The Recipes I Recommended

Both of these recipes are cooked in a standard American oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit; I started preheating before I did any kitchen prep.

Spicy-Sweet Roasted Chicken
The only complicated part of this is the rub, and it's not that complicated.
In a large bowl, combine:
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp sea salt
1/2 tbsp ancho chili powder
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp oregano

Add around 1/4-1/3 cup of oil, whatever seems to make this look well-moistened when you stir it all together. Slap your chicken breasts into this bowl of exotic spices one at a time, making sure that you get an even coat. Roast the chicken on a pan (I used a griddle but that was a result of bachelorly desperation) for 10 minutes, turn and roast for about another 10 (I cannot swear to the second cooking time as I forgot to turn on the oven timer). Comes out very moist and with excellent flavor.

Simple Roasted Yams
Take 6 Medium Beauregard yams (more or as you prefer, I make 2 per meal I plan to eat them at) and one small Walla-Walla onion. Cut into smallish chunks. Mix onions and yams in a roasting pan, and toss with oil, black pepper, sea salt, and paprika. Cook for about 60 minutes, stirring about every 15-20. Let cool a tiny bit before serving.

For those of you who like to pretend to snobbery and also cut into the health quotient of the meal, I recommend a good dark beer or brown ale with this meal. But then I always recommend those things. And all food is always better when shared.