BBC Easycook May 2019

We live in a flat, the five of us, so there’s no room for a dining table to fit everyone around. For special occasions, we pull out the drop-leaf table my late mum gave to me, but it’s a bit of a faff, so instead I put a picnic blanket on the carpet, cook up some fajitas, like the recipe on p31, and try to engage our teenage children in conversation. ‘So, kids, what did you do at school this week?’ Response: Shrug. Grunt. Ah well, I can but try. At least it keeps them off the screens. Fortunately, we do have some outdoor space, and with two bank holidays in May, it’s a great chance to carry our trays onto the terrace and feast in the sunshine. A particular…

Easy pesto lasagne • Serves 4-6 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 45 mins 190g jar pesto500g tub mascarpone200g bag spinach, roughly chopped250g frozen peas small pack basil, leaveschopped, and a few leaves reserved to finishsmall pack mint, leaves chopped12 fresh lasagne sheets splash of milk85g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated50g pine nuts green salad, to serve (optional) 1 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the pesto, half the mascarpone and 250ml water (or vegetable stock if you have some) in a pan. Heat and mix until smooth and bubbling. Add the spinach and peas and cook for a few more mins until the spinach has wilted and the peas thawed. Add the herbs and season. 2 Place 1/3 of the pesto mixture into a baking dish roughly 18 x 25cm. Top with…

AS LITTLE AS 54P PER SERVING Salmon & horseradish burgers • Serves 4 • Prep 20 mins • Cook 8 mins uncooked burgers only 4 skinless salmon fillets or 1 large piece (about 500g)1 tbsp creamed horseradish1 lemon, zested, plus 2 tsp juice small handful dill, chopped1 tbsp vegetable oil4 tbsp mayonnaise4 poppy seed rolls, split85g bag watercress25g cucumber, sliced4 radishes, thinly sliced 1 Put the salmon, horseradish, lemon zest and half the dill in a food processor, season and blitz to a fine paste. 2 Shape the mixture into four burgers. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the burgers for 4 mins on each side until golden. 3 Meanwhile, mix the remaining dill with the mayonnaise and spread a little onto the base of each roll. Toss the watercress in the lemon…

Barbecue ham & sweetcorn pizza Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Make 2 pizza bases from a 500g pack Wright’s bread mix. Spread each with 4 tbsp barbecue sauce and top with 2 chopped ham slices, 50g sweetcorn, ball torn mozzarella and oregano leaves. Bake for 15 mins. Serves 4. Chilli chicken wings Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix 6 tbsp barbecue sauce with 1 chopped red chilli, juice1/2 lime and 2 tsp soy sauce. Pour marinade over 16 chicken wings and toss well to coat. Put the chicken on a baking tray and cook for 25-30 mins until cooked and marinade sticky. Serve with celery sticks and soured cream to dip. Serves 4.…

Simple iced biscuits Decorating these biscuits will keep the kids entertained. • Makes 40-45 • Prep 30 mins • Cook 20 mins dough only 200g unsalted butter, softened200g golden caster sugar1 large egg1/2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 lemon, zested400g plain flour, plus extra for dusting TO DECORATE 8-12 coloured icing pens, or fondant icing sugar mixed with a little water and food colouring 1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the butter in a bowl and beat it using an electric whisk until soft and creamy. Beat in the sugar, then the egg and vanilla or lemon, and finally the flour to make a dough. If the dough feels a bit sticky, add a little bit more flour and knead it in. 2 Cut the dough into six pieces and roll out one at a…

A cheap, quick and easy family supper with a secret ingredient! Boston baked beans • Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan and fry 200g smoked bacon lardons for 5 mins until crisp. Add 1 sliced onion and 1 crushed garlic clove, and cook gently until soft. Stir in 1 tbsp English mustard powder, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar and a 415g can baked beans. Cook for 5 mins until hot. Season and serve with grilled meat or baked potatoes. Serves 2. Sausage & bean casserole • Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a flameproof casserole dish. Brown 6 good-quality pork sausages for 10-12 mins, then add 1 diced red onion, 2 chopped carrots and 2 diced celery sticks and cook until softened. Stir in 1 tbsp chopped sage, a…