Friday, December 31, 2010

Bakers Box Winner!

Thank you so much for all your amazing entries! 
I was so overwhelmed by the responses I received. I expected between 5 and 10 entries. I couldn't believe it when the comments and followers kept pouring in!  


And the Winner is.... #5  Congratulations to Lisa from Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life


Box #1 Bakers Box:
Extra Fancy Vietnamese Cinnamon(my personal favorite)
Vietnamese cinnamon is the strongest, richest, and sweetest cinnamon around. For traditional cinnamon recipes such as gooey cinnamon rolls, the vibrant flavor of Vietnamese cinnamon really shines. It is so strong, that in most recipes it should be cut back by about a third, but it is perfect used full strength in any recipe where cinnamon is the main, delicious flavor. Ground, from Vietnam.1.7 ounces
Mace:
We used it in our Sweet Potato Mold, in the place of the nutmeg we forgot to buy. I really enjoyed and now prefer (the change of flavor that was brought out by the) mace.. Mace, the lace-like, dried covering of the nutmeg, is a sweet and flavorful spice well worth using. Mace has a softer flavor than nutmeg, and for a nice change of pace it can be used in place of nutmeg in any recipe.  Mace is a traditional flavoring for doughnuts and hot dogs. 0.9 ounces
Baking Spice:
All-purpose blend of sweet baking spices- a mix of Ceylon soft sick Cinnamon, rich Mace, Sweet Anise, and a hint of cool Cardamom. Perfect for muffins, coffee cake, and banana bread, or sprinkle on coffee, hot chocolate, fresh fruit or oatmeal . Or just add up the spices your recipe call for and use the same amount of Baking Spice instead. 0.7 ounces



All Bakers Box Entries:

1. Lisa- Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life  (comment)
2. Ericka- Musings from a Stay at Home Mom  (follower)
3. Lisa- Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life  (twitter)
4. Lisa- Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life  (follower)
5. Lisa- Our Family's Journey to a Healthier Life  (facebook)
6. Mommy- My Adventures in Mommyland  (follower)
7. Frenchy- Le Chateau de fleurs by Frenchy  (follower)
8. Swanky Baby's Mom (follower)
9. Shawn Becker- The Becker's-  (comment)
10.  Salem Momma- Staying Me  (follower)
11.  Catalina- FOO-ds!  (follower)
12. Tiffany- Tiff's Pixie dust (follower)
13  Nancy-How to Homemaker   (follower)
14. Single Infertile Female (comment)
15. Raelena- Through the Haze  (follower)
16. Raelena- Through the Haze  (twitter)
17. Raelena- Through the Haze (facebook)
18. Mika- Mika's Pantry  (follower)
19. Roberta- More Thyme than Dough (comment)- Chicken Soup
20. Roberta- More Thyme than Dough (comment)- Harvest Moon Cookies
21. Christina- C+C Marriage Factory-  (comment)
22. Debbie- Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing- (follower)
24.  Maggie- The Country Cook-  (comment) 
23.  Ester- Toddler Tales by Mommy (follower)
24. Reeni- Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice  (comment)
25. Vic- Freckles and Fudge (comment)
26. Food Hunter's Guide to Cuisine (comment)



True Random Number Generator  5Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Welcome 2011



To the end of the year and the beginning of a new one

I wish for you health, happiness and true friends.  May your hearts be full, may your hands never want and may your heads be full of dreams that will come in true as we welcome 2011
  
Thank you to everyone that reads and follows C.K.K.  I can't believe that Calamity Kate has been such a blessing to me in its short, 4+ months. Though Calamity Kate, I have made so many new and wonderful friends. After nearly a year of Not Just Vanilla, I left it in February, I vowed to never start another blog. The stress and the pressure were effecting my everyday life. I rarely got any pleasure out NJV. But by early August, I had enough and my fingers started to twitch. On August 24 I started Calamity Kate's Kitchen. I wanted to remain true to myself with out adding stress. Since this blog, other than cooking, is my only creative escape from life, I wanted to bring happiness and joy to me, myself and I only. I didn't want to care about comments or followers. This was just for ME. But in the end, I do care about comments and followers. Anytime someone leaves a note or finds CKK and follows, it makes my day. All I can say is... who knew that what was for me alone to love and escape to everyday, would bring such wonderful friends! 

