Quick correction...

My late mother-in-law's name was Shirlee Titus.

There needs to be more gratitude in life...

There is so much happening in my life and with everybody! I am guilty of not truly being grateful for what I have and complaining about WHAT I don't have. As I sit here in my kitchen nook, I look over to the right of me and see the most beautiful Christmas cactus plant that belonged to my late mother-in-law, Shirelee.

I am proud of the fact that this is one plant I have NOT "killed"! I am not a green thumb (which I gladly own up to here!) and for it to survive is a "MIRACLE"! I actually talk to it "lovingly" as if it were one of my own children. And, they would be rolling their eyes at me IF they saw this! And to see this plant to have blossomed "twice" in one season is a blessing and a true testament that there is a God up there giving me the "thumbs up" for my hard work!

I am posting a photo of this miraculous Christmas cactus plant to share the beauty and hope this plant brings me on a daily basis - even when the gorgeous blossoms die. There will be next year! Or if not, I was able to enjoy the blossoms that have grown this year!

It's late at night here. My daughter is asleep with a cold. My son is at a friend's overnight. And, my husband is working very hard to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and getting bills paid as they come (faster and faster!). I cherish these quiet moments to reflect on the day and think about what tomorrow may hold for us.

Life is a constant learning lesson that will never end until our very last breath on this earth. ALL of my past experiences and current ones are what keep me wanting to write in this blog - sort of like a therapy "outlet", if you will. I feel at ease at this time of night. I got a fair amount of work done around here - there's always more...AND it will wait for me! It's not going anywhere! It will be here!!

I had dinner the other night with a dear friend from work at Einstein Middle School. Jennifer is a special ed teacher with just a HEART of GOLD! She is funny, smart and hilarious with a warm laughter. ONe never knows how to get to know another person WITHOUT "reaching" out. And this is what happened...I was fortunate to have this wonderful co-worker and friend reach out and want to get together! The power of "communication"!

Today, I visited with a very lovely friend, Dorrena and her beautiful daughter, Brianna at Central Market, a lovely place here in Shoreline, Washington. We just chatted about everything that we could get "jammed" in the hour or so we met up! AND, talking about people watching! Now, there is a people-watching place!

That's another passion I have...meeting new people! I cherish all my friends...new and old (not the age term!). I LOVE people. Everywhere you go- people watching is just simply THERE!! No escaping it! I love "people watching!

That's something to be grateful for in my life! Allowing people to touch my life (as I hope that I do in return) is the greatest gift to possess. I cannot IMAGINE being without family and friends. It would just be a non-existent life without love and support. I will be forever GRATEFUL to my family and friends!

The pains, challenges, successes and etc. that we have in our lives on a daily basis makes us the individuals that we are! No escaping THAT!

This is WHY I love my cooking and baking - when I put love and patience into my endeavors then the end result will be a beautiful result! And, if it doesn't turn out... THEN just do it AGAIN until right NOT perfect! Life is too beautiful and short - ENJOY everyone in your life and cherish them each and every day!

And, know that there is a Higher Power up there - your own understanding of one - guiding you through THIS life! I love each and EVERY ONE of you! :)

Enjoy the flowers out there and .... smell them!

With Blessings!

Lien :)

Ahhh...another beautiful day in Shoreline...

As I sit here in my home office I look outside and see the beauty of nature! Yes, it's wet and cold out there but I see how fortunate we are here in the Northwest right now. We don't have the snow storm like the East Coast. We don't have the hot weather like Brazil where the temperature has been rising..today is marking 102 degrees.

Here, the weather is in the 50's and yes, wet and cold...but this is what makes our State of Washington "green" and "naturally" beautiful!

This is the kind of weather that makes you want to stay inside, if you have the luxury or are sick with the cold or other reasons, and keep warm...

I have been fortunate to have the computer at my disposal ALL day! The gratification of staying in touch with friends, making new friends, keeping up with family, "googling" information on anything and everything makes this world a nicer place. It's just so peaceful to be at home and doing those things...and eventually getting housework done. Ummm..."honey" I will.....

I have no idea how I ever survived without my computer, e-mailing, Facebooking and etc. Are you feeling the same way?? IF you are, then it's something we share and are able to "connect". I don't feel bad IF I ask people..."are you on Facebook"?? It is something that I have been doing for a few months (haven't checked to see WHEN I actually signed up!) and ENJOY! Yes, maybe that's because I'm a housewife predominantly and a substitute special ed teacher secondary. If I didn't have the second "job" I pretty much would stay home ALL day EVERY DAY!

However, there is the occasional volunteer work which I love to do as well. But, today I am having a leisure day of little cooking and baking. I have been making this "stewed" tomatoes breakfast for years - probably since I have returned from England. This makes for a wonderful brunch dish served with homemade country style potatoes and bacon. Then most recently, I have started to add a twist to the simple dish. You will see in the recipe I am providing of
optional ingredients to add.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

1-2 medium tomato(es)
Olive oil (extra virgin is preferred)

Morton's Nature Seasoning
basil (optional)
cilantro (optional)
cheese (optional) - Parmesan, Kasseri, Asiago or whatever you like for taste



Place tomato(es) on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the Morton's Nature Seasoning, sparingly. Drizzle a little extra virgin oil over tomato(es).

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Keep an eye on it.

Serve with toast, English muffin or any bread to dip into the tomato(es) as the juice from the baking..."oozes" with flavor!

That is what makes cooking and baking so much fun. You can work with your food...play with it, if you will! I started making this "stewed" tomato with just salt and some pepper (not a BIG fan of pepper!) in a simple manner. Then as I started watching FoodNetwork I begin to add to my own "culinary" skills by "experimenting". Thus, a wondrous challenge of cooking and baking variations began to emerge out of me!

Oh...I can feel my mother {{cringe}} saying.."You should never deviate from my recipe or any recipe for that matter or it won't taste the same!". But, being on my own NOW I can do as I like! And, Bless you , Mom for teaching and guiding me all the way! So, my take is... IF you don't like it then DON'T eat it! Right??

I so enjoyed making heart-shaped brownie cakes with chocolate chunks and frost them with.. Nutella!! Yummo!! :)

That was my wonderful day at home...sweet...home!

Bon Appetit!

Lien :)

My husband, Damon...

Just a quick note as I know my husband will see the previous post...forgetting to mention my marriage. I met my husband, Damon in 1986 and got married in 1994 at a place called, Bacon Mansion on top of Capitol Hill.

He is a real estate broker for his own company, Madison Partners Real Estate in downtown Seattle. He loves playing music as he was once in a couple (or more?) bands. The band that he played in and most recognisable was "The Enemy" back in the early 1980's. One of his guitars is in the EMP (Experience Music Project) .

We have a lovely dog, named Skipper - a Schipperke, a Belgian breed with no tail! Yipee! No wagging his tail and knocking things OVER! All in all ...I have a great family! Couldn't ask for a better one..oh, I... don't think {wink!}!

That pretty much sums up my family in a nutshell... and...the rest of my life continues to unfold like the "Days of Our Lives"!!

Lien :)

Who is Lien Titus...?

I just want to give you all a "lovin' spoonful" of who Lien Titus is. :)

I am a 43 year old adopted Vietnamese daughter to Dr. Patrick Tisdale and Mrs. Betty Tisdale. My family is a rather large one..certainly not the Duggars (the family with 19 children!)...with 5 brothers and 4 sisters plus me! We lived in Columbus, Georgia from 1970 to 1982. I had a great childhood with so MANY memories that I won't bore you with ALL of them!

We lived on 5 acres of land with the main house, two guest houses and a pool! The swimming parties we had and birthday gatherings were so much fun!! There really was NOT a dull moment! We all had friends come over. Mom and Pop had their swanky parties at Christmas time - I think the most we hosted was 200+ guests! My mother had two round tables full of wonderful food - appetizers and desserts. We would start baking the day after Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful frenzy of putting together menu ideas, platter/plate arranging, shopping for the ingredients and of course the COOKING and BAKING!! May the festivities ...BEGIN!

In 1980, I went to school in a town called, Pickering in North Yorkshire, England. That was a fabulous experience! I attended a "lovely" school called, Lady Lumley's. The host family I stayed with there, the husband was in the Royal Air Force. It seemed like I was surrounded by family who served their country. My father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and the husband of the couple I stayed with was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force in England. I was well-accustomed to delicious food in several "international" cuisines. And, I am grateful to have that advantage as well as my other siblings.

Upon my travels to Paris, Amsterdam while living in England I found the food intriguing and absorbed the culture and their cuisine. I am proud to say that I am a HUGE fan of escargots! No need to ~squirm~! I don't get the privilege to eat it often! And, actually the food in England is really quite delicious. Simplicity and "bland" food was not ALWAYS served to me. I was fortunate to have a wonderful host family who provided me with very tasty dishes. I really like the Shepard's Pie (not the steak and kidney), Bangers with mashed potatoes and "mushy peas ( you know who you are of what that is - peas just "mushed" up...and then some!), "stewed" tomatoes and etc. Nothing "gourmet" just simple and basic "English cuisine"!

I am getting "homesick" thinking about this and writing it out! ~Yummy~!! (No laughing, my friends!)

