Saturday, April 15, 2006
Chocolate & Zucchini
I visited a fantastic culinary blog tonight called Chocolate & Zucchini. I highly recommend it if you love food and chocolate. Click on Chocolate & Zucchini in the title and you will be on your way. Do not forget to bookmark ChefTami first.
Friday, April 14, 2006
King of Queens!
The King of Queens was not part of the CBS renewal announcements, due to a contract war. I really love the show and I hope it comes back for a 9th season in the fall. I hope the popularity of the King of Queens will save it and CBS will give them the money. The show makes me laugh and is one of the few where I will laugh out loud. Long live the King!
television
tivo
weblog
Word of the Day for Saturday April 15, 2006
Croquembouche is a tall pyramid made of cream filled choux pastry spheres coated with caramel and decorated. Traditionally served at French weddings. Photo by my friend at flickr pastrylife.
French origin.
pastry
Word of the Day for Friday April 14, 2006
Seven Minute Icing
Egg whites, granulated sugar, boiling water, cream of tartar and flavoring beaten briskly for 7 minutes over hot water bath until it reaches a meringue like consistency.
Origin United States.
Egg whites, granulated sugar, boiling water, cream of tartar and flavoring beaten briskly for 7 minutes over hot water bath until it reaches a meringue like consistency.
Origin United States.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Top Chef!
The finale for Top Chef airs Wed, May 17th on Bravo at 6:00 PM Pacific time. It is going to be filmed in Las Vegas, instead of the usual San Francisco. Head Chef Tom Collichio and food writer/host Katie Lee Joel (married to Billy Joel) have done a great job of telling the chef that needs to go at the end of the week to go pack their knives and go. A little catch phrase. This week Andrea was voted off and told to pack her knives and go. I do like her, but I think that just cooking vegetables put her at a disadvantage and she did not seem to have the drive to win the competition. Tiffani is really there to compete and to take home the fantastic prizes of $100,000, food and wine magazine spread, and new viking kitchen. I think that Leann is also strong in the competition her cooking skills are right on and she is the Executive chef at the French Culinary Institute one of the best cooking schools. She has a combination of skill, heart, talent, intelligence, and artistic ability to win the competiton. Harold is also doing well in the competition and he definitely has skill, but I do not think he will win. Stephen is one of the most arogant and self absorbed person in the world.His plating is beautiful, but after eating the little amount of food he plates anyone would still be hungry. I like Dave a lot and out of everyone on the show I could see myself actually eating his food. He cries a lot, but seems to have a big heart. As a chef, crying is not something desired. I am really enjoying this show and I hope it comes back next season.
television
tivo
Top Chef
Cruise!
I am going on a cruise in May from Tampa, Florida to the Grand Caymans, Costamia, Cozymel and Belize than back to Tampa. My brother Bill lives near Tampa in Lakeland, Florida and I am looking forward to seeing him, since it has been over a year. I went to Orlando, Florida for Christmas 2004 and that was the last time I saw him. I miss him. I am looking forward to the cruise and spending time with my Mom. We are taking the cruise together and we even have a balcony room, so that will be nice to be able to see the ports when you are entering each destination. This is my first cruise! I will take lots of photographs and the food is also going to be an interest to me and my camera.
blog
cruise
Versatile Vodka
Portion of my Essay for my principles of gastronomy class.
The first vodka introduced in the United States in nineteen thirty-four was the Smirnoff brand. Rudolph Kunett bought both the formula and the name from Vladimir Smirnoff in Paris. Vladimir Smirnoff originally produced vodka in Russia. John Martin bought the company from Rudolph Kunett in nineteen thirty-nine for fourteen thousand dollars. Martin was very successful at promoting the drink in Hollywood movies. The Smirnoff vodka marketing campaign of the nineteen fifties increased the drinks popularity in the United States. In the United States, vodka consumption accounts for one-fourth of all distilled spirits sold. Vodka is more popular than ever accounting for one out of every four bottles of alcohol sold worldwide. The reason for vodkas dominance in the spirit market is its ability to be mixed into so many drink recipes. It also became popular due to its odorless quality and leaves no trace of alcohol on the breath allowing people to function at work or in social situations. In the United States, the Cosmopolitan became extremely popular and trendy in society and the bar scene due to its appearance on the hit television show, Sex and the City.
Neutral and colorless alcoholic beverage vodka consists of sixty-percent water with a smooth taste and odorless aroma. The water source is very important and explains why no two types of vodka taste alike. Unlike other spirits, vodka can be made with any carbohydrate that will ferment. Foods such as potatoes, beets, corn, rye or wheat can be made into vodka. Vodka is made from ethyl alcohol, fermented mash and water.
The vodka martini, screwdriver, Bloody Mary, White Russian, the Gimlet and Cosmopolitan are popular drinks made with a vodka base. Aromatic vodkas that are flavored with ginger, lemon peel, lime, mint, chocolate, cinnamon, grapefruit, banana, orange, raspberry, nutmeg, red pepper and vanilla have become popular in recent years. In the nineteen nineties Belvedere and the French Grey Goose was introduced. These have a brandy like toffee flavor and fruit aftertaste. Absolut is Swedish vodka with citrus and pepper flavoring thought to lighten the harshness of the near pure alcohol. These new vodkas in their fancy and frosted bottles have proven that vodka can sell for more than thirty dollars a bottle. The flavored vodkas have lost the traditionalism and authentic quality of the Eastern European vodkas. The real test of a good vodka producer would be the taste of unflavored vodka. In the United States, the flavored vodkas are intended for drinking as the base or mixer in a cocktail and they serve that purpose.
The fondness of vodka, in Russia has caused the government to profit over the weakness of their people. This has been great for the Russian economy, but the problem had been that Russians drank too much vodka. However, many Russians have become alcoholics. Vodka is a part of everyday life in Russia and could be compared to the consumption of coffee in the United States.
Hollywood movies, such as James Bond films have popularized this versatile vodka and have lead to the drinks success. Popular television shows, such as Sex in the City have also increased vodka consumption and awareness of the pink tinted Cosmopolitan. In the United States there is also an increase in Vodka Bars specializing in an extensive range of premium spirits. This has led to problems of addiction in the United States.
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drinks
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alcohol
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Jam Cupcakes Recipe!
Ingredients
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons plus 1 Teaspoon pure maple syrup
1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Jam or Jams of your choice
Procedure
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line 12 standard size muffin cups with paper liners. Beat the butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy. This may take a few minutes, but it is worth it due to the lightness that it adds to these tasty cupcakes. Beat in the maple syrup and vanilla until incorporated. Then beat in the eggs one at a time and mixing just until incorporated after each addition. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Fold this flour mixture into the butter mixture just until compined. Spoon the batter into the paper liners. Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 24 minutes depending on oven accuracy. Use a cake tester or toothpick and insert it into cupcake and when it comes out clean they are done. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for a couple minutes, then remove them and set them on a cooling rack. While the cupcakes are still warm, spread the jam on the muffin tops. It can be spread as thick or thin as you like. When you spread it on thin it looks translucent like stained glass on top of these heavenly cupcakes.
Makes 12 Cupcakes
recipes
cooking
Food
cupcakes
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons plus 1 Teaspoon pure maple syrup
1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Jam or Jams of your choice
Procedure
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line 12 standard size muffin cups with paper liners. Beat the butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy. This may take a few minutes, but it is worth it due to the lightness that it adds to these tasty cupcakes. Beat in the maple syrup and vanilla until incorporated. Then beat in the eggs one at a time and mixing just until incorporated after each addition. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Fold this flour mixture into the butter mixture just until compined. Spoon the batter into the paper liners. Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 24 minutes depending on oven accuracy. Use a cake tester or toothpick and insert it into cupcake and when it comes out clean they are done. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for a couple minutes, then remove them and set them on a cooling rack. While the cupcakes are still warm, spread the jam on the muffin tops. It can be spread as thick or thin as you like. When you spread it on thin it looks translucent like stained glass on top of these heavenly cupcakes.
Makes 12 Cupcakes
recipes
cooking
Food
cupcakes
Word of the Day for Thursday April 12, 2006
Baking Term
Gelatinization is the process that starch granules go through to ultimately thicken a liquid. Gelatinization occurs when a starch and a liquid are heated, the starch absorbs the liquid, then the starch swells and ultimately thickens the liquid.
blog
Gelatinization is the process that starch granules go through to ultimately thicken a liquid. Gelatinization occurs when a starch and a liquid are heated, the starch absorbs the liquid, then the starch swells and ultimately thickens the liquid.
blog
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Word of the Day for Wednesday April 12, 2006
Dessert pastry
Vol-au-vent
A round or oval puff pastry case filled with a cooked savory mixture. It is made by rolling out the pastry, then cutting out a shape. Then half cutting a smaller shape in the center. When baked the center is removed and the crisp top is replaced over the filling.
English and French Origins.
Word of the Day for Tuesday April 11, 2006
Cherries Jubilee
Dessert
Vanilla Ice Cream topped with a sweet cherry sauce and flambeed tableside. Origin United States.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Place your blog on blogChalking at http://www.blogchalking.tk/
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Washington, Seattle, Tukwila, English, , Tami, Female, 31-35, cooking , baking. :)
blogs
United States, Washington, Seattle, Tukwila, English, , Tami, Female, 31-35, cooking , baking. :)
blogs
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Gastronomy student working hard!
I am going to Le Cordon Bleu for my master's in gastronomy. The degree takes place entirely over the internet. I am learning about food history, wine, confectionery and how to write about food. There is a lot of reading, studying and writing, but I have a better understanding of the vast field of gastronomy. It would be great when someone would pay me for writing about food, but I still enjoy doing if for free. Food is my life!!!
Chef Tami
blog
masters
gastronomy
Chef Tami
blog
masters
gastronomy
Word of the Day for Monday April 10, 2006
Creole Crab
The meat from freshly boiled crab (10 minutes) fried gently in olive oil, a little water, chopped onion and garlic, lemon juice, seasoning, thyme, bay leaf and a chilli pepper added, then simmered slowly for thirty minutes. Served with boiled rice after discarding the bay leaf, thyme, bouquet garni and chilli pepper. Origin United States New Orleans.
Word of the Day for Sunday April 9, 2006
Crepes Suzette
Small pancakes folded in quarters, simmered in a buttery orange sauce, flamed with brandy and served as a dessert. French origin.
Duck Ala Orange!
I prepared this dish when I worked at the restaurant of my culinary school, The Art Institute of Seattle. It was my favorite dish to prepare and my Dad even ordered it three times.
culinary school
food
duck
cuisine
chefs
Friday, April 07, 2006
Word of the Day for Saturday April 8, 2006
Dessert
Baked Alaska
Very cold ice cream placed on a sponge cake, covered with meringue and baked in a hot oven so that the meringue is browned while the ice cream remains solid.
Word of the Day for Friday April 7, 2006
Hydrometer
A short stubby cylinder surmounted with a long graduated tube. The whole is sealed and weighted so that it floats upright in a liquid always displacing its own mass of liquid thus indicating by the depth to which it sinks the density or specific gravity of the liquid. Used for measuring alcohol, salt and sugar concentrations in solution.
A short stubby cylinder surmounted with a long graduated tube. The whole is sealed and weighted so that it floats upright in a liquid always displacing its own mass of liquid thus indicating by the depth to which it sinks the density or specific gravity of the liquid. Used for measuring alcohol, salt and sugar concentrations in solution.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Le Cordon Bleu University of Adelaide Masters of Gastronomy
Last year I attended Boston University's Master's of Gastronomy program, but I was disappointed. This month I start at Le Cordon Bleu University of Adelaide Master's of Gastronomy program. The first semester is a class called the Principles of Gastronomy. I have quite a few books to read and I am looking forward to learning more about gastronomy.
Thanks,
Tami
gastronomy
Thanks,
Tami
gastronomy
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Veggies at the Pikes Place Market
Downtown Seattle, WA I snapped this photo of the gourgeous vegetables.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Movie Fest
I have seen quite a few movies recently. Today I went to see North Country with Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek, Frances McDormand. It is a movie about sexual discrimination class action lawsuit. It was a good movie and Woody Harrelson had a part and his role and acting in the movie was outstanding. Charlize Theron's performance in the movie was excellent not quite Oscar worthy, but damn close.
I went to see the movie, Proof, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis and Jake Gyllenhal. All I have to say is the movie had a strange, peculiar, abrubt ending. They left open for a sequel, unfortunately that is very unlikely.
Last week, I went to see, Waiting, a movie about waiting tables. The only way you could possibly enjoy this film would be to have been high. The worst part was an extended crotch scene of an unkept bush. The movie had no plot and the legendary Dane Cook who plays the cook in the movie did not have even one funny line. So, we watched 3/4 of the movie, I found it quite offensive and felt ripped off. So, I asked for my money back. I than received a couple expired coupons that I was told would be good for next time.
My saving grace this fall has been the movie, Elizabethtown, starring Orlando Bloom & Kirsten Dunst. I really like this movie even though it had a running time of 2 hours 20 minutes. Sometimes I feel that is too long, but hey $9, you get your cheddar's worth. Kirsten played a Chatty Kathy type character and Orlando's Character often seemed uninterested, but for some reason the movie works. I really enjoyed the scenery and the views along the drive home, another pluse the ending didn't suck.
Tami
I went to see the movie, Proof, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis and Jake Gyllenhal. All I have to say is the movie had a strange, peculiar, abrubt ending. They left open for a sequel, unfortunately that is very unlikely.
Last week, I went to see, Waiting, a movie about waiting tables. The only way you could possibly enjoy this film would be to have been high. The worst part was an extended crotch scene of an unkept bush. The movie had no plot and the legendary Dane Cook who plays the cook in the movie did not have even one funny line. So, we watched 3/4 of the movie, I found it quite offensive and felt ripped off. So, I asked for my money back. I than received a couple expired coupons that I was told would be good for next time.
My saving grace this fall has been the movie, Elizabethtown, starring Orlando Bloom & Kirsten Dunst. I really like this movie even though it had a running time of 2 hours 20 minutes. Sometimes I feel that is too long, but hey $9, you get your cheddar's worth. Kirsten played a Chatty Kathy type character and Orlando's Character often seemed uninterested, but for some reason the movie works. I really enjoyed the scenery and the views along the drive home, another pluse the ending didn't suck.
Tami
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
The road to a Master's Degree
The road to a Master's Degree is challenging. The application process, the looking for just the right school, and making sure everything will work out. I just graduated with my Bachelor's degree, but I feel I need to push to go onto Higher Education before I think about changing my mind. I know if I let time pass it will be something I will regret. I can do it I have faith in myself and faith in my family and most of all faith in god. I feel everyone is hear to do something. Something that will leave their stamp on the world or leave a mark through something they have created, achieved, inspired, taught or gave of themselves. I would love to one day teach what I have learned through my journey in life and give someone else the feeling that you have when you accomplish receiving your degree. Education is so important and I want to learn more and more each day. My fascination with learning came a little later. High school was not where I shined. I feel that when you want to learn something you shall embrace it, but when you don't it is better not to go to school. When someone is pushed by others they will not succeed. Education is a gift to yourself and it will strengthen your knowledge and build your ability to achieve greatness. I am searching for my gifts. I am grateful for those gifts I have and will accept gifts (things that I am good at) when God gives them to me. I do believe that everyone has natural talents and it is only a manner of cultivating the talents that you are good at. Focus is the key. Stay focused on a path, not the path to the least resistance, but the path of greatness.
Tami
gastronomy
masters
Tami
gastronomy
masters
Monday, October 17, 2005
Sometimes I feel like Dougie Howser MD and than I am reminded that is a character imaginary!
Tonite while listening to Neil Patrick Harris on the new show, How I met your Mother, talk about his blog I am reminded once again of him typing on the computer. I actually watched the show when it was on, so I am dating myself a bit, I was a little girl at the time. There are people who claim to have invented blogging or keeping online diaries. However, the internet was not available when Dougie Howser MD was typing in his daily life on his computer and reading it aloud for a tv audience. I wonder why it took so long for blogging to catch on and find it even harder to believe that some people still do not know what a blog is. I also find it mysterious the amount of bloggers that enter into the blogoshphere each day and write one post never to come back again. It requires work to write a blog and it is not really the thing for someone lazy or someone who lacks thought. There are people who go nowhere each day, acomplish very little, therefore leading to a terribly boring blog. Than there are those that write about fantastic experiences that leave you wondering if they are even true. My Blog is true, but sometimes I wonder what if I spice it up a little bit. No holding back just no holds barred. I still write with a knowledge of a reader and I think I need to free the inner writer within.
Tami
Monday, October 10, 2005
Graduation Day Afterwards on the sidewalk downtown Seattle!
Downtown Seattle at Benaroya Hall for my Graduation from Business School October 9th, 2005!
White Limo on the way to the Graduation!
Wearing my graduation gifts, Cross diamond earrings from Mom and Cross necklace of pink sapphires from my Dad.
Dad and I on Graduation Day
In front of my house and the white limo rented as a present by my Dad for my Graduation, my outfit was a present from my Mom and she even sewed the hat to make it fit better.
Tamela with Chef Mackay at the Graduation
Graduation 2005 where I graduated with Chef Mackay who taught me cooking at the Art Institute of Seattle!
Tamela and Mom at my Graduation from Business School
Graduation 2005 where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Master's Degree in Gastronomy!
I am going to start work on my graduate degree soon. I have chose to get my master's degree in gastronomy from Boston University. I live in Seattle and Boston feels very far from here. I have never been to Boston. I would like to go soon and check it out. I am starting with online classes, for instance, a class called The Cuisine and Culture of France. The class has four books for me to read, mostly about cheese and champagne. I think there will be alot more available, by that I mean information about France in the online format. I have taken online classes, but not yet at the 600 or 700 level, so this should be fun. I love learning and need it to stimulate me. I am bored in a day if I don't learn something. It can be anything, but I like to learn at least one thing a day, otherwise the day seems kind of a waste. I spend alot of time reading, sure the magazines, but also books and cookbooks. Now my passion is reading about gastronomy, the study of food. This obsession for food comes from within, mind you I do not stuff my face with food every chance I get it is not like that. I just like to talk about food, go to restaurants, enjoy a good meal, think about food I want to prepare, and of course dream about making food and than don't do it. Right now there is no one to cook for just me. I need to be worth cooking for, but I hate to do dishes. I have done a lifetime of dishes, afterall I have been to Culinary school, Baking and Pastry school, and own a house where I frequently along with my dogs create dirty dishes. I will take classes in food history, nutrition and diet, food science, and the cuisine and culture of different countries along with the study of cheese and wine. I am really excited to learn about this, in addition, I will learn about food photography and food writing. That essentially would be enough for me to do it, but I can also have the ability to teach in the future, which I feel is important to know to do something truly well enough to teach it, would require pure absorption in the subject matter and I am willing to do that.
Tami
gastronomy
Tami
gastronomy
Monday, September 19, 2005
Pear Dessert in a Glass!
Chef Stephane Glacier signs his book for me.
World Pastry Forum 2005
Pastry Chef Jean-Phillipe Maury's Chocolate Showpiece Creation.
world Pastry Forum
chocolate
pastry chef
world Pastry Forum
chocolate
pastry chef
Monday, September 12, 2005
Graduation!
I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, October 9, at 2 PM. The graduation will be held downtown Seattle. My Dad, my Mom, and Two brothers, Bill and Jonathan, will attend the graduation.
Tami
Tami
Beautiful Blue and Yellow Sunset!
I love sunsets and decided to start taking more photographs when I see one like this.
Little Girl on Rock!
This cute little girl on the rock made it into a few of my shots at the Marina Park in Kirkland, Washington.
Marina Park in Kirkland, Washington
Lots of people fill this park enjoying the sand, birds, greenery, boats, view and sunset.
Beautiful Sunset
I really like this photograph, I cropped the bottom and left the color alone. I think it is really nice.
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