Posts Tagged ‘food’

Cooking Bacon and Elk Steak Chili

Posted: April 28, 2013 in Frugality, Grub, Health & Nutrition
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My bro and I created the dankest bacon elk chili ever! It didn’t last long. We took elk steak hunted locally in the Saddle Mountain Hunting Unit near Cannon Beach, and combined it with bacon ends, and 2 cans of beef chili.

For spices we put in a pinch of paprika, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper. We had the crispy bacon simmering in Pabst beer. The chili sat on low, covered. The elk was cut into small 1/2 inch squares. Plus, we had to make corn bread as a side.

The result was a hearty meal, that had heat. It was spicy, and smoky. If only we had king bolete mushrooms to add. We saved the bacon fat for other elk cooking adventures. Talk about real grub.

Panera Cares – Pay What You Can Cafe

Posted: April 4, 2013 in Adventures, Frugality, Giving Back, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips, Survival Bros Challenges
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You can eat for free at Panera Cares in Portland. If you’ve never heard of this concept, customers can simply order whatever they want, and pay only what they can. I had to test this. I had $5 on me.

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I had to have their turkey sandwich on fresh focaccia bread. Plus, I hooked up a dark coffee. And my side was a small red apple. The suggested value was $8.88. I put what I had in the wooden donation box. Then I scarfed some epic grub.

If you can’t pay anything for your meal, you are encouraged to work there for an hour. All the employees at the cafe were friendly. Panera Cares is a great opportunity for people to get job experience. It’s a real resource for Portland. I can’t wait to go back. Support this place. 4143 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR Panera Cares

The Best Lunch Ever – Fresh Raw Juice

Posted: March 26, 2013 in Health & Nutrition, Uncategorized
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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

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I finally juiced again. This is organic carrots, red apple, cucumber, celery, and broccoli! I’m sipping it right now. The juice is sweet. Not bad at all. And loaded with electric energy. My body is grateful. This one cost maybe $6 to make. Not bad considering how much it made. I will have plenty for later. Happy juicing.

Quick Natural Heartburn Cures

Posted: February 17, 2013 in Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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I had too much coffee, and acidic foods today, so I was suffering from heartburn. I was out of calcium rich Tums, so I tried Pepto Bismol, but that didn’t help. Drinking extra spring water didn’t do much for relief either. So I reached for a natural remedy, Dr. Bragg’s organic apple cider vinegar mixed with water. I was able to burp big time, which helped. Next I drank more water with a couple spoonfuls of pure baking soda. That was the trick. I felt better almost instantly, and had to share this info. I hope that works for you.

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Top Superfoods List By Survival Bros

Posted: January 18, 2013 in Health & Nutrition, Product Reviews, SB Tips
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By Cameron McKirdy

I’m going to keep this simple. These are my favorite foods on the planet. I think they give me tremendous energy, and superior health.

Seeds – hemp, chia, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame
Nuts – almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts
Berries – gogi, blueberries, acai, raspberries
Kombucha Tea (raw and organic)
Yerba Mate
Fresh Spring Water from the source
Coconut water
Raw juice – organic fruits and vegetables (add spinach/kale)
Protein Powder – raw whey, hemp, rice
Eggs – farm fresh
Supplements – bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, maca root, turmeric, dandelion, milk thistle, calcium/magnesium/zinc, fish oil, marine phytoplankton
Raw honey (lasts forever)
Barlean’s Greens (drink powder)
Cordyceps (and other mushrooms)
Organic soy milk (vanilla)
Aloe Vera juice (with wheat grass)
Avocado
Fresh salmon (try teriyaki salmon jerky)
Sea Vegetables – kelp, chlorella
Raw Chocolate (cacao)
Spirulina and Blue-Green Algae

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Saving Money One Bite At A Time

Posted: January 5, 2013 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

The McKirdy Bros Professionally Eating Ribs

Times are tough, for many people this isn’t the first time they’ve struggled to make ends meet. I’d like to humbly share a time in my life my frugality took a dark but interesting turn. It was 2008 and I was a student at the University of Oregon. My major was international studies and so, in a way I was honing my skills for a life of financial hardship. I was “in between jobs” as they say, and while I had saved enough money to still afford rent, my savings were diminishing fast. Food was expensive. I had contributed to society, paid my taxes for long enough for me to feel less guilty about what I was scheming. I looked to the homeless for inspiration and I found none. “They are doing it all wrong” I said to myself.
 
