the fifo wife

Its steak for dinner tonight. Yum! So what would be better than a good mushroom sauce to go along as a side. A good sauce can transform any meal. Any.

Simple mushroom sauce

What you will need:

• 30g butter
• 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 200g mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 300ml pure cream

1. Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened.
2. Add wine. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cream. Bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper

Goes well with chicken also.

Can I tell you one of my pet hates? Its women who drive cars and don’t know how to change a tyre. A tyre. Or worse wont even attempt to change a tyre. Drives me nuts. So it was no surprise to me the other day when I walked out my front gate and standing around looking at one very flat tyre where four able bodied women. Now these were not elderly women far from. That I could understand I walked over and asked what the problem was although it was terribly obvious..a flat tyre. We will just call RACQ they said. Do you not have a spare I asked. I couldn’t quite believe that where calling road side assist for a flat tyre. No we have one but we will just call anyway.

Um I said in the time it takes you to call and wait for him you could have that changed. They all looked at me like I was speaking another tongue. NO we will wait. All right I said but you will be waiting awhile and I’m more than happy to change it for you. You can change a tyre they said in unison?And really rather surprised. Ah yes I can. I drive a car I can change a tyre. Ludicrous if you don’t know how to really. Slightly offended they popped the boot. The spare was well a little lets say slightly illegal but it would get them into town. I hoisted the tyre out and placed the jack under the axle (models may differ check your manual) removed the nuts, changed the tyre, replaced the nuts removed the jack. All rather simple really but you can go here for further details on how to change a tyre. However I recommend reading your cars manual or even better changing the tyre so you know how.

My father when I first got my drivers license and my first car insisted I knew how to check the oil, water, top the battery cells (using distilled water) change the wiper blades and change a tyre. He made me change each tyre seven times each. Why seven I don’t know. Perhaps I had back chatted him that day I’m not sure. But I got it done and never forgot. Now I check the water and oil every Sunday without fail.

Needless to say I can change a tyre. And I changed this one all awhile the builders across the road watched on. Bless there hearts they offered to loosen the nuts. No thanks I’m right I said. They will be tight he smirked. No that’s fine. I’m right. I was expecting them to insists to change the tyre. After all one of them walked over to have a look. Nothing. Not that I wanted them too but chivalry is apparently not in their vocabulary. The nuts where tight. Never mind. I went to my car and pulled out the 40cm pipe I have secured with the jack in my car. It acts as a lever when placed on the end of the tyre iron and makes removing them so much easier.

So tyre changed the women puttered off. I turned to the builders and thanked them for their efforts. I’m not sure if it was embarrassment but they fled. My neighbours husband who had been looking on the entire time from his veranda piped yeah knew you would know how to get it done. Ahh thanks Pete I waved. Your a legend he hollered to me bloody legend.

And yes yes I am.

xxDeb

My kids and I guess every kid loves food on a stick..who doesnt. Super easy and yum. Serve with flat bread or my kis favourite cous cous.

What you will need:

2 cloves garlic crushed

2cm piece ginger, finely grated

2 long red chillies, seeded, finely chopped (optional if using this with kidlets)

1 tbs ground cumin

2 tsp sweet paprika

½ tsp smoked paprika

1 lemon, zested, juiced 60ml

(¼ cup) olive oil

1kg chicken thigh fillets, trimmed, cut into 2cm pieces

How to:

1. To marinate chicken, place garlic, ginger, chillies, cumin, all paprika, lemon zest and juice, oil and chicken in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and toss well to combine.
2. Thread chicken evenly onto skewers and place on a large oven tray. Cover and stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to marinate.
3. Meanwhile, to make yoghurt sauce, place all ingredients in a bowl, season, then stir to combine. Makes 11/3 cups.
4. Preheat a lightly greased chargrill pan or barbecue over high heat. Cook skewers, turning frequently, for 8 minutes or until charred and cooked through.

Enjoy

xxDeb