Chunky Shepherd's Pie

1tbsp olive oil
1tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 white onions, chopped
900g minced lamb
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 small tin tomato paste
1 large tin beef / oxtail soup
2 tbsp hot sauce
Salt & pepper
6 potatoes, peeled
2 tbsp butter
125ml milk
3 tbsp cream cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Heat oil and butter in a large pot.
Add garlic, onions, mince, celery, carrots and cook until browned well about 10 min
Add tomato paste, soup, hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste.  Not too much salt.
Simmer for 10 min.
Remove from stove and place mince in an oven proof dish and allow to cool.
Boil potatoes in salt water until soft.
Season with salt and pepper, add butter, milk, cream cheese and mash
Sprinkle grated cheese on mince and cover with mash.
Brush top with a little milk and cook uncovered  for 20 min at 200'C until brown.

Comfort food and family together just works don't you think?

Chilli Buffalo Wings with a Chèvre Dipping Sauce

It is 27 degrees, clear skies and I'm cleaning my golf clubs from 2 yrs storage in prep for a round at the driving range tomorrow. The BBQ is lit and check out what I am grilling...

CHILLI BUFFALO WINGS WITH A CHÈVRE DIPPING SAUCE
1kg chicken wings (cut last little winglet off  and discard as they tend to burn)
1 bottle beer
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp paprika
1tbsp chilli powder
1tsp coriander, freshly crushed
2tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp chilli sauce
1 tbsp butter, melted

Get the BBQ going and burn coals down to a hot / moderate heat.
Marinade chicken in beer for a hour or so and then drain.
Mix salt, pepper, paprika, chilli powder and coriander in a bowl and add drained chicken.
Add olive oil and mix with your hands to lock in spice.
Grill wings until tender.
Remove from grill, dowse with chilli sauce and melted butter and mix with your hands.

Chèvre dipping sauce:
Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp chopped spring onions, salt & pepper, 1 tbsp vinegar.  Crumble 60g chèvre cheese (aka goats cheese) and mix well to remove all lumps.  Serve on the side with your wings.

Today's reason to celebrate a weekend!