I had long been a fan of free food so I started brainstorming of all the past places food was a plenty. Buffets. Breakfast buffets. Continental breakfasts. The Holiday Inn Express was closest to my house, so that’s where I first walked in as confidently as possible, to a hotel I’ve never been in before. Oatmeal. Apples. Oranges. Muffins. It was a beautiful display of food not meant for me, which made it even more exciting. I had my backpack on me because my Spanish class was in a half an hour. I ate what I could, and opened my bag to shove a bundle of bananas in. I took an extra muffin for my friend because he was broke like me, and as it turns out I’m very generous with other people’s food. This went on for a while. So long that I started to rank the hotels. Phoenix Inn had apple juice and hot chocolate so I gave it a B+. But breakfast was only one meal out of the suggested 3 a day. I had started noticing official University of Oregon food golf carts zipping around campus. I was lucky enough to have experienced this before at catered public events and so I knew they had the goods. One day in between classes I saw a green cart zip right in front of me and if it were possible I would have jumped right on the back and followed it to wherever it was going, but I had to be more inconspicuous. So, I ran. Calmly. Like I was late for a class across campus. Finally the cart stopped in front of the law building. Taking from future lawyers was alright by me. I wasn’t stealing. I was taking something being offered just not to me. Oh was it delicious. The pasta was seasoned and covered in feta cheese and oil. I was in heaven. The breakfasts and occasional catered meal kept me for only so long. I did some grocery shopping rather often to buy my bulk items of hummus, rice, beans and oats. Cheap nutritious foods. I was at Whole Foods when I noticed a bread man checking the dates of each loaf and then collecting the ones that were about to expire. I striked up a  conversation and he told me that he could give me some just not in the store. He told me to meet him out back. A couple of minutes later he was noticeably more casual with me. He didn’t care about the bread. So I took all that I could. Six loaves of organic whole wheat bread. It only lasted me a few days. 
 
Turns out he gave the rest to the Eugene food pantry, but they always had plenty of bread from other donations besides his company. I looked into the pantry and I qualified. I rode my bike to the pantry, and again only had my backpack. They told me to go outside and they would bring me my food allowance. They rolled out a two level push cart full of canned foods, cold milk and other dairy products including a very cheap pint of chocolate ice cream. I could only carry about a quarter of what I was alloted. I wouldn’t have eaten most of the other stuff any way because it was full of MSG, salt and I knew it would taste awful. 

Eventually I was able to get a job and save up some money so I didn’t have to go to all the trouble, but I had a good run. Without all the ways I found to get free food I am sure I would have started charging groceries on a credit card. I hope I don’t have to do it again, but it is nice to know that sometimes beggars can be choosers if you’re smart enough. I am very thankful for each and every free bite to this day. 

Andrew McKirdy

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

Andrew Scoring Free Organic Bread

My Cleanse, Detox, and Diet To Start 2013

Posted: January 1, 2013 in Health & Nutrition
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By Cameron McKirdy

I’m starting the new year, 2013, with a healthy total body cleanse. I began today with a raw juice drink. My Jack LaLanne Power Juicer muscled through garlic, ginger, organic celery, green apples, carrots, lemon, limes, and cucumber.

Right now I am six feet tall, and 225 pounds. I’d like to drop down to around 200 lbs, or less. I was 185 in high school. I will be eating some organic vegetable soups, salads, fruit, nuts, seeds, and juicing. Plus, I really like the raw whey, and vegan protein supplements I have, so I will be making mad smoothies with that goodness. I’ll be drinking hemp, almond, coconut, soy, and 7 grain milk too. I also love aloe water with the chunks, and coconut water.

I plan on training hard immediately. I’m going to be speed walking hills, playing basketball, mountain biking, doing yoga, weightlifting, and running. I will also be using my foam roller for massage and more. I plan on taking vitamins too, with gallons of natural spring water. Stay tuned. This is a live blog. It’s on. I can’t wait to feel, and look better. Good luck!

Day two: I was a liquidarian today. I didn’t chew anything. In the AM my diet consisted of cranberry/goji juice, 2 Odwalla Monster protein drinks, and coconut water. Later I had coffee, which I will be weening myself off of. It got the bowels moving. In the afternoon I made another green juice, with mostly cucumbers. Finally, I sipped kombucha. I consumed spring water throughout the day, and enjoyed hemp milk too. I felt lighter, and leaner today. It’s nice cutting out most of the dairy. I feel like dairy makes me bloated. I plan on pounding more liquids tomorrow, and maybe raw cashews, and salad. Life is good. I will weigh myself again in the morning.

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Day 3: I’m doing all liquids again today, minus a mushy banana. Maybe I will eat a fruity Larabar and seeds tomorrow for fiber. However, the juice I got at the health food store did have added fiber. Today I started with kombucha tea, and had a little espresso. I’ve guzzled various natural juices without high fructose corn syrup. And I picked up an aloe water, and organic apple cider vinegar. That’s it, besides more cold water. I feel fine. I have a little less energy today, because I don’t have food energy, or excessive amounts of caffeine in my system. When detoxing it’s important to get lots of rest and relaxation, in my opinion. Do what’s right for you.

OK, I used a fork tonight. Mom made veggie stir fry, and you don’t turn that down. She’s on her own cleanse now. Mom wrote a blog for Survival Bros on going gluten free, and food allergies. Coming soon!

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Save Money – Don’t Pay Full Retail Prices

Posted: December 28, 2012 in Frugality, Health & Nutrition, SB Tips
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By Cameron McKirdy

Survival Bros shows you all the stuff that is half off in the back of a Safeway grocery store.

Retail is for suckers. Don’t pay full price for anything, ever again. Store owners get everything wholesale, and you can too.

I often start my shopping trip by going to the back of the supermarket. That’s where you can always find items 50% off, because they are discontinued, damaged, or close to their expiration date. You’d think these products are no good, but I’ve found the sale goods are usually organic, and simply not well known, so they go unsold. Don’t be too good to save money. People pass on these deals because they are too proud, and must feel like the product is inferior to what’s on the regular shelves. It’s silly.

Think about getting a membership at a wholesaler like Costco. It will save you cash, and probably pay for the card on the first trip. Be on he lookout for an asterisk on the price sign at Costco. An * means the item is being discontinued, and it’s not coming back, so the price is usually reduced. Buy more then if needed. Not that I support big box stores, but it’s worth going just for the free food samples. I will have to produce a video on that. And my friends that work there seem to be happy.

You can also compare prices online. Additionally, I like to practice patience, and use eBay auctions to save money. Plus, check out smart phone apps like ShopSavvy that get you the best deal possible. The only time I pay jacked up full retail prices is when I’m buying local. Even then I will haggle. Prices are made up. Things are worth what you pay for them.

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The clearance rack at Safeway in the back

Getting Free Product Coupons For Commenting And Complaining

Posted: December 17, 2012 in Frugality, Health & Nutrition, Product Reviews, SB Tips
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Sometimes products suck. When things aren’t as good as I expect, or fail, I call the company up, and hold them accountable. When I comment and complain, I get free product coupons to replace the goods with another version. Today I called three businesses, and spoke up.

First I dialed a canned fruit company. They misrepresented their product. On the label there’s tons of cherries. However, when we pulled the lid and scarfed, we uncovered just half of one cherry. Ripoff. I was told they try to squeeze 9 cherries into each can. I gave them my shipping address, and I’m expecting a voucher for a free can of mixed fruit, in light syrup.

I was also disappointed with a Tom’s of Maine deodorant. It was a stick scented like Maine Woodspice. I told customer service I love their stuff, but this batch felt slimy, and didn’t seem to offer any odor protection. The unscented type worked better. Not that it works for the 24 hours it claims. Tom’s actually told me I was spot on, because they have one less ingredient in that type compaired to their other scents. Strange. I’m getting a stick of Lemon Grass sent to my house this week. It’s a great product.

Lastly, I dialed Nature’s Gate. They make a fluoride free toothpaste. I don’t use paste with fluoride. Look into fluoride exposure. I will not be forcibly medicated. Anyways, I recently purchased a tube of anise flavored natural toothpaste. Little did I know anise, (pronounced anus?), tastes like it sounds to me. It’s the worst flavor ever. Anise tastes like licorice, fennel, or dirty boots. I can’t stand it. I guess I should have known what anise tastes like, but if I knew it was like black licorice I wouldn’t have bought it, I would have burned it. At the end if the day, I still look forward to trying another variety of Nature’s Gate toothpaste.

The moral of the story is comment and complain about products you don’t like. You’ll get a replacement for free. Also, educate yourself before buying. I’m not trying to be negative about these quality products, but I wasn’t satisfied. My feedback makes their product and practices better, so why not share? It’s a win win.

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Produced by Cameron McKirdy

Buck Spotted in Astoria Oregon – Close Pictures

Posted: December 15, 2012 in Adventures, Comedy and Art, Pets/Animals
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Yesterday I saw this amazing buck in Astoria OR. I grabbed the camera, and got right up to him. He walked my way. I thought it was about to go down! I would have won. Still, what a beautiful beast.
– Cameron McKirdy

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