We moved to Seattle, Washington in 1982 and lived in a neighborhood called, Mount Baker - landmark..."Franklin High School". I went to Seattle Prep in my junior year and graduated (with National Honors) in 1983. We lived in a rental for 1 year and then moved to a beautiful and posh neighborhood called, Queen Anne. There - we had more wonderful swanky parties that my mother loved hosting. I most definitely have taken on that passion, too, from her!

From there on out I have loved hosting parties! My poor darling husband, Damon was always willing to assist in my parties but not really wanting to "participate'! But, alas he found a way into getting more involved over time!! However, with the economy I have not been able to do it like I used to BUT still continue to cook and bake with pizzazz!! My love and passion will always be there...!

We have been living in Shoreline, Washington for over 12 years in this wonderful "quiet" neighborhood. I have two beautiful children, Amanda (16 1/2 yrs old) and Jack (nearly 14 this month!). They love to bake - more so with Amanda and Jack is "dabbling in the baking area. I am including photos of them baking their cakes!!

I do enjoy working as a substitute special ed paraeducator for the Shoreline School District. Now there is another passion and compassion I have - working with special ed children. I find it the most rewarding and humbling experience each and every day I get to work with them.."God bless them..."! I find that EVERY day is ALWAYS a BLESSING!

When I am not working in the classrooms I go in and volunteer when possible. I, also, occasionally assist on the buses that transport these special ed students to and from school to their respectful destinations. I find that EVERY day is ALWAYS a BLESSING with working with these children!

When I am not working or volunteering, I have discovered a new world...Facebook and NOW "blogging"!! So, I am constantly thriving on other Facebook pages that have people who share the same interests and being a part of the food evolution that is a constant part in our lives. I say..."take the time to enjoy the SMELL of food"!

I hope this gives you some insight of who I am and what I want to achieve in this blog. Meeting new people, staying in contact with friends and family and sharing each others valuable "treasure" in cooking and baking!

Bon Appetit!

Lien :)

The Joy of Baking with my daughter, Amanda...

As I have mentioned earlier, I am enjoying the time I bake with my daughter, Amanda as shown above in the photo!

Amanda utterly surprised me "when" she wanted to bake the "Peppermint Meringue Cake with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting" from the 2009 December cover issue of Bon Appetit for Christmas (for her boyfriend and his family!)...!

Ahhh...the wonders of "togetherness" that comes around when baking is imvolved! :) Pure joy!

Learning about "Blogging"...

I am learning about "blogging" and ask for patience on this. There were some photos of dishes that were actually cooked by my husband, Damon. He, too, is a wonderful cook! I will keep those photos on my last post to give credit where..credit is due!

So, I am posting some of "my" dishes that I cooked. There will be more to come...!!

The Joy of Cooking and Baking...

I have loved cooking and baking for as long as I can remember...

My mother, Betty Tisdale, adopted me when I was 4 years old in 1970, along with my sister, Mai Lara, 6 months old. We came from an orphanage called An Lac in Saigon, Vietnam. My mother met my adopted father, Dr. Patrick Tisdale, in 1969 at the orphanage. My father already had five sons of his own from his first marriage. Four sons who were biological and one son adopted from Hawaii.

We lived in Fort Benning, Georgia the first year after being adopted. My mother had not a "clue" on how to cook. So, she took cooking lessons from a French chef, Chef Marcel, at the country club in Columbus, Georgia. My mother is a very determined woman with such ambition! When she had something on her mind there was no stopping her. The meals were absolutely delectable and impeccable. Every meal had the "entree" and a dessert to follow on a daily basis. As I grew up in my mother's wonderful passion for cooking and baking, I began to take a very keen interest, TOO!

We moved to Columbus, Georgia the following year. And 4 other sisters were adopted from the same orphanage. The parties thrown at our house in Columbus, Georgia were absolutely spectacular and very posh. Christmas was always my favorite time of the year. As I got older, we learned to cook and bake with the same enthusiasm as she did! No complaints there BECAUSE I relish in all those fabulous memories then and are profoundly making present and new memories. And, one thing I did learn from my dad was ..."to clean up as you go along" so that at the end there would not be a BIG mess to clean! To this day, I still practice that very simple rule. It drives my present family crazy to this day BUT it works!

My brother, Sean, who also learned to cook and bake under the wings of Chef Marcel, taught me a few things or two...and more. We made a beautiful cake from the Bon Appetit Magazine cover for a December issue in the 1980's. I was so proud that I did another one!! I feel so fortunate to have the love of cooking and baking that I share that same passion with my daughter, Amanda! She is quite the accomplished cook and baker, TOO!!

I owe all of my cooking and baking accomplishments to my very wonderful mother, Betty Tisdale and my brother, Sean! They taught me to not give up, just keep trying until you get it right!

Thanks MOM and Sean!! I love you both!