Yes, Virginia, There Really Is A 30 Minute Meal! Learn The Secrets Here! Our hectic schedules demand so much of our time, that by the time we arrive home, everyone's clamoring for dinner and don't have the time for you to spend an hour cooking. You probably don't want to spend an hour either. You're tired and want to eat soon. As a result of the obvious demand, There are many cook books which include the term '30 minute meals' in the title. Being a cook book addict and sometimes desirous of a quick meal, I've bought a few of these, looking for fresh ideas which will also save me time. Perhaps I'm the slowest cook in the world, or maybe I'm not willing to dice a bunch of onions in three minutes, for fear of losing a finger at this breakneck speed. Maybe I just don't have sufficient counter space or a test kitchen environment. However, I've concluded that winging it on recipe creations and a heap of organizational techniques is what puts a 30 minute meal on the table in, well, 30 minutes. I'd like to pass on some of these ideas to you and make this elusive wonder meal a reality for you. Good organization in the kitchen is essential. When the dishwasher has done its thing, empty it. You won't waste time searching for the cheese grater. Keep your cupboards organized. You want a clean, orderly work space, so the time you spend is devoted exclusively to the preparation of the meal. Menu planning is another key to success. How many times have you come home and scanned the frig for dinner ideas? Chances are, you'll end up wasting food in the end. No menu also opens the door to family suggestions, such as “Hey, Mom, let's go out for pizza!” This can get you and yours a 30 minute meal, but your food budget is, for the moment, clueless. You'll pay for it next week. If you've got kids to whom you can safely delegate part of the meal prep process, by all means, do! Less for you to do, and they get lessons in responsibility. Depending on their age, kids can set the table, chop veggies and grab items from the freezer. If you're single, setting the table doesn't take much! The slow cooker is your best friend for making sumptuous, hearty, homemade meals. Spend ten or fifteen minutes in the morning getting the ingredients in the pot and be on your way. Come dinner time, another fifteen minutes and you've got salad, a warm loaf of crusty French bread and that desirable 30 minute meal, on the table. We all have a lazy afternoon or Saturday morning when we feel like putting in a little effort on a great meal. Maybe you've decided to make your spouse's favorite dish, Beef Bourguignon. This dish will require more than 30 minutes, for sure. However, making a double batch requires little extra time. Take half of this delectable and freeze it. Next time, it takes no time to defrost, warm and serve. Making double or even triple batches of family favorites pays you handsomely in the future. Your average time spent quickly gets down to our 30 minute meal criteria, using this strategy. Our last tip is quite useful for those bad hair days. Nothing's going right and you're beat. Try the single course approach to the 30 minute meal. First, get some rice going. While it's cooking, fix and serve a dinner salad and some bread. Everyone's immediately got something to eat. Next, slice a few mushrooms, some leftover meat from last night's roast and add a red bell pepper, a couple of sliced green onions or snow peas. Saute this mixture briefly and serve over the rice. You've got a complete 30 minute meal. That's all it takes! Use these tips to prepare your favorite meals, ready to eat in just 30 minutes! Summary There are many ways to cut cooking time down in order to make more time for family and friends. It all boils down to preparing items ahead of time, and freezing or refrigerate foods for future use once the basics have been handled. You can save a lot of time and have wonderful dinners using these tips and tricks. Related Articles Custom 30 Minute Cooking Plan Finding Good Cooking Tips Related Sites