My last October soirée …

and it's supper for new friends who've not visited until now. I did follow my own rules and asked if there were any dislikes … “a struggle to even pretend that we enjoyed a meal with liver, kidney, squid or octopus!” My reply … “rest easy - absolutely no chance!”

Homework done I decided on a “Posh Cottage”. A Posh Cottage is my version of a cottage pie made with slow cooked cubed steak in a thick gravy, topped with sliced cooked baked potatoes and garnished generously with grated mature cheddar cheese. All that is required is assembly of the elements and pop into a pre-heated oven so that you can enjoy a pre-supper drink with the guests.

It's Autumn and a perfect time to put your slow cooker to good use and to its fullest potential.

Steak Pie Filling

1kg/2.2lbs braising steak or stewing steak, cubed

glug of rapeseed or Canola oil

2 x Knorr beef stock pots

2 heaped tbsp tomato paste

You'll need a square pie dish/casserole 23x23x6 cms (9”x9x2½”).

The day before. Heating a glug of rapeseed oil in a large frying pan I sealed my steak in batches, seasoning each batch with salt and black pepper – don't overload the pan, you'll finish up with stewed grey steak – not a good look! Add beef stock pots and tomato paste to the residual juices, melt the pots and cook out the tomato paste then add 750ml of water, mix well and bring to the boil. Add the stock to the steak and slow cook for at least four hours.

Remove the steak from the slow cooker and place in the pie dish. If your gravy is too thin then bring it to the boil and gradually add a little slaked cornflour - thicken to taste. Cover the steak with gravy but don't drown it - cover, cool and fridge. Reserve any remaining gravy in a jug, cover, cool and fridge.

The day before pre-heat your oven 180fan/200c/Gas 6 and bake four large jacket potatoes spiked with a paring knife and wrapped in foil – check after an hour, they may need another 15 minutes – test by inserting a paring knife which should ease in and out of the potato. Set them aside to cool then bag and fridge until required.

Grate mature cheddar cheese, bag and fridge.

Assembly and a couple of photos next …