Catherine's Family Kitchen

Catherine’s Family Kitchen begins with Sunday Lunch. With the hectic lives everyone leads, Sunday is in danger of becoming just another work day. But the Fulvio family make an effort to sit down, relax and break bread together. Catherine has also invited her sister Eithne and her family round and she starts off with Thai style fish cakes with Spicy Sesame dipping sauce followed by Roast Beef – but this is Oriental style served with roasted sweet potatoes and peppers and tasty Stir fried Green Beans. And it’s all finished off with her tasty thyme infused Raspberry and Chocolate Meringue Tower.

Catherine gets a call from her best friend Marina who is holidaying in Wicklow with her young family. She’s going to drop in for dinner so Catherine needs to make an impromptu meal for her surprise guests. She heads out to Ballyknocken’s vegetable garden to get inspiration for her menu and decides to cook a delicious Cheesey Courgette Bake to accompany the freshest Haddock and Tomato Parcels. For dessert it’s her really quick Lemon Mousse with Strawberry Swirls. And she decides to push the boat out and create a fabulous Pear Royale to greet her guests after their long drive.

Catherine’s children Charlotte and Rowan are spending time with their granddad so she seizes the opportunity and decides to head off for a romantic picnic with her husband Claudio. They don’t have far to travel – the beautiful Mount Usher Gardens are just a short drive away. She doesn’t want to miss the sunshine so it’s straight into the kitchen to prepare her tasty Broccoli, Leek and Bacon Tortilla accompanied by Pesto PinWheels, a delicious all in one baked sandwich. Her portable creamy nectarine and blackberry pots will be perfect for dessert and she also creates an unusual warm herb wine to wash it all down.

Catherine grew up in Ballyknocken with all her cousins living close by so they get to spend a lot of time together. It’s her cousin Cleo’s birthday and she decides to throw her a dinner party as a present. It’s also an opportunity for her to experiment with new dishes and have a good catch up. So she’s serving her tasty Roasted Yellow Pepper and Tomato soup for a colourful starter. For her main course it’s quick and easy Mustard and Herb Lamb Chops accompanied by her creamy Roasted Root Vegetable Gratin. And Catherine is hoping Cleo will really enjoy her sumptuous Orange Mocha Crème Brulee.

Catherine decides to take advantage of the rare fine weather and host a Ballyknocken barbecue. It’s also an opportunity to say thanks to some of the great people who help with her cookery school and B&B. She gets some Indian inspiration with her tandoori lamb burgers and for the non-meat eaters there’s lime prawns and portobello mushroom burgers. There’s a host of salads on offer including her easy coleslaw and to finish off, Catherine serves up some unusual but delicious barbecued curried pineapple.

Catherine’s good friend Georgina has a young baby and runs a busy horse yard. So Catherine decides to surprise her with some food for her freezer. Catherine remembers what it was like having two young kids and how welcome friends’ gifts of food were when they arrived. So she makes sure every recipe is freezer friendly First up is Massman Chicken Curry – the new Thai red Curry! Then it’s Red Lentil, Red Pepper and Coconut Milk Soup. A Peach, Strawberry and Basil Crumble provides an exotic desert and Chilli Corn Bread can be cut up and portioned out for lunch time emergencies.

Catherine’s daughter Charlotte is celebrating her ninth birthday and Catherine throws a party with a difference. Catherine decides to dispense with the usual cocktail sausages and serves up Sticky Chicken instead. It’s Apple Berry Jelly for desert and Charlotte’s friends thoroughly enjoy some Pink Lemonade. And finally, there’s a delicious treat for the parents when she serves up Vietnamese Beef Salad.

Catherine gets the opportunity of a lifetime and is invited to cook for the American Senate in Washington DC. She decides to bring her whole family along so it’s time to dust off the passports and come up with some inspiring Irish recipes. Beetroot Cured Salmon makes a colourful starter while she knows Beef and Guinness Stew will really hit the spot and Mini Chocolate Pots provide a rich but delicious desert. But the American Houses of Congress shut down over a wrangle with national debt. Will Catherine get an opportunity to show-case the best of Irish food?