Table of contents for Issue 106 in Easy Cook

With the exception of Christmas, Halloween is the event of the year for my kids. There’s something about dressing up as zombies, scaring the neighbours and eating their own body weight in bloody finger-shaped sweets that they can’t get enough of. Then, less than a week later, they get to shriek with delight at the fireworks on Bonfire Night. So, we’re devoting a big chunk of this month’s issue to these great autumn events. For Halloween, we’ve got all the recipes you’ll need to throw a petrifying party – orange spider jellies, bloodthirsty dip and a haunted graveyard cake. And to warm them up on 5 November, we’ve got a spectacular beefy banquet from former Great British Bake Off star Flora Shedden. Have a cracking autumn. Warm up with this……

Sausage & bean casserole • Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 50 mins • 85p a portion • 580 kcals, 33g fat, 10g sat. fat, 16g sugar 1 tbsp vegetable oil 8 pork sausages 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp tomato purée 400g can butter beans 400g can baked beans in tomato sauce ½ small bunch thyme 200ml hot chicken or veg stock 2 slices white bread, whizzed to crumbs 1 Heat half the oil in a large casserole dish, then brown the sausages all over. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the remaining oil, tip the veg into the dish and fry for 10 mins. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 min more. 2 Heat…

Harissa chicken traybake ‘I’ve made it as simple as possible to cook amazing food,FHOHEUDWLQJ›WKH›MR\›RI›ƓYH›LQJUHGLHQWV››DQ\›GD\›RI›WKH›ZHHN› ZKDWHYHU›WKH›RFFDVLRQ›Ŋ›HYHU\WKLQJ›IURP›D›TXLFN›ZHHNQLJKW VXSSHU›WR›D›ZHHNHQG›IHDVW›ZLWK›IULHQGV’ • Serves 4 • Total: Prep 9 minutes • Cook 50 minutes • 297 kcals, fat 11.4g, sat. fat 2.7g, protein 35g, carbs 13.9g, sugar 12.2g, salt 0.9g, fibre 5.8g 4 mixed-colour peppers 2 red onions 1 x 1.2kg whole free-range chicken 4 heaped teaspoons rose harissa 4 sprigs of fresh mint 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Deseed the peppers and tear into big chunks, peel and quarter the onions and break apart into petals, then place it all in a 30cm x 40cm roasting tray. Use a large sharp knife to carefully cut down the back of the chicken, so you can open it out flat, then score the legs.…

Sticky potato wedges with sesame & lemon Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut 1kg red-skinned potatoes, such as Desirée, into wedges, skins left on. Put the wedges in a single layer in a roasting tin. Whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic granules, 2 lemons, juiced, and 150ml vegetable or chicken stock. Pour the liquid over the potatoes, ensuring they are well coated. Season and bake for 1 hr, stirring every 15 mins. Add 2 tbsp sesame seeds, increase the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7, and bake for 10 mins. Serves 4. Garlic & basil mash Peel and cube 1kg King Edward or Maris Piper potatoes. Boil the potatoes and 5 cloves peeled garlic in salted water until tender. Drain, return to the…

THROW A VERY PETRIFYING PARTY Haunted graveyard cake • Serves 10 • Prep 45 mins • Cook 2 hrs • £1.70 a portion • 721 kcals, 36g fat, 11g sat. fat, 66g sugar TO DECORATE 1 egg white 50g icing sugar 200ml single cream 200g dark chocolate, finely chopped 125g rich tea finger biscuits 100g double chocolate cookies 25g white chocolate silver balls, to decorate FOR THE CAKE 85g cocoa powder 200g self-raising flour 375g light brown muscovado sugar 4 eggs 200ml milk 175ml vegetable oil 1 To make the meringue ghosts, heat oven to 110C/90C fan/gas º . Whip the egg white in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form. Whisk in the sugar a tbsp at a time and keep whisking for a couple of mins until the…

apples Kale & apple soup with walnuts • Serves 2 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 15 mins • £2.56 a portion • 403 kcals, 21g fat, 2g sat. fat, 25g sugar 8 walnut halves, broken into pieces 1 onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, coarsely grated 2 red apples, unpeeled and finely chopped 1 tbsp cider vinegar 500ml reduced-salt vegetable stock 200g kale, roughly chopped 20g pack of dried apple crisps (optional) 1 In a dry, non-stick frying pan, cook the walnut pieces for 2-3 mins until toasted, turning frequently so they don’t burn. Take off the heat and allow to cool. 2 Put the onion, carrots, apples, vinegar and stock in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.…

Nachodums • Serves 6 as a snack • Prep 15 mins • Cook 5-7 mins • £1.85 a portion • 269 kcals, 16g fat, 7g sat. fat, 7g sugar 2 large tomatoes, deseeded and ƁQHO\›FKRSSHG ››VPDOO›UHG›RQLRQ››ƁQHO\›FKRSSHG ››UHG›FKLOOL››GHVHHGHG›DQG›ƁQHO\›VOLFHG WEVS YHJHWDEOH RLO ›› › › ›››J›SDQHHU››FXW›LQWR›FKXQNV ›››J›QDWXUDO›\RJXUW {›FXFXPEHU››ƁQHO\›FKRSSHG {›VPDOO›SDFN›PLQW››OHDYHV›RQO\›› URXJKO\ FKRSSHG › J SRSSDGXPV FUXVKHG ››› › ›› ››››WVS›PDQJR›FKXWQH\ 1 Mix the tomatoes, onion and chilli together with some seasoning in a bowl to make a salsa, then set aside. 2 Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the paneer on both sides until golden. 3 Make a raita by combining the yogurt, cucumber and most of the mint, then season with some salt. 4 Put the crushed poppadums in a large dish, pour the raita over, followed by…

››LQJUHGLHQW›QRRGOH› & egg bowl • Serves 2 • Prep 3 mins • Cook 12 mins • 70p a portion • 510 kcals, 20g fat, 3g sat. fat, 14g sugar PHGLXP HJJV ›› › ›››J›GULHG›PHGLXP›HJJ›QRRGOHV J VWLU IU\ YHJHWDEOHV ››› › › › J SRXFK VWLU IU\ VDXFH ››› › › › › 1 Boil the eggs for 6 mins, then set aside in cold water. Cook the noodles following pack instructions, drain and toss with 1 tbsp sunflower oil. 2 Heat another 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the vegetables for 5 mins. Heat the noodles through with the vegetables and sauce, and season. Peel the eggs and cut in half. Divide the noodles between bowls and top each with the eggs. Serve immediately.…

Oven-baked leek & bacon risotto • Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 30 mins • £1.05 a portion • 424 kcals, 14g fat, 5g sat. fat, 3g sugar 1 tbsp olive oil 6 rashers smoked back bacon, roughly chopped 2 leeks, halved lengthways CPF›ƂPGN[›UNKEGF› 250g risotto rice 700ml hot chicken or vegetable stock 175g frozen peas 3 tbsp soft cheese 1 lemon, zested 1 Heat oven to 200C/180Cfan/gas 6. Pour the oil into an ovenproof casserole dish. Add the bacon and fry for 2 mins. Add the leeks and cook until soft for about 4-5 mins. Stir in the rice and cook for 1 min more. Pour over stock. Cover and place in the oven for 20 mins, stirring halfway. 2 When the rice is just tender…

Lemon chicken 'This is a Chinese takeaway favourite and is delicious served with steamed rice or noodles. It may not be the most straightforward stir-fry recipe, but it was too good to leave out.' • Serves 2 • Prep 15 mins • Cook 8 mins WEVS SRWDWR ƂRXU ›› › › 1 egg, lightly beaten ›››J›EUHDGFUXPEV›RU›SDQNR› EUHDGFUXPEV ›››J›FKLFNHQ›EUHDVW››VNLQQHG› DQG›EXWWHUƂLHG›LQ›KDOI SLQFK›RI›&KLQHVH›ƁYH›VSLFH› SRZGHU 1 tsp lemon zest SLQFK›RI›GULHG›FKLOOL›ƂDNHV PO UDSHVHHG RLO ››› › › ››VSULQJ›RQLRQ››ƁQHO\›VOLFHG› (optional) )25›7+(›/(021›6$8&(  ››WVS›IUHVKO\›JUDWHG›URRW›JLQJHU ››WEVS›6KDRKVLQJ›ULFH›ZLQH›RU›GU\›VKHUU\ PO KRW YHJHWDEOH VWRFN ››› › › › MXLFH›RI›››OHPRQ WVS FDVWHU VXJDU ›› › › WVS ORZ VRGLXP OLJKW VR\ VDXFH ›› › › › › › ››WEVS›FRUQƂRXU›EOHQGHG›ZLWK› WEVS FROG ZDWHU ›› › › TO SERVE 7HQGHUVWHP›EURFFROL››VWHDPHG› OHPRQ›ZHGJHV 1 Place the potato flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Place…

Tomato & horseradish beef with Tenderstem broccoli ¼ƂÀ›Õ› › ››wÀi› ›}›Ì›>› ›››› the depths of winter, perhaps Ì›i›V››Vi«Ì››v››ÕÌ ››À›i>Ì››}› is a bit of an odd one. (I know plenty of people who think you can entertain only indoors between October and March.) But I adore it, >› ››v›ÜÀ>««i ›Õ«›Ü>À››i››Õ}››Ü›Ì››«›i›ÌÞ› ›v››Õ››i ›V› iÀ›-Ãii›À›}›Ì®››››Ì›i›}›]››Ì›V>››Li› an excellent way to party. Some of my favourite }>Ì›iÀ››}Û›>Ûi››>««i›i ››ÕÌÛ i››››Ì›i›L›ÌÌiÀ› cold. This recipe follows a chuck-it-in-and-see approach that can be whacked in a low oven for ››ÕÀÛ>› ›v›À}›ÌÌi››>L›ÕÌ°›/›i›ÀiÃ՛̛›Ã›>››i>ÀÌÞ› >› ›Ü>À›››}››Õ›LiÀ›Ì›>Ì› ›i۽̛›>Ûi›Ì››Li› i›››Þi ››ÕÌÛ i]›LÕÌ›››Ü›Õ› ›››}››Þ›ÀiV›››i› › ›Ì›Ü›i››«›>››››}›Þ›ÕÀ››iÝÌ›«>ÀÌÞ°½ • Serves 6 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 10 hrs 10 mins 2 tbsp olive oil 2kg beef brisket, rolled and tied 3 red onions, chopped into eighths 3 banana shallots, chopped into eighths 3 bay leaves, bashed…

While the orange pumpkins you’ll see piled in every supermarket are ideal for doorstep ›>›ÌiÀ›Ã]›Ì›i›À›yiÛ›V>›››vÌi››Li›Ü>ÌiÀÞ›>› › ›>V››y>Û›ÕÀ°›"vv›VÕÌÛvÀ›››V>ÀÛ››}›V>››Li› LÕ››i ››Ỡܛ̛››››››Ã›>› ›V>ÀÀ›ÌƯ̂››>›i› Ûի››À›Ü››››L››ÃÌiÀ›>›ÃÌiÜ]›LÕÌ››v›«Õ›«›››› or squash is the star of the dish, it’s worth «>Þ››}›>›››ÌÌ›i›iÝÌÀ>›v›À››ÕV››››Ài›y>Û›ÕÀ°› Look out for different varieties of squash in supermarkets or at farmers’ markets, where Ì›i›V›››Vi››Ã››vÌi››LiÌÌiÀ°› All pumpkins and squashes should feel heavy for their size, and have smooth, Õ›L›i››Ã›i ›Ã›››°››>À ›Ã››››i ›«Õ›«›››Ã› and squashes will keep for two months in a cool, dark place – once cut, store in the vÀ› }i›v›À›>›Üii›››À›ÌÜ›°› • Queen squash This plump, orange squash has all the splendour of Cinderella’s V>ÀÀ›>}i]›Ü›Ì››Ì›i›ÃÜiiÌ›iÃÛ›v›>›LÕÌÌiÀ›ÕÌ°› /›i›Ã››››V>››Li›>›››ÌÌ›i›Ì›Õ}›]›Ã››Ài››Ûi››Ì› Liv›Ài›V›››››}°››i››V››ÕÛÛ›«›Þ›À›>ÃÌi °› • Crown prince squash A good all-rounder, this is our pick of the «Õ›«››››«>ÌV›°› A large squash with dense, ÃÜiiÌ›>› ››ÕÌÌÞ›yiÛ°›/›i›ÃÌii›Þ›L›Õi›Ã›››› Ü››››ÀiÌ>›››>›V›iÜÞ›L›Ìi›Ü›i››À›>ÃÌi °› • Acorn squash A small squash…

Self-saucing Jaffa pudding • Serves 8 • Prep 35 mins • Cook 30 mins • £1.23 a portion • 522 kcals, 21g fat, 11g sat. fat, 54g sugar 100g butter, melted, plus extra 250g self-raising flour 140g caster sugar 50g cocoa powder 1 tsp baking powder 1 orange, zested and juiced 3 eggs 150ml milk 100g orange milk chocolate or milk chocolate, broken into chunks single cream or ice cream, to serve FOR THE SAUCE 200g light muscovado sugar 25g cocoa powder 1 Butter a 2-litre baking dish and heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the kettle on. Put the flour, sugar, 50g cocoa, baking powder, zest and a pinch of salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together the orange juice and any pulp left in the juicer,…

Childhood meal Zongzi, which is bamboo sticky rice in sweet garlic soy. Ingredient I can't live without rice or noodles. So I would say a wokked dish with noodles would be my go-to meal. Breakfast When we emigrated from Taiwan to South Africa, I ate a lot of avocado on toast living on my uncle’s farm. He had avocado trees growing and his wife, showed my mum how to eat them on toast. It’s our favourite family recipe – avocado, red chilli soaked in soy on rye bread, with a an egg on top. Lunch If I could eat dim sum every day, I would. I don't tend to make it at home because of the amount of skill ->› ››Õ›}›vÕt®›››Û››Ûi ]›Ã››››>›Ü>ÞÛw› › it a treat to dim-sum-lunch-out. Dinner I…

Happy Halloween! Baked pumpkin fondue • Prep 20 mins • Cook 1 hr–2 hrs 1 whole squash or pumpkin - choose a size to match the number of people you want to feed small roasted potatoes, crusty bread, breadsticks and chicory leaves, to serve FOR 300ML OF FONDUE 100g Emmental, grated 100g Gruyère, grated 100g mature cheddar, grated 1 tbsp cornflour 100g crème fraîche 2 tbsp white wine 1 shallot, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Start to prepare your pumpkin as you would for carving: cut off a ‘lid’ and scoop out all the seeds and membranes. Put the lid back on and sit the whole pumpkin on a sturdy baking tray. Bake following our size guide – munchkins: 30 mins.…

CHICKPEAS Great in just about anything, from houmous and curries to warm salads. Look for them in water rather than brine and be aware that organic brands tend to be a slightly darker colour. BEANS ›>››i›››››]›y>}i››iÌ]› borlotti, red kidney, black, pinto, aduki, haricot – there are so many types available less the same uses, cooked in soups and stews, dressed in salads or mashed and served instead of potatoes. Make sure you rinse canned beans well before using. LENTILS Most need no soaking and take only about 20 mins to cook into a spicy Indian dhal or to thicken a soup or ragout. Also, there’s no need to pre-soak Puy lentils – these peppery, dark green lentils take about 15-20 mins to cook until al dente and > ›ÌiÝÌÕÀi›>› ›y>Û›ÕÀ›Ì››Ã>›>…

Moroccan fishcakes • Serves 4 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 50 mins • £2.20 a portion • 477 kcals, 18g fat, 4g sat. fat, 11g sugar 600g Maris Piper potatoes, cut into chunks 300g skinless and boneless pollock fillets 300ml semi-skimmed milk 1¼ tsp each paprika and cumin 2 lemons, zested, plus 2 tbsp juice, then cut into wedges to serve small pack dill, leaves chopped 1 large egg, beaten 85g dried breadcrumbs 4 tbsp sunflower oil, for frying 300g natural yogurt 1 Put the potatoes in a pan and cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil and cook for 18-20 mins until cooked but still holding their shape. Drain and leave to steam-dry, then mash. Meanwhile, put the fish in a saucepan and pour over the…

Tom Kerridge’s pumpkin & bacon soup • Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 1 hr 10 mins • £1.90 a portion • 557 kcals, 43g fat, 20g sat. fat, 12g sugar 1 tbsp vegetable oil 50g butter 1 onion, finely chopped 150g bacon, cut into small pieces ½ Crown Prince pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and cut into medium chunks (you need about 500g pumpkin flesh) 1 litre chicken stock 100ml double cream 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds, toasted maple syrup, for drizzling 1 In a large, heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil with 25g butter. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook on a low heat for 10 mins or until soft. Add 60g bacon and cook for a further 5 mins until the bacon releases its fat.…

6JKU›$QPƂTG›0KIJV› KPURKTGF ECMG KU C ITGCV › › › › › VYKUV›QP›VTCFKVKQPCN› VQHHGG›CRRNGU››'PLQ[› YKVJ›C›EWRRC››QT›YCTO› YKVJ ETGCO CPF GZVTC › › › › VQHHGG›UCWEG›s›[WOO[› Spiced toffee apple traybake • Makes 15 squares • Prep 45 mins plus cooling • Cook 1 hr • 68p a portion • 327 kcals, 17g fat, 10g sat. fat, 27g sugar 200g dates, roughly chopped 200ml milk, plus a splash 250g butter, softened, plus extra 280g self-raising flour 200g light soft brown sugar ½ tsp baking powder 4 large eggs 1 tbsp mixed spice 2 tsp vanilla extract 3 small red apples squeeze lemon juice handful of toffees a little icing sugar, for dusting 1 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with baking parchment. Put the dates…

Minced chicken & prawn lettuce parcels ‘This is easy to make, fun to eat – and versatile. Here I serve it as a starter, but it’s great for canapés too. Alternatively, you can put the whole wok in the middle of the table with lots of lettuce leaves and toppings, and ask people to help themselves.’ • Serves 6 (makes 8-10 parcels) • Prep 20 mins plus cooling • Cook 20 mins • £2.52 a portion • 271 kcals, 15g fat, 3g sat. fat, 5g sugar 50g glass noodles 2 tbsp vegetable oil 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 bird’s-eye chilli, finely chopped (seeds removed if you like it less hot) 2 lemongrass stalks, finely chopped (tender parts only) 10 green beans, finely chopped 1 medium carrot, finely chopped…