’twas the night before christmas

SERVES 4-6 PREP 20 mins plus cooling COOK 50 mins EASY 1 medium pumpkin or butternutsquash2 tbsp olive or rapeseed oilpinch of Aleppo chilli flakes, plusextra to serve (optional)3 tbsp maple syrup100g

A crowd-pleasing pie with a rich, buttery filling. Sage leaves are baked into the pastry while the beetroot adds vibrant colour. SERVES 8 PREP 30 mins plus40 mins chilling COOK 1 hr 30 mins MORE EFFOR

■ Serves 4 ■ Prep 15 mins ■ Cook 2 hrs 1 large butternut squash, halvedlengthways and deseeded75g unsalted butter2 leeks, finely chopped2 garlic cloves, finely chopped50g soft white breadcrumbs250g co

SERVES 2 PREP 5 mins COOK 25 mins EASY 20g walnut pieces1 tsp rapeseed oil2 slim leeks (about 170g), well washedand thinly sliced175g wholemeal penne2 garlic cloves, finely grated160g baby spinach40g

This is easy to knock together for a weeknight dinner, but also smart enough for any last-minute guests. SERVES 4-6 PREP 15 mins COOK 45 mins EASY ❄ 50g dried breadcrumbs 100g feta in brine 400g lamb

Go meat-free with this cheat’s version of Turkish gözleme (stuffed flatbread). It works as a light dinner. ■ Serves 2 ■ Prep 20 mins ■ Cook 15 mins 1 tbsp olive oil1 red onion, finely sliced2 garlic c