December 26, 2012

Recipe: Pickled Sausages

2 cups of Water
4 cups of Distilled White Vinegar
2 tablespoons of Kosher Salt
1/2 tablespoon of Black Pepper
10 drops of Red Food Coloring
1/2 tablespoon of Pickling Spices
1 tablespoon of Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
1/2 tablespoon of All Spice (optional)
10 links of Smoked Sausage (any type)

In a large stainless steel pot, add all the ingredients, except for the sausage links, and bring to a boil, while stirring occasionally to ensure salt dissolves.

AVOID using cast-iron, aluminum, iron, copper, and teflon! The vinegar will damage the pots.

Take the sausage links and place into a sterile glass jar, either whole or cut up. Pour the pickling solution into the jar and seal with the top. Let stand for at least 3-4 days, before serving.

November 9, 2012

Recipe: Chicken-Pumpkin Fall Meatloaf

1 Pumpkin, medium-sized (about 5-6 lbs.)
1 1/2 lbs. of ground Chicken
1 Vidalia Onion, medium-sized (chopped)
3 large Yellow Potatoes (or 6 small ones; chopped)
2 cloves of Elephant Garlic (minced)
4 cloves of Garlic (minced)
1/2 cup of dried Cranberries, chopped
1 stalk of Celery (chopped thinly)
4 Apples, medium-sized (can be any kind; thinly-chopped)
1 Apple Pear, medium-sized (thinly-chopped)
8 ounces roasted Pine Nuts (crushed)
2 tablespoons of Salt
2 tablespoons of ground Black Pepper
1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon of ground All Spice
2 tablespoons of dried Oregano
1 teaspoon of dried Sage
1 teaspoon of Onion Powder
1 teaspoon of ground Nutmeg
1 teaspoon of ground Cinnamon
1/4 cup of Mustard
1/4 cup of Ketchup
1/2 cup of Panko Breadcrumbs
1/4 cup of Apple Cider
1/4 cup of Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
1 large Egg

To start, pre-heat the oven to 325-degrees. You're going to cut the top of the pumpkin off, so you can access the insides. Remove the seeds and guts with a spoon. Try to keep as much flesh as possible. When finished, rinse with cold water and towel dry. Take your virgin olive oil and coat the insides of the pumpkin, as well as the top. Cover the bottom to middle of the pumpkin with one large sheet of aluminum foil - it shouldn't have cracks for the next step. Place the pumpkin, with the top back on, into a deep dish metal pan and put into the oven, and fill the pan to about an inch from the top with water. The aluminum foil is to prevent the pumpkin from being water-logged as it cooks, while the water is used to help regulate the temperature of the pan and keep the pumpkin from drying out. Cook the pumpkin for about 20-30 minutes. When the flesh is tender, you can take the pumpkin out of the oven carefully (hot water!) and let it rest. Empty the pan of the water, but keep the aluminum foil on the pumpkin.

While the pumpkin is cooking chop your onion and put into a large skillet (over low heat) with 2 tablespoons of oil, add the salt. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Also chop potatoes, apples, celery, and pear, as well as mincing the garlics. When the onions are translucent, add the potatoes and celery to the skillet. After another five minutes add the chopped apples and pears, along with pepper powders, onion powder, and dried herbs. Continue cooking and stirring occasionally for ten minutes. Add the apple cider, nutmeg, all spice, and cinnamon, and cover. Continue to cook for another ten minutes over medium heat, then turn off heat and transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl to cool down. If you have an ice bath, that'd be even better (the mixing bowl can fit into a larger bowl with some ice and cold water). Stir the mixture to release steam.

After the mixture has cooled down some, you can lightly scrape the insides of the pumpkin interior to pull some flesh, but you still want to leave a solid wall inside. Take the scrape pumpkin and add to the mixing bowl, along with the ground chicken, ketchup, panko breadcrumbs, dried cranberries, egg, and crushed pine nuts. Mix all the ingredients well with your hands for a few minutes, making sure everything is well mixed. Cover with plastic wrap and place into fridge for 20-30 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

Take the mustard - I like using cranberry or horseradish mustards, if I can find them! - and coat the inside of the pumpkin.

After the meatloaf mixture has cooled for a bit, take it out of the fridge and stuff the pumpkin with it. Once done, place the top back on as much as you can, and return the now-stuffed pumpkin to the pan and place into a 350-degree pre-heated oven, and add water back to the pan, until it's about 2 inches from the top. Cook the pumpkin meatloaf for about 90 minutes to two hours. Once it's cooked, check the temperature with a meat thermometer placed through the top to the middle. You're looking for a reading of at least 165-degrees, if lower return to the oven for at least another ten minutes, before checking the temperature again after washing the thermometer in hot water. Once it's done, remove from the oven carefully (hot water!), place the pumpkin on a large dish, and let sit for about ten minutes. Then cut up and serve.

September 30, 2012

The Phantom of the Opera

Been so busy lately, it hurts... LITERALLY!

I feel old! LOL!

Anywho, I got to shoot Lindsey Stirling's concert this past Friday in NYC at Webster Hall, and it was amazing! This entire weekend has been fun! Tiring, but fun!

That's all I have to say for now, just wanted to do a quick post. I leave you with this!

August 29, 2012

Whale Spotting

I went out onto the Atlantic Ocean this afternoon, in the hunt for humpback whales. The first one we saw was actually two, a cow and her calf, but unfortunately they eluded us. We just saw their spouts from a distance twice.

The third one we saw was about two miles off the shore of Staten Island (NY) and Sandy Hook (NJ). We spent most of the time around this one. At one point, the whale changed directions and surfaced near the bow of the ship, where we almost hit it, but it dove under. All the pics from today's adventure are of this one, except for two pics (which I haven't put up).

The last one was seen when we were returning. We spotted this one in the waters between Staten Island and Breezy Point (NY), but this one was a speed demon. Saw this one about 2-3 times, before it vanished from site.


August 27, 2012

Tumblr

I'm now also on Tumblr!

http://knightmare6.tumblr.com

August 24, 2012

Ulorin Vex Teaser

Been some time, but thought I'd post a quick teaser from my shoot with Ulorin Vex. I've been so swamped and busy, that I've neglected this bllog, amongst other sites *sigh*

I'm happy how the photos are coming out right now though, was so excited to be able to shoot with her (Ulorin Vex), being a fan of Emilie Autumn and all :)

May 31, 2012

Recipe: Candied Bacon

12 slices of thick-cut Bacon
1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
1/3 cup of Light Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon of ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

Add bacon slices and walnuts to a bowl with both peppers and rub well. Add the brown sugar and continue rubbing the bacon until they are all covered. Lay down a sheet of aluminum foil to a large baking tray and lay out the bacon slices in a single layer. The walnuts can be scattered about. Add any remaining brown sugar from the bowl on top of the slices. Cover with another sheet of aluminum foil and place into a 350-degree preheated oven for thirty minutes. The slices can be cooked longer depending on the texture desired. When the slices are ready, remove and place on top of dish lined with paper towels to drain any excess fat for a few minutes.

May 30, 2012

Movie Review: Snow White & The Huntsman

So I got a chance to check out "Snow White and the Huntsman" today, and the movie looked fantastic. The lighting, scenery, special effects, and wardrobe of the characters were, for the most part, fantastic!

And that's about it.

The story itself was great. I liked seeing the back story of Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), or at least the elements they did cover. Still left out how she learned magic... We got a little glimpse into the nature of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), although his character is never named in the movie, aside from being called Huntsman. Snow White (Kristen Stewart) did actually appear pretty gorgeous in some scenes, unlike what we saw in the trailer. Sadly, what I didn't feel was any attachment thanks to the lackluster acting on pretty much all the parts of the actors. Although Theron's acting did fare better once Queen Ravenna begins to feel her life waning away and she lashes out in anger at everybody, especially her brother Finn (Sam Spruell). Otherwise, it feels like everyone's coasting for the paycheck.

The story doesn't stray too far from the mythos of "Snow White," but it does include a lot of fantasy/fairy tale tropes, to the point where a lot of it was predictable. I'll be honest, I rolled my eyes a lot...

And last but not least... there was a serious math problem in this movie... which you should be able to figure out after seeing the movie to the end, if you paid attention.

Overall it is an okay film, but some polishing would've greatly improved it for me.

