Main: Chicken medallions with mushroom thyme sauce
From the Womens Weekly Dinner Party Cookbook (No.3) Pg. 64

Dessert:  Coconut mousse with golden fruit salad
From the Womens Weekly Dinner Party Cookbook (no.3) Pg. 66

Hello everyone!

I hope you enjoyed trying last week’s menu and sharing it with family and friends.

This week I am back with the good old Womens Weekly Dinner Party Cookbooks.  However, it has been brought to my attention that whilst I find these no fail, straight forward recipes, there are a number of people who have had some difficulty with the “assumed knowledge” so I am going to try to cover any areas where I think more explanation is necessary.  I really want this blog to be easy and a non-intimidating journey through some yummy food sharing moments.

Now, the chicken was a great one for the family this week because the breasts were on special at Woolies.  I like to pick small ones otherwise they are too leathery because if they’re very large, you can bet they’ve come from some old boiler.  I will mention here though that you need breasts that still have the tenderloin attached.  A lot of this can be prepared beforehand and just finished off in the oven so that’s another bonus.  I minced the tenderloins and once I had fried up the shallots, garlic, bacon, mushrooms and pepper (the smell was to die for) I stuffed the fillets as instructed, browned them and then placed them in the fridge for baking later.  Yes, I was concerned that this would make them dry but it didn’t.  The gang told me that they tasted a lot like a pizza!

In the book it suggested serving these with a Buttery Wine Risotto and I did.  Wow! This went so well with the chicken that I will definitely be doing it again.  This can be prepared whilst the chicken is in the oven because you already have the sauce for the chicken prepared so you have the time to stand and stir the risotto.  In the recipe it tells you to add stock slowly but it doesn’t tell you to heat the stock first and I think that is essential for a good risotto so please give the stock a zap in the microwave for a minute or two.  I then just microwaved beans and zucchini which was simple and went really well with everything. The MAV left his risotto which was pounced on by others at the table.  I mean who doesn’t like rice – I ask you!!!!????  Only the MAV.

This last week I have minded my little grandsons and I was very tired so this recipe was great for me as the prep was not all last minute.  This is also a wonderful recipe for you young ones to make on your stay at home Saturday night.  You will impress your friends with it for sure because it looks so good – as if you have spent hours in the kitchen.  What did it get?……….10/10

The dessert was another story in terms of ease but I think I have simplified it for you.  Firstly it was great being able to make the little mousse the day before, however, please be sure to use simple and evenly shaped containers and oil them well.  Mine did not turn out nicely onto the plate.  Two ingredients you may not happen to have in the cupboard are coconut essence and Malibu (alcohol).  I don’t feel you could substitute anything for the essence but with the Malibu you could probably use another type of suitable liquor, you just won’t get the full coconut flavour.  The meringue circles resembled  dog turds (please see picture) and trying to turn the mousse out onto them turned into a big mess on my first one.  SO – I had a brain wave and broke up the remaining meringue and served it scattered around the mousse along with the little fruit salad pieces.  Topped with toasted coconut it was very light and summery – or springy – or anytimey really.  And here comes the BUT – for each mousse I was suppose to make a little chocolate palm tree – oh puleaaaase!  No way I am going to fiddle with that but there may be some of you out there who want to try it and I would love to know how easy they are to do.  These received an average score of 7.5/10.

Okay so I am already working on what to cook for next week.  What recipes have you tried so far from this blog?  I would love to know, why not shoot me an email at hello@wendyswinewednesday.com.

Remember when next you have family or friends around for a meal – “Laughter is brightest in the place where food is” (old Irish proverb)

From my table to yours with love…