Turkey Sandwich

Turkey Sandwich
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Went to Gilbert's Main Street Deli in Bellevue, WA and ordered this tasty Turkey sandwich with Cheddar Cheese on Sourdough.

European Style Cake

Cake
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Inspirational cake ideas!

Moon Cake

Moon Cake
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

This is a cake that I made in an Advanced Cakes class. The moons are made with moon shaped cookies and adhere to the cake with frosting. I thought I would post it for inspiration or ideas for other cakemakers out there.

Watermelon

Watermelon I
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Summertime is the time for Watermelon!

Beautiful Duck

Beautiful Duck
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

This beautiful duck was spotted at the Bellevue Beach Park and I could not resist taking this photograph.

Cocoa in the Bathtub!

Cocoa in the Bathtub
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

I have been having fun with photoshop lately. Here is one of my latest of my sweet Cocoa the pug!

Baby!

Baby!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

My Sweet Pekingese Baby! Cool photo that I enhanced with Photoshop. I have been really busy lately with my coursework for my master's degree in gastronomy.

Food Photography!

1. Quail Up-Close!, 2. Wild Salmon, 3. 4th of July Corn on the Cob, 4. Filet Mignon with Potato Croquettes, 5. Tempura Shrimp, 6. Seared Sea Scallops, 7. Butter Lettuce Salad with Dijon Ranch, 8. Swiss Cheese Fondue, 9. Delicious Calamari, 10. Crab & Shrimp Tater Tots, 11. Cioppino, 12. Pina Colada, 13. Ham & Cheese Fried Crepes, 14. Scallop Salad, 15. Petrale Sole, 16. Crab Wontons, 17. Crispy Honey Shrimp, 18. Mongolian Beef Up-Close, 19. Crab Dip! Yum!, 20. Meatballs!, 21. Fried Mozzarella Marinara!, 22. Stuffed Mushrooms!, 23. Four Cheese Macaroni, 24. Filet Mignon with Demi Glace, 25. Seared Ahi Tuna

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July Cupcake on the go!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Happy Birthday America!

Chef Tami's Easy Peach Cake

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 1/3 cup Splenda
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, plus 1 tablespoon sprinkle for garnish
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 Ripe peaches (peeled, pitted and sliced)
1 Ripe peach (pitted and sliced) for top garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 10 inch cake pan with Pam baking spray. In a large bowl, combine the eggs with the splenda and brown sugar with a whisk. Than with a large spoon add the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and sliced peaches. Pour into prepared 10 inch cake pan. For Garnish, place sliced peaches in the center of the batter making two decorative circles and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes and be sure and check at 45 minutes. Top with whipped cream if desired.


Yield 14-16 servings

Fondue

Went to the Melting Pot in downtown Seattle and had a lovely fondue meal. We started with the Swiss Cheese Fondue with bread, granny smith apples and veggies. Next we had the Pacific Rim special with shrimp, chicken, teriyaki beef, pork and potstickers dipped in hot oil. The food is mouthwatering and the atmosphere is unique. I recommend it for anyone who loves fondue. They have quite a few locations and are in several states.

Cow Chip Cookie!

Cow Chip Cookie
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Cow Chips Cookies are the ultimate indulgence! The cost $2 dollars each, but it is worth it they are to die for! They have a few locations in the greater Seattle area. A store downtown Seattle in Pioneer Square, at Kent Station and Redmond Town Center.

Delicious Calamari!

Delicious Calamari
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

Went to Harbor Lights tonight and had this delicious calamari, it was excellent. If you visit Tacoma, Wa be sure and visit Harbor Lights.

Flickr Interestingness!

1. Cocoa Yawns!, 2. Sushi, 3. Driving the Pink Cupcake!, 4. Reflection on the Building, Clouds, Clouds, Clouds!, 5. I Love You Box! They sell them at Fireworks!, 6. Cocoa the Pug!, 7. Julie Walsh Wedding Cake from the World Pastry Forum!, 8. Dessert,

9. Food Network Cupcake Competition!, 10. Dragon Ball!, 11. Zodiac Lion Bread!, 12. Wedding Cake Extravaganza!, 13. Wedding Cakes, Wedding Cakes!

Flickr Interestingness!

Flickr Interestingness!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

My current flickr Interestingness of my photographs on flickr!

Trader Vic's

According to Saveur Magazine, Trader Vic's is a whole new world-fragrant, romantic, an adventure. The legendary Trader Vic's is a Polynesian restaurant and bar that specializes in serving island cuisine and exotic cocktails. The food is a compination of Pacific Island, IndoChinese, Japanese and Creole flavors. The service is first rate and the food and drink is exotic and mouthwatering. We started of with Pina Colada's Non-Alcoholic, the Succulent Scallop Salad, the Crab Ragoon Wontons and the Ham and Cheese Fried Crepes. For the main course the Crispy Duck which we wrapped up into dumplings and the Petrale Sole.

PF Changs China Bistro

The dinner out started with Crab Wontons with a spicy plum sauce. Next the Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Salad with Mixed Greens. Than the Crispy Honey Shrimp and Mongolian Beef arrived at the same time, perfection! The Crispy Honey Shrimp is lightly battered and quick fried in a flavorful sweet honey sauce. The Mongolian Beef is quickly cooked steak with scallions and garlic. Not just a dash of garlic, but lots of garlic. The ingredients used to make all of their sauces is top secret. If someone has dietary concerns they will give them more specific information regarding their sauces. Let me tell you their sauces are addictive, leading me to believe they put sugar in them.

Crab Dip! Yum!

Crab Dip! Yum!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.

I took my Dad out for Father's Day to Ivar's Acres of Clams in Mukilteo, WA. This Crab Dip was to die for and it was made with dungeness crab, cheese, herbs, spices, and mayonnaise. I highly recommend ordering it and of course the clam chowder that Ivar's is famous for that and the fish and chips.

Flickr Explore Interestingness

Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients

Topping:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:
4 pints blackberries
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Ginger cream:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons finely diced candied ginger

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cobbler: Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer for two minutes. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together. Mix milk, egg, and vanilla extract together in another bowl. Add a third of the dry mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed, then a third of the wet mixture. Continue alternating until all are combined.

Butter a 5 X 9 inch Pyrex dish, and sprinkle with sugar to coat. Toss the blackberries with the sugar, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice and cornstarch to coat and transfer to the Pyrex dish. Spoon the topping over the berries. Bake for 45 to 45 minutes or until the top is golden.

Ginger cream: Whip the cream and the powdered sugar. Fold in the candied ginger. Serve the cobbler warm topped with ginger cream.

Potato Salad

Ingredients
4 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch pieces (substitute red potatoes if you like)
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 and 1/2 cups finely diced celery
1 teaspoon sugar (omit if you have diabetes)
1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
9 hard boiled eggs, remove from shells and coarsely chop
3 teaspoons paprika (for garnish)
1 tablespoons diced chives (for garnish)

Instructions
Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, 10-15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, and allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes in the cooking liquid. Drain the potatoes while they are still warm.

Combine the mayonnaise, onions, celery, sugar, vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the potatoes to the dressing while they are still warm. Gently fold in the chopped eggs, and garnish with paprika and chives.

Yield: Serves 4.

My new camera Casio Exilim!

I have been getting several E-mails about how I get such great photographs of food. My new camera Casio Exilim EX-S600 has a Food setting and it is a Macro setting that allows for wonderful food photography. I thought I would let everyone in on this tool for better food photos. The camera also has a setting for pets, candlelight, people, scenery, flowers, water etc. I love my Casio Digital Camera!
bk_keywords: Casio, Exilim, EX-S600, 6MP, Digital Camera, 3x Optical Zoom.

Maggiano's Little Italy!

Maggiano's Little Italy opened up in Bellevue, Wa late last year. We decided to go out for meatballs and this hit the spot. While we were there anyway, why not order the Fried Mozzarella. Dad of course wanted the Stuffed Mushrooms.



A white tablecloth and expensive restaurant might be left for special occasions rather than a hankering for meatballs.

Zephyr Bar & Grill

Zephyr Bar & Grill




A new restaurant opened in Kent, Wa at Kent Station a new outdoor lifestyle mall. It is called the Zephyr Bar & Grill, I was intrigued and decided to take my Dad and give it a try. The Zephyr also my Dog's name has been open only three weeks and the service showed that. Very slow. It took an hour and 45 minutes to eat there and we did not have dessert. I ordered the filet mignon and liked it quite well, it was nicely done with a demi glace and a bearnaise sauce. It was cooked as I ordered it, but my red potatoes merely sliced in half were raw. Apparently they need to work on the little things. For example, my Dad wanted Macaroni and Cheese as a side dish and they brought it as his appetizer. It's all about the timing. He really enjoyed the Macaroni & Cheese, but I prefer the baked type over the pour on cheese afterthought. The dish my Dad ordered was the southern spicy fried chicken and mashed potatoes was not what he had expected. It was over cooked and way past crispy. The mashed potatoes were overcooked and lacked flavor. The fried chicken had such an overkill of spices that it was difficult to even taste the chicken. The caesar salad was excellent, the greens were really fresh, and this is often overlooked at some restaurants. I liked the olive bread and three butters, I think it is creative to give a choice of butters. If you have enough time one night I would recommend going, but stay away from the Southern Fried Chicken. By the way there is another location in Livermore, California.

Sunday Brunch!

Lovely day for Sunday Brunch. Dad and I went to the Hunt Club in Seattle and enjoyed a nice Sunday Brunch. My Dad loves brunch and has passed this love onto me and my brother Jonathan. This was unique, because you order from a menu. When I was little I remember loving going to Sunday Brunch, because I could run around the tables and pick and choose what I wanted. I am a picky eater and sometimes there is something I really like and I will just eat that. Growing up in Southern California we went to a Sunday Brunch where they had a woman play the violin and the best blueberry blintzes ever.

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.