Cheese

Lemon & garlic roast chicken with charred broccoli & sweet potato mash

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put the chicken in a large non-stick roasting tin. Halve 1 garlic clove and rub it over the chicken. Drizzle with oil, rub in with your fingers, then stuff the cavity with the thyme, 1 lemon half and the garlic you just used. Cut the other lemon half into quarters and scatter around the chicken with the other garlic clove, halved. Cover the tin with foil and bake for 40 mins, then remove the foil and spoon over the hot juices. Arrange the broccoli around the chicken, turning well in the juices, and return the tin to the oven for another 20-30 mins. To check that it is cooked through, pierce between the leg and thigh – if the juices run clear, the chicken is ready. Re-cover with foil and set aside while you prepare the sweet potatoes. Put the sweet potatoes in a pan of boiling water, return to the boil, then simmer for 7-10 mins until tender. Drain well, then mash. Set aside 100g of sweet potato mash if using for Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato, see ‘goes well with’, then add the cream cheese to the rest and stir well. Remove the broccoli from the roasting tin and divide between 2 plates. Put the chicken on a serving plate, discard the lemon and garlic from the tin and remove as much of the fat from the juices as possible. Pour the remaining juices into a serving jug. Carve the chicken and serve about 100g (1-2 slices) per person (keep the rest of the chicken for Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato if making, see ‘goes well with’). Serve with the broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes, and a drizzle of the lemony-garlic juices on top.

Smoking chilli chicken & sweetcorn pizza

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix the barbecue and chipotle sauce in a bowl. Place the pizza bases on 2 large baking trays and spread over the sauce. Scatter the mozzarella over the pizzas, then top with the sweetcorn, peppers and chicken. Bake for 20 mins, swapping the trays over halfway through cooking, until the cheese has melted and the pizza is piping hot. Scatter with the coriander and the green chillies, if you like it extra spicy.

Feta pâté platter

In a bowl, roughly mash the feta and olives with the yogurt, lemon juice and some black pepper to form a thick paste. Stir in 1 tbsp finely chopped mint. Arrange the other ingredients on a large serving platter, with the feta mix along side, and tuck in.

Cajun chicken & pineapple burger

Heat the grill to medium-high and line a baking tray with foil. Place the chicken between 2 sheets of cling film and bash to an even thickness using a rolling pin. Rub the Cajun spice mix, the oil and some seasoning all over the chicken, then put them on the baking tray. Grill for 10 mins, turning halfway through. Top each chicken breast with a pineapple ring and some grated cheese, then return to the grill and cook for a further 2-3 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling, and the chicken is cooked through. Spread a little soured cream over the base of each bun, then add lettuce, a chicken breast, sliced red onion, and pop the top on.

Roast duck & griddled plum salad

Up to 2 days before, sit the duck legs in your slow cooker or a small casserole or baking dish – if you don’t have a slow cooker, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Pour over the stock and pomegranate juice so that the legs are submerged. Poke in the cinnamon stick, cover with the lid, or tightly with foil, and slow-cook for 4 hrs on High, or in the oven for 2hrs, until the duck is really tender. Cool in the liquid, then chill until you make the salad. One hour before you want to start the salad, lift the duck legs from the liquid, pat dry with kitchen paper and sit in a roasting tin to dry out a little. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Rub the cumin and cinnamon all over the duck legs with plenty of salt and some ground black pepper, and roast for 15-20 mins. Meanwhile, cook the bulghar wheat following pack instructions, then drain well. Heat a dry griddle pan, brush the halved plums with a little olive oil and griddle for about 5 mins on either side. Set everything aside to cool a little while you prep the rest of the ingredients. Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the green beans and cook for 2-4 mins until tender but still with some bite. Drain under cold running water to cool. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients with plenty of seasoning. When the duck is cool enough to handle, shred the meat and crispy skin from the bones. Transfer to a platter with the roasted plums, pomegranate seeds, red onion, bulghar wheat, green beans, flaked almonds, feta and herbs. Toss everything together gently with the dressing and eat immediately.

Chicken pesto wrap

Mix together the shredded chicken, soured cream, yogurt or mayonnaise with the pesto. Season. Lay a slice of cheese on each wrap, then divide the chicken mixture between them. Sprinkle with red pepper or sweetcorn, then top with the lettuce leaves. Be careful not to overfill or it will be tricky to contain all the filling. Wrap and roll each one, then pack in a lunchbox or tightly wrap in foil.

