Hello, GreenDogWine readers! My name is Emily, and I usually blog over at my own site, Eatventures.

When Allison offered a guest posting opportunity I jumped on it, I kind of have a lot to say! However, I was having a hard time choosing just one recipe, topic, etc. So I decided to talk about something near and dear to my heart that has many applications – *Roasting.*

Roasting is hands down my favorite cooking method. It’s like your mom, quick and easy –
• It is quick and requires little prep work. The instructions can be “boiled” down to slice, lay, spray, sprinkle, bake. You chop up whatever you are making into uniform pieces, lay them on a baking sheet, spray them with evoo or cooking spray, sprinkle with salt and your seasonings of choice, and bake.
• Clean up is a cinch. If you go ahead and put some aluminum foil on that baking sheet you can literally peel it off at the end and clean up is done. It feels a little wasteful, but do you know how much electricity your dish washer uses?! And I wrap my leftovers right up in the foil.
• It is perfect for veggie haters and lovers alike. Roasting gives whatever you are cooking a great caramelized sweetness that no one can resist. My husband thinks he hates vegetables, but he’s never turned down a veggie I’ve roasted.
• It is healthy. Not only does it get veggie-racists to eat their greens, but it prepares said greens in the healthiest way. Boiling can cause you to lose nutrients to the drained water (and let’s be honest, boiled veggies are almost always disgusting). Sautéing can require extra fats and oils. But roasting? No nutrients lost and no fats added.

The following are my suggestions for yummy things to roast. You can assume that the instructions are pretty much the same for all of them – slice, lay, spray, sprinkle, bake. Depending on your preferences and oven, I recommend setting the oven temp to 475* and cooking from 15-40minutes depending on the veggie. You should look for them to get a little crinkly and to develop sun spots, just like unhealthy tanners. I included sprinkle suggestions below and for the more involved recipes I’ve provided a link.

Veggies! Okra, parsnips, and turnips + chili powder + paprika

Okra is also good “oven fried”

Eggplant + nutmeg + paprika

Broccoli + lemon + pepper

Asparagus + lemon

Brussels sprouts – these are my favorite veggie of all time, and really can’t be beat with just a bit of salt

Any sort of squash + nutmeg

Veggies are also quite good when roasted and stuffed, especially with other veggies! Like acorn squash,

or stuffed peppers

Another favorite of mine for roasting is tofu! Rolled in pretzels,

marinated with maple and cilantro,

or covered in coconut

What is your favorite thing to roast?