Butter Cupcakes!

This may be the simplest recipe for cake ever. Like, I'm not even kidding. If I can do it, anyone can!

Ingredients:
- 200g butter
- 200g sugar
- 200g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 6 eggs

Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 100 degrees Celsius. Using an mixer, add the butter and sugar together and mix till well blended on a medium speed.
2. Reducing to a minimum speed, add 6 eggs, then add the flour and baking powder.
3. Increase back to a minimum speed and beat until all ingredients are well mixed and mixture becomes smooth.
4. Place mixture into cupcake shaped pans and place into oven. Increase temperature to 180 degrees Celsius. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a knife comes out cleanly through the cupcake.
5. Remove from pan and allow to cool.

This can act as a great basic recipe that you can adjust by adding dried fruit, nuts or things like that! If you're feeling devilish, you can also whip up some icing!

Smoked Salmon with Salsa - Best Lunch Ever!

I love a satisfying lunch, and smoked salmon is one of my favourites! Add a chunky slice of bread (I like to grill it and add a smudge of butter) then make a refreshing salsa. For the salsa, dice up tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, a bit of lettuce and finish it off with a thousand island dressing. 

Healthy, fresh, and most importantly, TASTY!!

Vietnamese Spring Rolls! All together now: YUM!

Vietnamese cuisine is so rich and healthy! I've had the pleasure to travel in Vietnam several times and the amount of veggies I ate was crazy! But hey, no one is complaining! A true favourite of a lot of people are the classic spring rolls. There are many many variations and this is another one. This version has a white carrot and pork filling (of course I'm summarising) while the pastry used can only be bought in Vietnam! So look and drool!

Classic Chinese Char Siew Rice!

There's nothing like really good char siew from your local chinese restaurant. But it's even better when you make it yourself!

To make the marinade for the pork shoulder, add:
- salt and sugar (a little bit of each)
- Chicken stock powder (one teaspoon is plentiful)
- Hoisin sauce
- Rose wine (chinese)
- Sesame oil

Let the pork bathe in this goodness over night or till you're ready to have it!

Roast for about 20min each side (total of 40min) and it's ready to serve with rice! Yum!

Barbecued Beef Skewers!

Having a barby this weekend? As us Australians say. Well nothing gets the crowd going more than these wicked beef skewers! 

Ingredients:

- Rump steak cubed (though you could do this for any meat, such as lamb or chicken). You can also choose to marinate it first or leave it as it is and season it later with salt and pepper.

- Pineapple cubed

- Capsicums (the red and green will make the skewers look de-li-cious!)

- Onions

- Sun-dried tomatoes

It is as easy as sticking them in random order through skewers and onto the barby it goes! You can also grill them in the oven as well! Make sure you don't overcook them!

Happy BBQ-ing!

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup!

You're wondering why the broth looks so ridiculously yellow - well that's from the corn-fed chicken! By cooking the chicken in boiling water, you create this amazing broth (with a bit of seasoning of course). Add noodles (I've used the thicker ones here - available at any good chinese grocery store) and the chicken that's cooked in the water (make sure you keep an eye on it and you don't overcook it!). Finish it off with spring onions, coriander and deep fried onions.

Classic chinese dish which you will love!

DIY Hot Chips!

Ok, this is slightly unhealthy if eaten regularly, but making your own hot chips is definitely better than buying frozen bags of them!

Use fresh potatoes! Cut them into wedges and either:
1. Deep fry them (the unhealthy option) but you'll get an amazing crispy outer layer!
2. Bake them, but add a drizzle of olive oil over the top to get them crispy!

Ad the end, season with chicken salt (or just normal salt is fine as well) and there you have it! Easier and better than frozen ones! Go try them out!

Spring Onion Pancakes!

Unlike the flat pancakes you see at many restaurants, this one has a slight twist to it, but makes it even tastier!

After the dough is prepared (you can use a simple dough recipe similar to making pizza dough), roll and flatten it into a shape of a circle, the cut into the middle. Place the spring onions (which should be mixed with a little bit of salt and olive oil) into the dough and mould it in slightly.

Fry until the insides are cooked! Try it out!

Californian Breakfast Burrito!

When I was in America at the beginning of the year, I fell in love with the breakfast burrito I had in San Diego one morning, and I was determined to recreate it at home. All I can say is that I hope you're hungry!

What you'll need:
- Bacon (I tend to fry the bacon rather than bake it in a oven)
- Scrambled Eggs
- Fried hashbrowns/potatoes (I boil and then fry in a pan with a good amount of oil)
- Wraps
- Avocado

Roll it up and there you have it! Preparation can be a bit of a hassle so grab a friend to help you cook the ingredients!

Gourmet Deli Sandwich DIY!

Our lifestyles are frantic and stressful, and if you're like me, sometimes we forget to eat a bit healthier, so this recipe is all about having a super tasty lunch while staying nice and healthy. Keep reading for the recipe!

What you need:
- Bread (a loaf would be perfect so you can cut 2cm thick slices)
- Avocado
- Salami
- Roast pork
- Lettuce

How to do it:
1. Toast bread till there's a nice crust (or if the bread is fresh, you may skip this step)
2. Spread avocado onto both slices of bread.
3. Start building your sandwich by adding 2 slices of salami, a slice of pork and lettuce then the final slice of bread.

Feeling naughty? Fry off the roast pork and/or salami so it heats up the meat and releases those delicious juices before building your sandwich!

Stick a steak knife through it to get it together and you're done! This is sure to satisfy your tummy, tastebuds and eyes!

Sticky Rice Dumplings - 糉!

This is an all time favourite amongst the Chinese. I grew up eating this 2 ways, we would either pan fry it while coating it with a couple eggs beat up - like an omelette (after steaming it) or just eat it steamed. Then, Dad would have it with soy sauce while mum would have it with sugar. I had it both ways!

They're tricky to wrap, so I'd suggest hands on learning rather than reading it off a blog! The typical ingredients include pork, chestnuts, beans, rice, and the yolk of salted eggs (which to make is another story!) to name a few.

There are also dessert ones, which tend to be smaller in size and of course, the filling is totally different.
If you see them around, go try one!

Vietnamese Pancakes - Bánh Xèo!

I seem to be posting quite a bit on Vietnamese food recently but it's quite the dominant cuisine in the household - today, its bánh xèo! A dish that must be done right for it to taste amazing. 

What makes it so good?
- The crispiness of the batter once fried makes it that enjoyable to eat.
- the mixture: as with the Vietnamese cuisine, plenty of herbs and veggies to keep it healthy! But also, to have a bit of meat (tends to be pork) to give that satisfaction at the end of a meal.
- Fish sauce! Make sure you master how to make a really good one!


If you see this on the menu at a restaurant, make sure you try it! You will be pleasantly surprised!

Vietnamese (Cold) Noodles - Bánh Cuốn!

Vietnamese food is known to be healthy as there's always plenty of herbs! These long thick noodles may be bought at a good vietnamese (possibly chinese) grocery store, and they're eaten with lots of herbs and veggies such as cucumber, basil, coriander and bean sprouts. Add fish sauce with a bit of chilli and a vietnamese meat called Chả lụa.

Simple, easy, bánh cuôn!

Vietnamese Duck Salad - Goi Vit!

It's fresh, its tasty and something that you'll love! By cooking the duck in a broth, shred its meat off the bones and mix in with shredded cabbage, herbs, peanuts and fish sauce (dilute with water, add lemon juice and sugar).

Hand Made Noodles!

Something that only my mum could pull off. It just tastes so much more satisfying than you think! Once done, boil the noodles before doing a simple stir fry.

Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Soup - Canh Chua!

Something that's healthy and will keep you coming back for more! Traditionally, fish or prawns are used in this dish - plus a whole lot of pineapple chunks, tomatoes, chinese celery, coriander and bean sprouts!

P.S. Add rice to your bowl of soup - delish!

Tasty + Healthy = Attractive food!

Walnut Cupcakes with Icing!

Cupcakes can sometimes be boring - so make it interesting again by adding dried fruits/nuts! A little bit of icing to top it off and you've got a winner of a dessert!

Devilish Chocolate Tart - Chocolate at its' best.

To whoever accidentally combined pastry with a chocolate filling and threw some strawberries on top, take a bow, because you are truly a genius! 

Chinese Sausage Buns!

Another post about food that just looks good. Cooked by Ann, these buns taste even better than it looks!

PIZZA!

Everything homemade just tastes better. So without a doubt, homemade pizza is crazy good! Not only can you experiment with your own ingredients, it's like you're given a licence to go wild!

The dough recipe I use is off taste.com and it works a charm. The more you do it, the better your kneading will become.

For the topping, I have gone with the classic ham and pineapple with a dash of mayonnaise. Mum likes to add her artichokes while Dad prefers his green olives. Oh, and don't forget the cheese!!

TIP! Add some fresh avocado on top before serving - the creaminess just tops it off!

By the end of the meal, everyone will be happy!

Chinese Pastry Wrapped Meatballs!

It's about that crispy pastry (like shortcrust pastry) that wraps the meatballs, which are made of pork mine, pinch of sugar, salt, pepper, sesame oil and bits of herbs (parsley or chives work really well). Just before baking them, sprinkle over some sesame seeds as a final touch.

Chinese food is just brilliant, right?

Tomato and Chorizo Salad!

This is a recipe I learnt from Jamie Oliver (good old YouTube) and it works like a charm! But I made a few slight changes to suit what I had at home that day.

What to do with the ingredients:
- Tomatoes (chop them up roughly, as Jamie says!)
- Chorizo sausages. Add olive oil in a pan and slice the chorizo up and fry them till golden and crispy.
- When you take out the chorizos (and put them with the tomatoes), turn off the stove and add some chopped garlic into the oil, which will form your dressing. Add some balsamic vinegar (it will sizzle) to the pan and then pour the dressing on top of the salad.
- Add a few leaves of torn up basil for that nice touch.

An easy salad that will please your tastebuds and your eyes! :)

Kilpatrick Oysters: Yum!

As if fresh oysters aren't good enough, our version of Kilpatrick oysters are gonna knock your socks off! Scroll down to see how to make them!!

 Ingredients for topping:
- Bacon
- Cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Onions
- Spring shallots
- Grated garlic gloves
- White wine
- Butter
- Salt and pepper

Fry off onions and garlic with the butter (in a pan), then add bacon, shallots and white wine. Season with salt and pepper.

Add topping on oysters then sprinkle with grated cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake in oven (preheat when you start cooking at 150 degrees Celsius) for 10min at 200 degrees Celsius.

So have a go!

Smoked Salmon Canapé - Fancy...

Looking to make something that looks and tastes good? Do you love smoked salmon? Well then you've come to the right place!

What do I need?
- Smoked salmon
- Onion
- Lettuce
- Mayonnaise
- Bread (preferably french stick)

Assemble and you're good to go!

Leftover Spaghetti Bolognese? No worries!!

Ever had that leftover pasta/spaghetti from last night's dinner hanging around in the fridge that no one really wants to eat but someone should cause you don't want to waste food? So, the best thing to do is to re-invent it!

PASTA BAKE! Tell me more!

It's actually as easy as placing all that leftover pasta into a dish and placing plenty of good old cheese on top so you get that cheesy (or if you want a crust, leave it in the oven a bit longer!) topping that makes everyone go crazy! Bake it in an oven for 10-20 min (I'd suggest reheating the pasta first in the microwave) and serve hot! Make a fresh salad as a side and you're ready to go! Perfect for lunch and dinner!

So don't waste that food! Re-invent it!

Butter Garlic Prawns - Mmmm!

It's true - butter just makes everything taste THAT much better! And today's dish is by Dad!

TIPS:
Fresh seafood is key - you don't want your prawns to taste 'mushy', if you know what I mean.
Add plenty of butter, so that each prawn is coated with some tasty goodness!
Crush fresh garlic gloves to add that flavour.
Season with a bit of salt, sugar and pepper.

Serve with salad or bread on the side. This could be an entree or main, you can always add some pasta (throw cooked pasta into the pan after taking out prawns so it's coated with that amazing flavour!).

Happy cooking!

Chocolate Stack - Can it get any better?!

Chocolate stacks, or as Mum likes to call it, 'Chocolate sausages'. A tasty and indulging treat for all ages!

How to make it:
It's as simple as choosing a type of chocolate you enjoy (e.g. we prefer dark chocolate) and melting it in a bowl over saucepan filled with hot water. As the chocolate melts, add some milk and butter (or cream if you're feeling extra naughty). When it's all combined, add your choice of dried fruit and nuts (we've added coconut shredded, almonds, dates, triple sec - for the adults!, orange zest, sultanas and cranberries) and wrap it in glad (cling) wrap. We've wrapped it so it looks like a sausage, but have some fun with it!

Pan-seared Scallops!

These tasty scallops are best seared, seasoned and served with a buttery creamy sauce - add some salad with a simple balsamic vinegar dressing and you're ready to go!

Thai Beef Salad With Coconut Cream!

Ever thought of combining sliced beef with salad, and coconut cream? Yes that's right. A Thai creation by Ann, and she's hit the jackpot on this one.

How do you make it?

Cook a steak and slice it into strips. Then mix it into the salad. Finally, add some coconut cream and fish sauce (add some sugar, lemon and water to the fish sauce first) and that's it! A tasty and easy dinner!

Waffles!

Enough said. Who doesn't like golden crusted waffles?

TIPS:
Add some shredded coconut and coconut milk to change it up!
Waffles looking a bit plain? Try adding a few drops of Pandan essence/extract to take your waffles to the next level!

Crispy Pork Crackling - Easiest and tastiest way to do it!!

Ever been to that Chinese restaurant that does amazing pork crackling? Well, here's your chance to do it yourself! And it's so easy that even you'll laugh!

With your piece of pork belly, grab a knife and stab the pork. Go nuts (well, not too crazy) and stab the skin and back and sides of the pork.
Then give the pork a nice massage with plenty of salt (around 2 tablespoons give or take - use your own judgement).

And that's it! You probably don't believe me right now but go try it for yourself! Place the pork (skin down first) into the oven, about 180 degrees Celsius, for roughly 40min, and then flip the pork around to the skin for another 30-40min. Keep an eye on it!

Now go try it, I promise you'll like it!

Abalone - Simple is best!

The best way to cook abalone is to steam it. Keep it simple! Shred up some shallots and have a good quality soy sauce to garnish with at the end. Too easy!

Sunday Brunch - Deli Delight!

Nothing's better than having a fantastic Sunday brunch with some freshly shuck oysters, salami and prosciutto! Mix a bit of olive oil with balsamic vinegar and you've got yourself an amazing dressing for the bread! You really can't go wrong! 

Hitting it off with Sushi!

I've always taken photos of food, as my mother cooks crazy awesome things. But I think it's time to share it with others. I'll also share any photos of food from restaurants that deserve praise as well! So, let's start off with last night! And maybe I'll slowly start posting photos of past food as well :) #nofilters

Classic sushi night!