kubaton, a fist filler like brass knuckles and when things get bad, flick the wrist and you can deploy the blade very easily.
BEV – Get your husband at least one of these knives. I do not know his day to day needs, but if you are worried about him getting into a mix up, get the Ti-Lite. If you are thinking day to day, get the Voyager Clip Point. He can carry this in his suit pocket and it will not weigh it down.
The other things I carry daily…
– Self defense money clip
– Para-cord survival bracelet
– Uzi Tactical Pen
There are many other things that I can add to this list and at times when I am totally “geared up” it looks like I am wearing Batman’s Utility Belt.
But when I started thinking about Bev’s request I have to say that I was getting pretty enthusiastic about her idea. “HEY… no more Batman belt.”
Here are the issues and what I am looking for….
1 – I personally do not want to carry a man purse / messenger bag. Those are to big and like it or not, the bigger the bag, the more stuff you want to add to it.
2 – it has to hook / clip to my belt.
3 – it would be great if I had room in it to carry more of my EDC items, but not bulky.
Well, I have to give credit where credit is due. My wife Tracye actually found the perfect bag. The Reebow Gear® Tactical Molle Pouch.
She sent me the link and WOW…. This thing is perfect and what is better is that the price is right. It ranges from $14.99 to $16.99 depending on the color you want.
The Reebow Gear pouch is a great organizer for big screen smart phone, camera, key, wallet, pen, knife, notebook, small tool etc small accessories, and even can be a holster. It has a lot of positive ratings and one guy even carries his Beretta 21A in it. Another comment also stated that you can carry a Glock 26 in this as well, which is what I carry when I am in C&C mode.  It is made out of CorDura, which is a really tough canvas material that takes a beating. Finally it has an external phone holster and slot to keep a tactical pen.
It has the MOLLE system attachment straps, so it can even be carried on a tactical belt or MOLLE vest or backpack.
The one negative that I have is that the canvas loops on the back that hook to your belt, well they can cause the pouch to droop a bit. Some guys may not mind this. Me, I like things snug so that I can access them quickly.
How I solved this is using the Blade Tech Tek Loc. This is a great locking mechanism that clips things that have the MOLLE set up to your belt. I have several of my larger fixed blade knives with this set up so that I can carry the fixed blade horizontally on my back clipped to my belt. This way I can pull the knife left handed and have a main weapon in my right.
The Blade Tech Tec Loc has all the hardware needed to make it nice and tight and hold it really well to you belt. It also has a locking mechanism that will then lock down and prevent what ever it is holding from dropping away.
This was a perfect solution to a small / mini EDC pouch.
BEV – this is your starting point; you can fill this tactical molle pouch with just about anything as long as it fits. I love this and I think your husband will also.

Gearing Up The Reebow Gear Tactical Molle Pouch

One of the main things I like about this tactical pouch is that it has a phone holster. I have a Samsung Note II, it is a tad big and I like a bigger screen. That is what happens when you get older.  But The Reebow tactical pouch holds it with no problem and it fits perfectly in the phone holster, and it is easily accessible when it starts ringing. If you use a blue tooth device then perfect, you don’t have to always pull the phone out.
Right next to the phone I can carry my Uzi Tactical Pen.

Uzi Tactical Pen

Folks, I love this pen and I have owned this thing for over 7 years. Back then I bought it for around $14.00. The price today is still around $14 – $16. It has some nice weight but not too heavy and really fits nicely in my hand. You can fill it with any sort of ink cartage. I personally like the .07 gel ink cartage because I like a thicker line when I write. The great thing is that I have carried this in airports and other “secure” areas and it has never been taken from me. Heck, even it is does, I just buy another one off of amazon. This is truly a worth while pen and a great gift to get any dad, son or boyfriend.
BEV – This is one of the first things that I would purchase for your husband. The Uzi Tactical Pen. Even without the mini EDC pouch, this is something that he can use daily and it might help save his life as well.

