Remember your roasting pan? That huge thing tucked away in your kitchen cabinets? It's ceramic or metal, about the same shape as a cookie sheet but with taller sides… (Ah yes, I vaguely recall such a pan.) Last week it got cold enough to turn on the heat in my home, and when that happens I get one thing on my mind: Roasting. But you don't have to use your roasting pan just for meat. Here are 10 other delectable dishes you can make using your roasting pan, some of them for brunch, some for dinner, and some for dessert. In some cases you may want to line your roasting pan with parchment paper and butter.
1. Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas. There's a million easy enchilada recipes out there. This one is a little different because it uses green salsa.
2. Chicken Enchilada Casserole. From the so-bad-it's-good files: I kind of hate the idea of this dish, and yet I cannot deny part of me sort of loves it. Just don't call it Mexican food. This White Chicken Enchiladas recipe gives the casserole some of its dignity back.
3. Blueberry Crumb Bars. Hand-held blueberry crumble! I think you could probably swap in other kinds of fruit, like diced apple, pear, and peach.
4. Lasagna. Maybe through the long, hot summer you forgot about lasagna? Well, this is just a friendly reminder of how yummy it is. Remember: You do NOT! Have to boil the noodles first. By the way, this recipe has been called the "world's best."
5. Spiced Pumpkin Bread Pudding. Ha! I found a way to sneak pumpkin into this recipe roundup. If you're sick of pumpkin, though, this Double Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe looks heavenly.
6. Frittata Squares. This is a great recipe for when you're feeding a large crew brunch.
7. Sausage, Spinach, and Roasted Red Pepper Torta. Also known as torta rustica, this Italian specialty combines veggies, cheese, sausage, lots of eggs, and a baguette.
8. Zucchini Coffee Cake. It sounds a little crazy, but this sounds like a tasty way to use up the last of the season's zucchini and feed a crowd.
9. Potato Fennel Gratin. If you like funeral potatoes but have a more adventurous palate, give this recipe made with fennel bulb a try. Someone made me this for me right after I had a baby and I still remember it — nine years later.
10. Herb Roasted Tomatoes. You could do this in a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan, but a roasting pan will hold the last of summer's giant heirloom tomatoes a little better. Crush gently, toss with spaghetti and enjoy.
How do you like to use your roasting pan?
Image via Eckhardt/Diop/the food passionates/Corbis
