Food/The Every Day

Corn beef fritters a dinner dollar stretcher

Posted on by debbie / 2 Comments

When I moved south to be with my husband, he lived with his Nan, in his childhood home. His Nan was an amazing woman. She was what the epitome of what the depression, war and hard living could produce; a strong woman. You made do or went without and yet there was something amazing on the table every night including a dessert of some sort. Always made from scratch and from what was in the fridge or cupboard.

I had never heard of corned beef fritters until I moved here and she made them one night with our leftover corn beef dinner from the night before. I won’t forget her throwing the ingredients together and beating them with such enthusiasm and love that she was making me one of my husband’s favourite dinners.

“Don’t turn your nose up till you try them!” she said to me almost every night as she plated up something I had never heard of. Flummery was another but I never liked that enough to get the recipe. Sorry, Nan.

Now I love them- so much. The crispier the better. If yours are a bit soggy your batter might be a tad runny add some flour. The batter consistency is key. Also, make sure you have enough oil and butter in the pan so they don’t stick. Also don’t flip them too early because they will fall apart; watch for lots of bubbles, not just a couple. They can be frozen and I always reheat them in the oven but again in the pan would be fine.

My time with her was only short but she was such a wonderful human that cooking these will forever remind me of her. I always ensure there are leftovers from our corn beef dinners just so I can make these. The secret I think is adding some of the white sauce and frying in lots of butter. Our kids love them with tomato sauce myself with a little chutney.

Corn Beef Fritters.

What you will need: 

  • 1 cup self-raising flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • leftover corned beef shredded
  • 1/2 cup of leftover vegetables chopped (or add some peas and corn)
  • oil for frying butter

**I will also often add the leftover white sauce for extra yum**

How to:

Mix the egg and milk together and mix in the flour and salt & pepper till it’s all mixed together with no lumps.
Let it stand if you have the time, twenty minutes is plenty.
Fold in the vegetables and the corned beef.
Heat some oil in a fry pan and fry tablespoonfuls of the batter until they start to bubble, then flip them and cook the other side. I like to have them golden brown.
Drain on paper towels and keep warm in the oven till they’re all done.
Serve with salad.
Fritters are the ultimate cost saving dinner. Have you tried them? 
Xx Deb
The Every Day

a fifo wife {fifo life: and there was five in the bed seven if you count the dogs}

Posted on by debbie / 0 Comment

I love my FIFO husband. I love my lifestyle. I love having him home. LOVE IT. But. There is always a little but isn’t there? He kinda throws the routine just a little. Just a smidgen and I’m mainly talking about the sleeping arrangements. You see when he is away most nights all four of us (the three boys and me) all end up in our king size bed. Its perfect. Everyone gets a good night sleep because I’m not waking every few hours for one reason or another and its happy days. Yet when he is home happy days its often not.

Last night. Last night and almost every night he has been home this past three weeks there is an additional one body and that’s okay. One additional body is okay. Last night there were seven in the bed if you count the dogs. Now we have a king size bed it sleeps us perfect when FIFO husband is away. All four of us sleep in there, comfortably and I’m okay with that. But. But when he is home his 6ft4 frame takes the majority of the bed and so add three kids to that and the dogs and seriously who am I kidding about getting a goodnight sleep.

So at 1.39am this morning I heard the first one creep in. That’s okay. 2.47am the next one blunders in…hmmm yep this is getting tricky..third one I swap ends of the bed. I’m at my husbands feet. Knowing full well I could cop a size 18 kick to the mouth at any moment but there is slightly more room down that end. More air. Less radiated heat. All this time while I’m cursing pulling up covers and throwing pillows my pint sized poodle is growling her head off that we have disturbed her in her custom made liar that was between my husband and me. I don’t sleep well. Who seriously would think that you would, seven in the bed.

Stupid part? I don’t get up and move beds. I don’t. I don’t know why don’t I just don’t. Instead I swap ends of the bed sleeping with double jeopardy that I’m going to cop a footful from my husband. It would easier to get up and walk to the room across the hall than the fuss that I create as I swap ends. Yet every morning I wonder to myself why didn’t I move beds. I would’ve got a good night sleep in the spare room. Its all made up. I like that room. It has a good comfy vibe to it. It has my parents smell (and that’s a good thing) too it. Yet I stay. Sleeping with double jeopardy contorting myself into such positions to gain some bed space that would make the olympic team proud all awhile saying sorry to my pint sized poodle (wtf) as she growls at the hand that feeds her.

Truth is I guess I like it. Just like I like everyone being on the one couch when we watch TV at night. The couch is no where big enough, we sit on each other its cramped and its uncomfortable but every night we do the same thing and every night we complain but I wouldn’t change that either becuase its not going to last forever.

Have a great Tuesday lovelies,

xxDeb

The Every Day

a fifo wife {fifo life: proper date night like before the kids and stuff}

Posted on by debbie / 2 Comments

Try this. Date night. Like a proper date night. Like it use to be, before the kids and ‘stuff’. Phone him. Ask him out (its the naughties after all) Tell him to meet you somewhere after work or after the sitters arrived. Now the tricky part but worth the effort. Try to get dressed somewhere else (and not in the same house or different room its just not the same). Not in each others presence. Away from the bustle of the kids. Away from rushing out the door. Meet him there at the restaurant or bar. Look for him across crowded room. Wait for him. Have him wait for you. Its the thrill all over again.

We did this a few weeks back. Well sort of. I had to meet FIFO husband interstate. We met at the airport before grabbing a rent a car and heading for a hotel…It was just me and him….it was just like it was yesterday..13 years ago. The excitement was amazing. The anticipation. The looking. The smiling. I cant wait to do it all again.

Have a great Saturday night lovelies,

xx Deb

The Every Day

a fifo life {confession number nine: FIFO husband and FIFO kids}

Posted on by debbie / 0 Comment

I have a confession another one I think that this is number nine. As a I sit here..I can here my FIFO husband yelling at the boys. The frustration and anger in his voice rising. They aren’t listening, they are decidedly ignoring him. They are not doing as they are told. I’m smiling. I’m pleased. I’m just that little bit happy that the he who has more patience than I care to know about cant always keep his cool even now. Im pleased that they can also frustrate the crap out of him too. I’m happy and am I going to go in and help rouse them from the shower, help get them dressed and ready for bed? No I’m staying here with you because I can and yes I’m still smiling.

Have a good night my lovelies,

xxDeb

The Every Day

a fifo wife {me: its a big day}

Posted on by debbie / 0 Comment

Okay so its a big day. Im a little stressed. Have lots happening. Lots of yelling. Lots of oh crap what the crap have I done. Will let you in on it when it all pans out..lets just say know one knew my little secrets…fairly soon everyone will know…Im as nervous and as scared as can be.

So to this Thursday my lovelies have a great day…

xx Deb