Meals in minutes: Fast and tasty

Even though your time may be limited, you can eat well: nutrition, taste and speed combine to create a winning trio.

Here are a few easy suggestions to help get you there:

Use prepared foods in your recipes

Using prepared foods will significantly reduce the time required to make a recipe without compromising on its final outcome. They are a better option than frozen meals, which often contain too much fat or salt. Plus, don’t homemade meals simply taste better?

There exist a wide range of these products on the market. The following offers a few examples:

Frozen vegetables: nutritious and cook fast.

• Vegetable and Cheddar frittata

Store bought puff pastry: practical and easy to use, puff (or shortcrust) pastry can usually be found in the frozen foods section. Why not give it a try?

• French apple tart
• Autumn quiche with squash, pears and bacon

Canned fish or seafood: ready to cook and available in a wide variety.

• Tuna and Bleubry cheese macaroni
• Salmon mornay casseroles

Frozen pasta: fresh pasta that’s been stuffed and frozen can be prepared in a thousand different ways, and it’s ready in a flash.

• Quick and easy tortellini vegetable soup

Make the most of the same foods

Buy meats in larger quantities and use leftovers to prepare a second, or even a third recipe. Do the same with side dishes (vegetables, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc.) by re-using them in different ways.

Check out the following sample recipes:

• Using beef leftovers, prepare Short-cut shepherd’s pie
• Or use them in a salad, for example: Roast beef dinner salad with Cheddar
• With chicken leftovers, make Easy chicken divan
• Add remaining leftovers to soups or sandwiches, such as Cheese and chicken quesadillas
• Leftover rice can be used to make a delicious colourful salad, such as Curry rice with Cheddar

The possibilities are endless!

Take advantage of electrical appliances

Food processors and stand mixers transform vegetables and broth into comforting soups or rich and creamy sauces. They also transform fruits into smoothies and delicious milkshakes.

• Sweet potato and ginger soup
• Silky smooth red pepper & sweet potato soup
• Mango smoothie
• Frosty yogurt shakes

Microwaves don’t only reheat meals. Take advantage of their ability to cook foods fast with the following examples from a wide variety of delicious microwave recipes:

• Microwave mushroom and Cheddar risotto
• Pasta with Italian sausage and cheese sauce
• Barbecue Colby dip

Planning your weekly meals before going to the supermarket will make it easier to put these practical suggestions into action. In no time at all, you’ll be making healthy and nutritious meals fast!

Comments

• Suzanne Stewart

  September 17th, 2010
  

  I agree with the other person who said the print is too light.

• Eric Petri

  September 11th, 2010
  

  The print on this sight is very pale and hard to read. For us old seniors it would be great if you could make it darker. Other than that it is a great sight with some excellent recipes.