This week is the final installment of the Cook Book Challenge taken from this mini-series (because I am a genius and did #10 weeks ago). Next week we shall return to your regularly-sized version. 

Gary Mehigan is another well-known Melbourne chef. He was well known before becoming a judge on MasterChef, but since has become a household name. He began his cheffing career in London before moving to Melbourne and opening a plethora of award-winning restaurants. This book is named after, and full of, my favourite types of eats: comfort food. It's particularly comforting during this cooler part of the year. Choosing a recipe was almost impossible.

First up, I did make Gary's "Mum's Lamb Stew With Dumplings" because yum. 

But really, that was nowhere near challenging enough for the cook book challenge. So I went with the Apple Tarte Tatin instead. I've always wanted to try a tarte tatin but I never owned a skillet pan. I went on a shopping trip and got an amazing two-for-one deal on a high quality brand of skillet that was then half price again. Shopping for kitchen accesories excites me more than could probably be considered normal, but I am so in love with them.

As much as I've always wanted to try them, they've always intimidated me slightly. I think it's the whole having to invert it post baking and hope for the best. Or maybe cause they always make a massive dramatic deal over it in MasterChef. Either way, it was actually pretty easy. 

More than that, it was amazingly tasty. We had it with ice cream. I was sure this would be a difficult one to finish after we'd just stuffed ourselves on roast pork with gravy, apple sauce and all the trimmings. Surprisingly, despite how heavy it looks, this dish tastes really light and refreshing.

Here's Gary's recipe.

You'll find the printable version of this recipe here.