The perfect afternoon tea.

Banana Bread with Cranberries and Sultanas.

Whilst I was at work the other day, My gorgeous girlfriend baked again for me. This time I came home to a lovely loaf of banana bread with cranberries and sultanas.

Ingredients:
1 2/3 cup plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
optional: dried cranberries and sultanas

How to create:
- Oven to 160 degrees
- Sift the flour and baking powder, then add sugars and cinnamon, combine
- Add eggs, vanilla and bananas to the flour mix, stir well, add dried fruit here (if you want it)
- Pour into greased loaf tin and bake for 40-50 mins or until cooked
- Cool in pan for 10 mins, then cool on wire rack 


This is delicious served warm (you can re-heat a slice for 10 seconds in the microwave) and spread with butter and a drizzle of honey. 
Enjoy with a nice cup of warm tea.

Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Biscuits

With winter just around the corner, I couldn't think of anything more fitting than spending the afternoon baking. I have been meaning to try this recipe for a while and I was very pleased with the result. They were such a hit that after only baking them yesterday, there is 1 left. I made sure I shared them around otherwise I would have eaten them all myself. 

Coca-Cola Cupcakes with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting

On the weekend whilst I was at work, Nat was home baking a delicious treat for afternoon tea. And once again she made a wonderful rendition of a recipe from Sprinkle Bakes.

The cupcakes were delicious and I almost made myself sick eating the left over icing on it's own. They may sound bizarre but you can hardly taste the coke and it made the cupcake batter fluffy and well, simply amazing.

Breakfast on the beach

On a beautiful sunny day on the Eyre Peninsula, what could possibly top it off? Perhaps taking a boat ride out to the National Park in Coffin Bay and pulling up at a secluded beach and having a BBQ breakfast. Seriously, what could be better?

Filmer Family (Master Chef) Cook Off

For some wonderful reason, my entire family loves to cook and on those rare occasions that we are all together there is usually one day where we participate in our own (less dramatic version) of Master Chef. There is far less crying about things not working and more drinking and laughter that fills the kitchen whilst everyone stirs, blends, crushes and creates their own delicious food. We had a bit of a cook off over Easter- there were no prizes at the end, just full, satisfied tummies! Here is a sneak peak into that joyous day.

Mum made grilled cherry tomatoes with basil and bocconcini.

Katty made goats cheese and caramelised onion tarts.

My pork and fennel meatballs in napoli sauce with fresh basil.

Dad's spiced lamb cutlets with harissa hommous and peanuts

Tuna rolled in spices and sesame seeds with lemon

Nat's amazing lemon curd nutties with raspberry coulis

Kat's chocolate mouse cups with raspberry coulis

Luke's cinnamon and sugar pastry swirls

Ricotta Hot Cakes

Thanks to some very amazing people (you know who you are) I have been  given the opportunity to work in the kitchen at Tonik Bar (in Kensington). I am starting out as the Saturday breakfast chef but will also be learning the dinner menu. 

My first official weekend in the kitchen was last weekend and I must admit it was pretty full on but it was definitely one of the most rewarding things I have done in a long time. With the orders flowing in I slowly worked out how to operate a commercial kitchen. 

At the end of the shift there was still a whole batch of our ricotta hot cake mix left over so Bryan (the head chef) and I took it home so it wouldn't go to waste. So below is my home version of the dish, served with berry compote, fresh bananas, mint and maple syrup. I made this for breakfast this week as well and topped it with natural yoghurt! It was delicious.

I am not going to share the recipe for these bad boys because you should come down to Tonik Bar and try it for real!!!   

Hot Cross Buns

Nat and I were lucky enough to be in Coffin Bay (SA) for Easter with my family, there was lots of cooking, eating and relaxing and I really wish we were back there now. We were lucky to have Kat, my brothers girlfriend, whip up a batch of hot cross buns. I have never had homemade ones before but I must admit I was mighty impressed and we hoovered the lot!! Great work Kat!!! 

I am sorry to disappoint, I don't have a recipe for these as it was a bread maker recipe and I don't own the book. Maybe I will find one between now and next Easter!! 

Mum's Green Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, cut into 2cm pieces
1 handful green beans, cut into 3cm pieces
1/2 eggplant, cut into 2cm cubes
Basmati rice, as much as required
1-2 tbsp green curry paste (I like it spicy so I go for about 2)
2x 165ml cans of coconut milk (I find these make it creamier)
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 a brown onion, finely diced
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp grated palm sugar
1/2 lime, juiced
coriander, roughly torn
Optional: red chilli, finely chopped

Method:
- Cook rice
- Heat oil, add onion then garlic and fry off
- Add the curry paste and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant
- Add the chicken and cook until brown and pretty much cooked through
- Add the coconut milk and stir, then add the fish sauce and palm sugar
- Taste it to make sure the flavours are balanced, add lime juice here if you want 
- Add beans and eggplant and cook for a few minutes to take off the crunch
- Serve on a bed of rice with fresh coriander and red chilli 


Enjoy. This is super easy and it tastes amazing.