Happy New Year to all of my new friends! 




Emily Miller
Then sing, young hearts that are full of cheer,
With never a thought of sorrow;
The old goes out, but the glad young year
Comes merrily in tomorrow

Thanks to Roberta, the only twitter friend who makes me  laugh out loud!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

On the Wing of a New Year


Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Boxing Day... and any other holiday I forgot. So as we make way for  2011 (Oy) we yet again celebrate with awesome amounts of food!  I, like everyone around me, have had more than my share of treats. Christmas and Hanukkah bring so many wonderful and very specific cookies, cakes, cupcakes and candies, not to mention roast, brisket, latkes, and heavy wonderful dishes filled with calories. Including my family's tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas. 


 So I thought, just for a change of pace, I would share this wing recipe with you. This recipe was a total fluke, I made it and then of course... read the recipe. Normally this would be a terrible idea, but it worked out and became one of my favorite chicken wing recipes. I have adapted this recipe a few times, but with the addition of this creamy and slightly sweet sauce... the recipe is amazing. It is defiantly going to come as a wake up call to your stomach after all this heavy, buttery, creamy,and sweet holiday food. 


This is also a great recipe for your Superbowl party. Enjoy!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Harvest Moon Almond Cookies




 These cookies are loved by everyone at work. I brought in 30 cookies on Sunday and today we ran out early in the day. People were complaining that they only got 1 or 2. These harvest moon cookies are delicious and of course, perfect for this holiday season. They are very nutty and not too sweet! I hope you enjoy these awesome Harvest Moon cookies and share them with someone you love!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Comment Love and a Spicy Giveaway

To my new friends, followers, and fellow blog hoppers... 

You all have made my day and my week. I have never had such an buzz from a blog hop before. Thanks for following, I am slowly getting to all of your blogs/facebook/ twitter links as fast as I can. I can not tell you all how truly blessed I feel each time I read your amazing comments.
I have felt a little lost from time to time, finding my way in this new blogging world. But having new friends, like yourselves, has made me not only jump with joy at each and every thoughtful comment. But it has made this blog, my big (jumping into the pool of risk, feet first) risk, worth more than I ever thought possible. So to thank you all for following me and leaving some kick-ass comments and since I have reached 30 followers, I am personally hosting 2 awesome giveaways!
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes topped with a Cranberry and Nutmeg




Friday, December 17, 2010

Chicken Soup that Warms the Soul #3




Homemade chicken soup!   One of the only foods that helps me when I am under the weather or just tired and sick of everything. As much as I love this time of year, winter is very blah  I do like making my own broth, but pre-made is ok too. I hope you enjoy this amazing soup and stay very warm. They are predicting even more snow for Indiana!  Yay I love snow. No, I really and truely love snow

My Very Favorite Jewish Chicken Soup
Serves 4-6 large servings. 


Chicken Soup that Warms the Soul #2

As promised (though very late) Farmers Market Chicken Soup.  I love soup, could you tell?  This is a great soup that you can make all year round. I change the ingredients depending on the season. I love using fresh tomatoes and fresh herbs in the summer and sometimes I add pre-baked sweet potatoes or squash in the winter.  This soup is very easy and mostly healthy, minus the butter is it really healthy. Last year I went to an awesome farmers market in Mountain View California with my aunt  and mother. I had never seen so much fresh food before and I didn't even recognize some of the fruits and vegetables. It was awesome and I returned home with some amazing pictures. This soup is based on many of the vegetables I saw at the farmers market. I hope you enjoy it.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Chicken Soup that Warms the Soul #1

Hey everyone, this week has been crazy, however I have very different chicken 3 soups to share with you. With this crazy cold and snow coming so early this year (seriously) I am craving anything and everything hot! From soup to teas, hot chocolate and oatmeal. I spend my time dressed in layers of socks, sweaters and jackets, (I have a very very drafty apartment) and I am constantly covered with blankets. Last night my cats even spent the night under the covers. Oy Vey!  This soup is awesome and very easy to make. I recommend chopping up everything with your food processor, it just makes this soup even easier to make.  I love this soup, it is so delicious and VERY hearty but it is VERY healthy. I can't wait to share tomorrows soup with you. I just love this winter version of Farmers Market chicken soup with you. I am eating soup now! Have a great night and stay warm!!





