I love my job, but I also love the days that I have at home. Today was just perfect, got the school run done, cleaned the house from top to bottom ready for our weekend alone, did all the washing and then did what I love to do most, bake and cook. The sun shone through the house and Puccini blared away to keep me company.

I spent the day trying out a new dessert ready for Pudding Club next week, which I will put on my blog shortly and cooked an amazing dinner for Hubby to come home to. All went well and all in all I’m feeling pretty chuffed with myself. Hubby was late home I may add, so Olly & I ate alone and did think about eating the whole dessert before he got home, but hey, we are not that mean !!!

Buon appetito

Serves 4

2tbsp olive oil
Knob of butter
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely sliced
1/2 large swede (about 300g), peeled, quartered & thinly sliced
3 large potatoes (about 400g), peeled & thinly sliced
Large handful of fresh flatleaf parsley, finely chopped, plus extra for sprinkling, i didn’t have any, but it tasted just as good without
2tbsp plain flour
200ml chicken stock, hot
Drizzle of double cream
40g grated cheese
4 smoked gammon steaks

Preheat the oven to 180c/fan 160c/gas 4. Heat half the oil and the butter in a frying pan and gently fry the onion for 10 minutes until soft and starting to colour. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool.

Add the swede, potatoes, parsley and flour to the bowl, season with plenty of salt and pepper, then toss well. Transfer to a large ovenproof dish, pour over the stock and cream, stir, then top with the cheese.

Bake for 40-50 minutes until tender and bubbling. A few minutes before the end, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and fry the gammon steaks for 2 – 3 minutes on each side until golden. Serve with the bake, sprinkled with chopped parsley.