Bride-to-be 'Charlotte'

Question:What do you make two brides-to-be that are (supposed to be) watching their wasteline for dessert? Answer: A student 'charlotte'. Thanks to Elizabeth Bard's Lunch in Paris for the easiest of easy ideas. So simple and lovely and (relatively) guilt free. Putting them in some very pretty china somehow makes them taste even lovelier.

Layer savoiardi biscuit (or biscuits if using a bigger container), canned apricots (complete with spoonfuls of the syrup and greek yoghurt) in a container. Refrigerate overnight to let the syrup soak in. Serve.
Enjoy!

Cat x

Hello! Is there anybody in there?

My poor little blog has been abandoned for awhile. In fact, my complete online presence has pretty much disappeared. The reason for this of course is that I've been incredibly busy over the past few weeks and have literally had no time to keep you up to date. Or to find out what my blogging friends have been up to. Now that things have slowed down a bit I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone's lives.

I'll give you a bit of a snapshot of what I've been up to lately. Here goes:

1. My June photography challenge was a complete failure. I lasted 15 days only to have it fall by the wayside as I lost motivation. Does that make me a blogging failure?

2. Tetsuya's was fabulous! I wish I took some photos but it was the kind of night where I was enjoying the food, wine and great company so much that I didn't want to pause for anything. Our table was very quiet when we walked in, completely in awe of finally making it to the renowned food institution. By the end of the meal though (after 5 ½ hours, 11 courses and matching wines) we were all much more relaxed. Shamefully, I believe there was even some immature bean throwing. I'm not going to expand as I do not want to implicate anyone or make you think less of me!

3. I FINALLY finished painting my house. Six weekends and countless nights after work. Blood, sweat, tears, tantrums and about a thousand McDonald's meals later and IT'S ALL DONE! I can't emphasise how excited I am about this. Despite my grumblings, I am incredibly proud of what I and my band of workers (thanks Mum and Megan!) have completed and I feel a sense of achievement and a real sense of ownership of my house now.

4. Following on from painting the house, I've been busy moving myself and my furniture into it. More about that later because the next point is without a doubt the best thing about the past few weeks...

5. My beautiful fiance was in town for the past 10 days. He's gone back to PNG now but the time he was here was perfect. He helped move me into my house, we caught up with friends and family, cooked meals together and went to some beautiful restaurants (I probably don't need to add here that I've also put on 1000 kgs in the past week!). The only blemish to the week was a terrifying few hours where he couldn't find his baptism certificate and I was convinced that it was irreparable and that we couldn't get married at all! Needless to say, some irrationality, tiredness and emotions were at play there and I was about due for a meltdown anyway. Trav came to the rescue and you'll be pleased to know the wedding's still on.

That's a very brief summary of what I've been up to. I haven't started to mention my new couches or my op-shop bedside table find (a future work in progress). I haven't mentioned I made the beef, red wine and onion pie again or the yummy nutella and raspberry dessert (again, from Donna Hay Seasons). But I think that's enough for now. I don't want to saturate you with too much information after such long famine!

I hope you are well and happy. I'd love to hear of any exciting news that you've been up to lately. Thanks for sticking by me and I'm looking forward to getting to know you again.

Love,

Cat x

hello again

Image from We Heart It

I must apologise for my absence on the blog-front. I was in a bit of a slump last week and knew I could not do my little blog justice. I am happy to announce I have crawled out of the dark abyss and am ready to resume life again.

I'm very excited tonight as I'm heading out for dinner to Tetsuya's in Sydney! I've been wanting to go there for about a decade and tonight's the night!

I hope you have been well and that, whatever you're up to tonight, it's spectacular!

Love,
Cat x

Every 4 years I come alive!

Day 15, photo 16 Esse

My beautiful cousin (and MOH!) recently went to an Italian festa and brought back one of my favourite treats for me. Esse! Well, I don't know if that's the proper term but it's what I've always known them as. Hard, chewy biscuits with a distinct honey flavour. I love them!

Regarding the World Cup, it's nice to hear other people's opinions and to know that there are other crazies out there like me that have a strong emotional response to a game that happens once every four years.

I texted Travis the other day to say that I was downloading the World Cup schedule. His response was 'who are you and what have you done with my fiance?'. To explain, I am not usually a sporty person. However, I've always been a World Cup fan. But I realised that Travis and I weren't together at the last World Cup so he's never seen this side of me before. It came as quite a shock to him! Plus it's funny to think that Travis hasn't always been around yet now I couldn't imagine my life without him.

Has your partner ever surprised you with their hidden habits? Or have you surprised them with something supposedly out of character?

Cat x

Mid weekend update including choc-hazelnut cake

Firstly, thank you for all your lovely comments. I hope my work situation improves soon too or at least my attitude to it. Anyway, onto more interesting things. My weekend has been pretty manic - painting, my cousin's 16th birthday dinner, an unfruitful search for a lounge and a visit to a very special little boy. I'm having a quiet night tonight in preparation for another mammoth day tomorrow.

Here are my photos for my June photo challenge:

Day 12, photo 12 Chocolate & Hazelnut Ice Cream Cake

This is such an easy cake to make and an all round crowd pleaser. I've included the recipe if you're interested. It's from Recipes+ magazine (Jan/Feb 2008).

250g packet (6) mini chocolate rolls
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup caster sugar
220g Nutella (or other choc-hazelnut spread)
600ml thickened cream
1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped

1. Line a 22cm springform pan with plastic food wrap, extending it 5cm above the rim. Cut each roll into 6 slices. Stand a row of slices upright inside of pan at bottom edge. Use remainder to completely cover base, breaking cake as need to fill spaces.
2. Place yolks and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until thick and creamy. Add Nutella; beat until just combined. Beat in cream, then beat mixture for 5 minutes or until thickened slightly (mixture will still be runny).
3. Pour the mixture into pan. Sprinkle with hazelnuts. Cover with more plastic wrap, making sure it does not touch filling. Freeze overnight until firm.
*Serves 10-12* *Stand dessert 15 minutes at room temperature before serving* *Refrigerate egg whites airtight up to 4 days or freeze up to 6 months* *Enjoy!*

Day 12, photo 13 Sweet Sixteen

Day 13, photo 14 Potential Dining Room Light from Freedom

Not entirely sure about this yet but it is very pretty. Think I'll wait til my dining table is actually in the house though before I make a decision.

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful long weekend and let me know if you're getting up tomorrow morning for the World Cup game. It will be nice to know I have some company! Go Australia!!!

Love,
Cat x

Day 1 Photo Challenge + Almond, Cranberry & Coconut Florentines

Day 1, Photo 1...a delicious Almond, Cranberry & Coconut Florentine

Day 1 of my June photo challenge and my first photo is, of course, of food. Not just any food either. A very yummy homemade almond, cranberry and coconut Florentine. I know the styling isn't great but just imagine the crunch as you bite into it, then you get the sweet surprise of a juicy cranberry and the decadent taste of dark chocolate....mmm... If only I could eat them all but I actually made them for work tomorrow. We're celebrating the Festa Della Republica, i.e. National Italian Day!! Wait til you see the shoes I'm wearing tomorrow. I haven't worn them yet as they're a bit far out but if I'm going to break them in, tomorrow's the perfect day. You'll see what I mean ;-)

Here's the recipe for the Florentine's, adapted from SMH, Good Living (Tuesday May 11, 2010)

Almond, cranberry and coconut Florentines

vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1/3 cup caster sugar
230g flaked almonds
50g shredded coconut
50g dried cranberries
200g dark chocolate

Heat oven to 160 degrees celsius. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper and brush lightly with vegetable oil. In a mixing bowl, whisk egg whites lightly then whisk in caster sugar. Add flaked almonds, coconut and cranberries and gently mix until combined. Place by the tablespoonful on the trays and flatten with moistened fingers to flat discs of about 6cm diameter. Bake for 10 minutes then turn each tray 180 degrees and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool on the tray (they will harden as they cool) then arrange flat-side up on a wire rack set over paper (to catch the chocolate drips - I re-used the baking paper). Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of hot water, stirring. Pour a spoonful of chocolate on each Florentine and spread over the base. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set then store in an airtight container between layers of baking paper. Keep in a cool place or in the fridge.

Makes 18.

Enjoy!

Love,
Cat x

Produce Day

Ever since I can remember I've been surrounded by food. Growing, picking, killing, cooking, buying and playing with have all been adjectives I'm pretty comfortable around.

From my maternal grandparents growing rows of tomatoes and herbs and a large chestnut tree in their backyard to my dads parents growing strawberries and selling them at markets. From seeing Nonno's yard turned into a production line making scores of bread in the wood fired oven and tomato sauce to remembering the wine vats bursting, spreading a river of red wine all over the drive way and into the gutter. From helping Nonna make cotolette and sneaking bits of raw meat to being given bread dough to play with and then bake and eat. From seeing dead chickens hanging from the verandah to realising that some of the cute cows ended up on my plate...and so on and so forth. I could go on for ever about the enormous impact food and everything related to it has had on me. In fact, I chose to study Nutrition at university and it was no coincidence that my first boyfriend was a chef!

My love affair with food began before I can even remember and there are foods that my enjoyment of them isn't just about the taste but also about the memories associated with them. When I'm sick, all I want is pastina. When I'm upset, I turn to a glass of milk with my favourite 'cafe latte' biscuits.

This is my first post about food but it will not be my last. Food is inextricably linked to me, my family and my life. Having an Italian background probably helps :-)

I wanted to share some pictures of beautiful fresh produce that I've been fortunate enough to eat lately. Tomatoes from Mum's garden and fresh fish that my brother, Tony, caught. There's something incredibly satisfying about knowing where your food has come from and how fresh it is.

Enjoy :-)