Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin, brings a pumpkin-meets-sweet-potato flavor and a pop of orange color. Kabocha can also stand in for (or at least alongside) mashed potatoes. It's more fibrous than spuds, so be sure to use a food processor or immersion blender to yield a smooth, creamy texture.

Ina Garten's colorful salad makes the most of fall flavors by using caramelized cubes of squash as a foil to peppery arugula, then pulls it all together with a maple-apple cider dressing.

Using rainbow carrots gives the plate added panache, while the addition of toasted, crushed coriander gives it a certain je ne sais quoi. (Be prepared to share the recipe, because people are guaranteed to ask!)

Cauliflower, everyone's favorite cruciferous vegetable lately, takes a starring turn in Ina's gratin, in which florets are cloaked in a creamy sauce and baked under a blanket of Gruyère and breadcrumbs.