25g butter
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teasp. fresh thyme leaves
150ml dry Irish cider
450g potatoes, peeled and chopped
900ml chicken or vegetable stock (from a cube is fine)
4 tablesp. cream
1 apple, peeled and cut into matchsticks
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sourdough baguette goats’ cheese & scallion toasts, to serve (optional)