Fall

Use very soft, ripe, heart-shaped Hachiya persimmons rather than the smaller, firmer Fuyu variety. If you can't find Hachiyas, substitute 1 cup of canned pumpkin. Stir any leftover purée into yogurt for a sweet breakfast.

Butter lettuce, grown hydroponically, is a great way to add green to your cold-weather menus. This quick and easy salad is so tasty that you can throw some leftover roast chicken on top and call it a meal. We use store-bought walnuts here; for The Dandelion's recipe for spiced walnuts, go to bonappetit.com/go/walnuts.

Letting the hot steak rest over a platter of frisée serves to gently wilt the greens.

If you manage to have any leftovers, this moist spice cake makes a nice afternoon treat with a cup of tea. For an extra-tart garnish, serve with Citrus-Cranberry Compote (click for recipe).