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1 head cauliflower, leaves removed
light oil (canola, rapeseed, sunflower)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
125ml preferred hot sauce
100g unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Crumbled blue cheese, to taste

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 190C.

Cut the stalk end off the cauliflower so that the head sits flat and place it on a large baking sheet. Rub 2 tbsp of the oil all over the cauliflower, season to taste with salt and pepper, and roast until the outside starts to brown, about 30 minutes.

Transfer the cauliflower to a cutting board and let cool. Once the cauliflower is cool enough to handle, cut or break it into small florets.

In a medium saucepan over moderate heat, bring the hot sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat then slowly whisk in the butter until fully incorporated. Remove from the heat and let cool.

In a large, deep frying pan over moderate heat, warm the remaining oil. Add the cauliflower florets, season to taste with salt and pepper, and sauté until heated through, about 5 minutes. Add enough Buffalo sauce to coat the cauliflower and continue sautéing until both the cauliflower and the sauce are hot, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a platter and garnish with the crumbled blue cheese.

700g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
200g sliced mushrooms
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Olive oil
30g unsalted butter
1 small white onion, chopped finely
1L chicken broth, preferably low-sodium
500g penne rigate
375ml heavy (whipping) cream, warmed
50g freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken in olive oil, in batches if necessary, and sauté until nicely browned on the outside, but still a bit pink inside, about 4 minutes (the pieces don’t have to be browned on all sides; two sides is fine). Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.

Melt butter in a bit more olive oil and sauté the mushrooms for a few minutes, until browned. Remove the mushrooms and set aside with the chicken. Add the onion to the pan and sauté over medium heat until translucent, 30 seconds. Turn the heat to high, add the chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Bring to a simmer, lower to medium heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta, stir well, and simmer until the pasta starts to soften, about 8 minutes.

Stir in the warm cream and the browned chicken and mushrooms with any juices that have accumulated on the plate. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, most of the liquid has been absorbed, and the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes more.

Stir in the parmesan until well incorporated, taste, and adjust the seasonings if needed.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1 medium carrot, chopped
4 medium plum tomatoes, diced
1 stick celery, sliced
500g ground beef
500g button mushrooms
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
1 cup ale beer (or you can use beef or vegetable stock instead)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt & pepper, to taste
250g puff-pastry, enough to cover pan

In a large, deep, ovenproof skillet (like a 10-inch cast iron skillet), heat the vegetable oil over a medium heat. Add in the sliced onion and cook while stirring until the onion is translucent. Add the carrot, tomatoes, mushrooms and celery, and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the ground beef and use your spoon to break it up into small pieces.

Keep stirring the mixture until all the beef is opaque and no longer pink. Sprinkle the flour over the contents of the skillet, then stir it in. Lastly stir in the ale, thyme, and a good grind of black pepper. Season with salt, to taste, then take it off the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes while you preheat the oven to 400F/200C. (This is a good time to clean up the kitchen!)

Dust the puff pastry with some flour and roll out into a square large enough to cover your skillet. Roll the pastry up onto your rolling pin and unroll over the skillet. Trim off any overhanging edges of the pastry. Place the skillet into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving.