Keg Steakhouse

My Dad and I always enjoy going to the Keg Steakhouse. The food is consistently good. I just have the Baked Shrimp Appetizer, because it is my favorite item they have on the menu. Baked with garlic, cheddar and mozzarella cheese with shrimp it is to die for. My Dad loves their peppercorn steak and french onion soup. I recommend it if there is one near you.

New Restaurant

Went to a new restaurant tonight called Crave. I think the photographs speak for themselves.

Which John Cusack are You? Click Here and Find Out!

Which John Cusack Are You?

Bechamel Sauce

This sauce is perfect for use in the Vegetarian Lasagna. It is great as a basic white sauce over pasta. Add grated cheese and turn this base sauce into a lovely cheese sauce.

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all- purpose flour
4 cups milk
1 whole peeled onion
4 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
salt and white pepper to taste
nutmeg, to taste

Procedure:
In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat; stir in flour. Cook 4 to 5 minutes; do not allow it to color. Remove from heat. In medium saucepan heat milk, onion, cloves and bay leaf over medium heat. When milk comes to a boil remove onion, cloves and bay leaf. Slowly add hot milk to butter-flour mixture, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes or until smooth and thickened. Stirring with a wire whisk or wooden spoon. Strain sauce through fine mesh strainer. Season to taste with salt, white pepper and nutmeg.
Yield: 4 cups

Vegetarian Lasagna

Recipe courtesy Carnival Cruise Ship.

Ingredients:
12 lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 cups spinach leaves
3/4 cup chopped onion
grated nutmeg
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup bechamel sauce
6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
6 basil leaves

Procedure:
Cook lasagna according to the package directions; drain. Cool. Heat butter in large skillet; add garlic, cook until softened. Add mushrooms, spinach and onion. Cook until tender. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease individual molds; line with lasagna. Add layers of spinach, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Cover lightly with bechamel sauce; repeat. Cover tightly. Place molds in baking pan; pour 1 inch water into pan. Cover entire pan with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove molds from oven. Heat broiler. Add slices of fresh mozzarella cheese to each serving; broil until melted. Spoon tomato sauce onto serving plates; unmold lasagna. Garnish with basil.
6 servings

Clarified Butter

1 pound butter

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and skim the impurities on top. Using a ladle, remove the butterfat. Discard the water. Note: When you heat the butter, the water and most impurities will sink to the bottom, because they are heavier.

The Break Up

I went to see the movie The Break Up today. I think it will do well, it was quite crowded at the 2 PM showing. In the beginning of the movie it is so sweet to see all the photographs of them when they are happy. From there well it holds on to the title. I do not want to ruin it for you. I think it is worth seeing. I enjoyed it and it was funny, although sarcastic. If you like Vince Vaughn or Jennifer Aniston than you will like it.

Back Home!

Home from my vacation to Florida, Cayman Islands, Cozyumel, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico. I had a great time on the cruise. I am home now and not feeling very well.

Costa Maya, Mexico

Yesterday, we were in Costa Maya, Mexico and it was beautiful, sunny and a lot of fun. We went to the shops and than were called back to the cruise ship due to the coming storm. Very windy the boat rocked back and forth for like a day. We are on our way back to Tampa and our cruise will end tommorow at 9:30 AM. Than we are back at my brother Bill's house for a little over a day, before heading back to Seattle. I can't wait to post photos from the cruise. Stay tuned. Has anyone else been on a cruise? Comments are always loved.

Yellow Submarine!

Yesterday my cousin Suzie, my Mom and I went on a Submarine trip 120 feet below sea level. We looked at Sea Turtles, Gigantic fish, Colorful fish, Coral, Lobsters, Reefs, Divers and a variety of Sea life. Quite beautiful actually. We left the cruise ship for Cozymel, Mexico, took a cab ride, followed by a boat ride until we reached the submarine. When we returned from the Submarine trip we went shopping and were overtaken by the extreme humidity and heat and decided to board the cruise ship. We then went to the Salon and had a Hot Stone Massage. I had never had one, but I highly recommend it if you get the chance. Today we are in Belize, but it is overcast and the weather is not sunny. I am hearing complaints from other passengers, but I think it will still be fun to see Belize. Good Day!