May 28, 2012

Recipe: Lemon-Thyme Roasted Potatoes

1 tablespoon of unsalted Butter
1 lbs. small Red Potatoes (halved)
3 thin slices of Lemon (seeded)
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon of Kosher Salt
1/8 teaspoon of crushed Black Pepper
1/8 teaspoon of crumbled dried Thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon of fresh Thyme)

Take the butter and coat the bottom and sides of a baking pan large enough to hold the potatoes in a single layer. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, except the thyme. Add potatoes and lemon slices to the pan, in a single layer. Place into a 425-degree pre-heated oven, and roast for 15 minutes. Remove lemon slices and turn potatoes over, and let cook for another 6-10 minutes, until tender and browned. Take the lemon slices and mince. When the potatoes are done, add the minced lemon and crumbled thyme.

When There's No More Room In Hell For The Souls Of The Dead...

Sunday I followed the NYC Zombie Crawl through the streets of Williamsburg. My photos were used on Monday by Gothamist :)

Here's a sampling, with more photos on my Flickr:

May 25, 2012

Recap of the Steampunk World's Fair

A little late, but I've been busy after my brief visit to the 3rd Annual Steampunk World's Fair! I visited the event on Saturday, and what a long Saturday it was! I was there from 11:30am to about 3:45am. It was insanely fun, and while there wasn't as many bands I was into, like the first year, I definitely had a fun time checking out the different performances, and catching up with friends, as well as making new ones!

To check out the photos, visit my Flickr set. Here's a brief sample:

May 14, 2012

Fire It Up

This weekend I was finally able to somewhat catch-up on photos. Finally cleared out many photos that were behind, so now I can focus on photos from May.

Saturday I attended a barbeque birthday party for two friends, that was titled The Paul & Kurt Show BBQ of Love, and made my awesomely-delicious watermelon-chipotle BBQ wings, which I set on fire once I arrived to finish them off. I just added half a cup of Everclear to the wings and lit them on fire before I was ready to serve, to help caramelize the sauce onto the wings and help to form a nice saucey crust.

Now I can focus on knocking out photos for Geek Girl Productions' May 2012 show, "Victorian Vixens," before the upcoming weekend for the Steampunk World's Fair.

May 11, 2012

An Update

Still catching up on photos, I have such a backlog it's not even funny :/

Switching my web site's domain and hosting to a new company, and it's been a slight nightmare, but I think it's pretty resolved for now... I think...

Got an email this morning that my flash has been repaired and en route, so hopefully I should have it next week.

Next week is the 3rd Annual Steampunk World's Fair, so yay!

April 25, 2012

Catching Up

It's been a while, but here's a brief update.

Last week I took off from my day job for my birthday vacation, which was basically a week. Setup a lot of shoots which ended up flaking out sadly, but oh well. That's the nature of the game!

Friday night was cool, my friends threw a dinner get-together, so that was nice! Afterwards we went out clubbing.

Saturday I was shooting burlesque photos for "At Last: The Blues & Burlesque of Etta James." Great show! Lovely ladies, and a nice crowd! Sadly the night went from bad to worse afterwards. When I left Arlene's Grocery, where the show was held, it was pouring rain, and to make matters worse, I received a parking ticket. Apparently the spot I chose turned into a No Standing area after 11pm, not that one could tell with the seven parking signs indicating everything but that :/

I took off to do some nightclub photography at Stimulate at the venue, Drom, which I despise BTW. I just find the layout of the venue horrendous, aside from it's high ceilings, which I appreciate at least. Anywho that became a negatory, as I damaged my flash unit once I got inside... So yeah, there went my night.

Sunday I travelled into New Jersey to do some photo shoots at Studio 212, but unfortunately three of the models flaked out, but luckily one of my friends was available last-minute, so at least I got an extra person to shoot.

Anywho, enough complaining, ranting, and what-not! Here's some preview photos from the weekend!

March 15, 2012

Movie Review: 21 Jump Street

It's time to head back to 37 Jump Street... I mean 21 Jump Street!

The new movie, 21 Jump Street, based on the 1987-1991 TV show hits theaters on March 16 and stars Noah Hill (Superbad, Evan Almighty) and Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, The Vow) as Schmidt and Jenko, two screw-up rookie officers who've been transferred to the newly-recommissioned Jump Street Division, captained by Capt. Dickinson (Ice Cube). This movie takes place long after the TV series, featuring cameos from past actors in the show, as well as some returning characters from the original series.

