Robertson - Quick-Fix Vegetarian Healthy, Home-Cooked Meals in 30 Minutes or Less

Many people helped make this book a reality. Much gratitude goes to my wonderful recipe testers: Janet Aaronson, Sandy Boss, Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, Kim Hammond, Clinton Hedges, Lauren Horwitz, Sarah King, Sangeeta Kumar, Linda Levy, Gina Myers, and Anna West, with a special thanks to supertester Laura Frisk, who single-handedly tested more than one-third of these recipes and to whom this book is dedicated. Many thanks to my husband, Jon Robertson, for his ongoing encouragement and assistance and to my friend Jannette Patterson for her help and support. Thanks also to my agent, Stacey Glick, of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, and to my editor, Jean Lucas, of Andrews McMeel Publishing, for their enthusiasm for this project.

People are always looking for ways to spend less time in the kitchen, and the unlimited offerings of frozen entres in our supermarkets and the ubiquity of fast-food restaurants have made it possible. As a result, however, many of us no longer cook the way we used to. At the same time, it is clear that eating healthier food is vitally important for everyone, especially those who lead busy lives.

To eat better, many people are turning to a vegetarian diet, and the good news is that cooking great vegetarian food has never been easier. Once considered a labor-intensive chore, preparing vegetarian meals can now be pared down to fit even the busiest schedule.

With Quick-Fix Vegetarian, you will no longer be limited to microwave entres and fast-food chains for an easy solution to putting dinner on the table. Whether youre a novice or a seasoned vegetarian, the recipes, tips, and ideas in this book will turn you into a quick-fix vegetarian cook in no time. You will discover the simple techniques, shortcuts, and strategies so fast food no longer has to mean junk food.

During my years as a restaurant chef, I learned how to cook smarter, not harderwhen it was my job to prepare meals for customers within ten to fifteen minutes, I learned a lot oftime-saving tricks. Now that Im working at home, its important to me to prepare healthful meals each day, but I rarely have the time to spend the day in the kitchen fussing over time-consuming recipes. That doesnt mean that I toss frozen entres in the microwave or keep my local Chinese takeout on speed-dial. Ive discovered something better: good-for-you fast food that you prepare yourself, economically, and in record time. Flavorful soups, tempting salads, rich sauces, fabulous entres, and elegant dessertsall designed to get you in and out of the kitchen in thirty minutes or less.

The 150 delicious and satisfying recipes in Quick-Fix Vegetarian call for fresh produce, grains, pastas, and beans, along with healthy convenience foods and time-saving shortcuts to help you prepare tasty and nutritious meals when theres little time to cook. At the same time, Quick-Fix Vegetarian can help you master the art of healthy and flavorful meals with new shopping and cooking strategies as well as creative tips for stress-free entertaining. The recipes contain no animal ingredients, so they are ideal to serve to vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant.

Quick-Fix Vegetarian can be an invaluable resource to both novices and longtime vegetarians, offering easy ways to integrate smart eating into your life every day and in less time than it takes to have a pizza delivered. With uncomplicated main-dish recipes such as Rapini with Orzo and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Capellini with White Bean and Green Olive Tapenade, and Five-Minute Slow-Cooker Chili, Quick-Fix Vegetarian can simplify your life and help you put great meals on the table with a minimum of time and effort.