Sunnyside Sunday Lunch

Since moving into our new place we were yet to cook a Sunday roast so took the opportunity to do the full works when we had friends visiting.

We went for beef cooked medium rare, rubbed with garlic and herbs - sage, rosemary and thyme. Then served with carrots, broccoli, yorkshires (cheated by using Aunt Bessie's but still good), amazing roast potatoes made by the boyfriend and some delicious cauliflower cheese by me.

The cauliflower cheese was the most complicated I have made but well worth the extra effort and silly amount of pans needed. It was by James Martin and found on UKTV good food website.

Cauliflower Cheese

Ingredients:

For the cauliflower

• 1 large cauliflower, divided into florets

• 3 tbsp butter

For the cheese sauce

• 1 cloves

• 1 bay leaves

• 1 small onion

• 600 ml milk

• 25 g butter

• 25 g plain flour

• 200 ml single cream

• 1 tsp English mustard

• 250 g mature cheddar cheese

• 1 pinches black pepper

• 1 pinches nutmeg, freshly grated

Method:

1. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and lightly cook the cauliflower florets. Drain.

2. To make the sauce, first stud the clove through the bay leaf and into the onion and place in a saucepan with the milk. Warm the milk slowly, this will allow the flavours to infuse into the milk.

3. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter, and stir in the flour. Cook over a low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the simmering milk, a ladle at a time, continuing to stir, until the mixture is thick and smooth. Bubble gently for 5-6 minutes.

4. Remove the onion and add the cream. Stir in the mustard and 200g of the grated cheese. Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a little nutmeg.

5. Warm 3 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan and add the cauliflower florets. Roll them in the butter, without allowing them to colour, and then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

6. Set the oven to 200°/gas 6. Spoon a little cheese sauce into an ovenproof dish; arrange the cauliflower on top and coat with more of the sauce. Sprinkle the last of the grated cheddar on top and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden.