Calamity Kim

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

You know I love a good novelty item.
Yes, I love kitsch!
Maybe it's tacky to you, but to a small town country girl like me, there's nothing better than dreaming of Paris at breakfast time!

Not only is this crazy fun but it allows me to stamp while I'm cooking!
What the French Toast??!! That's double fun, silly willy, Awesome!
I can only think of thing better than this.

And that's french toast with a side order of skullions!
What Would Julia Do?
She'd say: Bonjour! and Bon Appetit!

Check out Fred and Friends for more good clean fun. I love Fred! I think I'll marry him! Oh, wait, I already have a Fred Husband! Well- maybe I'll just admire him from a distance...

seeking balance through color

On Tuesday I went to the local fresh vegetable market (out on Fruitville Rd) and found some beautiful purple bell peppers. I also selected some chartreuse green bells because I had never seen that color before.

The red ones were cubanelle which were very mild.
I checked out this site and got some info- it just said that bell peppers can be found in all sorts of colors including brown, pink, white, orange and purple.
I used them in a beef and pepper dish that is delicious with fresh ginger, garlic,  mushrooms and served with black and white rice.

I found the recipe on cooks.com here.
 It was really good!
 The black (purple really) rice is called Forbidden Rice. Once only allowed to be served to the Emperor. The white rice is Jasmine rice and made a nice yin yang symbol.
The peppers are so pretty it was a shame to have to cook them- and that did fade the purple out to a pale green, but they tasted fine- a bit milder than a regular green pepper. Peppers belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade family and that appeals to my Tim Burton side quite a bit! I would love to have a table decorated with pumpkins in white and orange and black and purple peppers.
But it's only May and here I am talking about Halloween!

I'll leave you with a bouquet of my crocheted flowers and thoughts of Summer!
 It has been raining here everyday and I can't complain because we really have been so dry all year, but it's too dark to try to take pictures.
Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow...
 have a nice night...
 don't let the bedbugs bite!
I know- all those peppers made me corny!
xo, kim
calamity kim
- weird food expert.

once upon a strawberry it was a dark and stormy night...

once upon a strawberry, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

sometimes when I look at stuff I see other stuff.
This looks like a New York Radiant Beauty Block to me.
So what if you took 4 shots and printed them out on fabric and used them like a quilt block?

or has that been done?

stupid idea?

maybe I'll try it.
After I finish my 4 seasons summer swap quilt! I am ready to bind it and it should go in the mail tomorrow- if there are no unforeseen calamities! like only having 3 pictures! This is where you laugh to yourself and shake your head! I thought I was taking 4- maybe I can just flip one around and use it twice...I sure can't take any more pictures of the berries because they  are all cut up and ready to go on a slice of angel food cake when its time for dessert.

You know when it's time? Anytime! That's right!

I may have told you about Sarasota's Best Kept Secret before but I'm gonna share it again, just because it's so wonderful! On Bee Ridge Rd out by Cattleman Rd there is a Goodwill Bookstore that is the first of its kind and proved so successful that they have opened more-now don't ask me where because I don't know. Well, thats not true, there is another one in Bradenton, but it just isn't as good as this one. It only sells books. The new books are 7.99 and all the other books are from .59 to 2.99 to 4.99 to whatever-its-still-cheaper-than-eBay's-prices-are!

When you walk in the new books are on the right and then the murder mysteries and poetry are in front and the cooking and art and gardening books are to your left. They even have a small "Rare Book Room".

I met a woman once named Dilys Winn who had founded a bookstore called Murder, Ink in NYC in 1972 on West 87th Street as perhaps the first bookstore devoted to crime and detective fiction. Dilys sold the store after three years to someone who owned it for 14 years. In 1989 it changed hands again, and three years later moved to 92nd Street and Broadway. It has been closed for a few years now but I think about sitting in Dilys' kitchen drinking tea and and discussing her life in NYC. Looking around at all her beautiful and unique collections of exotic and possibly priceless items was as much fun as the conversation. She had a signed Charles Addams cartoon that he had drawn for her framed above turkish quilted wall hangings and all sorts of folk art. The kitchen was decorated with old antique cupboards and quilts and mysterious trunks and boxes and baskets filled with yarns and painted candles from Africa and everywhere stacks and stacks of books and

I miss her. She is one of those people I have met along my journey that I will never forget. She was a dear woman with a wicked sense of humor and a classic sense of the macabre that I dearly appreciated.

