Cooking in double time

30 minute meals are a wonderful thing, and we all know Rachael Ray has taken these quick meals to the spotlight. There are times however, when you are working late, tired, and still have a million things to do, that even 30 minutes seems like more than you can possibly squeeze in. I have found a few standbys that allow me to have dinner made in 15 minutes or less....yes, that's right, and not because I am moving at lightening speed. While these meals might not get you a James Beard award for culinary prowess, they are easy solutions that allow you to eat well in no time at all. 1) Quesadillas: The great thing about the tortilla is that they last long in the fridge, so you can always have them on hand, and they toast in minutes. By keeping some good quality canned items in your pantry, you can make innovative and delicious meals anytime. Try filling a tortilla with roasted peppers, mozzarella, kalmata olives, and basil (even store bought pesto works great here), or use corn, avocado, sharp cheddar and chopped peppers. The idea is that you can put anything inside a tortilla and grill it on your stove top or under the broiler in minutes. 2) Use leftovers: don't think of them as worthless, they can be great ingredients for new dishes. I recently made pork tenderloin on the grill (very easy in itself), and then used the leftovers the next day in a salad with some mixed greens, chopped fresh fruit and nuts. It was delicious and I didn't feel like I was eating the same thing twice. 3) Pasta: While you boil water and cook the pasta, combine a can of white beans with a high quality jarred sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. When the pasta is done, add the sauce and fresh spinach leaves. The spinach will wilt from the heat and give your dish great color and more nutrition. With any of these double time recipes, the key is to have some good quality ingredients on hand that you can use when you need them. So keep your pantry stocked with items that last as well as some basic fresh ingredients, and you will have all the tools you need for dinner in a flash.