The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

These are great for sandwiches. Just split them in half, slather with some Dijon, pile on thinly sliced ham, and add a lettuce leaf.

Don't have 60 minutes to roast a root vegetable? Try cooking yams in a microwave for about five minutes on each side and you'll have yams that are soft and ready to mash—fast.

Chop your favorite nuts and dried fruit to fill this tart. If desired, use toasted coconut or chopped crystallized ginger instead of toffee bits for the garnish.

Pear nectar gives the sauce a sweet, luscious finish.

Rustic and delicious, this healthy meatless stew is a hearty main course.

This is an incredibly simple recipe with an impressive payoff: Golden roasted chicken is dressed up with beautiful bunches of sweet grapes.

Crunchy sourdough croutons nicely complement the texture of this healthful pureed soup that is made from about a pound of vitaminpacked (and budget-friendly) celery stalks and leaves. The flavor is both savory and incredibly fresh and bright. For an even lighter texture, the whipping cream can be omitted, if you prefer.

Grated lemon peel brightens up this light and satisfying pasta, which makes delicious use of root vegetables.

A silky-smooth panna cotta with the tang of buttermilk, this dessert is wonderfully easy to pull off. Any leftover sauce would be great spooned over ice cream.

To get a 12-ounce flank steak, cut a 1 1/2-pound flank steak lengthwise.

A complete, one-pot meal.

Thanks to paprika, this meatless main has a spicy, smoky flavor. Domestic smoked paprika can be found at some supermarkets. For a spicier kick, use hot smoked Spanish paprika (Pimentón Picante or Pimentón de La Vera Picante), which is sold at specialty foods stores and at tienda.com.