3 Roasts for a Winter Weekend

Prime rib roast, pernil, and pot roast with cranberries

Photo: Night and Day Images/E+/Getty Images

Whether you’re in the mood for one of these projects this weekend or you’re thinking about what to serve for Christmas or New Years', all three of Mark’s straightforward recipes deliver what will amount to a special meal. Each recipe is geared for a small crowd but if you’re being conservative this year and don’t even plan on that, you’ll have leftovers and you’ll be happy about it.

Prime Rib Roast for a Small Crowd

Makes: About 6 servings
Time: About 1½ hours (largely unattended)

This is a simple roasting technique: high heat to sear the meat, lower heat to cook it through. If you want a really crisp exterior, turn the heat back to 450°F for a few minutes right at the end of cooking; this won’t affect the internal temperature too much. Large roasts like this will cook more quickly if they are at room temperature before roasting.

Ingredients

• 1 (3-rib) roast, about 5 pounds, trimmed of excess (but not all fat)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 or 2 cloves garlic (optional)
• 1 cup red wine, stock, store-bought broth, or water