We lived in these old limestone apartments in Asheville near downtown and it was great to be able to walk across the overpass and be at the library or at The Earth Guild or Malaprops Bookstore.

She had several cats and the biggest down filled chair to curl up in and read that I had ever seen. She was a great knitter too!

I moved out and really never kept in touch. Life keeps moving and sometimes you lose what you might have wanted to keep.

So, when I go to the Goodwill Bookstore I sit on the carpet, indian style and look through the cookbooks or the art books and read a page or two from musty old books in the rare room and pretend that I'm at an old bookstore somewhere- one with character and cat hair and the occasional whistle from a tea kettle. I block out the idle chitchat among the employees and for an hour or so I am in heaven.

Today I brought home a copy of Marcella says by Marcella Hazan and after I had gone to the grocery store on the way home I made the most delicious soup using her recipe.

Here's the front of the book.

Broccolini and Cannellini Bean Soup with a bit of sauteed garlic and large gratings of Parmesan cheese and texas toast croutons.

It was really good and comforting. Very Italian with the garlic and olive oil and the texas toast crotouns were my idea- they added just the right saltiness. I was going to make some chicken saltimbocca ("jumps into the mouth") but the soup filled us up!

It began to rain- like big buckets with lightning and thunder almost as soon as I loaded the groceries into the car! I love storms like that! Heavy wind- trees dancing! It's great once you are home peering out your window watching the palm fronds blowing down the street! So, we ate dinner and then Fred got an emergency service call and had to go fix something. That's when I decided to come back here and share my day with you guys. The strawberry angel food cake will have to wait.

I found a recipe in a Martha Stewart Dessert Book for Roasted Strawberry Napoleon that is all about roasting the strawberries in a saute pan with vanilla bean seeds because it intensifies their flavor then you remove all but two berries from the pan and add some Grand Marnier and then light it on fire till the alcohol is gone and then you make this fabulous sauce with the reduction.

I think I will wait for Troy to help me with that one!

No doubt about it- I would burn the house down if I tried that without some supervision!

That's why they call me Calamity don't ya know?!!!

xxxooo. Fred's Home!

It's time for  dessert! yahoo!

xxxooo,

calamity kim

I rode my bike- sort of like pre burning the calories!!

Cooking With Calamity.... Banana Cheesecake

banana cheesecake - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: banana cheesecake

Just testing something....click where it says iPaper and you can choose to print this PDF or not- we just had some and it's kind of tart and not as tasty as I had hoped. That yogurt cheese takes some getting used to...maybe cream cheese would be better...I know not as healthy, but, really, this was kind of a calamity in my mouth!

I had to take a break and eat some cake!

I had to take a break and eat some cake!, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

The Mojito cupcakes turned out good. I wouldn't give them to kids, though. They are minty and lime and sweet and different. Fred said they might be an acquired taste.

I have heard so much great stuff about the drink- that it's light and refreshing and when I found Mojito Mix at Home Goods I thought I'd give it a try.
(I went to the liquor store for the first time since our wedding- almost 5 years ago.) Turns out they were right.
Light and refreshing.
Turns out I missed the warning on the side of the box.
They will sneak up on you like ninjas and kick your a** if you drink more than one.

So I had two sips and The Mr finished 2 drinks.

Whew!

I used rum extract in the cupcakes and maybe that's why I got a little headache. Not used to artificial flavoring. Not Used to alcohol either.

hic.

Here, you wanna try one? Let me go get the pitcher.

Here, try a cupcake, too.

They are a nice change from my usual cupcake, which is "none lately".
Why did I quit making them, anyway?
They are fun, portable and filling if you eat about 6.
Oh, that's right, they're fattening and just empty calories.
Well, whatever!
It's called cupcake courage and I'm having another before I call any Dad that I might know.

Huh?
Is your ice melting?
Here let me get you some more.
You know what they say about Mojitos, don't ya?

3 a day keeps the psychiatrist away!! If you drank three, you'd have nothing to complain about, that's for sure!

s'cuz me while I go check the oven.

I smell smoke!

oh, the calamity!

