Your new comfort food favourites

We’re sharing hearty dishes that will brighten up the darkening evenings – you’ll want to make them again and again recipes BBC GOOD FOOD COOKERY TEAM

Macaroni cheese lasagne

For me, comfort is a big bowl of cheesy baked pasta. Whether I’ve been feeling a bit fuzzy or under the weather, or just in need of a soothing bowl of something warm, both classic mac ‘n’ cheese and lasagne have always been there for me. Here, I’ve combined them in one gloriously sticky and rich recipe, with a meaty ragu.

Esther Clark

SERVES 6-8 PREP 10 mins plus resting COOK 1 hr 20 mins EASY Gragu only

2 tbsp olive oil

400g lean beef mince

50g smoked pancetta, chopped

½ onion, finely chopped

½ celery stick, finely chopped

½ carrot, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

150ml red wine

1 tbsp tomato purée

400g can chopped tomatoes

250ml beef stock

2 bay leaves

1 rosemary sprig

1 tsp sugar

400g macaroni

80g grated mozzarella

a few whole basil leaves, to serve

(optional)

For the cheese sauce

50g butter

50g plain flour

2 tsp English mustard

800ml semi-skimmed milk

small grating of nutmeg

100g grated parmesan

100g mature cheddar, grated

1 Heat half the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan or casserole dish over medium-high heat, and fry the mince and pancetta until golden. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon and set aside.