Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Deluxe Orange Muffins

Recipe 1001 Muffins by Gregg R. Gillespie

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup Triple Sec
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Procedure:
1) Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Lightly grease or line with paper baking cups eighteen 2 3/4-inch muffin cups.
2) In a large bowl, blend together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a medium bowl, beat the egg until foamy. Beat in the sugar. Beat in the oil, Triple Sec, juice and orange zest. Combine the two mixtures, blending until the dry ingredients are just moistened being careful not to overmix.
3) Drop 1 heaping tablespoon of the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the muffin touched bounces back. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired brush with the Honey Glaze after the 5 minutes of cooling and it will set as the muffins continue to cool.

The muffins can be served with a Honey Glaze:
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup light corn syrup

Procedure:
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the butter and honey and cook, stirring, until smooth. Stir in the corn syrup. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.




Zen and the Art of Cooking by Jon Sandifer

Taken from the fabulous book, Zen and the Art of Cooking by Jon Sandifer

Too much water: If we continually use too much water in our cooking the food can turn out limp and soggy. The ultimate expression of the Water phase would be eating raw food exclusively, which would suppress or negate the presence of Fire in the preparation. Too much water food in general will put out the Fire in our chi.

Too much fire: Naturally, if we overcook our food then it will take on the qualities of the Metal phase and become dry, burnt, and brittle. A good example of this is burning our bread when we meant to only toast it.
too much metal: Overcooking our food ultimately destroys the essence of Wood chi-the freshness that Wood energy brings to our food.

Too much wood: If our food is consistently cooked for too short a time it does not allow the richness and the mellowness of the Earth element to evolve.

Too much earth: If we consistently prepare meals that are cooked slowly over a long period of time this style can prevent the "essence", represented by the water element, from coming through. Such a dish is likely to have only one overall flavor and may not reveal the hidden qualities of the different ingredients.

"If you care enough for the result you will almost always attain it" -William James

I believe this to be true, that when cooking take the time to prepare what will nourish both your stomach and your soul.
Tami

Monday, September 05, 2005

My Brother and I in Black & White

I actually like this in Black & White it looks cool with Jonathan's Sunglasses and Hat.

Zephyr's Tongue!


Zephyr's Tongue!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
My big dog Zephyr caught licking the side of his face, he even has purple bows in his fur.



Banana CupCake!


Banana CupCake!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Waiting until after the movie to eat this! I went to see Wedding Crashers tonight and loved it! Too Funny!

I like how the Banana CupCake and the building appear to be similar in color!

Bellevue, WA driving around taking photographs!

Clouds Reflection Black & White


Clouds Reflection Black & White
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Cloudy & Sunny Day in Bellevue, WA created this great shot for me that almost looks surreal.

Black & White Space Needle


Black & White Space Needle
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Taken from bottom of Space Needle, but a little further back with Zoom Lens.

Black & White Space Needle II


Black & White Space Needle II
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
This looks great with the blue sky, but I think I like the Black & White a lot too.

Black & White Space Needle III


Black & White Space Needle III
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
I really like this shot in Black & White.

Circular Sculpture Upclose!


Circular Sculpture Upclose!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue, WA

Bellevue Park Circular Sculpture!

Bellevue, WA

Beautiful Day!


Beautiful Day!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue, WA This is a set of photographs of a Beautiful Day at the downtown Bellevue Park!

Beautiful Day II!


Beautiful Day II!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue, WA

Beautiful Day III!


Beautiful Day III!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue, WA

Fountain at Bellevue Park!


Fountain at Bellevue Park!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue, WA

The Park Downtown Bellevue, WA


The Park Downtown Bellevue, WA
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Bellevue Park!

Pink Buttercream Cupcake with sprinkles and a white cake stump!

From "New York Cupcakes" at the Bellevue Square Mall.

Pink Cupcake on the dash of my Jeep!

Cupcakes are becoming very popular!



Bright Pink Cupcake!


Bright Pink Cupcake!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
I like this shot of the Pink Cupcake!

Pink Cupcake leaving the Mall!


Pink Cupcake leaving the Mall!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
I like the way the light is hitting the cupcake, it looks like it will melt any minute.

Pink Cupcake!


Pink Cupcake!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

mourn


mourn
Originally uploaded by Culinarynovice.
This black ribbon originally uploaded by Amber known as Culinary Novice on Flickr I decided to blog to mourn the deaths and to have something this black ribbon, if it is even possible to symbolize this devastation and tragedy. To Donate for the disaster relief fund for Hurricane Katrina Call 1-800 HELP NOW