I promise I won't cut anything, or try to operate any machinery until I take a nap and sober up!

teehee

the recipe link is on the next post... you'll have to investigate it for yourself.

I have ninjas and fires to handle.

Cake Club

You know I love to cook!
You should conclude that I love Cookbooks.
That makes sense, right?
Well, I have a wonderful resource for cookbooks.
Its called the Library and they let you borrow the books and when you bring them back you can get more!!!
Isn't that ingenious?!!!
Who would have ever dreamed that you could go to a place where they love books like you do and they let you borrow them?
I don't have to describe the secret thrill of seeing an interesting title and after opening that book and reading a line or two- a whole new world opens up for you!
Recently I discovered a cookbook by Susie Quick called The Cake Club.
I started reading it and fell in love with Susie's Mom, Emma  and knew I wanted a copy of this book for my own. So, after a quick search on eBay, I clicked Buy It Now and mine was on it's way! Then I went to Susie Quicks website and emailed her and asked for permission to Blog about her book. That is what I love about the world today.
Everyone has become accessible. Check out her website- Honest Farm. Email is immediate and though the response may take a while, usually you get an answer. I have never written a fan letter but I might start!

I would start off by saying Thank you, if I were writing Susie, and then I would go on to tell her how much I appreciated the effort it must have taken to put this book together. I love the stories, the pictures, even though I wish they were in color and the antidotes that preface each recipe.
Charming.
Simply Charming.
I am so glad that I found it. I want to form a Cake Club that meets once a month and has cake baking parties. I want to learn how to make a "Tunnel of Love chocolate-Macaroon Bundt Cake".

I have been really hooked on cupcakes and pies and now I just want to bake cakes.
Or maybe I want the nostalgic feeling of comfort from remembering my own Mother, in an apron, baking lemon meringue pies and my Grandmother baking pound cakes in her wooden bowl. Beating it with 500 strokes. The women I adored wore aprons and pearls. Well, my Grandma only wore her pearls to church on Sunday. The kitchen always smelled good. Vanilla and cinnamon.

I am also a big fan of the Moosewood Cookbooks, by Mollie Katzen. She compiled, edited, Illustrated and hand lettered the Moosewood Cookbook and the first time I saw it back in the 80's I was in love. First published in 1977, it features recipes from the Moosewood restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Moosewood is a type of Maple tree and the restaurant was begun in Sept 1972 by a group of friends who enjoyed getting together to cook and eat and wanted to start a community project. I recently checked out the Moosewood Restaurant Book of Desserts and am going to be hunting it down for my own bookcase.

Now I want to try this dessert so bad! It sounds delicious! Pears and ginger. Sounds yummy! I am also reading the Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum pub 1998. I am adding it to my list. I think between it and Martha's Baking Handbook I will learn how to make a great pie crust, or die trying!

I am blessed with a patient (and trusting) Husband who will eat just about anything I cook. As long as I don't say: "Here, smell this" I am good to go with him eating it,  if I dish it out. Last Saturday,  I went downtown and after visiting the bookstore and getting the Winter issue of Marie Claire Idees,  I walked over to Whole Foods and picked up a few treats. Knowing that I might be  getting home late, I grabbed a lasagna, (thinking it must be wonderful)  and lessening my guilt for leaving Fred all day, even though Sadie is good company, she can't make him sammies, though I am trying to teach her, she keeps eating all the peanut butter and can't hold a knife, but I digress and waste commas.
OK, so the lasagna was pretty bad, It was Awful. The bottom layer was like cardboard and I couldn't believe it!
Not only was it too expensive, it tasted like crap. Then I felt really bad.
Bad wife moment # 312.
So, occasionally I try to make it up to him and bake sweet stuff.
You know it!  I also like to find new recipes for  meals I usually only get when we go out to eat. Like Sesame Chicken. I really enjoy this recipe from Everyday Foods and have made it twice with delicious results.

Ingredients: Serves 4

   * 3/4 cup brown rice

   * 3 tablespoons honey

   * 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

   * 2 tablespoons soy sauce  

  * 1 garlic clove, finely chopped or crushed with a garlic press  

  * 2 large egg whites  

* 1/4 cup cornstarch

   * 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 2-inch chunks

   * Coarse salt and ground pepper  

  * 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower

   * 4 scallions, thinly sliced

   * 1 1/2 pounds broccoli, cut into large florets, stems peeled and thinly sliced

Directions

   1. Place a steamer basket in a large saucepan, and fill with 1 inch water; set aside for broccoli. Cook rice according to package instructions.  

2. Meanwhile, make sauce: In a small bowl, combine honey, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and garlic; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites and cornstarch. Add chicken; season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

  3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add half the chicken; cook, turning occasionally, until golden and opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining tablespoon oil and chicken. Return all the chicken to skillet; add reserved sauce and scallions, and toss to coat.  

4. Meanwhile, place saucepan with steamer basket over high heat; bring water to a boil. Add broccoli, and cook until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes.

Serve sesame chicken with broccoli and rice. I served it with white rice and spinach. It is so yummy! I grated the garlic and it was super strong! I also made some purple potatoes- they turned out lavender after I mashed them and added butter.

Delicious.

I don't usually serve two starches, but I stuck them in the oven earlier when I was making wreaths and forgot about them and then whipped up the sesame chicken. Crazy Kim? Yep. The old memory ain't what it used to be. Anyway. I recommend  auditioning cookbooks before buying them  and supporting local libraries.

I have checked out some that I was glad I hadn't purchased.

My Sister Laura has over 350 cookbooks and I just got her a few more for her collection. She doesn't Blog, but if she did she could write about a different cookbook everyday for a year! That's amazing! I think I would need a new bookcase if I bought many more. That's what's so cool about the library. They have room.

Lattice crust Granny Smith Apples with Grated Gruyère on top

Lattice crust Granny Smith Apples with Grated Gruyere on top, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

fill your pie hole!

Here is the recipe:
Ingredients Makes one 9-inch pie    
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling    
* Deep-Dish Pate Brisee Or two pillsbury dough boy pre-made crusts     
* 5 1/2 pounds firm tart apples (about 14), such as Empire or Granny Smith    
* Juice of 2 lemons    
* 1 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon    
* 3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
* 1 large egg yolk
Directions    1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the smaller piece of pate brisee into a 15-inch round about 1/8-inch thick, dusting surface with flour to prevent sticking, as needed. ( Or open up package of round Pillsbury Dough Boy Pie Crust)
Brush off excess flour. Roll dough around rolling pin, and place over a deep-dish 9-inch pie plate.
Line plate with dough, pressing it into the corners.
Trim dough to within 1 inch of the pie plate.
Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate.
2. Roll out remaining piece of dough into an 18-inch round.
Transfer round to a baking sheet; cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.    
3. Peel and core apples, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Place slices in a large bowl; sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon; toss with apple slices.    
4. Remove remaining dough from refrigerator; place apple mixture into prepared pie plate, mounding it in a tall pile.
Dot filling with butter.
Place dough round over the apples.
Tuck edge of top dough between edge of bottom dough and rim of pan.
Using your fingers, gently press both layers of dough along the edge to seal, and crimp as desired.    
5. Using a paring knife, cut several vents in top of dough to allow steam to escape.
In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk with 2 tablespoons water to make a glaze. Brush surface with egg glaze; sprinkle with sugar.
Place on a baking sheet, this will catch any juices that may overflow during baking. Bake until crust is golden, about 15 minutes.
6. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes.
Remove from oven, and let cool completely before serving.
This made a very good pie- the apples were tart and the sugar and cinnamon gave it a nice flavor.
It wasn't very juicy- which for my taste is good!
I am going to add several red delicious to the Granny Smiths next time for a liitle juice. I cut one of the pre-made pie dough circles in strips and wove them for a lattice crust.
I did use egg yolk and water brushed on the top and then I grated about a cup of Gruyère Cheese on top of that.
It gave it a nice flavor and this may have been the best apple pie I have ever made.
So good that we were sure the Meteor would strike our house and kill us immediately- sort of a Murphy's Law Joke we share- if something is too fabulous - death surely must be imminent!!
It comes together easily when you use an apple cutter too- the kind that slides down over top of the apple and you push till it cuts the apple into sections and cores it in the center. Then you just cut the sections into thin slices. Try it tonight and let me know how you like it! mmmmmm, pie!!!