The Flannel Life: A steak you should be eating.

You may, as I frequently do, find yourself basking in the glory of the huge meat masterpiece, that is the modern American meat section of the grocery you prefer. Almost every possible part or section, of every animal imaginable, is perfectly packaged and ready for your consumption.



You can get anything from lamb to liver, however, the average consumer, with staples like hamburger and pork chops aside, goes directly to familiar territory... a filet for you and the misses, some beef tips for game day stew, or maybe even a t-bone for that dinner party with the creepy new intern and his girlfriend, because you know.... it is your duty.

What I am willing to bet is you walk right past a certain cut that is cheap, full of flavor, and usually dismissed as tough and/or worthless in most peoples eyes... the flank steak.

The flank steak is an extremely lean cut of beef, one found along the abdominial muscle of the cow. The flank steak is traditionally very long, and no more than 1" or so in thickness.

When cooked traditionally, such as grilled or pan friend and finished in the oven, it provides an extremely tough and "stringy" texture, that leaves a ton to desire. But don't fear, you can fix this problem, and turn the very cheap and overlooked cut into a tender thing of culinary awesomeness.


The secret is not in the way you cook or season the flank steak.... but rather in the way it is marinated. Purists often look down on steak with more than a crispy sea salt exterior, and an unadultered pink interior, but in this case.... we will go out on a limb, and give them something to turn their noses up at.

Turning this flank steak into something to be proud of is very simple...... All you really need is this.....


1. 1/3 cup olive oil

2. 1/3 cup soy sauce

3. 1 tblsp small amount of brown sugar

4. 2 tblsp minced garlic

5. fresh ground black pepper

Combine these ingredients in freezer bag, shake to combine, and let them sit while you do the next step.

Step 1. Cut very small slits across the grain of the steak, very shallow.

Step 2. Place steak in the freezer bag with marinade, and allow to set for about 2 hrs.

Step 3. Grill the flank steak on a very clean, and oiled grill. (In order to oil your grill, simply clean the grate, allow it to get relatively hot, cut an onion in half, dip it in olive oil, put it on the end of a grill fork, and go over the grate as if you were brushing it.) Do not grill the steak past medium, as it still can represent a tough quality cooked as well done.

Step 4. This is very important........ After removing the steak from the grill, make sure to slice the steak across the grain, in very thin slices before serving.


When implementing this technique of preparing the flank steak.... you will turn a cheap cut of meat into thin slices of buttery steak goodness, that practically melts in your mouth.


Hope this helps you hone a very marketable man skill.... cooking red meat.

THE FLANNEL LIFE: WHY YOU NEED TO BECOME A HIPSTER TODAY.

I bet you have heard it said hundreds of times, you have one life to live.

Possibly followed by the hardest thing and right thing are both the same, the distant sound of Muse playing, or some ill quoted one liner from a Ryan Gosling movie... (But isn't he charming?)

Point is..... You get one chance at life.... the unique and true to yourself obscure lifestyle you adopt is rather important.

So..... become a hipster right now, and start living a life that is filled with positive product choice, earth friendly practices, and overall innovation and discovery

Still not sold? Allow me to help.

A FLANNEL LIFE GUIDE: WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A HIPSTER RIGHT NOW

1.Positive Product Choice

All those fools lined up to feed to corporate machine at Starbucks? It's expensive, it tastes good, and everyone on the street has a cup? My stomache hurts thinking of the caffeine filled bliss of a cafe' Americano.... Hipsters have a way out....

Instead become a Hipster!! enjoy a subpar product with a cooler design, and less cultural stigma. Grab a pabst, a free trade local roast, or something noone has heard of that happens to have a rhythmatic taste note that speaks to you, and exactly 4 others spread out at cool dive bars that open at 3:30, and close at 7 if the local band " My metro girlfriend " doesn't show up to play the electrofunkbluegrassstringband tunes they are so famous for.

