I want to send out a HUGE apology to those of you who have attempted to make a recent jewelry purchase on my site, only to be told your shopping cart is empty! How frustrating for you…I am indeed sorry, and we are working on this problem to try to resolve it as quickly as possible!
Hopefully, things will be back on track soon! Check back in or e-mail me directly if you are interested in a product! cat@catcancook.com
Thanks for your patience!
Pretty straight forward…1 Slice of Whole-Wheat Brown Bread, 2 dots for eyes, and a cute mouth all made using the bottom end of a butter knife, and the circular shape cut out from the bottom of a can of tomatoes or large circular cookie cutter!! Simply toast, and voila! Tubby Toast!
Your kids will think you’re a hip and happenin’ genius of a Momma, and if you’re lucky, they might even eat it!
I am pretty certain that this is not an authentic Nasi recipe, seeing as I am a Canadian and not Indonesian (where the dish originates from) but it sure is a tasty version of the dish! Of course, it is also 100% easy, or it wouldn’t be here!
Nasi Goreng
2 TBSP Cooking Oil
5 Cloves Garlic minced
1 Large Onion, chopped
2 Large Carrots, Shredded
2 Chicken Breasts, cut into large chunks
1 Packet Dry Bouillon Mix (I use Chicken Oxo)
1/2 Cup Water
1 TBSP Curry Powder
1-2 Cups Cooked White Rice
In a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat, saute the garlic, onions, shredded carrots and chicken breast in oil to lightly brown. Add water. Once cooked/steamed through, add 1 TBSP Curry Powder and blend well. Add cooked rice, and mix well to coat evenly. Serve piping hot with mixed greens or veggies.
Tips: You might like to add in fried egg, tofu, prawns, green onions, soya sauce..etc. Play around with it! It can only get better the more stuff you add in!
On the weekend, we stopped by a nifty knitting store downtown Toronto, and I was mesmerized by all of the types of wools and yards available! I had forgotten how much I love these soft and fluffy textures, colours and combinations, even though my crocheting is not so hot and my many attempts at knitting have failed miserably.
I found this great article on-line this evening on making beads from roving (wool that has not been spun) so I wanted to post a link to it! These really are beautiful beads, and can be added into fashionable necklaces or used as embellishments on bags, hats, scarves and so on!
Check out this bloggers wonderful how-to’s on Hand-Felted Beads, and stay tuned for my own version of hand-felted beads coming up in the next few days. It looks pretty straight-forward really, not to mention fun, and the finished product is sensational! I really want to do a mixed-medium necklace design with some wood and wool beads together…I think it would be extraordinary!
Gonna git me some roving pardner…yehaw!
It’s Just another “Manic Muffin Monday” So…
Easy Cranberry Muffins
Stir together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together oil, milk, egg, and almond extract. Add liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients all at once and stir until just mixed. Stir in cranberries and orange zest.
Grease a muffin tin and fill each cup 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and the toothpick comes out clean. This recipe makes approximately 12 muffins. Eat the muffins hot out of the oven!
Yesterday, friends and I went into the city. This seems to have turned into an annual fall tradition, and it’s been a lot of fun both years. Of course, we visited some of our favorite spots, and a few spots that were totally new to me! It was a great day…so great in fact, that I went back today with my own family, mostly so Liam could ride on the Street Car and Subway (where by the way, a family of 2 adults, and up to 4 children can ride unlimited all day for only $9 on weekends and holidays - now THAT is a bargain!), but also because we missed out on China Town yesterday, and I was jonesing for a little Chinese culture and I also needed to get something for my Mom from a Chinese Herb place. It was great, and I can’t wait to go back again really soon! I impressed myself by driving us to Yorkdale, where we caught the downtown subway. The traffic wasn’t too bad, so it was a pretty easy trip!
I wanted to share some of the best and least expensive places to shop and eat that I know of in the city of Toronto. While my husband and I lived in the city for 6 years, we found so many places that are both fun, and in-expensive. I really like to save money, plus malls generally bore me to tears with their carbon-copy stores and insanely high prices. Toronto always amazes me in that you can get so much more for your money both in necessities, food, clothing and general “stuff” just by shopping in the little local markets and bargain shops!
Anyhow, here is a list of places to go and eat in the city that are definite must-sees for in Toronto for those who want to see a lot and spend a little!
Kensington Market - In the heart of the downtown core, Kensington Market is a unique area that features everything from fruit markets to vintage clothing shops to bakeries! There are cheese shops, vegetables and fruits galore, butchers, clothing and shoe stores…everything really! All at great discount prices! Yesterday I brought home a huge bag of assorted cheeses from “Global Cheese” and spent a fraction of what I would have spent in a local grocers or market. We also discovered a little tea shop/candy shop called Cafe Casa Acoreana which is so beautifully decorated by row after row of glass jars of brightly coloured candies and teas covering every wall. Such a fun place to shop!
China Town - Not only are there great bargains, but great culture too! I picked up sparkly crystal ornaments, cute bone skull beads and a little Buddha Statue today, all for $3 each! Wonderful treasures you just can’t find anywhere else! There are food shops and markets galore, not to mention wonderful restaurants for dim sum, sushi, sushi mi, bubble tea and all sorts of Asian delicacies!
Queen St. West - The trendy street of downtown Toronto. Of course, there are many shops on this street where the prices are vastly inflated, but knowing where to find the great little shops are with the bargains can be a lot of fun to discover. I’ve also found over the years, that haggling works very well with many vendors, so don’t be afriad to ask for a better price!
Goodwill/Salvation Army Thrift - These are pretty much a feature of any larger city *but* what most smaller cities don’t have is the cultural diversity of a city the size of Toronto. There are so many wonderful treasures waiting at the thrift shops of Toronto, ranging from contemporary to antique and from so many different cultures. That’s one of the things I love the most about Toronto…the wonderful ethnic diversity!
Red Room/Java Hut - These two restaurants are actually the same menu, but in different locations. The food is AMAZING and CHEAP! The decor is nothing spectacular, but they sure can cook. The Avocado Salad is so good, the Pad Thai is wonderful, and there are so many Asian-inspired dishes to chose from, and that are all around or under $7! Honestly, you cannot get a better meal for that price anywhere in the city!
Arton Bead Craft - Closest to my own heart is the Arton Bead Shop! I have been shopping there for years and years, and can honestly say that they have the best prices and selection of any bead shop I have ever been in (and I have been in a lot!) The staff are so friendly, and knowledgeable and are happy to make suggestions or offer help. Yesterday I was explaining a beading “concept” to one of my friends in the middle of this shop, and saying that I wouldn’t buy a certain bead as I wasn’t able to use it because I didn’t have the proper finding to go on it. Suddenly, a hand reached over to me with exactly what I needed! Talk about customer service!
Caribbean Queen of Patties - I have never had Jamaican Patties this good…ever! I brought home a dozen and a half of these beauties last night, and my friends each brought home a few dozen! The lady that runs this shop is so nice, and man, can she cook some serious Jamaican food!!! So yummy, so inexpensive…I think a box of 12 was about $10!!!
I’d love to hear what other wonderful little spots you’ve found for food, shopping or other money-saving places in the city of Toronto! Drop me a line, or leave a comment!
Hooray for Toronto!
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This beautiful shot was taken up in Flesherton, Ontario (my parents new neck of the woods) Woods indeed! It was captured out back in the woods behind their home while my brother and I were out searching for rocks for my garden pond. My brother is the family fungus expert, and would surely be able to tell you exactly what type this is..personally, to me, it’s a mushroom, nuff said.
I find such beauty in nature. Objects so simple, yet so lovely. Every picture tells a story, so I would like to share some of the many photos that I have taken and talk a little about each one, beginning today. I am adopting a more “regimented” style of blogging, with “Manic Muffin Monday’s” very new, but proving quite popular indeed, judging from the feedback I am receiving via e-mail! Keep it coming by the way!
So, I will make sure to post every Monday and Friday at the very least, and hopefully lots in between!I have so many recipes, many craft ideas and creativity to share!
The aim in sharing “Foto Fridays” is to show some of the wonderful pictures I have taken with a simple point and shoot camera. I am not into fancy photography by any means. I just enjoy taking pictures, and want to integrate this hobby into my blogging routine.
Image via Wikipedia
Cold season is upon us again (not only is the temperature outside dropping, but inside, the kids and I are going through Kleenex like it’s going out of style!) Memories of last year’s winter are enough to make me want to hibernate. Honestly, I think from October until April, one member of our family of four was sick at some point, and sometimes, all of us at once…now *that* was no fun.
So, I have been doing some research into natural cold and flu remedies that you can do for yourself at home. Some of these are no-brainers, but there are also a few I will list here that may be new to you, as they were to me!
Natural Cold and Flu Remedies
1. REST - If you’re like me and have children, this is easier said than done, but honestly, it will pay off if you try to get to bed earlier than usual, and nap when your kids are napping. Also, avoid physical activity, and just take it easy.
2. LIQUIDS - Yes, I hate to tell you this, but your Mother did know best. Get as much fluid into your body as you can, water and natural juices are best, along with natural clear liquids like decaffinated teas.
3. AVOID REFINED SUGARS - They impair the immune system, and make it more difficult for your body to heal itself. So until you feel better, try to cut back on the treats.
4. GARLIC AND LEMON - Perhaps not together, although there are recipes that call for both of these natural ingredients! Both have healing properties, and can promote wellness. Lemon tea with honey is a particularly soothing drink just before bedtime.
5. ECHINACEA - This natural herb is thought to stimulate the body’s iummune system by stimulating the white blood cells. There are many ways to take Echinacea, but capsule form is likely the most popular.
6. INCREASE IMMUNE SYSTEM BUILDING FOODS -Vitamin C rich foods top the list and are in many citrus fruits, and other fruits and vegetables. Zinc is another immune-booster, and is found in foods such as oysters, beef, dark turkey meat and beans. Beta Carotene is another great immune-booster. It is readily found in carrots, kale, spinach, and other leafy greens, squash and turnip.
7. GARGLE WITH SALT WATER - For a sore throat, warm salt water really is soothing.
8. GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT - Gargling with this mixed with water is also a great way to reduce the annoyance and discomfort of a sore throat.
9. VITAMIN C - One of the more controversial remedies, there are those that swear by this, and those that say the research is still inconclusive. I say, if it works for you, keep it up, it can’t hurt to get as much vitamin C as possible when you’re feeling unwell.
10. WASH YOUR HANDS - Wash them a lot, mainly to prevent contaminating others. That’s probably why you got sick in the first place. If you’re worried about dry hands from over-washing, just carry a little tube of cream in your purse while you are out and about, or place one next to the bathroom vanity at home.
STAY WELL, GET WELL, BE WELL!!!
Well, it’s “Manic Muffin Monday” again, and so here is the perfect muffin recipe for fall! If you’re already a fan of my Awesome Banana Muffin Recipe, you may notice that this is actually the same recipe which has been altered to use canned pumpkin instead of Bananas! Add is some spices and raisins, and it’s perfect with pumpkin! I made them just last evening, and already they are almost all gone. My son who is the *fussiest* eater ever, decided they were good enough to eat two!
The best thing about this recipe, is that it is extremely easy and versatile! You can use pretty much any pureed and cooked fruit (apples, pears, bananas, pumpkins, plums..etc.) to create your own perfect version. Play around with the spices, add in little extras such as nuts, raisins, seeds..etc.to customize them to your liking. I PROMISE you will not be disappointed!
Easy Pumpkin Muffins
1 14 oz. can pumpkin
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup raisins
Mix the pumpkin, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together, and stir well! Pour into greased muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees oven for approximately 20 minutes. Makes about 12 large muffins. Enjoy!
*These are much more flavourful the next day, and they freeze very nicely too!
Catherine Robertson
