The moral of this missive ...

… speed was essential here – I hadn't got the time before I went away to do anything la-di-da or fancy and I now realise the benefits – it's a win, win and oh a win.

Other than the slow cooking of the braising steak there's no work involved - the mash and turning the stock into a gravy beyond all gravies is easy, peasy.

In dividing the steak and stock in two if I haven't heard by the time I return home what the arrangements are I'll just pull out one steak and one stock for H's supper.

Then of course it might be a “sarnie situation”. H is despatched to the butchers to corner the bacon market.

We've now got it all covered. I hope you're keeping track here.

Safe journey home from Whizzer's – there's nothing quite like a mission!

Still no word about arrangements so as already mentioned I pulled out steak and stock. Lunchtime – with apologies for lateness it's an overnight stay if that's okay – of course it is. Break neck speed to the freezer retrieving remaining steak and stock.

Just the mashed potatoes and reduce the stock for gravy to do later. It's a good job I pulled out a frozen cheese sauce to go with a beautiful cauliflower – just in case. Note to self, steam the cauliflower whole, set the timer for 20 minutes then lift out and leave on several layers of of kitchen roll to enable it to drain completely.

… and breathe.

Here's the dish :

Served with cauliflower cheese and petit pois.

Verdict … “beautiful”.

Was it worth the fifteen minutes I spent prepping the braising steak for the slow cooker … you betcha!

P.s. You might want to offer your guests a spoon too, to scoop up the leftover gravy. In the North we have a less refined custom but much more satisfying – use small pieces of crusty bread to dip and mop up the remains.

Have you ever …

waited ages for a bus or a train and then three come along all at once?

It's the same in our house with visitors – there must be something in the air!

I'm off to visit my Sister for a few days – after all we girls deserve a spot of retail therapy and bargain hunting.

Before I set off we do our usual “catch up, is everyone ok” call to the big kids who remind us they are away shortly, in Sussex on a mini break. They ask if they can break their return journey home and pop in to see us. Their journey home is not just around the corner – 5 hours – 270 miles approximately and that's on a good day with the wind in the right direction! That's code for food too – I say this with love since there is no greater pleasure for me than to cook for people who appreciate it and they do.

Erm, then I realise I can't be in two places at once – in particular cooking at home for lunch on Saturday or it may be an evening meal and an overnight stay. Crikey, sort this one out.

A brainwave … slow cook braising steak, freeze the steak and the stock. Boom!

I make sure I add Maris Piper potatoes to the shopping list – mashed potatoes is another good idea.

Done and done.

Fast forward – I'm now with my Sister and bringing her up to speed. I'm trying to explain how I'm going to serve the dish – keep it simple - in a large bowl so that it's easy to control. A generous portion of mashed potato and an even more generous ladle of steak and gravy - “Oh, says Whizzer (my nickname for my Sister) it sounds like an upside down shepherd's pie.”

Genius!