Miracle Cruise Ship!

Hi everyone! I am aboard the Carnival Miracle Cruise Ship! A little sea sick so far, but we will be in the Grand Cayman Islands by morning. I am attending my cousin's wedding in the chapel aboard the ship on Tuesday. Did a little gambling, watched a show and walked around the cruise ship last night. I have not been able to upload any photos yet, but I have taken some photographs. I met two people from flick onboard the cruise. We were contacts on flickr and now we met in person. That was really great. Having a good time. Post photos soon.

Bon Voyage Dinner before my Cruise!

I am going on a cruise. It sails off from Tampa, Florida to the Cayman Islands, Cozymel and Belize and back. I will post photographs soon. Here are the photographs from my Bon Voyage dinner before my cruise.

Cupcake Lovers: Click Here for A Cupcake Life!

Blue & Purple Swirl Vanilla Cupcakes!

Food, Food, Food!

My Brother Jonathan's 33rd Birthday Celebration at Ivars in Seattle, Washington.

Quote by Frida Kahlo

The Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo

I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive.
Frida Kahlo, Letter to Nickolas Murary, 12-18-1939

I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

How Stressed Are You Click Here to Find Out!

Your Stress Level is: 76%

You are prone to stress, and you're probably even pretty stressed right now. Life's problems seem to pile up on you, and this often makes you feel depressed and burned out. Learn to take time to relax and enjoy life, even if things are stressful. It's the only wa you'll get through the bad times.

How Stressed Are You?

Privacy? Never happen

We are willingly giving up freedom for safety, is that safe? Cameras are everywhere growing at an alarming rate, phone conversations are monitored, and personal information is gathered & linked to various data bases. "We're moving in the direction of having the government turn us into a society that's under constant surveillance"

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Went out for Brother's Birthday!

Just loading up the photographs from Ivar's Salmon House in Seattle where we dined for my Brother Jonathan's 33rd Birthday. I will post them shortly. I hope everyone is having a nice evening. Update on the Insomnia post my doctor prescribed Ambien today. So, hopefully it will work and I will get some sleep. Has anyone taken Ambien, I have heard weird things? At this point I need my sleep.

Insomnia

Does anyone else have insomnia? It is the worst not being able to sleep. I guess I just have too many thoughts going through my head to sleep at night.

What are you cooking this weekend?

I am going to cook meatloaf for my brother Jonathan who is visiting and my Dad. I will make creamed corn and mashed potatoes to go with it. For Dessert my brother's favorite Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting! We are celebrating his birthday early, because I will be on a cruise to Belize during his actual birthday. Wait until I post photographs of the food from the cruise I am sure it will be decadent. I hope there is an ice sculpture, but who knows this is my first cruise.

Cooking With Google

Choose a main ingredient and a cuisine, let Google do the rest. Unfortunately, no "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

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Top Chef Reunion Episode!

Loud Irish Ken was back and so was his idea that sticking his finger in the sauce was right. Stephen said what would you rather eat sand or shit? Of course, sand not shit. A cut above the rest arrogant Stephen apologizes to Candace for yelling at her about the cookie cutter incident. I think he has seen himself on television and acts a bit differently now. Harold said Stephen has an alter ego which is probably right. Dave is called emotional, really he just has a big heart. His passion is obvious and I like when he talks to himself it is so funny. Dave hates Tiffani and guess what his line I am not your bitch, bitch was made into a t-shirt available on the bravo top chef shop. I want one! Miguel called Tiffani a snake, Brian wanted to have sex with all the girls in the house, especially Candace. Stephen was called Top Sommelier! Tiffani cried and was quite upset when accussed of messing with oven temperatures and burners. What a bitch! That happened to me in culinary school, I hate people like that. Harold's shyness was discussed and several of the viewers wanted to know if he was single? He declined to answer. He finally said he was not single. I wonder if him and Stephen are together? Dave's famous line makeout about Stephen and Harold could it be true? I think there was quite a bit of drinking in the house. The truth about Tiffani's lies came out and the fact that she threw Miguel under the bus was proven on tape. Who do you think will win Top Chef? Dave, Tiffani or Harold?
Technorati Tags: Top Chef reality Bravo TV tivo topchef

Top Chef renewed, finale expanded and reunion added!