Swiss Fire Steel

Next, I am huge on having fire. This is why I carry a Swiss Firesteel on my key ring, I have one in my car and now have one in my EDC pouch. These things are great. They spark at 1200 degrees and you can spark up a fire in no time. Carry as small vile of cotton absorbed with Vaseline and you will spark up a fire within one – two tries. Try that with two pieces of wood.
Here is an alternative use for the fire steel… if you are somewhere and you do not have a flashlight or fire making materials, you can spark this and it will light up an area. It will give you enough light to find your way around if you have to. So… stuck in an office building and the lights are gone out, you can whip this out and it will cast enough light to help you find your way
BEV – Get your husband a Swiss Fire Steel. This is one item that could save his life if things got hairy. Everyone needs fire. Get a small plastic vile also for Vaseline soaked cotton and he can start a fire anywhere.

 Fenix PD35 TAC 1000 Lumen CREE LED Tactical Flashlight

Both my wife and I have one of these and they are great. In fact, I am looking at getting another one for my car. I have to get out and get our gate at night and this really lights up the area. Tracye carries hers in her purse. What I like about this is that if you need light, you can switch it on to its highest setting and it will light the area up big time. It has four settings and a strobe setting as well to confuse a possible attacker.
This also can double as a kubaton sort of weapon. It fits nicely in the hand and if you have to punch someone, this will help leave a solid impression on that person. This is a police grade flashlight, so it is waterproof and meant to take a beating and will not die on you.
BEV – This is pricey, but it is the best flashlight that I think is on the market. Forget those stinking cheap Chinese things that you see advertised. I have a few of them, but you drop them  just once and they are toast. Spend the money on quality and it will serve your husband well when he really needs it.

Small Travel First Aid Kit

What I like about this small first aid kit is that it is small. But it has a great plastic case that you can repack with items more suited to your needs. Maybe some Neosporin packs, iodine packs, or some other sort of first aid items that you think you will be more in need of.
Here are the highlights of this small first aid kit …

• adhesive bandages, cotton swabs, safety pins, tweezers, mini scissors and multi-functional knife
  
• Measures 1.8 by 4.2 by 0.9-inches
  

BEV – what I like about this is the case and for $5.89, it is a pretty good deal that is lite and small, but also has what your husband may need in a pinch.

SABRE Red Campus Safety Pepper Gel

I am a big fan of pepper gel and pepper foam. Cold Steel used to make a great pepper foam product, and if you can find some, that is what I would recommend. But SABRE makes a great pepper gel that has a few more pluses over that of the pepper foam.
This stuff sticks because it is gel. The SABRE peper gel even has training videos online that will help you and teach you how to use this effectively in an emergency. The shooting radius is about 10 feet with this product and it says that it gives you 25 – one second bursts. Personally I would spray the person down with this stuff.
BEV – This is a great product and for the price, you are getting your husband a good self defense weapon.

Cold Steel Secret Edge Knife

Not only does this make a great neck knife, but it is perfect in size for the mini EDC pouch.
First, I think that everyone should have a primary EDC knife that they carry on their person at all times. This is where my XL Voyager Clip Point or my Ti-Lite 6” knife play their role.
But I am also someone who believe that you need to always have a back up knife and this is why I am recommending the Cold Steel Secret Edge. Like 99% of the knives I recommend, I also own one of these and I love it. It is small, compact and it also doubles as a neck knife if I wish to wear it. You can slip it in your sock like a Scottish Sgian-dubh, which this knife is patterned after, in your back pocket, or in your mini EDC pouch.
What is amazing is that when I carry this knife, I really find myself using it a lot. It cuts open boxes and envelopes, makes a clean slice on paper, no problem with 550 cord, there are a lot of uses for this knife.
It has the G-10 grive style handle, so holding it and having a solid grip is a plus. It is a great tool and a great weapon. This is why I really like this knife a lot.
BEV – You get this for your husband, he will love you for it. This is one of those knives that every guy secretly wants. AND for under $25, you can’t go wrong.

