Now that the election is over and I am feeling depressed I will seek solace in the way I usually do - with food.

Lately I have been eating a LOT of baked butternut squash, sweet potatoes, yams and beets because it is that time of year again. You can do the same things with other root vegetables too like carrots, parsnips, turnips , rutabaga, etc.

Baked root vegetables

There is a basic technique. In the case of squashes you have to cut away the rind/skin - I find it easiest to simply use a big sharp kitchen knife and peel the things with it. Then cut in half and remove seeds. For beets, etc without a rind you WANT the skin, so just scrub 'em clean. Now cube everything. Make dense root veggis like beets and rutabaga a little smaller - they take longer to cook. Now toss with olive oil, salt and optional herbs and spices (rosemary, sage, paprika, even curry all work well). Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 50 minutes to 75 minutes and shake them around halfway through to get more browning. Your friends and family will exclaim and gobble them all down.