Oven Bake

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

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 40 min

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.

Active time: 1 hr Start to finish: 3 3/4 hr

Using meat loaf mix — a combination of ground beef, veal, and pork — ensures a juicy result. While the meat loaf cooks, mash some potatoes and boil some green beans. Warm apple pie from the bakery is a perfect finale.

Fay Felicitas, San Jose, Calif.
If you don't have margarine, 2 to 3 additional tablespoons of olive oil will do, as the sausages release some fat. Two ounces of cheese is a small amount, but that's all you'll need to tie the dish together.

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

On Maryland's Eastern shore, watermen make a living pulling the "beautiful swimmers" (blue crabs) out of Chesapeake Bay. This recipe was given to me many years ago by a waterman's wife — pre-food-processor. Note: This one's for the mini food processor because amounts are small.

Chris Gavenda, Wildwood, Mo.
For those of you who may not know, the tortilla chips form a crispy crust on the bottom of the casserole.

This recipe calls for a standard glass baking dish, but any oven-to-table dish can be used.

A little bit of smoked mozzarella goes a long way in boosting flavor without adding much fat. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 hr

Try this side with trout or lamb chops, then apple upside-down cake.

This fragrant mélange mixes starchy tastes with sweet. The dish is like a stir-fry, only it's done in the oven—a great, no-fuss way to cook a slew of vegetables.

This delicious rustic omelet's flavors, when it's served at room temperature, are in full flower.

This rich, savory dish (pronounced shrimp mah-lih-tone) is pure Cajun comfort food. In Louisiana it's often served as a side dish; it also works as a first course.

"The bruschetta topped with portobello mushrooms and caramelized onions at Tapas 177 is one of the best things I've eaten in this town," writes Laurence Schacht of Rochester, New York. "I'd like to re-create this dish at home for my friends." The restaurant-style results of this recipe are worth the effort. Use roasted red peppers from a jar instead of roasting fresh ones, if desired, and note the do-ahead steps.

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 hr

"For a dinner with company, I often pop these in the oven with a roast, then serve them on dressed mixed greens as an appetizer," writes Elsie Wollaston of Vancouver, Canada. "I also like to serve them directly from the ramekins as a brunch dish."