Bravo calls Top Chef a hit. Tune in tonight for the reunion show of Top Chef on Bravo. The finale is extended to two hours and airs on May 17 and May 24 check your local listings or just Tivo it if you have it. I also found out that casting starts for the second season May 11 in Las Vegas. Who do you think the winner will be of Top Chef?

Top Chef Episode 9

They brought back the junk food for the quick fire challenge. Harold choose popcorn, Dave picked the nachos, Tiffani went with the corndogs and Leann went with the hotdogs. An hour to creatively make junk food into a culinary treat. Dave ran all over the kitchen and in his words, focused and crazy, it is entertaining to watch. I think he picked the easiest item to transform and make his own. Harold's ceviche popcorn looked elegant and did not even look like it contained popcorn. Tiffani's corndog looked like it would taste good, but I am partial to corndogs in general. I love food on a stick. I know you are thinking a chef likes food on a stick. Yes, we are just like everyone else. We eat at McDonald's when we want and than visit a five star restaurant without batting a culinary eyelash. Leann made a seafood hotdog it looked appealing, but I would not want to eat it. The least favorite was Dave, he was in too big of a hurry and Gayle Simmons from Food and Wine Magazine deemed it, a mess. Harold won the quick fire challenge and said he wanted to bring it and go to Las Vegas.
The Top Chef competitors gasp when they see the black truffles and very expensive wine. The black truffles cost, according To Chef Tom Collichio, a 1000 dollars a pound. At the market, the competitors gravitated towards the lamb. Big mistake! Dave decides not to do lamb and set himself apart. Tiffani starts cooking and she is bothered by a little noise from Leann and Dave grabbing a pot. I thought she had worked in a kitchen before? It's noisy its hot, if you cant stand it get out of the kitchen! Tiffani irritates me she is so cold and arrogant. For example, Tiffani said, Daves food is not very refined and no one finds him innovative. Well-slapped right in the face Tiffani guess who won the truffle and wine challenge Dave! Dave and Harold were safe and Tiffani and Leann sat at the judges table. Leanns cherry sauce I think was perfect to pair with the Lamb, wine and truffles. She used to many ingredients in her dishes and ended up detracting from the wine and truffles. Leann was my favorite to win the competition followed by Harold and than Dave. Unfortunately, Leann was told to pack her knives and go. Leann had pure intentions and Tiffani, obviously does not. What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Top Chef Bravo Television Reality TV topchef Food Cooking

The benefits of working at Microsoft

I was messing around yesterday and I came across the benefit page for working at Microsoft. I got to the bottom of the list and I found the "best" benefit of them all. Check it out. "Free Beverages:
Choose from a variety of free soft drinks while working at Microsoft."

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How to select meat.

The secrets the chefs look for when selecting a good piece of meat, useful for this BBQ season! EAT STEAK not carrots.

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Can't cook? Employ the Intelligent Spoon

No amount of hours spent in front of Iron Chef and Good Eats will a good chef make, friends, but perhaps one might consider the employment of one MIT Media Lab experiment by Connie Cheng and Leonardo Bonanni: the Intelligent Spoon.

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The World's Most Expensive

The McDonald sandwich - named after its creator Scott McDonald, the chef at London department store Selfridges - is said to be the world's most expensive.

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Photo Cupcakes: Have your face and eat it too!

An internet photo company gives a how to on an interesting evolution in the bakery. Just upload a picture and they will turn it into delicious iciing for you. Then feel free to put your face or anything else on your favorite baked goods.

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This Extreme Cuisine Reigns Supreme!

How many chefs use a laser, tanks of liquid nitrogen, and a vacuum chamber filled with carbon dioxide as important cooking tools? Or use helium, superconductors and a hand-held ion-particle gun to levitate food, making whole meals float before awestruck diners? Only one chef in the world does all of this, and more!

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Tonight we went out for Chinese Food!

Visit your local China town for the best Chinese food in your area. I love Chinese Food! Do you like Chinese Food? Comments Encouraged.

SIN MENU GASTRONOMICA

SIN
Princeton Terrace Club
Friday, 3 May 1991
MENU
First Course: CHOCOLATE
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Private Chocolate Noodle Kugels
Coco Steamed Crab Clusters with Coco Butter
Chocolate Canapes
Mole Chicken Wings
Proscuitto Melon & Zabalione in Chocolate Cups
Second Course: RAW FOOD
Carapaccio or Gravlax & Mascarpone Cheese
Spaghetti Squash with Radiccio, Watercress, & Balsamic Vinnaigrette
Spicey Smelts with Garlic Squid Sauce
Blood Oranges
Bread & Butter
VIN: "Free James" Hogue Cellars Fume Blanc
THIRD COURSE: BINGE FOODS
Fillet Mignon stuffed with Asparagus & Bleu Cheese lavishly finished with Sauce Bernaiase
Ultimate Lasagne
Private Taco Salads
Brocciflower, the "New" Vegetable, with Sage Derby Sauce
Deep Fried Camambert with Passion Fruit Sauce & Sea Toast Grantineed Potato Skins
Fruit Salad
Pringles, all flavors
les VINS: Tyrell's of Australia Long Flat Red & Long Flat White
FOURTH COURSE: SWEET SIN
Bambi at the Gates of Hell Cake (it erupts, it oozes...it's Alive!)
Berry Sinful Cake
Snickers Pies
Ultra Slimfast Frappes

Special Thanks to Eric Roegner for the Volcano Mechanism!
Gastronomica Magazine, Spring 2006, Page 18

Guacomole for Cinco de Mayo!

Recipe for Guacomole
Ingredients:
2 Avocados, halved, peeled, diced and pitted
2 teaspoons Freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons Jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
1 Tablespoon Fresh cilantro, finely chopped
2 teaspoons Fresh oregano, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon or to taste Sea salt or fine kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup diced, seeded, ripe tomatoes
Procedure:
Coarsely mash avocado by placing the cut avocado in a medium side bowl and lightly mash with fork. Add the lime juice and toss. Fold in the remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips, cucumbers or cut sweet bell peppers.
Yield: 1 heaping cup

Click Here for Cupcake Tami

Visit my new blog Cupcake Tami by clicking the link above!

Ever wonder why dessert is served after dinner?

Comments encouraged?

World Pastry Forum Dessert!

It is almost time for the next World Pastry Forum. This is a photograph that I took from the Oriental Desserts Class at the World Pastry Forum 2005. This signature dessert is called the Dragon Ball. The outside of the ball is made with pulled sugar and the inside is custard and cake. It was fascinating to see this made. I love the colors and the composititon of this photo and it is a flickr most interesting photograph.

Sneak in food. You own the theater.

Does anyone sneak movie into the theater when they go? Confessional is to follow now. I sneak in drinks, water, snacks etc. due to the high cost of snacks. I feel they are trying to make a buck, so I carry a large purse. Gotcha! Any thoughts?

Visit your local farmer's market and taste the difference.

Morels the mushroom of choice at the pricey restaurants. At the Farmer's market the great opportunity for you is the freshness and buying what is in season. They had a variety of mushrooms for all different prices.

Eggs Benedict Anyone?

My Dad and I went to Sunday Brunch a few days ago. We had fun taking photos and eating delicious food what a treat.

How could you go wrong?

Chocolate Covered Strawberries? It's Strawberry Season!

Holding Cocoa the Pug!

Holding Cocoa before putting the sleepy Cocoa to bed.

Click Here Flickr Explore Interestingness!

Photographs I took that made the Flickr Explore Interestingness Page!

Click here: A Blog Smorgasbord

An article in the Seattle Times, A Blog Smorgasbord, talks about the world of blogs growing at a rate of doubling in size every five months. Great article that talks about food blogs and some of the food blogs are in the Seattle area.

Two Cupcakes Cupcake Royale in Seattle!

Cupcake Royale Cupcakes! Yellow cake with lemon frosting. Vanilla cake with pink vanilla frosting.
Technorati Tags: cupcakes Baking Dessert vanilla lemon pink Weblog Blog Seattle

Mexican Food Fiesta! Cinco de Mayo loving it!

Mexican Food Fiesta continues with Shrimp and monterey jack cheese enchiladas with beans and rice and Rib Eye Steak with mashed potatoes and veggies!
Technorati Tags: Seattle Mexican food Food Restaurants Cuisine Cinco de Mayo enchiladas

Mexican Food Fiesta! Cinco de Mayo!

