More Favorite (but Not So Pretty) Meals

Soft scrambled egg, fish sauce and an abundance of fresh herbs (cilantro, mint, basil) are what make Cafe Drake HRV's Vietnamese Fried Rice our favorite version of an Asian cuisine standby.

Custardy, chilled soft tofu drizzled with a sweet tomato-miso vinaigrette, garlic chives and sesame seeds. The dressing is easier than your guests need know AND all of the ingredients can be sourced from the supermarket as needed. Just add 1 T. dark or light miso paste to about 3 T. good-quality tomato ketchup, thin with a bit of rice or white vinegar and a few drops of cold water - whisk in 2-3 T. vegetable oil, season with salt and black pepper and you're done. Optional add-in would be soy sauce. Double batch and keep handy when salads seem a bore.

Our version of the thick Moroccan stew known as harira. We make it differently every time but the constants include spicy tomato broth, chickpeas and broken spaghetti strands.

Oy Vey, Indian Lunch, Lower East Side-style! Buttermilk Curry, Basmati Rice, Herb Salad, Yellow Squash with Black Mustard Seeds and a toasted bialy.

Hanoi-style beef sausages (seasoned with lots of fish sauce and minced lemongrass), rice, sauteed long beans and shiso leaves.

Leftover buttermilk curry and rice, braised bok choy, roasted sweet potatoes, blender green chutney and yogurt. And yes, it was delicious.

Pickled jalapenos add excitement to even the blandest snacks, hence the gargantuan can always found at Cafe Drake HRV. Embasa is the house brand because of its abundance of pickled carrots included with the peppers.

OK, stay with us here: leftover bok choy, iron skillet, whole-wheat cornbread, simmered black beans, pickled jalapenos, more yogurt and Cabot Reserve cheddar.

Now we remember what happened here. Looks like the leftover roasted sweet potatoes got re-simmered with lingering black beans and served alongside toasted cornbread (with buttermilk herb dressing).

Too tired to cook! Reheated leftover carrot soup, bread with cheese and tomatoes and watercress salad.