This green pesto is a simple and tasty way to use up pumpkin seeds that are often wasted. You can add grated parmesan (or any other hard cheese) if you wish, but it is equally good without. This recipe is cheap to make using frozen peas. But you could use any variety of green vegetables like spinach or broccoli. If serving with pasta try adding halved cherry tomatoes just before serving.

A great sauce that’s simple to whip up using store cupboard ingredients. This can be used as a base for lasagne, bolognese, pasta bake, chilli con carne or even curry. You can also blend up with a little stock for a delicious and easy tomato soup.

Pistou is a Provençal cold sauce made from cloves of garlic, basil and olive oil. It is similar to pesto, although it doesn’t include nuts, so it is smoother. It is classically added to soups of summer vegetables. 

This simple midweek supper is a riff on a classic Italian dish for autumn, and perfect for giving your Halloween pumpkin another lease of life.

When we think of pesto we often think of Pesto Genovese with basil, pine nuts, parmesan and garlic. But you can make pesto from many leafy greens, different nuts and seeds and a variety of hard cheeses. To help you find a home for seeds from your carved pumpkins, this is our delicious pumpkin seed pesto. It's not just thrifty, it's tasty and is an amazing food waste buster.