That's right. Bake. Real men aren't afraid of a little baking.

Late fall and winter tailgating means hearty chilis and thick stews, and the best thing to serve them with is this easy beer bread from Evite.com. Yup. Bread made with beer. True wonder bread. Break off a chunk and dig in.




YOU'LL NEED:
2 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
12 oz. can beer (room temp)
1 tablespoon melted butter

Combine flour, sugar and beer in a large mixing bowl; stir just until all ingredients are moistened. Pour into a greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until bread tests done. (Insert a toothpick in the densest part of the bread. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.) Brush with melted butter. Remove from pan, cool on wire rack. Makes one loaf.

Nothing ruins a romantic camping trip faster than spending a half hour wrestling with the tent. (That, and the part where she finds out there’s no “little girl’s room”).

Decathlon USA’s design-award winning Quechua 2-Seconds® Tent lets you get pitched and on to the fun stuff fast.

Women love a guy with a pitched tent, so I tossed the Quechua into the air out behind the Bachelor Pad and watched as it popped open mid-air and floated, fully formed, to the ground. Impressive. Stake it into the ground using the attached lines and you’ll be camped out in style, sitting by the fire, beer in one hand, her in the other, in seconds.

It’s lightweight, waterproof, sleeps two comfortably, and comes in its own backpack for easy hauling. Best of all it costs less than $70.

$69 www.decathlontent.com

Napoleon said it best: Chicks dig guys with skills. Problem is, where do you learn those skills? Right here, with the book/DVD set, titled, appropriately enough, "The Book Of Cool".

We're not talking cheesy, Fonzie cool. The 320 page full-color book and three included DVDs are jammed with step by step how-to videos hosted by the world's best performers at over 20 different skills or sports.

Ever dreamt of turning a pool table into a landscape of eye-defying trick shots to impress that hot blonde in the corner? Done. Want to blow away a party crowd with bottle-flippin' bartending skills that would make Tom Cruise dizzy? That's in here too. Everything from extraordinary "casino" card skills and street basketball moves, to juggling, golf tricks and even break dancing. All here.

Impress your buddies, win bar bets, get the girl, or just plain show off. And leave those other guys thinking: "That was cool."

$39.99 www.bookofcool.com

Most of us would rather try do-it-yourself dentistry than play interior decorator and choose paint colors for our place. But until someone designs a house or apartment building just for men, with pre-painted rooms in perfect colors that go with everything, we’ll have to live with the San Quentin homeyness of plain white walls.

Or maybe not. Looks like Pittsburgh Paints has got our backs. To make paint selection easier, and more personalized, they developed the Color Sense GameTM. Always up for a game, I gave it a shot.

Located on Pittsburgh Paint's website, www.voiceofcolor.com, it takes about five minutes to complete the series of questions designed to get a sense of your personal tastes and moods.

When you're done, Color Sense gives you a complete, personalized palette of five colors you can mix and match – not just for paint, but for furniture and accessories too. Plus you get pics showing several combinations so you can't screw this up.

Free at www.voiceofcolor.com

As summer gives way to fall, a couple of things will hold true as they do every year: 1. Your girlfriend will harass you to drive to the country to see the leaves turn colors, and 2. Your sinuses will act up as a result of a cold and/or the flu and/or an allergic reaction to the leaves you drove two grueling hours for your girlfriend to see.

If you're like most guys, you'd have to be stricken with the Ebola virus before you'd take any medication. Cold medicine was developed for girlfriends, not us.

So what do you do if your sinuses are blocked up and you need some quick relief? Reach for Aromaremedy's Sinus Help(R). This small, sinus-clearing bag is filled with beads infused with all-natural essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemongrass.

Just hold it up to your nose, inhale the soothing vapors, and feel your head clear. No dosing, no groggy side effects, no dangers. You can use it all day. And it stashes in a coat pocket or briefcase.

$6 for a two pack. Each bag lasts about a month. Available at CVS.

www.aromatherapylabs.com

Fall means football. And football means tailgating – our pre-game ritualistic feast observed with religious fervor across this great sports-crazed land of ours. Refer to it a “picnic in the parking lot” and you’ll incur the wrath of a fired-up 280-pound grid-iron fan in full face paint and a day-glow rainbow wig. And her boyfriend.

Tailgate parties take some planning to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. To get some advice I spoke with Stephen Linn, editor of The Ultimate Tailgater’s Handbook (Rutledge Hill Press, $14.99).

“My number-one key tip is always use a checklist,” Linn says. “You may think you know what to bring, but it’s the little things, like forgetting to bring the bottle opener, that can kill a good party.”

Whether or not you've ever had to use the bumper of your truck to open your beer, you should download a complete tailgater's checklist from Linn's site, www.theultimatetailgater.com.

Click here to grab it.

And for those of you who like to plan way ahead of time, you can download the tailgate planning guide. Click here to grab it.

How do you get your place in shape fast, without resorting to a leaf blower? I spoke with David Bowers, author of Dad’s Own Housekeeping Book and all-around expert on cleaning for guys, and got his 30-minute plan for getting your place date-ready.

Start with the Bathroom
5 minutes
Throw away anything that doesn’t belong, and heave towels, washcloths, and bathmat into the hamper. (30 seconds)

Sprinkle cleanser into toilet bowl and let sit. (15 seconds)

Spray all-purpose cleaner over toilet seat, tank top, and pedestal and wipe clean with paper towel. (60 seconds)

Quickly scrub bowl with toilet brush and flush. (30 seconds)

Spray all-purpose cleaner on countertops and sink. No time to remove objects on counters, just wipe around them, and then wipe dried toothpaste and shaving cream from sink. Wipe mirror with paper towels and glass cleaner. (30 seconds)

Unless she is staying over, you don’t need to clean the shower or bathtub. Just pull the curtain closed. If she is, do it quickly. Spray the shower walls with all-purpose cleaner and sprinkle the tub with cleanser. Splash walls clean with water from shower; wipe with sponge and rinse clean. (90 seconds)

Replace the towels with fresh ones. (45 seconds)

Move to the Kitchen
(60-second sprint)
8 minutes
Throw away empty pizza boxes, chip bags, beer cans, etc. and toss all dishtowels into hamper. (60 seconds)

Get rid of dishes in sink and countertops by putting them in dishwasher or washing them. (90 seconds)

Wipe down all countertops and sink with all-purpose cleaner. (Wipe around items that stay out on the counter). (60 seconds)

Sweep floor debris into dustpan and empty it into trash, or shave off a few seconds by vacuuming it if vac is handy. (60 seconds)

Dampen sponge mop and apply cleanser or baking soda. Quickly swab high-traffic areas, waiting until you’re through to rinse and squeeze out the mop. (60 seconds)

Spritz handle on the refrigerator door and wipe clean. Repeat with any part of fridge door that shows, range top, dishwasher front, and switch plates. (60 seconds)
Take out trash and replace liner. (45 seconds)

Replace dirty dishtowels. (45 seconds)

Move to the Living Room
(60-second sprint)
6 Minutes
Quickly stack all magazines and books into neat piles. (60 seconds)

Pick up stray socks, boxer shorts, T-shirts, etc. and hurl them into the hamper. (30 seconds)

Fluff up and straighten furniture cushions and pillows. (30 seconds)

Slip loose DVDs and CDs into jewel cases and stack them on or beside entertainment unit. (60 seconds)

Grab poker chips, cards, video games, and any other entertainment related items and toss into a closet. (30 seconds)

Pick up stranded cheese puffs, potato chips, dried dip, etc. and toss. (30 seconds)

Give all surfaces a once-over with a microfiber cloth. (60 seconds)

Vacuum high-traffic areas. (60 seconds)

Finish Up With Your Bedroom
(60-second sprint)
4 minutes
Make bed. (60 seconds)

Throw all clothes from floor into hamper. (30 seconds)

Toss shoes into closet. (15 seconds)

Neatly stack magazines, books, and any other reading materials. (45 seconds)

Sweep loose change and stray receipts into top drawer of night table, as well as things you don’t want your date to see. (30 seconds)

Vacuum high-traffic areas. (60 seconds)

Set the Atmosphere
4 minutes
You have a few minutes to handle the details. Spray all rooms with deodorizer or air freshener. Something manly, not flowery. Light a candle or two. Put on some music. Change your shirt. Start mixing drinks.


Bowers adds, “Remember, your place doesn’t need to be antiseptic. Most women like a man’s place to look like a man lives there.” The key is to aim for neat, and to make her comfortable. Pay special attention to places she will be sitting, eating — and any place she might eventually end up.

Dad’s Own Housekeeping Book (Workman Publishing, New York) is available at Barnes & Noble and other large bookstores nationwide.

I was at a poolside barbecue this weekend, hanging around a burger- and brat-filled grill with a buddy I haven’t seen in a while. As I added more meat and the flames kicked up, the conversation turned from “nice fire” to “so what have you been up to?” I told him how I was expanding my column onto the web, and gave examples of some of the topics and products I was covering. “Oh,” says Old Friend, with a hint of a smirk, “so you’re creating Metrosexuals.”



After I released my hand from the back of his head and he pulled his charred face from the grill, I politely explained that the term “metrosexual” was invented by jackass marketing wonks solely to sell product to men. It’s a wholly inaccurate generalization for men who like to take care of themselves, and I’d prefer if he didn’t use that term. (Of course I’m exaggerating. I wasn’t all that polite).

Why do I hate the term metro? No, I’m not metrophobic. Or a closet metrosexual. Here’s the reason: the term sounds feminine. Period.

Look, I’ve made a career out of helping guys learn to dress better, look better, live better - and be comfortable doing it. It pisses me off when guys hear the M word and start to think that by using a higher end shave cream, or actually having nice furniture in their place, maybe they are becoming less of a man. Not true. In fact, most guys I know who could be called metro for their grooming habits, do it because they know women respond better to men who take care of themselves.

Fortunately most marketers are starting to get it. The cover story for Business Week’s Sept. 4, 2006 issue was Secrets of the Male Shopper. In it they cite a recent study showing only about one-fifth of male shoppers identify themselves as metro. Good. Now maybe marketers and advertisers will start seeing us as we are. More evolved.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go pick up some pomade. Manly pomade.

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: The Schlow Burger is the best guy-burger in the world. Boom. Done. Don't even bother writing in, you can't beat it.

Not for the faint of heart... or those with a bad heart, now that i think about it... this bad boy clocks in at a huge, meaty nine ounces. And dripping with cheddar, horseradish sauce, and crispy onions, this is the perfect tailgate burger to keep you satisfied until deep into the fourth quarter.

Chef Michael Schlow of Radius restaurant in Boston, the food wizard who gave life to this behemoth, says, "Try this burger once and see if it doesn't make you change the way you order your burgers. This is seriously the ultimate man-wich."

Amen, Chef. And pass the beer.

For a copy of the complete recipe that you can print out and use for your next grilling event click here. Your frozen-patty-grilling buddies will thank you.

See this and Chef Schlow's other great recipes in his new book "It's About Time".

www.radiusrestaurant.com

This is the ultimate guy-burger created by Chef Michael Schlow of Radius restaurant in Boston. Grill some up at your next tailgate.

NOTE: The sauce can be made up to three days ahead; the onions can be prepared early on the day they will be served.

Makes 2 “fat boy” burgers.




YOU NEED:
18 ounces ground beef (Ask the butcher for 80 percent lean. Do not change this part, please!)

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons prepared white horseradish

Juice of half a lemon

2 thick slices good quality Vermont or English cheddar cheese

2 hamburger buns, split in half (buy the best ones you can get; I like brioche buns)

Crispy Onions (recipe follows)

Fresh ground pepper


• Combine the ground beef with the olive oil, salt, and plenty of black pepper.

• Divide the meat into two 9-ounce patties and refrigerate until the grill is ready. (Don’t do this more than an hour in advance.)

• Combine mayonnaise, horseradish, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl and season with black pepper. (You can do this ahead of time and store it in the fridge.)

• Heat the grill to high.

• Take the hamburgers out of the refrigerator 5 to 7 minutes before you are ready to grill them.

• Place the burgers on the preheated grill and cook 1 1/2 minutes (for rare).

• Give the burgers a quarter-turn to “mark” them, and cook 1 1/2 more minutes.

• Flip the burgers over and cook 1 1/2 minutes.

• Rotate a quarter-turn to “mark” and cook 1 1/2 more minutes.

• Transfer the burgers to the grill’s top shelf or to a cooler section of the grill and cover each one with a slice of cheese.

• Turn the grill off and shut the lid.

• After 4 minutes open the lid. The cheese will be melted and the burgers cooked rare to medium-rare. Toast the buns, if desired, and place a burger on each.

• Spread plenty of the horseradish sauce on each burger; it should drip down the sides.

• Top with Crispy Onions and season with freshly ground black pepper.

• Slather more sauce on the other half of the bun and place it on top of the burger.

• Grab a cold beer or iced tea and get ready to make a mess. Dainty this ain’t!


