Shortcuts
By Linda Larsen, About.com Guide to Busy Cooks
Shortcuts in the kitchen include tips, using convenience foods, and making food ahead of time. You'll also need some cookbooks; these are my favorites. And freezing food for a month, also called Once a Month Cooking (OAMC) is invaluable for busy moms.
Quick Tips
Quick tips are not only quick to read, they will help you save time in the kitchen. Learn the best way to cook bacon, how to cook a hard-cooked (not boiled!) egg, get the most from herbs, and more.
- How to Store Leftover Cooked Pasta
- Hard Cooked Egg Tips
- How to Melt Chocolate
- Get the Most From Dried Herbs
- Make the Best Pancakes
- Make Perfect Rice
- Uses for Broths and Stocks
- Make the Best Burgers
- Make the Best Pizza
- Tips for Marinating Chicken
- Kabob Secrets
- How to Fry Bacon
- Stir-Frying Tips
- How to Microwave Bacon
- Tips on Cooking for One or Two
- Make the Best Meatballs
- Make Meals in 30 Minutes
- How to Pack a Picnic Basket
Convenience Foods
Convenience foods are those which combine two more more foods, or do one or more cooking steps for you. They include frozen vegetable blends, precooked meatballs, and sauce mixes. Not only do you have a wonderful selection in the supermarket, but you can make your own! That way you control just exactly what goes into the food you feed your family.
- Top 5 Convenience Products and How to Use Them
- Recipe Makeovers
- Homemade Convenience Food Mixes
- Pesto Recipes
- Canned Chicken Recipes
- Convenience Foods Product Reviews
- Baking Mixes
- Beverage Mixes
- Start With - Bagged Salads
- Cookie Mixes
- Seasoning and Dip Mixes
- Side Dish Mixes
- Frozen Precooked Meatballs in the Crockpot
- Soup Mixes
- Precooked Chicken Recipes
- Canned Soup Recipes
Make Ahead Recipes
Whenever you can make food ahead of time, you're ahead of the game. There's nothing better than pulling food out of the refrigerator or freezer, then just baking or reheating. This is the perfect solution to entertaining. And leftovers should be considered part of 'make ahead' recipes too. After all, they're just more ingredients, already prepared, that are ready for you to use.
- Overnight Casseroles
- Once a Month Cooking (OAMC)
- Make Ahead Meals
- Freeze Ahead Holiday Foods
- Make Ahead Breakfasts
- Cook Once, Eat Twice
- Leftovers (or Planovers)
- Freeze Ahead Holiday Desserts
- Make Ahead Sandwich Spreads
- Make Ahead Appetizers
- Freeze Ahead Casseroles
- Holiday Make-Ahead Breakfast Menus
Fastest and Easiest Recipes
How fast can you cook? If you have a little bit of experience in the kitchen, you should be able to make these recipes in the time specified. But, as I tell you in the Food Safety section, don't rush just to save time. At any rate, the more you cook, the faster you'll get! And easy recipes don't require any real work - most are just assemble, perhaps heat, and eat. Enjoy.
- 20 Minute Recipes
- 10 Minute Recipes
- 30 Minute Soup Recipes
- 70 30-Minute Main Dish Recipes
- Ten Easy Pieces
- My Easiest Recipes
- Fastest Meals Ever
- 30 Minute Meals
- Soup and Sandwich 30-Minute Meals
- 30 Minute Skillet Meal
- 30 Minute Meal: Steak and Vegetables
- 30 Minute Pizza Party
- Pasta in 30 Minutes
- Frittata Dinner in 30 Minutes
- Soup and Salad 30 Minute Meal
- Last Minute Appetizers
- Last Minute Dessert Recipes
Complete Meals and Menus
These recipes are more than just a recipe; they're a plan for a complete meal. You don't have to pick and choose the main dish, salad, bread, side dish, or dessert; they're all planned out for you. And many of these meals can be made in a short time. Some come entirely from ingredients you keep in your pantry. And the menus are well-balanced and easy to make. Enjoy!
- Pantry Meals
- Food for Emergencies
- Presentation Packets
- Skillet Meals
- Fast Skillet Meals
- One Pan Dinners
- One Dish Crockpot Meals
- One Pot Pasta
- Everyday Menus
- Entertaining Menus
- Dinner Menus
- Special Holiday Menus
- The Busy Cook Entertains: Buffets
- How to Plan a Dinner Party
- Busy Weeknight Meals
Top 10 Lists
Based on the popular 'top 10' lists started on a television show, these lists are collections of the best recipes for different occasions. Are your kids starting school? Look up the Top 10 Best Back to School Ideas. Do you want to make a quick and easy dessert? Browse through the Top 10 No Bake Cookies. You get the idea!
- Top 10 Favorite Picnic Recipes
- Top 10 No-Bake Cookies
- Top 5 Ways to Turn Brownies into Dessert
- Top 10 Easy Recipes for Mother's Day
- Top 10 Back to School Ideas
- Top 10 About.com Books
- Top 10 Best Everyday Menus
- Top 10 Small Appliances
- Top 10 Quick Breads and Muffins
- Top 10 Best Recipes for Leftover Ham
- Top 10 Best Quick Cooking Cookbooks
- Top 5 Ways to Use Pesto
- Top 5 Tips for Quick Cooking
- Top 10 Grilled Sandwiches
- Top 10 Easy Main Dish Recipes
- Top 10 Kitchen Tools and Gadgets
- Top 10 Grilled Steak Recipes
The Weekend Cook
The Weekend Cook began as a way to get people thinking about cooking and baking more on the weekend, when you have a bit more time. The menus revolve around the seasons, taking into account what's best in the supermarket (and the garden) and the holidays. You'll find ways to use up leftover Easter ham, celebrate the arrival of spring, and treat your family like company. And treat yourself too!
