Before I get to today's kitchen business I have an apology to make. Last weekend, mum celebrated a significant birthday milestone, and once again I had the honour of baking the celebratory centrepiece. A little disappointment was expressed that said 'cake' had not made the blog, and so without further ado...

Happy birthday mum!

As for today, Miss Rose and I had both had a hankering for beef Wellington, and since there's little more enjoyable than a late Sunday lunch featuring roasted goodness, we thought this would be a most suitable occasion indeed. Having gone a little out of fashion, presumably for being a bit too old-time kitsch, beef Wellington is like the ultimate sausage roll. First you make a mushroom duxelles...

Sear off a beautiful piece of eye fillet, smother it in duxelles and wrap it in prosciutto...

Cover it in pastry...

And then wack it in the oven until gloriously golden brown...

Jeffrey, apparently...

Served with some delicious roasted vegetables...

Did somebody say OCD?...

And some Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and bacon...

And that's what I'd call a perfect Sunday lunch...

Actually, what would make it truly perfect would be finishing it off with something sweet. And since tradition was the order of the day, some pears were roasted and a pudding was steamed...

And the day was brought to a close with a most glorious pear and ginger pudding...

Yep, comforting...