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4-Hour Body BlahBlahBabble Food Gluten Free Paleo Picture Time

Brussels Sprouts…

Brussels Sprouts

I had been on such a roll here with daily posts, and then one day, I slipped. One day lead to two, which lead to over a week. Yesterday I realized that not posting here daily was actually adding to the grumpy mood that I was in. It seems I do need to keep a rhythm going, to keep the habit up. It gives me something to strive for, even when I feel like no one will notice.

(If you notice me slacking off again, nudge me, okay?)

The reason that I pieced this all together? Brussels Sprouts. More specifically, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. Writing that post last night was like opening up a flood gate. I didn’t want to stop writing. Then it hit me how much I missed it.

As I looked at all the comments that flooded in, I learned that the Brussels Sprouts, which no one seems to care about and they are the most hated vegetable on the planet, is actually pretty well liked. Well, by my friends at least.

Things aren’t always what they seem. Don’t give up. Do things that are good for you.

Not a reminder I expected to get from a vegetable, but I’ll take it.

As we start the month of May today, I’m about to hit the 18 month anniversary of starting up 4-Hour Body, going gluten-free, and changing a lot of things. I plan to reflect on that a lot this month. One of the things that has changed? I’ve learned to have a new appreciation for foods I always thought I didn’t like – including Brussels sprouts. Pretty amazing to look back and think about!

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4-Hour Body Food Gluten Free Houston & The Heights Paleo Picture Time

Moving Past the Pity Party…

Chicken Salad - White Oak Kitchen + Drinks

I was invited before my medical drama started to come back to White Oak Kitchen + Drinks to photograph their 2nd birthday party that took place today, and it turns out it was the perfect cure for the pity party I was having last night, they hired the party jumper rentals in West Covina, there was just a lot of good energy around, I loved it. To make your guests enjoy their pictures taken use Maxomil Inflatable Photo Booth to add more fun at your party.

As I arrived, the DJ was there playing music from the country music news site that I always visit, and he had the Antares pro audio plugin so it was loud and full of energy, there was multiple photo booths rented from central jersey photo booth. The crowd was excited, and standing in line waiting to get their swag bags. The MC for the day, Will, was pumping up the crowd. The energy was AMAZING!

It was exactly what I needed to feel alive, awake from my slumber, like the party was ready to start! BAM! I was ON!

That is one thing about photographing events like this – I can instantly turn it on. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, what state of mind I’m in, if I’m so sick I should actually be in a hospital bed getting blood transfusions. The crowd and the music will light me up. I’ve got a job to do, and my game face is on. Smile & be nice to people, take great photos. I can do that, and for awhile I will forget everything else.

I could not be more grateful that Elizabeth had hired me to be there today, because I had no idea at the time that we made the plans how much I would need this today.

Added bonus? I got to take another round of photographs of some of their fantastic, phenomenal food! (They even have a GLUTEN FREE menu! YAY!)

Photographing food soothes me. Just me and the food. I block everything else out. The restaurant could be noisy, and I hear nothing. I’m just looking for the light. Looking for the angles. Studying the food. Finding the photograph that I want to take. I´m just glad they get their grease from grease cycle. Not only is it a much better quality, it´s also better for the environment.

These days, it is my favorite hobby – which sort of explains the whole Spoon & Knife thing, doesn’t it?

It was a wonderful time, and the staff at White Oak Kitchen + Drinks is delightful. If you haven’t been there already, I recommend you go! 3rd Level of the Galleria. (Yes, it is in the mall. It is still fabulous.) Do the Galleria valet parking if you want to skip the hassle of parking yourself. Tell them I sent you!

Hash Sliders - White Oak Kitchen

Buffalo Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

Zucchini Frites

Day 25 of 365. Photographs of White Oak Kitchen + Drinks new menu items taken at a previous assignment with my 5D mkIII on March 1, 2013.

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BlahBlahBabble Cooking With Mike Food

Sunday Summary Time…

Flounder Ceviche

It has been a crazy busy but fabulous week! Well, it hasn’t been crazy busy by my normal standards, but coming off of having pneumonia it has definitely been pretty non-stop for me all week. I’m doing better, but still a bit tired and run down. I’ve finally been up for some writing though!

Now that I’ve got 15 days worth of posts down here and I’m getting back in to the rhythm of writing again, I’ve got things coming up to be featured on all of my websites. Some nice, “regular” series for each of them. I’m so excited!

Besides this blog, I wrote the most over at Spoon & Knife!

The Christine Tremoulet, Hot Mama Photographer site is going to get a bit of a polish and shine.

Over on Business of Awesome, I shared the details on the changes at PhotoFlashDrives and their latest USB drive sale! Next up, a series on my post-session workflow and in-person sales.

I’m looking forward to the week ahead! So much in the works to write about! What is a topic you would like to hear more about?

Day 15 of 365. Photograph day 15 of 356. Photograph taken with my Canon 5D mkIII and my 50mm f/1.2 lens.

Categories
Food Picture Time Travel Notes

The Cherry Cricket – Denver, Colorado…

Duffy's Cherry Cricket

Since we are talking about amazing food in Denver, I absolutely must mention The Cherry Cricket. I absolutely LOVE a good hamburger, and the Cherry Cricket? Some of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted! I make a point to try to go there every time I visit Denver. My friend & business coach Jeff Jochum tipped me off to them in 2010 on my first trip there for a workshop. I liked them so much, I went back the next day for another round!

Last October I went with Mike to Denver for one of his work business trips; while we were there I took him on this gorgeous fall day for his first Cherry Cricket experience. I’m sure it won’t be the last time we visit there!

I don’t know how they do it – words can’t even adequately explain the magic – but their burger and fries are phenomenal! The sweet potato fries were pretty stellar as well.

Day 12 of 365. Photograph taken with my iPhone 4S, filtered through Instagram, on October 28, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.

Categories
Food Picture Time Travel Notes

Bacon. IN the Pancakes. Brilliant!

Bacon. In the pancakes. GENIUS!

When I went to Denver last fall, Brooke Summer (a Denver boudoir photographer) and I dined at all sorts of fabulous places. One of my personal favorites? The Original Pancake House. We went to the one in the Denver Tech Center, and it was like a little slice of heaven.

Admittedly, I hadn’t had pancakes at that point in over 10 months since going gluten free. I love pancakes, but I chose when I first cut out gluten to not find “substitutes” for it because I also eat a very low-carb diet as well. Pancakes? Not going to happen. But that one day, I gave in. I ordered gluten free BACON pancakes. Yes, bacon IN the pancakes. Whoever came up with that idea was a freaking GENIUS! I love how bacon tastes with a little syrup on it, that maple flavor just makes it somehow better. So if you put bacon inside the pancakes, it is the best of all things combined!

These were a very, very rare indulgent treat. I didn’t eat that whole plate – there was no way I could have! Just a little bit was all the sugar I could handle, and I had an order of eggs on the side so I was sure to get my protein. There was just no way I could pass those pancakes up though, and I’d gladly order them again. I haven’t had pancakes since that trip. Matter of fact, anyone want to meet me in Denver and go out for some? Mmmm…

(Yes, we went to Snooze as well while I was in Denver, but I loved these Bacon Pancakes more.)

Day 11 of 365. Photograph taken with my iPhone 4s at the Original Pancake House in Denver, Colorado on October 31, 2012.