Name: Cornish Game Hens with Pancetta, Juniper Berries and Beets
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 medium beets with greens, beets peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces, greens finely chopped; 1/2 pound 1/4-inch-thick pancetta,* finely chopped; 1 tablespoon juniper berries, coarsely chopped; 4 1 1/2- to 1 3/4-pound Cornish game hens, giblets removed; 3 tablespoons olive oil

Image may contain Food Meal Pork Roast Supper Dinner and Dish

Cornish Game Hens with Pancetta, Juniper Berries and BeetsMark Thomas

Sauté any remaining greens from the beets to serve on the side with the lentils with port-glazed shallots . A Moulin-à-Vent is the wine of choice; purchased cheesecake topped with cherries marinated in brandy and sugar is a scrumptious finale.

Cooks' Note

*Pancetta, Italian bacon cured in salt, is available at Italian markets and some specialty foods stores nationwide.

Recipe notes

Sheet-Pan Sausage With Corn, Peach, and Cucumber Salad

This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.

Leeks With Sumac, Parm, and Pine Nuts

This side dish is flavorful enough to also serve as a main course.

Slow-Smoked Chicken

An espresso-and-cumin-spiked rub (or brine) gives this smoked chicken impressive flavor.

Charred Vegetable Ragù

This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!

Crispy Baked Wings With Berbere Honey Glaze and Fried Garlic

Berbere is a spicy chile blend that has floral and sweet notes from coriander and cardamom, and when it’s paired with a honey glaze, it sets these wings apart from anything else you’ve ever had.

Spice-Grilled Pork Chops

A pinch of sugar in the spice rub ensures picture-perfect grill marks with layers of flavor.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.