2. Earth Friendly Practices.

Tired of scoffing at those priuses lined up at Whole Foods?... don't they know a diesel VW ran on bio-diesel gets 60 mpg, and can still be easily retro-fitted to carry your cat, a portable record player and 7 cases of pabst.

And what about those made in China T-shirts those 1% society dwellers of the American underworld corporate greed filled streets are wearing.... more importantly... who cares about China.... those shirts fit, and don't have owl or octopi embossed anywhere on them... Really?

Become a hipster!! Let every Goodwill, Salvation Army and of course, as we prefer, Independent missions, become you cotoure for the obscure. Lets put those clothes back into the stream, and keep that new stuff from being thrown away... or uhhh something like that....

Anyhow...... I once saw a girl buy 3 beanies.... and a trench coat for... 3 dollars.... so what if it was July? It looked cuted being worn while musing on the fact that Band of Horses sold out.

3. Overall innovation and discovery.

Want to discover things? Have you noticed that even though NASA is hiring again, the novelty of outerspace is gone, I mean you can't even go to Mars and find alien life. Who wants to go to the space station and hang out with Russians? I want to be an innovator.

DaVinci, Einstein... Want to be like them? Just don't get math and science? Did one of those online patent companies steal your idea for the new slip and slide? ( Yeah, same here..... so much for my egg poacher :( )

Become a hipster!! Hipster, along with astronauts, Steve Jobs, and Facebook are the nations top innovators amd inventors.

Doubt it..... Don't!

My close friend Matthew, not to be confused for Matt, realized the awesomness of being a hipster long ago. He once discovered 35 unsigned bands, a fair trade coffee joint, and 25 rayon 1985 Honda civic embossed promotional t-shirts in one day.

That is the fore front of innovation and discovery my friends.... Best thing is.... he now dissmisses 34 3/4 of those bands after finding their CD's at FYE, boycotts the coffee place for not allowing him to read his entire Moleskin of poems on open mic night, and well... he used the t-shirts to make bag gardens, that he grows organic lemongrass in.

You combine those... You practically get an organic Ipad that plays a silent dog whistle that unknowingly attracts girls in hair sweaters that like to take pictures of themselves with a black and white filter.

Ohh yeah..... Follow pop_vamp13 on twitter..... and grow a mustache.

Thanks for reading.

A FLANNEL LIFE ENDORSEMENT: RECOVERY FROM NO SHAVE NOVEMBER

So, as I am sure that you peered proudly into the mirror this evening at the outward expression of manliness growing from your face, you felt a tiny twinge inside, as you realized your excuse for that face mane has came to pass.

Thats right folks... the ever popular, and increasingly trendy, month of facial hair growth, creativity, and dissmissal for even the weakest of facial hair growing fortitude, has came to pass.

No shave November will be finished come 12 o' clock tomorrow evening, which means you have a daunting task ahead.... getting the 30 days of growth of your face, while trying to maintain a face that doesn't look like you snuck into dads after shave before a junior high dance.

You will need luck, will, courage.... and most of all these simple tools.

A FLANNEL LIFE ENDORSEMENT: THE SHAVING TOOLS YOU NEED.

First things first.

You need to trim the excess growth.

In order to avoid a lengthy discussion of methods, simply implement scissors if it is more than 1 inch, and a simple beard trimmer if its shorter.... more on trimmers at a later date.

Now.... moving on.

The pores of you face react best to both cleansing and shaving when exposed to a hot, steamy environment..... I.e. Shower.

Not only should you be washing your face in the shower, it should a staple in your pre-shave routine as well.

So you're fresh out of the shower.... and it's it time to to take back that mug from that jungle of facial hair.

Step 1: Pre-Shave Oil.

An overlooked, and often unkown addition to the shaving process is pre-shave oil, pre-shave oils are a blend of natural botanicals and aromatic oils utilized to create a mystical potion for easy hair removal.

