Leafy Greens

A soup this hearty calls for wedges of crusty country bread alongside. For the salad, arrange sliced pickled beets on romaine leaves and sprinkle generously with fresh dill. Apple strudel is just right to finish up.

Beets and red cabbage are a great combination. In this recipe, the two are grated and then slowly cooked with onions. The result is a side dish that would go well with roast veal, pot roast or sausages.

Lots of fun: pizza with flavors reminiscent of the classic Reuben sandwich.

One of the best ways I know of serving a dish the second time around is to dress up the leftovers in tortillas, bake them in a spaghetti sauce, and top them with crunchy stuff. Even a picky kid might not recognize last night's dinner — if you're lucky. You can use the same fillings and toppings you would with tacos or try some others.

Smoky andouille sausage is the perfect counterpoint to the delicate scallops.

Serve this salad with grilled meats; it's especially great with spare ribs.

Pipián is an earthy, pureed seed sauce that is traditional in Mexican cooking. Serve this dish with rice to soak up the sauce.

This risotto has the classic creamy yet al dente texture and features a combination of Parmesan cheese and seafood. Contrary to popular belief, Italians do partner cheese with seafood in some dishes; we recommend it here without reservation.

Look for hearts of romaine near the bagged lettuces in the produce section.

This recipe is from chef Peter Doyle from Cicada in Sydney. "This dish is a play on Maltaise sauce, but in a lighter, fresher version more conducive to our climate."

Nearly everyone has tasted a Spring Roll, as they are served in dim sum houses and Chinese restaurants all over America: But a homemade Spring Roll is a rare treat. The roll should have a crackling crisp skin with a filling of fine shreds of mushroom, barbecued pork, celery, cabbage, and just a touch of bean sprouts. Most restaurant spring rolls are full of bamboo shoots, celery, and bean sprouts; have a chewy or soggy wrapper; and are seldom fried in fresh oil. The wrapping dough is available in most Chinese markets, sold as spring roll wrappers, and should be as thin as possible. There are about ten wrappers per package, although most packages do not indicated how many they contain. Keep the dough covered with a slightly damp cloth as you work with it, to prevent it from drying out.

At the Fifth Floor, this is prepared with quail. Game hens make an easy-to-find substitute.