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!