Friday, February 11, 2005

Chef Tami's Graduation!


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Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Chef Tami at Graduation!

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Lasagna to Die For!

Recipe for Lasagna to Die For!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. Italian sausage (1/2 inch dice)
1 chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves, chopped
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. chili powder
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
4 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 tsp. salt
2 cups red wine (same wine served with the Lasagna)
16 slices mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
1 lb. soft provolone slices

Procedure:
Heat the beef, sausage, and onions in extra virgin olive oil until tender. Stir in the garlic, bay leaves, oregano, tomato paste, tomato sauce and red wine. Cover and simmer slowly for two hours. Add chili powder and salt. Boil 4-5 quarts of water. Cook one pound of lasagna noodles until tender. Grease two 9x13 inch casserole or pyrex pans. Start with a layer of tomato sauce, arrange layers of lasagna noodles, provolone, mozzarella and Romano cheese and repeat until there is a 1/4 inch gap from the top of pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to 55 minutes. Rest casserole for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 12-16

Tami

Construction Hell

I am having trouble sleeping in lately, as the construction starts at 5 AM. I live in Seattle home of the monorail of 2009. They are digging up my driveway to put the telephone, cable wires, etc. underground. It sucks. Jackhammers suck. I need to buy a sound soother that plays nature sounds or something. The problem is that I am a night person and I tend to sleep when the construction is in full swing. They even dug several trenches in my front yard, I sure hope nobody falls in as they are near the street and are non existent sidewalk. That would be an improvement a sidewalk. It sounds like I am going off on a construction rant and bitchfest, so I will say goodnight for now.
Tami

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

My new favorite TV show is Committed on NBC Tuesdays at 9:30 PM

Committed is a humorous new show about a relationship with some mental health issues, like obsessive compulsive disorder. Marni played by Jennifer Finnigan who used to be on "The Bold and Beautiful" and "Crossing Jordan" plays the female lead love interest of Nate Played by Josh Cooke "Century City". This is a strange courtship of two opposites who attract despite their differences. Marni is upbeat, a free spirt, fearless, tolerant and optimistic she is drawn to Nate a brilliant, neurotic, obsessive compulsive who works at a record store to stay normal and prevent himself from falling into his family's neurotic path. Their relationship is yin and yang and takes place in the craziness of New York City. The nanny Tess played by Tammy Lynn Michaels who looks after the kids next store is edgy and sarcastic and she offers Marni advice. Nate's friend and co-worker at the record store Bowie played by Darius McCrary from "Family Matters" offers Nate advice and tries to calm his obsessive compulsive ways, like how Nate has to write everything down on legal pad notebooks before he can say something important. On one episode his apartment is so packed with legal pads, sticky notes, stacks of books, and covered with his obsessive compulsions that he had to turn out the lights before inviting Marni inside. Deep down Marni likes that Nate is so different, but he does not want to her to see that side of him. Hysterically, she breaks into his apartment to see what it look like with the lights on with her friend Tess, they leave and the next time she comes back the place is perfect. He hid everthing in his bedroom. Marni can't really say anything as she has a clown living in her closet. Each character is unique and they all seem to fit together like a puzzle, this couple's connection is quirky and irresistible to not want to watch. I love this new show and if you give it a try you might like it too. Let me know what you think by posting a comment.
Tami

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Rice Pudding Recipe

Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/3 cup long grain white rice
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 Teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup currants or raisins
whipped cream (optional)
Procedure:
In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan combine the milk, rice and salt. Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium to medium-low and simmer until the rice is tender or about twenty-five minutes. Stir the milk mixture frequently using a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. When the rice is tender remove from the heat and add the sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Return to heat and cook until the rice pudding thickens, about five to ten minutes. Remove from heat and add the currants or raisins. Spoon the pudding into your serving bowls and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one to two hours before serving. If desired, garnish with whipped cream.

Recipe for Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1/3 cup plus1/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
2 egg yolks,lightly beaten
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Teaspoons vanilla
2 egg whites
3 bananas, sliced
One 9-inch prebaked pie shell
Procedure:
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/3 cup sugar with the cornstarch and salt. Blend in milk, then egg yolks. Cook and stir until mixture thickens. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into egg yolk mixture. In pie shell, alternative layers of banana slices and cream filling. Cover and chill. Top with whipped cream and additional sliced bananas, if desired.
Serves 6 to 8 people

Quote from the Handbook for Higher Consciousness

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Quote from The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck

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