Sunday, December 12, 2010

Straight No Chaser - The Christmas Can-Can (Animated Version)


Happy Holidays!
Insomnia has hit me for the 6th night in a row, ugh. So I thought I would share this awesome Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa video that one of my friends shared with me. Happy Holidays! 
from a very very tired Kate

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hanunkkah Dinner and a few Stories

This year, like many years in the past, Hanukkah has come too early in the year. Hanukkah on December 2,  is too soon to recover from Thanksgiving. So my family is holding off our celebrations until later in the month. But here are some of our traditional Hanukkah recipes from last year.



Bubbe and Grandpa's Hanukkah Latkes
This recipe has been used for many many years in my family. I am lucky enough to have one of the original Temple Sisterhoods' Cookbook. I have my Bubbe's copy and I love it. This recipe is the favorite in my family.


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving Traditions #2



This is the second part of my Thanksgiving Traditional Menu! I hope you have a wonderful, food-filled, family-filled, happy holiday!


Thanksgiving Traditions #1

Happy Thanksgiving!



These pictures were from last year's Thanksgiving at our friend's home. We have gone to their home for Thanksgiving and they have come to our home for Passover. This year we actually are trying something new, we are going to Wisconsin to visit family for the holiday. I can't wait for the traditional meal with my family. 

 These are a few of my favorite traditional Thanksgiving recipes.  Enjoy!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

To be Glazed or Not To Be Glazed


For the first time in many many years, my family is leaving home for Thanksgiving.  I am always a stickler for keeping out well worn-in and truly loved traditions for holidays. So we are taking our family recipes and menus with us!  But sometimes things change and a new recipe can make its way into your traditions... this one snuck in last year. I hope you all have great Thanksgiving and let a new recipe or two make its way into your own traditions.  

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Pre-Thanksgiving Fall Hash



  • This was one of my favorite pre-Thanksgiving dishes from last year. I made it for a family dinner and it was a total hit; we could have finished off  the entire dish!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Comfort in the Kitchen: The Perfect Beginers Recipe for Holiday Treats

I am going to be out of town this weekend for a wedding, so this week has been very hectic and busy with last minute preparations for a weekend in Chicago. I this is really the first time I have had off since the Nantucket trip in August. So I am delighted to have a full weekend off work and away from home. I will be gone for a full 48 hours and hopefully I will be able to get some great pictures while we are in the city.


White Chocolate & Cranberry Biscotti


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Cookie Calamity

The perfect cookie




 I have just spent my entire Tuesday and Wednesday in my kitchen baking up a storm. Which is why there is a war path of mini marshmallows, confectioners sugar, flour, cocoa powder, acorn squash, spiced pear butter and cranberries everywhere from my counters to my floors. So with freezer packed and pantry fully stocked, I can say that I am almost ready for Thanksgiving.


 I have already made my way through 1/2 of a roast turkey and mashed potatoes... next week we will make spiced cranberry sauce and stuffing. Pies, scones and cookies will be baked the week before Thanksgiving. All is wonderful and along with Thanksgiving is coming one of my favorite things in the world...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pumpkin and Pictures


I hope everyone is enjoying this amazing and very windy fall weather. I took a few pictures of my yard in its fall beauty! I hope you enjoy these pictures and these amazing and flavorful muffins. I have been so busy getting ready for Halloween. I am making my own costume this year and since I am not allowed near a sewing machine or anything sharp (hence the name Calamity Kate), I am gluing, stapling and cutting to create my custom Candy Land Halloween costume. I am thrilled to be covered with candy and I can't wait to share my pictures!  Enjoy your week!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Pomagrapa Tart (Concord Grape and Pomegranate Tart)

Pomagrapa Tart

This tart was a crazy bit of luck. I bought both Concord and Bunchkins Grapes on a whim while I was at the grocery store. The concord grapes are tart and full of juice, they taste like Welch's Grape Juice and the Bunchkins were small, sweet and juicy and super cute. But one (large) late night snack later, I was down half of the grapes. Not enough for the of recipe I had been planning to try out .I couldn't even find a recipe with less than 3 cups of concord grapes. I was disappointed and I still really wanted to make something delicious out these seasonal grapes. So I made up a recipe based a bit on some of the other concord grape recipes I had originally looked at. With a bit of skill and a lot of luck this tart turned out amazing. Sweet and tart, it was beautiful and delicious. I am very proud that my kitchen calamity turned out delicious !

