Roast

During the developing and testing process for this book, this dish became Hubby's new favorite. Totally unexpected—I was sure he'd steal a line from the kids and say, "Thank you anyway, but this is not my taste." (We taught them to say that instead of "Ooo, yick!") It's just not the usual stuff and spices he goes for, but apparently the combination was soooo his taste. And mine, too. It's one of those winner recipes that will make you dance around your kitchen. You may hug me now.

To choose a fresh tomatillo, they should be firm and the husks mostly intact. A split is ok, but you want them looking pretty tight. Roast the onions here if you like a deeper, caramelized flavor, or add them in raw for a more authentic salsa.

Rather than pasta, this vegetarian version of the classic Southern Italian dish is tossed with spaghetti squash "noodles" for a delicious dinner that cooks entirely on just one sheet pan.

The juices from cumin-rubbed chicken thighs soak into grapes, fennel, and squash as they all roast together in this simple, flavorful one-pan dinner.

This entire Italian-inspired dinner is cooked on two baking sheets, making clean-up a breeze.

Puffed and pulverized wild rice is the new breadcrumb, coating any meaty white fish you like in a nutty, crispy exterior.

When lacquered with a rich, complex sauce and roasted, chicken becomes a delicious crowd-pleaser. There's enough chipotle here to make your lips hum, but not so much as to overshadow the balancing act created by the other ingredients—toasty garlic, onions, and ketchup, plus a kiss of brown sugar and cinnamon.

The goose is blanched briefly and then chilled for two days before roasting to ensure a crisp skin. Offer buttered peas and carrots with the goose, and pour a Pinot Noir. A pear tart would end the evening in style.

If you're short on time or refrigerator space, you can preseason the pork for only 1 to 2 hours.

The secret to removing the pin bones from black cod is to wait until after it's been cooked.

Roasting cherry tomatoes with maple syrup enhances their natural sweetness, making them an ideal partner for rich, tangy goat cheese.