Shepherd’s pie with lamb’s liver

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wide, lidded frying pan or flameproof casserole dish. Fry the mince for 10 mins or until well browned. While it cooks, remove large tubes, stringy bits and membrane from the liver, and discard, then finely chop the liver. Add the liver to the mince and cook for a few mins until it changes colour. Tip the mince and liver into a bowl, deglaze the pan using a splash of the stock, then pour the liquid on top of the mince and liver mixture. Wipe out the pan. Heat the rest of the oil. Add the vegetables and herbs, season and soften for 10 mins. Stir in the purée, Worcestershire sauce, mince, liver and stock. Cover and simmer for 1 1?2 hrs until the sauce is rich and the meat tender. After 45 mins, stir it and add a splash of water if at all dry. If any bits of liver look prominent, mash them into the sauce. Start the mash topping with 30 mins cooking time to go. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Boil the potatoes until tender, then drain. Warm 150ml of milk in the potato pan, then add the drained potatoes and the butter. Mash until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Season generously and stir through most of the cheese and all the parsley. When the mince and liver is ready, transfer it to a deep baking dish. Top with the mash, smoothing it to the edges of the dish, then scallop the top with a knife or leave it rough. Scatter with the rest of the cheese and bake for 45 mins until golden and bubbling. Let stand for 5 mins, then serve with seasonal vegetables and an extra dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Easy peasy risotto with chilli & mint crumbs

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 mins, then add the garlic. Stir in the rice for 1-2 mins, then add the stock, a little at a time, stirring continuously until the rice is nearly cooked and the stock has all been absorbed – this will take about 20 mins. Meanwhile, tip the peas into a colander and run under the hot water tap until defrosted. Drain well, tip into a bowl and roughly mash with a potato masher. Remove the risotto from the heat, stir in the peas, cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice, then season well. Grate the bread on a box grater into chunky crumbs. On the finer side of the grater, grate the chilli. Heat a drizzle of oil in a frying pan, add the chilli, lemon zest and crumbs and cook for 2 mins until crispy, then add the mint and sprinkle over the risotto before serving.

roast poussin with wild mushroom sauce 0 1

Three-cheese risotto

Melt the butter and olive oil together in a large, shallow saucepan, add the onion and garlic, and cook for 5-10 mins until soft. Add the risotto rice and cook for 2-3 mins, getting a good covering in the fats and giving the rice a slightly toasted flavour. Add the white wine and cook until it has reduced away. Add the warm chicken stock, a ladleful at a time, and stir into the rice – when it has been absorbed, add more. You may not need to add all the stock, but keep adding until the rice is cooked al dente. It will take around 15 mins to get the risotto to the right consistency. Take the rice pan off the heat and stir in the cheeses, season and leave to rest for 3-4 mins. Serve with the roasted poussins, morel sauce and some wilted Baby Gem lettuce leaves.

Poutine

For the gravy, toss the chicken wings in 1 tbsp of the flour, then heat the oil and butter in a large pan. Fry the chicken wings until well browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 8-10 mins until soft and turning brown at the edges. When the onions are cooked, add the remaining flour and stir well. Put the chicken wings back in the pan, then add the carrot, bay leaf, stocks and garlic. Bring to the boil and cook for 15 mins. Strain the mixture through a sieve into another pan and simmer for another 10 mins or until thick, seasoning to taste. For the chips, scrub the potatoes but leave the skins on. Chop into chunky chips and put them in a bowl filled with cold water. Pour sunflower oil into a large pan until it is just less than half full, then heat until it reaches 125C. Drain the chips from the water and pat dry with a clean tea towel. When the oil is ready, carefully lower 1/4 of the chips into the pan. Fry for 12 mins, then remove with the slotted spoon and lay on a wire rack covered with kitchen paper. Repeat the process with the remaining chips. When they have all had their first fry, increase the temperature to 190C and fry the chips in small batches again, this time for 5 mins or until golden brown. Sprinkle the chips with salt once done, keeping them warm on a wire rack or grill tray in a low oven while you fry the rest. To finish the dish, pile the chips into deep bowls, warm the gravy and pour it over the chips. Top with pieces of cheese and serve immediately.

Spanish chicken with crispy paprika potatoes

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the potatoes onto a large baking tray. Mix 1 tbsp oil with the paprika, 2 tsp balsamic vinegar and seasoning, then pour over the potatoes and toss together. Bake in the oven for 10 mins while you prepare the chicken. Mix the peppers with the cheese and seasoning. Open out the chicken thighs and spoon some of the cheese mixture into the centre of each. Pull the sides of the chicken together to seal in the filling, then put each thigh, seam-side-down, on individual squares of foil. Top each thigh with 2-3 overlapping slices of chorizo, then wrap in the foil. Put the chicken parcels on top of the potatoes and return to the oven for 30 mins until the thighs are cooked and the potatoes are crispy. When the chicken is cooked, mix the remaining 1 tbsp oil and 2 tsp balsamic, and drizzle over the mixed salad leaves. Serve the chicken with the paprika potatoes and salad.

Chicken korma melts

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan and arrange the chicken in a large ovenproof dish. Beat the cheese, korma paste and the 1 tbsp coriander together with a squeeze of lemon. Squeeze the remaining lemon over the chicken and spread the curry mix on top. Scatter over the chili and bake for 15 mins. Remove from the oven, add the tomatoes to the dish then return to cook for another 10 mins. Scatter with more coriander and serve with rice and salad or new potatoes and vegetables

Nacho chicken bake

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Tip the jar of salsa and the beans with their juice into a pan. Stir in the chicken and coriander, then heat until bubbling. Tip the mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish. Top with the tortillas and cheese, then bake for 8 mins. Serve with a salad, preferably including some avocado, and a good squeeze of lime.

Baked tomato, gruyère & potato gratin

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Generously grease a large, deep, ovenproof dish. Strip the leaves from 3 of the thyme sprigs. Mix the Gruyère with all but 2 tbsp of the grated Parmesan, then mix the double cream with the stock. Start layering up the sliced potatoes with sprinklings of the shallots, garlic, thyme leaves, cheese and most of the walnuts, plus plenty of seasoning. Drizzle a little of the cream mixture over each layer too. When you’ve layered in half of those ingredients, top with half of the tomatoes. Continue layering the rest of the ingredients, finishing with the last of the cream. Top with the remaining tomatoes, then sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, the remaining Parmesan and walnuts, and enough thyme to look pretty. Add a few more knobs of butter, then cover with foil. Bake the gratin for 1 hr 15 mins, then remove the foil and bake for a further 40 mins until golden and crispy on top, and a knife poked into the centre of the potatoes slides in easily. Leave to rest for 10-15 mins, then serve.

Microwave mac ’n’ cheese

In a mug that holds twice the volume of your dry pasta (the bigger, the better), add the macaroni and your liquid of choice. Cover with cling film and pierce 3 times. Stand the mug in a microwave- proof bowl to catch any spillages, and cook on High for 2 mins. The liquid will bubble up and over the sides, so tip any liquid from the bowl back into the mug (be careful as it will be very hot) and give it a good stir. Leave to stand for 1 min. Repeat twice more or until the pasta is cooked (it may take longer depending on the pasta), then remove from the microwave. Stir through the butter, cheese and spinach or Marmite, if using. The heat from the pasta should melt the cheese and wilt the spinach, but if not, pop back in the microwave for 30 secs.

Minted ham & pea soup shots

Heat the butter in a large pan. Add the ham, frozen peas, 850ml hot water (straight from the kettle), chicken stock cube and the handful of mint leaves. Season well. Bubble for 30 secs-1 min until the peas have defrosted, then remove from the heat, add the double cream and blitz with a hand blender. Serve in teacups topped with a swirl of cream, extra ham and small mint leaves, with cheese straws for dunking.

Ham, turkey & sprout pie

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a large frying pan, soften the onion and celery in the butter for about 10 mins. Stir the flour into the veg until completely absorbed, then gradually stir in the stock. Simmer to a sauce consistency, then stir in the cream, mustard and cheese, followed by the turkey or chicken, ham and sprouts. Take off the heat and season well.

Tip the pie filling into a baking dish. Unroll the shortcrust pastry and, if you need to, roll a little thinner until it’s big enough to cover the pie dish. Divide the pastry into 6 portions by pricking lines with the prongs of a fork. These pricked lines will also work as air holes for the steam to escape, so you don’t need to use a pie funnel. Lift the pastry onto the pie dish. Crimp or pinch the edges to seal the pastry to the dish, and glaze the top with a little milk or egg. Scatter with the extra cheese and bake for 30-40 mins until golden and crisp.

Leave the pie to cool for 5-10 mins, then serve with mash and greens, if you like.

Lighter chicken Kiev

For the filling, mix the butter, cheese and oil in a small bowl, then stir in the garlic and parsley. Season with a pinch of cayenne and salt , and generously with black pepper. Cover with cling film and chill in the freezer for 30 mins while you prepare the chicken.

Mix together the panko crumbs and flour. Heat a large, non-stick frying pan, tip in the crumb mix and toast in the dry pan for a few mins or until turning pale brown – stir regularly so they brown evenly and don’t burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl, season with pepper and set aside.

Butterfly each chicken breast without cutting all the way through, so you can then open them out flat, being careful not to make any other cuts in the flesh that the filling could escape from. Lay each breast between two pieces of cling film and bash with a rolling pin to a thickness of about 5mm. Peel off and discard the top piece of cling film and season each breast with pepper. Place a quarter of the filling in the middle, then bring both the shorter ends of the chicken in slightly so they cover each side of the filling. Now bring a long side up and carry on rolling up to make a tight package – use the cling film to help , and keep the ends tucked in as you go. Wrap each Kiev tightly in the cling film and chill in the fridge for about 30 mins (or overnight if you prefer).

Heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Tip half the crumb mix onto a large plate. Put the buttermilk in a shallow dish and season with pepper. Remove the cling film from two of the Kievs, coat each in the buttermilk, then roll in the crumbs to evenly coat all over. Pat them on the ends too, to coat and keep well sealed. Repeat with the remaining two Kievs.

Heat 11/2 tsp of the oil in a small nonstick frying pan. Add two of the Kievs and fry for 1 1 / 2 mins over a medium-high heat, without moving them, adjusting the heat if necessary so they don’t burn. Turn them over, pour in another 1 / 2 tsp oil to cover the base of the pan and fry for 1 min more to brown the other side, carefully turning so all sides are becoming golden. Remove with a wide spatula and lay in a shallow baking tin lined with baking parchment. Wipe any crumbs from the pan, then repeat with the rest of the oil and chicken.

Bake the chicken in the oven for 15 mins until cooked and crisp. Serve with lemon wedges and watercress. If any juices have managed to escape during cooking, simply drizzle them around the chicken once served.

Cauliflower cheese mash with thyme

Put the potato in a pan of salted water and bring to the boil. Add the cauliflower and boil both vegetables until tender. Meanwhile, heat the milk with the butter, thyme and cheese. When the veg is ready, drain well and blitz in a food processor. Gradually add the milk mixture (remove the thyme) until you get a smooth, thick purée. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Serve with sausages, if you like.

Cheesy polenta with sausage ragout

Heat the oil in a large casserole dish over a medium-high heat and cook the onion and garlic for a few mins. Stir in the sausages, breaking them up into small pieces as you go, and cook for another 8-9 mins. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, stock, purée and most of the rosemary. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 8-10 mins or until the mixture is thickened. Season to taste. Meanwhile, make up the polenta following pack instructions. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, with some seasoning. Spoon the polenta onto 4 plates, then top with the ragout and a sprinkling of the remaining rosemary.

Pork & chorizo enchiladas

Heat the oil in a large, deep pan and fry the onions and garlic for about 10 mins. Add the spices and half the chilli, and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the pork and chorizo, turn up the heat and fry the meat, stirring and breaking it down until it changes colour. Pour in the passata and 300ml water, then crumble in the stock cube. Pile in the peppers, stir, cover and simmer over a low heat for 30 mins until the meat and peppers are tender. Stir in the beans and two-thirds of the coriander.

Meanwhile, tip the fromage frais (with any liquid in the tub) into a bowl, and beat in the egg, remaining coriander and seasoning. Get out 2 ovenproof and freezer-proof dishes.

Spoon the meat onto the centre of the tortillas, roll up and arrange 8 in each dish. Spoon half of the fromage frais mixture on top and smooth it to cover the tortillas. Scatter each with half the cheese and remaining chillies. If eating now, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for 25 mins until golden, then serve. If freezing, when cold cover with cling film and foil. Will keep for 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge and reheat uncovered as above, adding an extra 15 mins to the time, checking that it is hot all the way through. You can also bake from frozen. Put the dish (covered with fresh foil) on a baking tray in the oven, then heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 2 hrs. Don’t put the frozen dish in a preheated oven as it might crack – it’s better to let it heat slowly. Remove the foil and bake for 20 mins more. Serve with a green salad.

