Chinese

Wontons are one of my ultimate comfort foods. A steaming bowl of broth filled with meaty wontons fits the bill every time I want a satisfying soup for dinner. Folding wontons may look complicated, but they’re actually quite easy. All you have to do is fold the filled wrapper in half to form a triangle, then bring the bottom corners together to finish the fold. You can also use this activity as a fun group gathering if you can recruit some extra hands to make the folding go faster.

Want another way to enjoy that glorious summer corn? How about a cool, sweet glass of corn juice! Many cultures have corn-based drinks, from Central American atol de elote to Peruvian chicha morada. Corn juice or corn milk is also popular in Asian countries like China, Thailand, and Vietnam, where it might be served plain or mixed with milk or sugar. I find that homemade corn juice rarely needs anything extra — it’s naturally sweet and creamy, yet delicate.

I love the vegetable section in Asian grocery stores because there are so many greens to choose from, especially when I’m tired of kale and chard. But for those who haven’t cooked a lot with Asian greens, the produce aisle might be a bit overwhelming, especially since the greens can go by multiple names. As with most greens, Asian greens can be steamed, stir-fried, stewed, braised, chopped, and cooked in dumplings or soups. Some of these can even be served raw in salads!

When it’s been one of those days, sometimes the only solution is ordering Chinese takeout for dinner. And that’s OK, because scallion pancakes can make those days feel a little better. But tomorrow, you’ve promised yourself that you’ll get it together and cook dinner. How do you make that promise a little easier on yourself? Add a few extras to your takeout order tonight and lean on them tomorrow.