Recipe for cheese and potato pie

Recently I attended the chequers cookery school again. They run a special group for those with mental health issues to help us gain confidence and make new friends. This week we made a delicious cheese and potato pie that I really enjoyed making (and enjoyed eating!) and so I thought I would share the recipe with you all.

Ingredients to serve 2:

450g of mashing potato

1 medium leek

25g of butter + a little to grease

150mls of whole milk

50g of full-fat cream cheese

1 large egg

1 tablespoon of chopped fresh tarragon

50g of cheddar cheese

pinch of salt

1. preheat the oven to 200C or gas mark 6
2. peel and cut the potatoes in roughly 3cm chunks
3. 

   put into a saucepan and cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Then simmer until tender (about 15-20 minutes from boiling)
4. drain and mash well
5. melt the butter into a small pan, add finely chop leeks and cook until soft
6. 

   gradually add the milk to the mash, then add the cream cheese, the beaten egg, the leeks, the tarragon and half the cheddar cheese.
7. Mix well and season
8. grease a oven proof dish with butter, pour in the mixture and scatter the rest of the cheddar cheese on the top
9. bake for 25-30 minutes until piping hot and golden brown.

You could vary the dish by varying the type of hard cheese you use or add more or different herbs. You could also add ham along with the cheese.

My cooking skills are abysmal but I really enjoyed making this cheese and potato pie and I hope you have a go and try it too.