Dried beans are a pantry superhero - inexpensive and easy to prepare. Get a head start by cooking the beans in advance. They can be stored, covered and refrigerated, up to 3 days.
These offbeat tuna burgers were loosely inspired by a Thai fried white fish patty called tod man pla. The Thai cucumber salad stands in for pickles. Use sushi-quality tuna so you can serve the burgers medium rare.
It's never a bad idea to have a good supply of dumplings on hand. Ours taste way better and are much lower in sodium than what you'll find at the store. Plus, they go from freezer to plate in only 10 minutes--what could be easier? Just cook what you need tonight, and stash the rest in the freezer for a busy night later.
Pork shoulder has the double advantage of pairing well with both white and red wines, and being one of the cheaper cuts at the meat counter. Long-braised and roasted, it also delivers a huge amount of flavor. Serve these sandwiches with fresh cilantro sprigs and thinly sliced sweet onions (such as Maui) for each person to add to taste.