Leatherman Skeletool CX Multitool

This is another pricey item, but it is something that will last a lifetime. I have owned mine for close to 10 years, or at least when Leatherman first brought this great multitool to market.
What I love about this is that it has the basics that you REALLY NEED. Not all the added on stuff that you think you need. This is truly the perfect EDC tool. Weighing only 5 ounces, it is the lightest full-size multi-tool on the market.
What do you get out of this tool?
The Skeletool CX has a large straight knife blade that can be accessed while the tool is closed; to open it, just place your thumb in the thumbhole at the base of the blade and rotate it out until it’s fully extended — which will engage the safety lock. This locking mechanism is noted with a padlock symbol on the tool. To unlock the blade, press the locking mechanism towards the handle until the blade slides past the lock.
Equipped with a universal bit driver, the Skeletool offers real utility options like no other multitool. To change the tool bits, simply unfold the tool and remove the bit from the bit driver — and pop it out. And replacing bits is just as easy. Just press a new one into position and you’re good to go. There’s even a spare bit located in the handle side opposite the knife blade. This tool includes the following bits: Phillips #1 and #2, screwdriver 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch.
In the plier jaws you’ll find a hard-wire cutter and a regular wire cutter. The regular wire cutter is great for softer grades of wire, but the hard-wire cutter is excellent for heavier jobs — like cutting and bending fishhooks.
Finally, the carabiner style clip also doubles as a bottle opener.
I have used mine like crazy and believe it or not, the knife edge still holds a razor sharp edge.
BEV – This is something that your husband will recognize as being top of the line quality. I have recommended this multi-tool a lot, and everyone who has ordered one was very pleased with it.

Field Notes – Expedition Model

These are great little note pads. The whole book is printed on Yupo Synthetic paper, a water- and tear-proof paper extruded from polypropylene pellets in Chesapeake, Virginia. Yep, made in the USA.
Everyone always needs some paper to write a note on and having this in your mini EDC pouch is a great idea. You get a pack of three of these for just over $9.00. Field Notes is a solid brand name and they really make their note pads to be used in the out doors.
BEV – This is something that is important to me. I don’t know your husband, but having some paper to write on when it is needed is a nice thing. Having it be water proof and such, well that is “cool guy” bragging rights at the office. This is kind of a trend setting item that can really help him.

Finally – A Couple of Silver Eagles

It is a good idea to keep a couple American Eagle silver dollars in your Mini EDC Pouch. Why? You never know when you will be in a situation where you need to have some quick money.
The good thing is that this is money that is difficult to spend quickly.  But in an emergency situation, people have offered services or it is used to purchase goods.
As always, I recommend getting your silver from Steve Quayle’s Renaissance Precious Metals. He makes it easy to purchase a few ounces just for a situation like this
Renaissance Precious Metals – http://www.sqmetals.com
BEV – This is a no brainer, get a few ounces of silver so that your husband always has some insurance to fall back on.

Conclusion

Folks, in today’s world more and more people are looking at EDC as a reality, not something you see crazy people on TV do.
Believe it or not, everyone has some sort of EDC. Women have purses full of stuff, guys have their wallets, keys, change, ect. We carry much of the same stuff daily. All I am pointing out is why not carry stuff that might make life differences?
The The Reebow Gear® Tactical Molle Pouch is a great starting point. Add some or all the items that I am recommending and you have a pretty good EDC collection going.
Sure there is more that you can add, but this is why I limited myself to such a small pouch and not a messenger bag or sling bag. Again, bigger the bag, the more stuff you will add to it. This is a fact and any married man who has carried his wives purse for her can attest to this.
Folks, this will make a great Christmas present and I know that just about any guy out there that is worth their “man card” would totally dig getting something like this for Christmas.
Add some or all of the gear that I recommend and your husband, son, boyfriend would be the envy of all the guys.
AND… they would be showing off all the cool stuff the you got them and you would become the greatest wife in the world, not that you already are, but you would rate some major points with your man’s friends.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ray.gano@raygano.com
Stay Safe!