Friday, October 8, 2010

Heads up Bloggers



Location Location Location


I have been wondering recently if there are any bloggers near me in Indiana. It would be awesome to make some new blogger friends. It would be very cool to have a place to meet the bloggers... and now there is just a place. 


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Fun and Festive Fajitas

Pineapple Cilantro Fajitas
2 delicious ways...



I love Mexican and Tex Mex food. I would eat tacos, fajitas and flautas everyday if possible. But with the hard economic time we are stuck in, take-out is not something I can eat as much as I want. So I have been making a healthier and cheaper version of some of my favorite foods. These 2 fajitas are loosely based on this little hole in the wall, (Sharky's something)Tex-Mex restaurant in California.  The tacos had a fresh and bright pineapple flavor and I just loved the heat in the salsa, the freshness of cilantro and the grilled char of the chicken. It was a refreshing change from the delicious but heavier cheesy tacos you get here in Indiana. 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Crisp Autumn Mornings

October 1st  I woke up  so happy! My windows had been open the night before and my apartment was freezing. I had added a second blanket to my bed the night before, so the whole bed was nice and warm. I had both cats at my feet and only my nose and a few toes were sticking out of the bed and cold.  I loved every moment of the warmth of the bed and the coolness of the apartment. I finally got up to make tea, and oatmeal with apple butter  and then I climbed back into my warm bed to eat it. I wished I could have spent all day curled up like that It was  a perfect morning except that I had to get ready for work. I probably would have stayed in bed other than getting up to make cinnamon toast,  hot tea and to feed the cats. It was perfect and amazing and I hope it will happen again and again. It was amazing and  the only thing that would have been better is if it was snowing! Have a great day and enjoy some apple butter and autumn!



Monday, September 27, 2010

Ghirardelli Jungle Brownies



LA to San Fransisco Trip 2009

These brownies started back many years ago, (before high school) when my idea of cooking was making everything as crazy/fun/different as I could. I wanted to invent rather than cook, so I would add everything I could find and dump it into what I was making. I had odd ideas and my poor family ended up eating many crazy and not delicious dinners. Including one dish that at the time I really liked but wasn't very good. It was chicken in a sour cream and dill sauce smashed between 2 biscuits and baked. Yuck!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

And the Winner is...

Wow this was so much fun,  I am thrilled to announce the winner of




The Best Chicken Stew

What do you do with left over chicken and vegetables? How about making a chicken stew that will make you like the bowl and ask for more. Well, that is  what my dad did!



This is a recipe that I make all of the time with different variations. Living alone for years has not taught me cooking portions. I still cook for a family of 4 with leftovers. So as I make too much,  I freeze extra chicken or meat and always stock up on canned and frozen vegetables and fruits when they are on sale. Other things I always keep in stock are frozen or canned broth, canned Rome tomatoes pasta and pasta sauce (whether I make it and freeze it or just buy the stuff in the jar).

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Summer Fun and a Giveaway



Summer is ending, but I am not ready for fall to come. This summer has been a crazy mix of work and wishing for August to arrive so I could go on vacation. For many years my parents have been vacationing on the island of Nantucket for the month of August. My brother and I got to visit them this year for a few days each. We stay in this little Wild Rose cottage and this year we had the added pleasure of having my cousins and their children living in the cottage behind ours.  Every morning we ate outside together, the only table large enough for our family. We packed lunches and spent the day hanging out on the beach. There are some awesome beaches in Nantucket, but my favorite was Dionis beach were we found some amazing shells in the warm water.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Food in Disguise


A sweet treat for brunch


We disguise food all of the time. According to pop culture, frog, snake and alligator taste like chicken. There are forty thousand chicken recipes to make chicken taste like something else. There is garlic chicken, lemon chicken, butter chicken, etc.  But it is still chicken (or maybe it is alligator)! As we prepare for the fall festivals, holidays and all of those rich feasts I have a somewhat healthy and absolutely divine treat for you. 

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Homemade Chocolate Goodness



What is better at 10 pm than smelling warm chocolate. A warm, rich and deliciously fragrant chocolate cookie is in my oven and I am sure my neighbors mouths' are watering as we speak.  I am making one of my absolutely favorite cookies, the Oreo.