10 Shortcuts for Quicker Meals

1. Use Your Blender: It can help you chop and dice particular ingredients in a short amount of time. It is generally smaller and easier to clean than the food processor. So if you need some shredded cheese, bread crumbs or finely grated veggies for a recipe consider using your blender.

2. Try a Food Processor: It can chop onions and mix bread dough in a hurry. It can also mix up cookie dough and shred lettuce for a salad. I use my food processor when I have a big job ahead of me. For example when I come home from the grocery store and would like to pre-chop all of my onions for the freezer, the food processor can do the job in no time.

3. Freezer. Use that freezer for more than just ice cream. Prep often used vegetables such as celery (blanch first) and onions for quick additions to any meal and keep them handy in the freezer. Keep family favorite meals at the ready for busy or just plain exhausting days when you have no time to cook. Have some extras like freeze and slice cookie dough and frozen pizza dough for emergencies.

4. Double Your Dinners: When you cook a favorite meal consider doubling the recipe and freeze the second half for a future meal. Dont have to do this for every meal but just freezing one a week can be a real bonus.

5. Make Quick Side dishes: Side dishes dont have to be time consuming. Quick starches such as couscous and pasta can be prepared in minutes and go well with main courses that already have a sauce such as stews and gravies. Fresh vegetables such as broccoli and corn only take a little steaming and are ready for consumption.

6. Homemade Mixes: Make mixes for quick breakfasts or even desserts. Quick cookie mixes and baking mixes can make a multitude of last minute recipes.

7. Meal Planning: Planning your meals in advance can alleviate the dinner, and even the breakfast and lunchtime stresses. Looking over the next days meals the night before will assure that you are well prepared to get meals on the table in record time.

8. Think Ahead: Have a well stocked pantry. Dont be caught without basic ingredients. Make a list of the regular staples you use to make your favorite meals and always make sure to have them in stock. If space and funds permit when you purchase your staples buy two to start and replace one each time you open a new one.

9. The Trusty Crock Pot: Use that crock-pot. If you have one gathering dust somewhere pull it out! If not go get one. On days you know you will be too busy to think some meat and vegetables and the crock-pot can have dinner ready whenever you are.

10. Learn a New Skill. If you find a particular skill such as cutting vegetables, making pie dough or what have you seems extra tedious to you try and find new and better ways to complete the task. Do a little research, watch a video, or check out a book you might be surprised at what you discover.

O Quinn has been cooking and perfecting her dishes since the young age of nine. Visit her at http://www.homemakingorganized.com and at http://www.quick-easy-cooking.com

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