Roasting Vegetables 101

A reference guide with temperatures and times.

Potatoes 325 - 400 / 45 - 90 min 

(about 5 ounces or 150 grams each)

Roll in Olive Oil / Salt for a soft skin

Roll in Salt for a crisp skin 

45 minutes at 400 degrees F.
60 minutes at 350 degrees F.
90 minutes at 325 degrees F.

Place the potato directly on the oven rack in a preheated oven. Place a baking sheet (I put a piece of aluminum foil)on the lower rack (below the potatoes) to catch any drippings.

Squash  Acorn/ Butternut   400 / 30 min + 30-45 min
400 degree oven 1 hour - 1.25 Hour
Halve the squash and score diagonally on a baking sheet

Season with Butter / Sage / Thyme / chopped Shallots / smashed Garlic  / S&P
or OO & Essence 
or Brown Sugar / Maple Syrup / S&P

• Pour 2 cups water in the bottom of the baking pan.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 30-45 minutes, or until squash is golden brown. 
• In the last 5 minutes of baking, turn on the broiler and allow tops to get a little more brown and the butter/sugar mixture to bubble.       
• (thanks Pioneer Woman)

Cauliflower   425 / 35 Minutes + 10 minutes
Cut into Florettes  &  Toss once during cooking 
Season with Olive Oil / Essence 

Olive Oil / Smashed Garlic / Onions / Bouquet Garni / Basalmic Vinegar / S&P

Olive Oil / crushed Garlic  / Onions / Thyme / S&P

+ grated cheese for last ten minutes

Olive Oil / Dijon Mustard / Bouquet Garni / S&P

+ grated cheese for last ten minutes

Carrots   400 / ~25 min
1.5 inch pieces / halved if thick $ Toss once during cooking 

Layer on a baking sheet lined with foil

Season with Olive Oil / Essence 
Olive Oil / Smashed Garlic / Onions / Bouquet Garni / Basalmic Vinegar / S&P


add grated cheese when done?

Mushrooms  450 / 20 min  or 375 / 35 min
Halve or Quarter layer on foil lined baking sheet & Toss once during cooking 
Bacon Grease / Diced Bacon / Onions / Basalmic Vinegar / S&P
Olive Oil / crushed Garlic /  Thyme or Rosemary / Worcestershire / Dry Sherry / S&P 

+ grated cheese when done
Butter / White Wine / Thyme
Brussel Sprouts  400 / 15 - 20 minutes
Halve and layer on foil lined baking sheet & Toss once during cooking 
Bacon Grease / Diced Bacon / Basalmic Vinegar / S&P
Bacon Grease / Diced Bacon / S&P  add grated cheese when done?

What is Bouquet Garni? 
Hand-mixed from: savory, rosemary, thyme, Turkish oregano, basil, dill weed, marjoram, sage and tarragon.  
https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/bouquet-garni/c-24/p-31/pd-s

What is Essence?  Emeril Lagrasse's Basic Cajun Spice make at home!
(3 TBS) tablespoons paprika Szeged (calls for 2.5 tablespoons salt  (calls for 2)

2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (sub Szeged Hot Paprika)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/emerils-essence-recipe.html

Reference: Baked Potato, Bacon in the Oven

How wonderful is it that russet potatoes can be cooked at different temperatures?

Baked Potato Chart
Source: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/PotatoBaking.htm

Scrub em, fork em, roll em in salt, drop em directly on the rack.
Rub with Olive Oil for a soft skin.
Wrap them in Foil to steam em, (soft skin)

Conventional or Regular Oven:
(about 5 ounces or 150 grams each)

45 minutes at 400 degrees F.
60 minutes at 350 degrees F.
90 minutes at 325 degrees F.

Bacon

Sources: 

http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/breakfastcookery/ht/bacon.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/264476/less-mess-bacon

Line Baking sheet with foil or parchment

Don't Pre-heat if you can  

400 degrees 17-20 minutes / 15-18 pre-heated

Sources - Blogs and pages I like.

Southern Food. This is my first go to place for recipes basics. I can finding the ratios of meat and vegetables to liquids, and ideas for what seasonings to use.

The other "about.com" cooking sites are not nearly as good. I pass on a lot of the recipes here, especially anything that calls for a can of soda.

http://southernfood.about.com/ - edited by Diana Rattray

I just found this site, looking for a use for an abundance of tomatoes. A well designed blog, well written and illustrated with recipes that sound like my kind of cooking. Coming soon, home made marina sauce.

http://www.formerchef.com/

I also just found this, looking for a jambalaya recipe. It appears to be a lot of work to make it the old fashioned way. Another well written website, with lots of interesting information.

http://www.gumbopages.com/recipe-page.html - Chuck Taggart