Potato

Roasted whole garlic got its start at Chez Panisse. Here, it’s added to the decade’s ultimate comfort food, smooth and creamy mashed potatoes.

Whether you're watching the Super Bowl or just having friends over for a party, these potatoes are a great hors d'oeuvre. Feel free to double the recipe if you're expecting a big crowd.

Place mother-of-pearl caviar spoons in the crème fraîche and caviar bowls for spooning the toppings onto the potatoes. What to drink: Three-Olive Martinis and brut rosé Champagne.

Hélène Wagner-Popoff writes, "My husband, Ivan, and I moved to Corsica from Madagascar eleven years ago on a whim. We restored an abandoned convent and saved the thousand-year-old olive grove surrounding it. The fact that I live in the country — with the luxury of having a garden full of wonderful ingredients — makes it easy for me to love cooking. I like to surprise my family and guests with unexpected flavor combinations that don't take a lot of effort."

This is a great summer salad, perfect with all kinds of barbecue and grilled foods. It's also a wonderful way to brighten up a winter dinner of broiled chicken or beef.

Laura Trevino of Washington, D.C., writes: "This hearty chowder is the perfect thing for a chilly evening. Serve it with dark beer and crusty bread or oyster crackers."

Crisp rounds of potato are layered with wild mushrooms in this hearty dish. Prepare both galettes in the morning, then reheat them after the turkey comes out of the oven.

This delicious variation on a side-dish classic is made with red potatoes and flavored with a full head of roasted garlic. This recipe is an accompaniment for Chicken and Mashed Potatoes with Herb-roasted Tomatoes and Olive Broth .

Mincing the garlic and chopping the rosemary the night before (and storing them in a resealable plastic bag in the fridge) makes preparation the next morning a snap.

Finnan Haddie Gratin Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 1/4 hr

María de los Angeles Rodr‭guez Artacho, co-owner with her husband of Bar Jordi, was kind enough to share her recipe.

Creamy potatoes are baked in a casserole.

This rich, creamy version of twice-baked potatoes can be assembled and refrigerated one day before the final baking.

This Swedish stew called Sjömansbiffgryta is one of the most typical family stews, which every Swede knows. This is one of those "lots of bang for the buck" types of stews. It's so simple, yet the taste it delivers is so satisfying. It is best to cook it in an enameled cast-iron casserole because it goes into a very hot oven for quite a while, and all the liquid gets absorbed and the casserole becomes a little crusty. I know it seems like an awfully long time to keep a stew in such a hot oven, but trust me, it works. You can deglaze the casserole with a bit of water if you like and pour it over the stew, which should be transferred to a serving bowl.

"I have a 'stragglers Thanksgiving' — that's what I call it — at my house every year," writes Frances Teasley of North Hollywood, California. "I know a lot of people who, like me, don't have any family nearby. Thirteen years ago I started inviting a few people for dinner. And that small holiday gathering has become a big tradition among my friends. For weekday meals, I look for shortcuts and do-aheads. But for holiday meals, I like to do everything the same day because I love the smell of cooking that fills the house."

Hollowed-out orange halves are filled with mashed yams and topped with marshmallow creme and pecans.

You can form the sweet-potato pancakes up to six hours ahead, leaving only a quick frying before serving.