Hello, everyone. Fires in our beloved Pacific Northwest and the west coast, the anniversary of September 11, masks everywhere…I’m so sorry all of this is happening.

I’m a helper and from our home here in Australia, what I can give you is this: the best, easiest classic recipe for scalloped potatoes.

A few weeks ago I bought a mandolin, my first ever (because I was always too afraid a kid would slice his finger) and wow, it’s a game changer for slicing potatoes.

Don’t bother peeling — just wash the potatoes, slice, slice a white onion thinly and you’re set.

The secret?

A loooooong cooking time to ensure the potatoes are tender. Start with 40 mins at 350F / 180C but keep checking with a knife. Also: cream. That’s another secret!

• 5 potatoes, thinly sliced. (Peel if you prefer, but I never do.)

• 1 onion, sliced

• 1.5 cups of heavy cream whisked together with 2 teaspoons chicken stock powder

• 1 cup grated cheddar

• Salt to taste

Heat the oven to 180C / 350F.

• Oil a baking dish and layer with potato, then some onion rings, potato and on it goes. Finish with potato on top.

• Pour over the cream mixture.

• Sprinkle with cheese.

• Bake for 40 minutes plus. Check for tender potatoes.

Some things in life really are easy.

Good thing, too, especially when life is handing us some challenges in 2020.

I hope you love these — I don’t make them often, but when I do my husband has seconds (or maybe even thirds).

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

Love, Catherine x

PS.

• I’ve been working quite a lot in the corporate world lately, and can’t wait to get back to some writing soon…I have a great concept for my first novel for adults and I’m super excited to test the idea with you!

• Next week, I’ll be blogging from my favourite beach in the world — yay! We’re celebrating our first son turning 20 with a weekend getaway. People always say the years fly by, but for me…I was there for every second and they didn’t fly. The years waltzed or jitterbugged: from the worn out knees on my jeans to endless endless endless batches of cookies, washing all those school uniforms, Sunday dinners, rowing driving before 5am, all of it. A long and beautiful family waltz…and I’m grateful!