Bringing home a favorite

Dear SOS: I recently ate at Luna Park for a friend’s birthday and had the grilled half chicken with Brussels sprouts, an amazing dish! My family is visiting, and I’d like to prepare something different yet festive.

Jude Van Dal

Los Angeles

Dear Jude: This dish of grilled chicken and roasted winter veggies is embellished with special touches including a warm brown-sugar glaze and whole toasted hazelnuts.

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Grilled chicken with Brussels sprouts and butternut squash

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 2

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed (2 cups cubed)

8 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into half-inch cubes

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, divided

1 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided

3/4teaspoon black pepper, divided

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 1/2- to 3-pound chicken, halved, skin on, backbones and breastbones removed

2 tablespoons whole toasted hazelnuts

2 teaspoons honey

1. Combine the squash, Brussels sprouts, brown sugar, butter, 1 tablespoon chopped sage, 1 teaspoon salt and one-half teaspoon pepper in a 9-by-12-inch glass baking dish and roast uncovered in a 375-degree oven, stirring several times, until the squash is tender, about 40 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat the grill. Rub the olive oil onto both sides of each chicken half. Season the chicken with one-half teaspoon salt and the remaining pepper. Place the chicken on the hot grill, skin side down, and cook for 15 minutes, then turn and continue cooking until the juices from the thigh run clear, about 35 to 40 minutes total.

3. Combine the hazelnuts, honey, remaining salt and remaining sage in a small skillet and cook over low heat to melt the honey and coat the hazelnuts, about 5 minutes.

4. To serve, spoon half of the roasted vegetables onto each dinner plate and nestle a chicken half nearby. Garnish with the honeyed hazelnuts.

Each serving: 1,370 calories; 96 grams protein; 51 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams fiber; 88 grams fat; 29 grams saturated fat; 418 mg. cholesterol; 2,339 mg. sodium.