Bizarre but easy peasy chocolate pudding

I have finally started my diet, after 5 months..hmm I lie.. actually 14 months of eating whatever I like. Dark days ahead and 1 stone to go. Then it was my birthday last week and with Mothers Day just a day after, I got a double whammy on pressies! Needless to say, for a foodie like me I gorged on some lovely rich food and was thoroughly spoilt. I have developed during and after my pregnancy a really sweet tooth. I have always like desserts and biscuits but my god I am like the hoover of anything sweet nowadays.

So after 2 days of constant eating, the last thing I want before I start my diet again was something cakey and chocolatey! I was at my in-laws and my mother in law suggested that we make her chocolate pudding. I have heard a lot about this chocolate pudding as Andrew loved it as a child. Knowing how fussy I am about chocolatey puddings Andrew warned me that it is not the type of chocolate pudding I am used to. Nevertherless I was too desperate to care!

The pudding itself was really easy and quick to make (prep and cook in under 40 mins) that didn't involve eggs but a cup of hot water at the end on top of the pudding mixture. Sounds bizarre? I was skeptical but I was pleasantly surprised. Don't expect this to be a gourmet pudding, it aint that but it was gooey and self saucing (the purpose of the hot water) and most importantly quick. Perfect for a quick fix. Eat it with lashings of cream, hot/cold custard or ice cream. It was deeply satisfying and yet light. I like it so much I made a second one when I came back from my in-laws.

Here is the recipe to my mother in law's bizarre chocolate pudding

Preheat oven 180degrees. Use a deep dish so that the sauce doesn't bubble over, I made a mistake of using a shallow one and my pudding was a little dry.

For 4 (or two if you are greedy like me)
Wet ingredients
1 cup self raising flour
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
2 oz butter, melted in the microwave
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry ingredients
1/2 tablespoon cocoa
1/4 cup sugar

1 cup of hot water

Mix all wet ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour into your baking dish. Mix the dry ingredients and sprinkle evenly ontop of the mixture. Pour the cup of boiling water on top. Bake for 30 minutes. That's it, easy eh? I ate mine with lashings of cream and fresh strawberries.

Happy Cooking!

The importance of doing something you LOVE...

When I saw that our last post was in November I realised just how time flies. I remembered the excitement when we first set up the blog and I wanted to write all the time. I haven't been lazy I promise, in fact I had a baby. I know, no excuse really, its only a baby! Holy cow, nothing prepared me for the arrival of our little monster. I loved my pregnancy, it was easy. I read no books, no websites but I attended NCT classes. We thought we might need to find out at least some basic facts. I heard the word Oxytoxin for the first time and we met some of the loveliest people. But nothing by which I mean NOTHING prepared me for the shock of having someone to look after. The birth wasn't straightforward and I ended up having a C section, after nearly 24 hours of labour, so recovery was slow. I remembered my NCT teacher said that when someone had major surgery, they are required to rest for a few weeks before doing anything but when you have a baby, you are required to take up a 24 hour job! That was the bit that shocked me! It was constant and you are required to do it with very little sleep. The bit that I found really hard to cope was I didn't know how the day would go. I was really dazed and confused most of the time. I had a career and a social life, oh how it changed overnight!

14 weeks on and it has flown by... I saw the light at the end of the tunnel when a routine started to form and I was able to do what I love most; cook. It is my form of therapy and I hate not eating well. I never have done, not even when we were up to our eyeballs with babystuff! Thank heavens that I have a husband who is a good cook and also a fantastic sous chef! He would prepare the necessary ingredients while I feed Alexa and when I am done, I will come down and cook. I needed that for my sanity. I wouldn't give anyone any parenting advice but one thing for sure, having a baby is not the end to anything ( I used to think it was). Always make sure you have some time to yourself and do something you love even if it takes some time and adjustment before you can do it. Slowly but surely I am returning to my old self and knowing that I can do the things I love makes me a more tolerant parent.

My life has changed somewhat but still I wouldn't have it any other way. I have a beautiful daughter and although she is very demanding, her smiles make up for it everyday. Soon I will be able to run the events we do so well and today marks another milestone as Alexa is rolling over without my help and we have a private hen do to host in May. To be able to have a daughter to love and to do something I love are truly a blessing!

My little monster - Alexa Lily

P/S: Next blog, I will be sharing some of my simple, fast and tasty meals...

atCatharines Throwing a Dinner Party Tips

After much happening this year with Kat's house improvements and me getting up the duff, we finally get to host a dinner atCatharines a couple of weeks ago and boy did we come back with a bang. We fed 17 diners and the first one to leave was at midnight to which she quietly admitted to me that she normally would have stayed out longer if it wasn't for her hangover!! At 37 weeks pregnant, I was ready to go to bed 3 hours ago, I was glad of her hangover. Despite having acute back pain that night, I was content and proud! This is what we are about atCatharines. We love to entertain and come what may that's what we do best!

We are sad to say that it will be a few more months yet before we get to host another one again given the imminent arrival of baby Coombes but as it is nearing Christmas, we thought we might equip you with a few entertaining tips for the festive season. Not long ago, I heard on the news that Pippa Middleton has published a book called 'Celebrate' and I looked it up on the internet for the reviews which I have to admit it was notoriously unkind and downright rubbish. I haven't read the book but I have read some of the extracts that people has included and I must admit that it does sound 'unnecessary'. So if you are thinking of hosting any parties, I would not waste my money and here are some practical useful tips and it has worked for us.

1) Decide on your menu
Whether it is a sit down meal or buffet, it is always good to decide on what to feed people. Choose something that you can make in advance and you are confident in making, it doesn't need to be the entire menu but as much as you can. People always say choose a safe menu, I agree to a point but what's the fun in that?!? Feel free to cook something that is not in your repertoire. They are your guests, hopefully all good friends otherwise you won't invite them anyway so experiment on them! But one thing that you have to sure of is your confidence that you can pull it off. I know I can't pull off souffles for 17 so I am not going to try!

Make sure your menu doesn't use up too much oven space for example choose mash potato instead of roast potatoes. Perhaps a cold starter instead of hot. You get the idea? Unlike a professional kitchen, a normal household will only have a single oven.

2) Write down the list of ingredients/ decorations
Lists are essential so that you can go out and buy what you need and not what you might want. Try to buy loose ingredients so that you are not wasting what you do not use in a pack. For example buy one or two chillies rather than a pack. Search through your purse to see if you have any vouchers from certain supermarkets and put them to good use when doing a big shop!

3) Write down a list for the things you need to prepare and decide on a timeline
If you have things to make in advance, decide when you will make it, what else need to be done and tick it off the list as you go along. You can make it as detail as you want it to be.

Sample list assuming party day Saturday:
Starter: Chicken Caesar salad
Friday - Roast chicken
Sat - Wash leaves, grate Parmesan

Main - Chilli con carne
Thursday - Make chilli
Sat - Boil rice, serve with sour cream

Dessert - Chocolate tart
Make tart Friday evening
Sat - Serve with vanilla ice cream

Sat am
Hoover downstairs
Get flowers
Set up table
Get decorations up
Ask husband to clear up his muddy boots in the hallway

4) Count plates, cutlery and glasses. Make sure you have enough
There is nothing more irritating than scrambling for forks and glasses when your guests are here so make sure you have enough so you are not running around trying to find them last minute. Separate them so that you know what you need and when. If you need 5 plates for starter, put 5 plates out so it is there when you need to dish up and join your guests. Savvy?

5) Put out wine openers and ice buckets
Let your guests help themselves to opening the wines or beers. Show them where to get their glasses and ask them to hold on to them.


6) Change into a posh frock
After all, you do not want to look like you have been dragged through the mills. It is a party after all!

7) Be there to greet your guests
Wait until some guests have arrived before you excuse yourselves to prep the food. Remember, hosting a dinner party is not a sprint. You can take your time. If your kitchen allows it, get your guests to come to the kitchen while you prepare the food.

8) Washing up
Very simple, dishwasher. I don't know what I will do without one. Oh and leave it till the next day. Go and have fun and get drunk with your guests. Of all things, washing up can jolly well wait!

Lastly have fun. There is no point in throwing a party when you are not enjoying it.

Cat & Kat xx