Orange pastry mince pies

Good Food reader Helen Carmichael shares her homemade citrus pastry recipe – perfect for filling with your own mincemeat

Baked mushrooms with ricotta & pesto

The rich basil sauce helps balance the tangy ricotta and earthy mushroom flavours of this easy vegetarian starter

Courgette & tomato soup

Batch cook a vegetable soup when you have a seasonal bounty and you'll always have a healthy meal in the freezer

Lamb, squash & apricot tagine

A Moroccan mainstay, this slow-cooked casserole is flavoured with coriander and ras-el-hanout spices

Fish fingers & mushy peas

There's no need to resort to shop-bought when making your own is so easy – use sustainable pollock and add mint and lemon to your peas

Spiced beetroot & orange chutney

Serve this vividly coloured chutney with cheeses and cold meats – great to give as a gift, too

Beef burgers – learn to make

Learn how to make succulent beef burgers with just four ingredients. An easy recipe for perfect homemade patties.

Brilliant banana loaf

A cross between banana bread and a drizzle cake, this easy banana loaf recipe is a quick bake that can be frozen and is great for using up overripe bananas

Fish pie – in four steps

Delicious and easy – a fish pie anyone can make. You'll learn how to poach fish and make a white sauce too

Chilli con carne recipe

This great chilli recipe has to be one of the best dishes to serve to friends for a casual get-together. An easy sharing favourite that uses up storecupboard ingredients.

Smoked haddock & cumin chowder

Try this new way with smoked haddock. Spices have a natural affinity with smoked
haddock – just think of kedgeree

Mixed bean & wild rice salad

Reach into your storecupboard for pulses and sweetcorn to form the base for this simple side with hot, sweet dressing