The plot revolves around Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) playing brothers as their cover as they attempt to bust a drug ring in high school after a student dies from a new mysterious hallucinogenic drug. However, things have changed since these two were in high school. The jocks are no longer the cool kids, and the geeks are no longer the outcasts. And if that was not enough, the two forget their cover and switch places, so Schmidt is left learning about high school as an Athletics and Drama student, while Jenko is thrust into the world of Mathematics and Science.

While the original series focused on the experiences of a team and their difficulties reintegrating into high school, this movie focuses on Schmidt and Jenko understanding what the other went through the first time around. This understanding leads to Schmidt and Jenko further solidifying their post-school brotherhood with one another.

The movie contains action, comedy, and stupidity. Running gags include making pop-culture references about today's entertainment industry to action movie sequences you would expect blockbuster movies to possess.

If you're looking for a movie full of Michael Bay-esque explosions? You won't find it here. If you're looking for in-depth police procedures and police drama? You won't find it here. If you're looking for guys in awkward situations trying to be popular and kiss the girl? You've got it. Dry-humping? You got it! If you're looking for an arthritic grandmother with a stiff hand who needs some cock? You've got it here!

March 1, 2012

Recipe: Korean BBQ Marinade

Thought I'd share this since I'm cooking up some thinly-sliced beef tonight when I get home from work, which has been marinating overnight.

---Korean BBQ Marinade---
1/2 cup of Soy Sauce
4 tablespoons of Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon of Honey
2 tablespoons of Sesame Oil
1/3 cup of Red Wine Vinegar
1 Green Onion (chopped)
1 Garlic Clove (minced)
1 tablespoon of Flour
1 teaspoon of Black Pepper
1 teaspoon of Paprika
1 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon of Cumin
1/2 teaspoon of Crushed Red Pepper

Mix in bowl together, add meat(s) and soak for an hour to overnight.

February 29, 2012

Wicked Faire & Emilie Autumn

I've been sick for the past two weeks, due to running myself ragged. I was uber-busy on February 18th covering day 2 of Wicked Faire in Somerset, NJ, and the Emilie Autumn concert in New York, NY (Manhattan).


Also a lot of the photos from the Wicked Faire fashion show were picked up by TechRepublic.

February 9, 2012

Recipe: Watermelon Vodka-Chipotle Buffalo Wings

12 whole Chicken Wings
1 Chipotle Pepper, diced
1 clove Elephant Garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of Tabasco Sauce
2 tablespoons of Sriracha Sauce
4 ounces of Tomato Paste
1/4 cup of Watermelon Vodka
5 tablepoons of Honey
1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon of Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon of Kosher Salt
1/2 teaspoon of Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon of Crushed Red Pepper

Brine
4 cups of Cold Water
2 cups of Hot Water
1 cup of Kosher Salt
1 cup of Sugar



Add hot water to a pot or container to start the brine. Mix in sugar and salt, stir until dissolved. Then add in cold water.

Separate the drumettes, wingettes,and wing tips. The wing tips can be discarded or saved for future use in a chicken stock. Add the drumettes and wingettes to the brine, and place into the refrigerator for a half-hour to an hour.

Remove wings from brine and place onto a cooking pan large enough to have the wings side-by-side and deep enough to hold some liquids (about 2-3 inches deep), lined with paper towels and let dry for a few minutes. Remove paper towels and throw out. Add oil, non-stick spray, or butter to the wings, thoroughly coating them all and the bottom of the pan. Then place into a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 25 minutes.

Add watermelon vodka, sriracha sauce, Tabasco sauce, chipotle pepper, elephant garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and tomato paste to a medium to large pot over medium heat. Bring to simmer and reduce heat to low. Stirring often. When you're about to remove the wings (around 20 minutes), add the honey to the sauce mixture, and continue stirring.

Remove the wings and add them to the sauce mixture in the pot and fold the wings into the sauce and let them cook together for about five minutes. Raise the oven temperature to 400-425 degrees.

Afterwards, pour the wings and sauce mixture back into the pan used to cook the wings and place into the oven. Let bake for another 5-15 minutes, using tongs to turn the wings around. This time period is for glazing the sauce and creating a nice crust, so it depends on your preference for textures.

February 7, 2012

Congratulations to the New York Giants!

A tad bit behind, but congratulations to the New York Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI! Here's some photos of the celebration parade: