It’s a Friday evening. I’m tired after a long day/week/life at work. The Finders Keepers market is happening and my friend Kat begs me to go with her.

If I have to socially interact with one more person I think I’ll faint. She promises that there will be good food.

I’m convinced.

I hop onto my bicycle and pedal as fast as my long South African legs will allow me (pretty damn fast I tell you.) I arrive slightly out of breath and am greeted by a feast for the eyes! Beautiful hand-made goods, live music and of course  – delicious food.

I was taken in immediately by the brightly coloured juice jars and the birthday cards of delicately drawn fruit. But the highlight of my evening was Farmer Jo and her muesli made in heaven. There’s something about granola with roasted nuts, coconut shavings and dried cranberries that makes me think I could live on this food alone! Sally and her husband Scott (the co-creators of Farmer Jo) happily allowed me to sample all of their different muesli’s while I chatted away to them about recipes and acting and this and that. I was rather pleased to discover that Scott was also an actor and was currently exploring his creativity through this family business venture.

Mmm I’m looking forward to breakfast already.

I hear a gentle ‘ggfflat’ at the front door. I’m in the kitchen making my breakfast smoothie – completely preoccupied with perfecting the quantities of kale and banana (It’s taken me half an hour already and I’m not finished and I’m running late and I’m in a bad mood.)

‘What on earth is Jack doing?’ (I tend to blame everything – good and bad – on my poor unsuspecting, housemate)

I stalk over to where the sound came from and there lying on the mat is a beautiful, blue shiny postcard. A hand written love letter from my friend Kirsty – sending news and bright-eyed inspiration from back home. The day just got better.

I accepted imperfection, poured a glass of my breakfast masterpiece, grabbed the card and ate every word with gratefulness.

Kale, banana and almond smoothie

1 large frozen banana

small handful almonds

3 large leaves of raw kale

1 TBS cocoa nibs

½ cup cooked quinoa

¼ raw rolled oats

1 TSP cocoa

3 TSP of honey

¼ cup milk or coconut milk

4 TBS yoghurt

This is my favourite breakfast in the world. Quinoa is an amazing source of protein, kale keeps you young, chocolate promotes fertility and love, and bananas are creamier and sweeter when frozen. This recipe makes enough for two, so blend all the ingredients in a food processor and pour one for your mother, lover or house mate and begin the day with power from the Greek gods.

lights, camera ACTION!! Episode 1 of Ceire’s Kitchen is here…

see the recipes page for cooking instructions.

Enjoy!

I arrive home with my little kale cup-cake and three big bunches of the frilly bush tied onto the back of my bike. I walk into the house and announce to my housemate Jack that I am going to cook us an exciting kale dinner! He is speechless. And a little afraid. He knows I love ‘getting creative in the kitchen’ but there was no way I’m going to be able to make that plant edible.
I laugh, “Anything is possible in Ceire’s Kitchen, Jack!”

Grab a frying pan,
pour in 3 table spoons of olive oil
add two cloves of chopped garlic.
Let that sizzle away for a minute or two and then add your kale (which has been washed and chopped) – kale is like spinach and wilts down once cooked.
Add a splash of water to get the flavors going
Season with salt and pepper
Drizzle over some balsamic vinegar.
Once cooked, squeeze in a quarter lemon
Finish it off with a sprinkle of finely chopped chilli

Not only is kale packed full of iron and anti-oxidants and other powerful life-prolonging hipster nutrients, but it’s also delicious raw – in a breakfast smoothie (recipe to come).

Jack ate more than I did in the end. He who laughs last, laughs longest.

They are my best. Not only are they noisy, chaotic, full of pushchairs and toddlers, wandering dogs sniffing, bargaining store holders, smells of freshly ground coffee and chargrilled steak, homemade ice-cream melting in the sun, floor stained with smashed strawberries and dropped free range farm eggs, wicker baskets filled with spinach, kale and other retro organic veggies… but markets always offer a bustling conglomeration of happy Saturday morning meetings, lots of delicious tasters (practically a second breakfast in my case) and always a story or two from the farmers. Farmers hold a wealth of knowledge and the years of toil ingrained in their stained, lined hands are… to behold. I like supporting them.

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I arrive at the Eveleigh Farmers Market, Sydney and I’m hungry. I walk through the stalls and I’m overwhelmed by choice. I feel like a kid at Christmas with all the plates of little bites of Brie cheese, double-chocolate brownie, roast macadamia nuts, humus and freash bread, cured salmon with crème fraiche, and some chardonnay… is it too early for wine? The wine-maker assures me it’s not. Ok then! I might as well try some the sauvignon blanc while I’m at it.

After tasting a gluten-free cupcake from Kimmy Choux (her stand was so beautifully decorated that I couldn’t resist one of her tasty treats), a scoop of delicious buttermilk ice-cream from the Dessertmakers, a big chunky piece of Angus steak (big Bill told me his favorite meal in the world was steak with mashed potatoes and gravy – some tastes never change) and then Jordan from Wormticklers gave me the most delicate little Kale plant! His parting advice, with a thick aussie accent was, “Give it a good water and you’ll be laughing!” As I was leaving I engaged a handsome young gentleman in a conversation about his family’s organic farm. I was genuinely interested in their produce and amazed at how they had been going since 1912… But either he wanted to get rid of me, or thought I was flirting with him as he gave me 3 big bunches of red kale! I was thrilled. With my basket overflowing, a mouth full of kumquats, I hopped onto my red bicycle and cycled home happy.

rainy day beetroot and blue cheese salad

I come from a family of salad eaters and book readers. It’s raining outside and to celebrate the weather, I grabbed my book and opened the fridge…

½ tin beetroot, cut in quarters

handful of dry roasted walnuts

big plate of washed rocket

match box size of crumbled blue cheese

2 medjool dates, pitted and thinly sliced

drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar

“Jamie Oliver” – probably the first words that will come out of a toddler’s mouth these days. He’s crazy, he’s cookin, he’s courageous and his food is simply smashin’.

As a self-employed actress, I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a part-time waitress on the side; the bills have gotta be paid somehow! And besides, working at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant has its perks – I’m basically an undercover food spy who’s highlight of the day is getting to taste the specials. Foodie heaven.

Jamie’s Italian is in Sydney city central and surrounded by skyscrapers, handsome business-suited gentlemen, photo-snapping tourists, smoke stained seagulls and then there’s young Ceire (usually slightly late for work) whizzing down the main street on her brilliant red bicycle, ringing her bell madly as she nearly takes out an unsuspecting pedestrian. From the moment I moved to Sydney over a year ago, I knew that this restaurant was where I wanted to work.

The food is rustic, proper old-school Italian, best quality prosciutto and bocconcini I have ever tasted (and I’ve tasted a lot) and every dish is finished off with a dollop of love. And a story or two.

I’ll try not swamp my blog with too many Jamie Oliver recipes but I have to admit that I’m a big fan and have since developed a passion for describing food with my hands, tasting everything I lay my eyes on and have begun talking with a slight cockney accent.

I love chefs. I love anyone who works in hospitality. It’s hard long hours – and a whiskey after a double shift has never tasted better!