Simply splash you already shower primed face with hot water, pat dry, and massage a few drops of the pre-shave oil onto your face.

I recommend this from artofshaving.com

Step 2: Lather Up

This is the step that needs no explaining, press down the top of the can, foam comes out, goes on face.... You get the idea.

But wait.... If it's clear skin, less razor burn, and a flock of ladies admiring your freshly manicured face.... you need this. Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel: Available from almost anywhere.

It comes out like a gel, lathers up like a classic foam, contains natural oatmeal, all while being endorsed by dermatologists.

This is by far the best shave gel or cream I have ever used, it is like an oatmeal bath for your face, and when combined with the natural essential oils in the shave gel.... the hair practically falls off.

Step 3: Moisturize



Another mistep in the traditional male facial regime is the lack of lotion in the process.



In order to combat aging, reduce irritation from shaving, and pro-long the onset on wrinkles simply use some sort of facial lotion post-shave.



Although I do not particularly care for a certain brand over another, just make sure it facial lotion, as body lotion, as well as hand and body soap, will clog your pores.


Step 4: Go out and show the world.



As much as you wish to be model of manliness, and possible mimic the spartans of 300, you're better off shaved.


A clean shaven face mimics a man that looks like he cares enough to manage his looks, and caring about yourself shows you are capable or taking care of others as well. A primal quality of being a leader.

So when the neck hair starts to provide that " It doesn't look that bad" idea, or the patchy spots start to fill in with hairs you've never seen before, it's time.... so shave.


Unless you're this guy..... then by all means.... carry on.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FLANNEL LIFE: THE MUST HAVE

First and foremost, welcome to THE FLANNEL LIFE. What you will find here are what I deem to be essentials in a mans life, it may be products, ideals, events, or really anything in between, I hope that you can find something here that interests you.

A Flannel Life? You might ask yourself..... " Why this title? " Well, it is a pretty simple answer. When creating the title for this blog, I found myself at a creative loss, I looked down, saw the shirt I happened to have on, and thought.... What can a man turn to for a staple when the weather gets tough, and, depending on which style you choose, look good in.... A Flannel Shirt.

In a nut shell.... I hope you can turn to this blog in hopes it makes you, your life, and the ladies in it, look much better.

In following this trend, what a better thing to address than how to choose the proper flannel shirt.


Kurt Cobain died in one, and Paul Bunyan never took his off, and as long as you're doing it right, you should be wearing a flannel shirt as well.

First some history....

The first flannel fabric is believed to have been of fine wool in Wales in the 16th century. The Welch used the fabric to make warm winter clothing. The world seemed to follow the welsh, as since this 16th century development, the fabrics has been used to make almost every type of clothing imaginable.

As a clothing choice for today's man, the flannel shirt can be a classic addition to almost anyones wardrobe, it's not only stylish, but functional as well.

I'm not saying you should go around looking like the National Canadian Hockey Associations ambassador to the United States, but walking your dog, going on a date outdoors, or working on your car, then slide on a checkered masterpiece and when you hear smells like teen spirit in your head for a moment, send up a thank you to Kurt, and carry on.

With that said.... Some words on which ones to choose.

Fit: A common mistake is that you should purchase shirts intended to be tucked in, in the same size and cut as ones intended to be worn out. This is not true, you should purchase shirts to be tucked in a length that you can raise your arms and the shirt does not come untucked, whereas you should purchase shirts to be worn out, only a few inches below you belt, as to not look sloppy.

And as always, the seams at the shoulder should be no more than an inch below you shoulder, and if you can't fit two fingers in the buttoned collar, you need a bigger size. Unless it's because your giant muscular physique, then you can take care of critics accordingly.

A big part of making the fitting process easier, is to invest in good quality to start, and the cut will more than likely be close enough to perfect you won't have to worry.

I reccomend this one:


69.95 AT JCREW.COM


Thanks for reading, now go live the flannel life.

- Andrew