Cate Can Cook, So Can You!!

Delivery Hero

2012-02-26T15:27:00.000+11:00

Growing up in the 60's we watched a futuristic cartoon called the Jetsons. Life in the future (2062) was going to be fantastic - robots like Rosie to do the cleaning for us, zipping around the sky in jet powered vehicles, and the ultimate luxury - sitting down to dinner and ordering from a computerised menu!!! While we haven't made it to 2062 yet, and technology isn't quite as they envisaged

Salmon with Roasted Tomato Salsa, Creamed Corn and Virtual Bacon Dust

2012-02-13T07:37:00.000+11:00

When we use the term "virtual" what exactly do we mean? The Merriam Webster Dictionary gives the following definitions for virtual: - being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted - of, or relating to, or using virtual memory - being on or simulated on a computer or computer network...... Wikipedia gives a definition that I like: Virtuality, the quality of

Chicken Cacciatore in the Thermomix

2012-02-11T21:01:00.000+11:00

Sometimes all you need is a little pat on the back to give you the motivation you need to keep on going. This week was the annual pilgrimage out to the Children's Hospital for the usual pokes, prods, and WEIGH IN for "The Child Who Cannot Be Filled!". The words the doctors uttered were not so much the pat on the back I needed, although I was told that all things considered we were traveling very

Asian Style Pork Chops on Wilted Asian Greens

2012-02-08T10:15:00.000+11:00

This is pure agony!!! As I type and look at the photos of this meal my belly is rumbling. I didn't think that I was hungry, but obviously my stomach thinks differently!!! Why is dieting so hard? Why can't I just use zen thoughts to whittle away the kilos?? How long am I going to have to deprive myself for?? I know, it's all of my own doing - the love of food ultimately leads to an increase

Blackened Salmon with Corn Salsa

2012-02-04T17:33:00.000+11:00

I know, I seem to have let the side down in regards to posting lately, but really, I have had serious technical issues with posting. I still am none the wiser as to what is going on, or should I say what I am doing wrong, so I am going back to the old tried and true method of posting today. As I am now on the countdown to my trip to Italy, I am starting to curb the carbs in an effort to try and

Soy and Lemongrass Prawns

2012-02-03T20:43:00.003+11:00

I seem to have been having lots of problems with this post. Normally I would just post another, and get on with it..... But I thought this recipe was too good to get forgotten. The audioscape to life outside my bedroom window is constantly changing. For days on end (it actually seems like weeks!) All we have heard is the monotony of constant rainfall. The rain has been falling so intensely at

Technical issues!

2012-02-01T09:53:00.001+11:00

Dear Readers I seem to be experiencing technical issues. Please bear with me while I try to resolve them. I hope to a resolution soon! Any advice on blogger and iPads would be greatly appreciated! Talk with you soon. CCC

Mediterranean Watermelon Salad

2012-01-22T14:15:00.001+11:00

Apparently I am not allowed to post a blog just because I like the recipe. It has to be a unanimous decision that the meal is a winner! Given those parameters there would be very few recipes posted! Usually there is only two to three of us eating most of the meals that I prepare in this house on any given night. Yes, I am still catering separate meals to suit the finicky palates of "The

An International Mish Mash

2012-01-11T16:44:00.004+11:00

I just love it when I get an unexpected comment from a reader about how much they love my blog. The only problem is that the comments seem to be random in nature, and usually only if I happen to be speaking to them personally. I know that my blog is being seen by lots of people out there all over the world, (I often look at the stats to see where people are from, and what they are looking at)

Salad Days!

2012-01-10T11:58:00.003+11:00

Well we made it! Sailing around the Whitsunday islands in a yacht is not all it appears in the glossy pictures! We started the journey with some high wind conditions, which didn't make for smooth sailing for the first few days. The poor "Darlings" didn't quite know what had hit them! On day one I was already doling out the seasickness pills, and that was before we had even made it out of the

A Cuban Feast

2011-12-31T18:27:00.001+11:00

As I sit here on board a boat in the Whitsundays, and contemplate my New Year's dinner (and before you think luxury let me tell you this has been a poorly executed/planned trip, and we are only having BBQ sausages and pre-packaged salads)- anyway I am drawn back in longing memory to a wonderful meal we had last week. A Cuban feast in fact! The meal consisted of two meat dishes - Cuban Shredded

Christmas Ham and Dessert

2011-12-27T17:46:00.001+11:00

OMG! A friend told me yesterday that she doesn't glaze her Christmas ham!!! Has never had a glazed ham in fact! How can this be? I would never dream of an unglazed ham - an unglazed ham seems almost naked in my mind. If there is one thing that typifies Christmas to me, it is that lovely, sweetly glazed ham. So moist, and sweet, and the smell of if it the oven just makes my mouth salivate.

"Bring a Plate"

2011-12-18T16:29:00.000+11:00

'Tis the season to be invited out for drinks, and along with that comes the line.... "Just bring a plate!" If you are anything like me, you want to make something a little special, something a little bit different, and definitely not something that you have taken along with this group of people before! It was time for the annual neighbourly get together. I must say I am not feeling

Sticky Coca Cola Pork Ribs

2011-12-11T10:47:00.001+11:00

The men in my house are always asking for ribs for dinner. I usually have to say, sorry, I don't have time to make them today, as the recipe that I love the best is quite time consuming. First make the sauce, then boil the ribs, and then the final baking. However, all that changed when I tried this recipe last night! For me ribs have to be meltingly soft, and you must be able to almost suck

A Birthday Feast!

2011-12-03T09:20:00.090+11:00

My good friend Madam T had been left high and dry by her hubby for her birthday. Sometimes the ones we love just don't realize that even after many years together we still appreciate a little bit of love and attention on our birthiday. After I found out that she had been stood up, and had to cancel out her reservation for dinner at Marque Restaurant, I knew I had better come up with something

Bouillabaisse in a Bag with Rouille

2011-11-28T17:22:00.001+11:00

My loyal readers should know by now what a sucker I am for a gorgeous cookbook, especially one with drool worthy photos!!! So it should come as no surprise when I tell you that when they recently offered a free copy of "Delicious Simply the Best Cookbook" when subscribing to Delicious Magazine - I said yes immediately!!! I offer let my subscriptions lapse just so I can see what offers they will

Coconut Crusted Salmon with Passionfruit Mayonnaise

2011-11-18T07:20:00.000+11:00

The summer fruit has all arrived in the fruit shops, but somehow the summer weather seems to have made a wrong turn somewhere en route to Sydney! Monday, we were all rushing to find our shorts or the coolest of clothes, as we sweltered in unbearable heat. The night that followed was no cooler, and we wrestled with the bed sheets trying to sleep in the oppressive heat. The next day the air was

Home Made Fast Food

2011-11-17T07:17:00.000+11:00

I have had several comments lately from loyal readers commenting that my posts have been somewhat irregular of late. I explained that I have been (as most people) a little time poor lately and have simply been churning out quick and easy dinner solutions. I was then asked, well what kinds of things have you been making? Can't you share those with us, we need a little inspiration to?? So here

Cashew Nut Curry and Grilled Banana Prawns with Black pepper and Curry Leaf Sauce

2011-11-15T20:13:00.002+11:00

Now, I don't live on your typical suburban block, so when the neighbor says to me that our dinner last night smelled really good, you know that there has to be some weight in that statement! That, or there was a good stiff breeze blowing I their direction that evening! I wish I could take a bow and say thank you, yes it was a wonderful meal, and feel like an absolute domestic goddess, but

Beef Sliders on Soft Potato Buns

2011-11-12T13:29:00.000+11:00

I am only a new convert to the ipad (in fact I think I am probably the last person on earth who didn't have an ipad!) - so I am only just starting to embrace the world of cooking apps and magazines. I can't say that I am overly in love with them, but by the same token, I don't hate them either. There is the advantage of being able to have your ipad open on the bench while you are cooking, and

Swordfish with Tomato and Lemon

2011-10-29T12:55:00.001+11:00

I know it seems like an awfully long time between posts, and that once again I am starving the family, but let me assure you this is not the case. We have been having incredibly boring meals, and time seems to be my perpetual enemy at the moment. I did make a Japanese Tapas meal the other day, took the photos with all intentions to post, but as usual...... Well you know how it goes. Last night

Chicken with Mango Apple Salad

2011-10-22T14:50:00.000+11:00

I know, I have been slack again with the posts!!! I could tell a lie here and come up with a story that could possibly be plausible, but the truth is that I have been spending far too much time playing with my new toy (the ipad) and hence daydreaming via the ipad about my upcoming trip to Italy!!! Don't quite have all the details worked out yet, so expect to see more breaks in transmission

Salmon Laksa Style

2011-10-18T10:15:00.000+11:00

Technology, it's a wonderful thing isn't it???? Well, when it works it is!!!! I decided it was time to splash out and get an ipad - well why not, everyone else seems to have one? It will make life easier, no more queuing for the computer, able to blog on the go..... oh, and the main reason I decided the time was right, is that I have finally decided that I am going to be a big girl and take

Fried Squid with Chorizo, Feta and Chickpea Salad

2011-10-10T17:44:00.000+11:00

I really must learn to abide by the "less is more" principle. I mean who do I think I am that I can say - why that recipe looks like it doesn't have enough of blah in it, and just up the ante on any particular ingredient I feel like? Saying that though some recipes are way too stingy on some ingredients (usually the meat/seafood factor - prawns in particular!!). I had heard rave reviews about

Beetroot, Pumpkin and Spinach Bread

2011-10-07T08:57:00.000+11:00

When you have a Thermomix you can let your imagination run wild with ideas! Years, and years ago I remember buying a bread for the then, very young "Precious". The lovely colours of the bread captured her eyes - they were so vibrant - yellow, pink and green. There had to be a vegetable or three in there - but she didn't care it appealed to her on a visual level. She loved that bread and