Angela Hartnett’s frightfully good Hallowe’en feast

Warm up with Angela Hartnett’s lamb stew after going trick-or-treating. And if you’re feeling wicked, follow it with her rich chocolate dessert

These are celebratory dishes to feed a crowd, perfect for hosting a Hallowe’en or Bonfire Night party – easy, simple ideas that the kids can have fun with and that can be kept warm for when you come back in from trick-or-treating in the cold.

The pumpkin gratin is a great option for guests who don’t eat meat, and works well as a stand-alone seasonal autumnal meal too. Fontina, an Italian cow’s milk cheese, works beautifully in gratin because it’s gooey and melts really well; it’s similar to mozzarella, with a touch more saltiness and a distinct flavour. If you’ve got pumpkins that would otherwise go to waste, it’s a brilliant way to use them up – it’s a shame to see so many going in the bin.

Both the pumpkin gratin and the stew can be kept bubbling until everyone’s ready to serve themselves straight from the dish. The stew will taste even better if you make it the day before, to allow the flavours to infuse. Veal, oxtail

– any stew at this time of year is beautiful cooked slowly, but shoulder or neck of lamb from a good butcher is fatty and flavoursome. The orange zest adds a touch of acidity.

The tacos could work as a whole meal in themselves: these dishes don’t necessarily have to be served together. You might also want to make a vegetarian filling with beans or a spicier version: kids love tacos and it’s a sociable choice, because it’s about everyone creating their own.

For later, dark chocolate and coffee cake is a time-honoured combination, and Hallowe’en biscuits are a great way to encourage making from scratch, rather than buying everything.

Any stew at this time of year is beautiful – make it the day before so the flavours infuse