Chicken burrito

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 mins until soft, then add your chosen veggies and continue cooking for another 5-10 mins or until tender. Add the leftover meat, the rice and beans, along with the sauce from the can. Stir everything together and cook for 5 mins until piping hot.

Heat another frying pan, or a griddle pan, until hot, and heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 2. Now assemble the burritos. Warm a wrap for 10 secs on the hot pan (keep the pan hot, you’ll need to use it again). Pile roughly a sixth of the rice mixture onto the centre of the wrap. Top with a little avocado and some cheese, then brush beaten egg around the edge. Fold the ends over the filling, then fold in the sides, like an envelope. Flatten a little to a parcel, then place, seam-side down, in the hot pan. Cook for 2 mins until the underside has sealed shut and is toasted a golden brown, flip over and cook for a few mins more.

Keep the burrito warm in the oven while you continue assembling and cooking the remaining burritos. Serve with soured cream, if you like.

Chicken, leek & cider pie

Melt 40g of the butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Stir this over a medium-low heat for 1 min to make a roux. Remove from the heat and start adding the cider a little at a time. Mix well with a wooden spoon to ensure there are no lumps. Keep stirring until all the cider has been added, then add the milk in the same way. Season, return the pan to the heat and, stirring continuously, bring to the boil. The mixture will thicken considerably and, once it has come to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 3 mins. Stir in the mustard, lemon juice and crème fraîche , and taste for seasoning.

Melt the rest of the butter in a frying pan and gently fry the leeks and the apples for 5 mins. Add 2 tbsp of water, season, cover and cook over a low heat for 8-10 mins until tender. If there are lots of juices, increase the heat to reduce them.

Add the chicken and half the cheese to the sauce, then bring to the boil. Immediately reduce the heat and heat the chicken through. Gently stir in the leeks and apples and taste – you may want to add more mustard or lemon juice.

Put the mixture into a 25 x 20cm pie dish or a round dish measuring 25cm across (with a 1.3 litre capacity). Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and leave to cool completely.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out to the thickness of a 50 p coin. Cut off a strip the same width as the lip of the pie dish. Wet the lip and press this strip onto it. Brush the strip with water and lay the rest of the pastry on top. Press the pastry lid onto the pastry strip, then cut off the excess. Crimp the edges and use the remaining pastry to decorate the top of the pie. Make three small slits in the pastry near the middle to let the steam escape. Brush the top with the egg mixture and bake in the oven for 30 -40 mins, until the pastry is a deep golden colour and puffed up. Serve immediately.

Mexican chicken burger

Put the chicken breast between two pieces of cling film and bash with a rolling pin or pan to about 1cm thick. Mix the chipotle paste with half the lime juice and spread over the chicken.

Heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Once hot, cook the chicken for 3 mins each side until cooked through, adding the cheese for the final 2 mins of cooking. Add the bun, cut-side down, to the griddle pan to toast lightly. Season the chicken.

Meanwhile, mash the avocado with the remaining lime juice. Stir in the cherry tomatoes, jalapeño and garlic, and season with a little salt. Spread over the base of the bun, then add the chicken followed by the top of the bun.

Cheese, ham & pea risotto

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish and cook the onion for 5 mins over a medium heat to soften. Stir in the garlic and the risotto rice, and cook for another 30 secs-1 min. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then cover and cook for about 15 mins on a medium heat, stirring every so often. The rice should be almost done. Add the peas, ham, mustard and cheeses to the pan, and cook for another few mins until the rice is just right and the cheese melted. Season and serve topped with a handful of the pea shoots and a little extra cheese, if you like.

Roast potato, turkey, sausage & stuffing pie

Heat the oil and butter in a large, shallow ovenproof casserole dish. Add the onion and cook for 10 mins until really soft. Push the onion to one side of the dish and add the sausages, browning them all over (skip this step if you’re using cooked leftovers).

Remove the sausages from the dish and set aside to cool a little. Stir the mustard powder, flour and stock cube into the oil and butter for 1-2 mins, then add the white wine. Bubble for 1 min, scraping the bottom of the dish to release any tasty bits, then add the stock. Stir to make a smooth sauce, season and bubble for 5 mins. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Cut the sausages and stuffing into bite-sized chunks, add to the sauce with the turkey, mustard, crème fraîche and parsley. When bubbling, remove from the heat. Crumble the potatoes in your hands over the top of the filling, so you have some larger and smaller chunks. Scatter with cheese and bake for 40 mins until the potatoes are crisp and the filling is bubbling around the edges.

Bangers with Welsh rarebit mash

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the potatoes in a large roasting tin and bake for 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins until crisp and a knife sinks in easily.

Meanwhile, make the gravy. Put the onions in a large, deep frying pan with the butter and cook gently until soft and golden. Stir in the flour, then gradually add the ale. Bring to the boil for 1 min, then stir in the stock, Marmite, Worcestershire sauce and sugar, and bring back to a simmer. Bubble for a few mins until you get a good gravy consistency, then taste and season.

When the potatoes are done, remove from the oven and put your bangers in for 30-35 mins or until cooked through.

Halve each potato and scoop the flesh into a big mixing bowl, discarding the skins. Add the milk, cream cheese, mustard powder and cheeses. Mash together really well. Season with salt and keep warm, or reheat in the microwave with the gravy when the sausages are done. Serve with peas, if you like.

Soft polenta with roast squash, kale & hazelnuts

Boil the kettle, put the shallots in a bowl, pour over kettle-hot water and set aside for 10 mins. This will make them much easier to peel. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Once cooled a little, drain and peel the shallots, and halve any large ones. In a large roasting tin, toss the shallots and squash with 1 tbsp oil and some seasoning. Roast for 25 mins.

Add the thyme, garlic, chilli, nutmeg, kale, lemon zest and hazelnuts to the roasting tin. Season and toss with the remaining oil. Return to the oven for another 15 mins.

While the vegetables are roasting, bring the stock to the boil in a saucepan. Pour in the polenta in a thin, steady stream, whisking continuously. Cook for 2-3 mins, then add the milk, season well and stir in the cheese. The polenta should have the consistency of loose mashed potato. Keep warm until ready to serve – the polenta will form a skin and thicken if left for too long, so cover with a piece of baking parchment, and stir in some extra milk if you need to.

To serve, pour the warm polenta onto a large serving platter and top with the roasted veg. Squeeze over a little lemon juice and finish with some parmesan shavings.

Mediterranean turkey-stuffed peppers

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Halve the peppers lengthways, then remove the seeds and core but keep the stalks on. Rub the peppers with a drizzle of olive oil and season well. Put on a baking tray and roast for 15 mins.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Fry the mince for 2-3 mins, stirring to break up the chunks, then tip onto a plate.

Wipe out your pan, then heat the rest of the oil over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, stir-fry for 2-3 mins, then add the cumin and mushrooms and cook for 2-3 mins more.

Tip the mince back into the pan and add the chopped tomatoes and tomato purée. Crumble in the stock cube and cook for 3-4 mins, then add the oregano and season. Remove the peppers from the oven and fill them with as much of the mince as you can. (Don’t worry if some spills out it – it will go satisfyingly crisp in the oven.) Top with the cheese and return to the oven for 10-15 mins until the cheese starts to turn golden.

Carefully slide the peppers onto a plate and serve alongside a pile of your favourite greens blanched, boiled or steamed.

Hot wings

Put the chicken wings, buttermilk and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl and toss together to coat. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Put all the ingredients for the spice mix in another large mixing bowl with a pinch of salt and mix well. Remove the wings from the fridge and, one at a time, roll them in the spice mix. Once fully coated, tip onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment, and roast for 35 mins. Meanwhile, mix the ingredients for the glaze together.

Once the wings have browned, remove them from the oven and generously brush with the glaze. Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4, put the wings back in and cook for a further 15 mins or until the glaze has gone sticky and is starting to caramelise. Remove the wings from the oven and rest for a minute or so. Serve with a blue cheese dip, if you like.

BBQ chicken & blue cheese wedges

Scrub the sweet potatoes and cut each into six wedges. Spread out on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp oil, season and roast at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 20 mins. Lightly bash the breasts between two pieces of cling film until about 1cm thick. Put the chicken in a bowl and coat in the BBQ sauce. Add the chicken to the baking sheet, return to the oven for 10 mins, then crumble the cheese over the potatoes and bake for 5 mins more until bubbling.

Cheat’s chicken Kiev

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Mix together the cream cheese, garlic and herbs with some seasoning. Cut a slit in the side of each chicken breast, ensuring you don’t pierce through the other side. Using your fingers, make a bigger pocket and stuff the creamy mix inside. Season the chicken breasts, then wrap 3 slices of pancetta around each, covering the pocket tightly. Put on a baking tray, brush with a little oil and bake for 18-20 mins until cooked through.

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