CRISPY ONIONS
1 large yellow onion, sliced into very thin rings, 1/3 to 1/8-inch thick

2 cups canola oil

• Place onion rings and oil in a small sauce pot. (Don’t worry if the rings break apart).

• Bring to a boil over high heat, and then reduce heat to a very low simmer. The heat releases the onion’s natural sugars, and in essence, causes them to melt.

• Turn the onions with a fork every thirty seconds or so, and cook until they turn golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Adjust the heat if needed to maintain a low simmer.

• Remove the onions from the oil and arrange in a single layer on paper towels. (At this point, the onions won’t yet be crispy, but I promise you that after a few minutes, as the caramelized sugars cool and harden, the onions will become deliciously crisp.)

See this and other great recipes in Michael’s new book, “It’s About Time”

www.radiusrestaurant.com

So you finally ponied up the 2 large and got the 42" plasma. Good. Now it's time to get some real furniture to put it on. Yeah, I know your college girlfriend thought the plywood on cinderblocks holding up your old TV was trendy in an "urban-chic" kinda way, but this is grownup time now. Plasmas deserve better.

I found a line of Italian-designed, luxury audio / visual furniture from Bell'O(R) that will not only add a sense of style to your place, but won't add more dents to your wallet either.

Combining functionality and durability with high gloss finishes and designer woods, Bell'O(R) stands are specifically designed to hold your flat panel and all of its accompanying components. (I know how proud you were when you got the cable box to balance perfectly on top of the TV, but it's time to let go). Use their online product selector to see which stand fits your TV before you buy.

And with prices of many of their stands coming in at under $500, you can display your flat panel in style and still have money left over to consider upgrading to the 50".

www.bello.com for info on styles and retailers.

Your father, and your father's father, trusted their barber to give them the best shave possible. Now it's your turn to continue the tradition.

Larry Paul, Creative Officer at Sharps, maker of Barber and Shop, top-of-the-line shaving and grooming products, is also licensed barber. Larry wanted to create a shaving experience and superior line of products that regular everyday guys like us could afford. Barber Brigade was born.

With Mint Kick for heavy beards, Citrus Bite for light and fragrance-free Rebellious for those of you with easily agitated skin, their shave gel goes on clear so you can see your whiskers underneath, and any imperfections that might trip you up, making shaving easier. And, dare I say, more enjoyable.

$6.99-$8.99. Exclusively at Target.

www.sharpsusa.com

“Hey, man, remember that drink you made at the Super Bowl party? How’d you make that again?”

“Where’d you find that stand for your plasma? I didn’t even know they made those.”

“I want to cook dinner for my girl. What was that pasta we had at your place that time?”

These are typical questions my buddies ask me constantly. They aren’t cavemen. And they definitely aren’t aspiring to be metrosexuals. They are normal, everyday, regular guys who just want to improve their lifestyle a bit. Impress the ladies. Be the first to get some of the latest toys that no one else knows about yet. They need some info every now and then. A little guidance. They just aren’t sure where to find it. So they ask me.

Why me? I don’t know. Could be because I’ve been around the block a few times. Had numerous and varied jobs doing everything from cooking in top restaurants to laying tile to writing for magazines. And I have a capacity to remember details. Lots of details. So I’d pass along the knowledge to them.

Which brings us to where we are now. My column, The Bachelor Guy, was created in response to the info I was constantly passing on to my buddies. I figured if they had questions and were getting great results from the answers, there had to be more guys out there who had the same questions. I was right. We’re guys. We don’t ask for directions. But if there is a “map” out there, we’ll use it.

TheBachelorGuy.com is an extension of my column. It allows you to get more info on the things you want to know, more often. And gives you a place to keep that info, and refer back to it. It’s you map to a better lifestyle. I promise.

Beer gets spilled. Ketchup gets dropped. Things happen. And you either pray the stain comes out, or you buy a new shirt.

But this is 2006, my friends. The new millennium. The future. We can now laugh at spilled beer. (Actually, you should never laugh at spilled beer, but I'm trying to make a point.)

The geniuses over at Nano-Tex have used their expertise in nanotechnology to create a fabric that not only resists stains, but is also durable and incredibly comfortable.

And their fabric is already being used by more than 30 of the brands you love - including Brooks Brothers, Dockers, Nike, Gap, Old Navy, Bass Pro Shops, Lee, Nordstrom, and Nautica - for everything from dress shirts and pants, to khakis and ties. So looking great after having wings for lunch is no problem.

Head over to www.NanoTex.com for a complete list of companies using their fabrics.