Winter Wonderland

Finishing today with a suggestion of an alternative topping to a casserole. You could say this is a variation on dumplings. Made without suet - the cheese taking its place - the dough covers the whole pot. First cook the casserole in the usual way, then finish off by covering with the 'lid' and bake as given in the method below.
'Dumpling Topping':
8 oz (225g) plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
5 oz (150g) grated Cheddar cheese
2 tblsp olive or sunflower oil
5 fl oz (150ml) milk
Sieve the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl, then stir in half the cheese.
Mix the oil and milk, then blend this into the flour to make a soft dough. It should be slightly sticky. Spoon this over the surface of the casserole (small gaps will close as the dough swells) and sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes at 150C, 300F, gas 2 until risen, golden and cooked through.
Tip: to add more flavour, add a pinch of dried mixed herbs to the flour.