Tonight we went out for Mexican Food in honor of Cinco de Mayo this coming week! We started out with chips and salsa and than had a seared sea scallops appetizer garnished with tortilla chips, tomatoes,and chiles.
Technorati Tags: mexican food Mexican Food Restaurants Cuisine salsa blog

Peking Duck!

We had such a good time last night at the Japanese restaurant that we decided to go out for Chinese food tonight. We ordered the Peking Duck and it was succulent.
Techonorati tags: duck peking duck chef Food Restaurants chinese food cuisine Cooking

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cream
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

Procedure
Lightly brush an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with waxed paper, extending over 2 sides. Combine the sugar, cream, corn syrup and the salt in a medium heavy-based pan. Stir the mixture over low heat without boiling until all the sugar has dissolved.
Increase the heat slightly, until the mixture begins to simmer, then cover and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove the lid and clean the sugar from the sides with a wet pastry brush. Do not stir the mixture. Continue to boil the mixture for 10 minutes or until it reaches the soft ball stage or 240 degrees F on sugar thermometer.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in the vanilla extract and peanut butter. Beat with electric beaters for 1-2 minutes or until the mixture loses its gloss and begins to thicken. Quickly pour into the pan and smooth the surface. Cover and allow to set. Cut into small squares. Can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Technorati tags: fudge Candy Recipes Baking Dessert peanut butter

Sukiyaki made with Kobe beef!

Tonight we went out for Japanese food and we ordered Sukiyaki made with Kobe beef! It was incredible! I highly recommend ordering Sukiyaki when eating at a Japanese restaurant.
Techonrati tags: Japanese food Food Restaurants Cuisine Chef Cooking sukiyaki

Sushi

Tonight I went out to dinner with my Dad and he ordered Sushi. He had the Alaskan Salmon and Avocado rolls and the California rolls with fresh crabmeat. They were garnished with ginger and wasabi.
Technorati tags: sushi japanese Food ginger wasabi restaurant Restaurants Cuisine

Top Chef Wedding Bell Blues Episode 8

The couple decided from the concepts each chef came up with for the short challenge and decided to go with Leann's menu. The Top Chef contestants decided to make a wedding cake out of store bought cake mix. Tom Colicchio caught Tiffani with a box of cake mix. She came clean and said that it was a group decision to use the cake mix boxes. Stephen wanted no part of the wedding cake box mix dillema or the desserts and focused of course on the wine and the front of the house. He also prepared a dish in the back, but neglected to peel the stickers off of his serving spoons. Instead he just kept disappearing. Leann won the short challenge, so they were following her menu. Harold was concentrating on his salmon with salad dish, but was unhappy with how it tasted. Dave's dish went out to the diner's first and than he kept jumping in to help everyone. This was not Dave's first catered affair or wedding, so he had the most experience in this type of event. Tiffani worked on her dish and helped out with the other dishes and kept quiet except to ask where is Stephen? Tiffani's big problem is when she says something stupid at the elimination table about her opinions, that is the time to stay quiet. She obviously has strong beliefs. Harold on the other hand is almost always quiet, except tonight he said he would pick Stephen to go home not Leann. Everyone on the team had the same thought Stephen needs to pack his knives and go, but that was up to the judges. Would they send Leann home for not guiding the team through her vision or Harold for messing up the salmon? They were only given 24 hours real hours not the show 24 hours to pull together a very nice wedding reception. I think for the time allotted it appeared like beautiful food, but I was not there to taste it. I could just tell from the judges and the look on their faces that the wedding cake was a disaster too sweet. They paired the cake with a very sweet curd. The salmon was considered the worst dish by the couple and that was Harold's dish. Tom Colicchio believes in Harold and know he can cook. Who was asked to go this week? Yeah it's Stephen! Pack your knives and go. He gives this speech where he is going to be the best chef in America and he is going to change everything. He sounded like he was giving a Miss America speech. I can not stand Stephen! He is so arrogant and full of himself. Were down to Leann, Tiffani, Harold and Dave. Who do you think will win Top Chef and the $100,000 dollars plus prizes?




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