30 Minutes or Less

A vanilla bean is an extravagance that lends a note of sophistication to this drink, but extract is a fine substitute.

Use a block of Asian (Thai) tamarind rather than the Indian kind. It's usually thicker, softer, and easier to work with.

Inspired by American Adobo In this 2001 film, a group of Filipino-American college friends get together to eat and share stories about their loves and lives. Their experiences of assimilating to American society vary, but all of the characters recognize their need for the comfort derived from friendship and familiar foods. For this dish, be sure your plaintains are completely black, since the fruit becomes sweeter as it ripens. (Yellow or mottled brown plantains are very starchy and usually take about a week to fully ripen.) Serve these fritters as a snackor pair them with ice cream for a delicious dessert.

Jennifer Janesko of Kansas City, Kansas, writes: "I had an amazing egg drop soup at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian, in Las Vegas. It had a slight kick of lemon and was perfect after a long night of blackjack. Could you get the recipe?"

Exactly what a fancy grilled cheese should be — top-notch cheese and bread with a little surprise (an almond-sage spread).

Serve with: Orzo tossed with butter and sliced green onion, and sliced roasted beets.

Loren uses a mortar and pestle to pound the ingredients for her pestolike sauce, but we found it much easier to blend them in a food processor.

Sweet and fruity, this is the quintessential beach or poolside drink.

When the Two-Dollar Cocktail was so named, over a half century ago, the amount of cash in question was a substantial sum. The French brandy  — Cognac, if you like  — certainly contributes to its value.

Flips were originally hot drinks made with egg and a variety of liquors and wines. They were warmed up by means of a loggerhead, an iron tool with a long handle and bulbous end that could be heated and plunged, like a poker, into the drink. Today, however, flips are generally served cold. Historically, they have been most often served in the morning or at bedtime, because of their soothing character.