DK - Australian Womens Weekly Quick & Easy: Simple, Everyday Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

Food for the modern cook home cooking where convenience is key. Our modern lives are jam-packed with distractions, whether that be work, family, the gym, or just finding the time to put on a load of washing. With all these conflicting obligations, one of the first things sacrificed is your time in the kitchen and a home-cooked dinner.

Cooking doesnt need to be hard or time-consuming. Our recipes have been developed with the modern cook in mind, using simple or pre-packaged ingredients and ingenious cooking tricks to get your dinner on the table in no time at all. As we have all become more health-conscious and food-savvy, supermarkets have responded to our concerns with an array of good-quality ready-made products that make all the difference when trying to prepare dinner quickly. Embrace premade sauces, microwaveable grains, and marinated and diced meats, and dont be afraid to purchase something (of good quality) to speed up the cooking process. What is important here is you in the kitchen. Find the joy in being able to make delicious and healthy home-made food, and never rely on takeaway again. All our recipes feature one of the following labels to help guide your meal choices. Also remember to take advantage of the tips and tricks on the opposite page.

Cheap Eat

A bargain dinner In-season, readily available fresh ingredients are great for budget-conscious cooks.

Healthy Choice

Better for you This takes all the guesswork out of trying to find fast, healthy food choices.

Meat-Free

Veggie meal option Not just for Mondays meat-free is a great way to start eating more fresh vegetables.

One-Pan

Quick clean-up Great for those nights you cant be bothered with multiple pots, pans, and washing up.

Gluten-Free

Coeliacs choice In recipes labelled GLUTEN-FREE, all ingredients are safe for those who cannot eat gluten.

Dairy-Free

No hidden dairy No dairy products are used but, if using prepackaged food, read the label carefully.

KID-FRIENDLY

Great for little ones Meals with children in mind, so not too spicy but still full of flavour.

PREP STEPS

1 Quick herbs

To quickly chop soft-leaf herbs (such as flat-leaf parsley, coriander, and dill), use your hands to twist off the stems from the bunch in one go, then chop the leaves and edible stems together.

2 Great grate

To grate vegetables such as carrots and courgettes quickly, use the shredder attachment on a food processor; for cabbage, use the slicer attachment.

3 Acidulated water

This is simply water with lemon juice added. Use it to prevent fennel, apple, and pears from turning brown. Avocado, however, can be stored cut-side down, with the skin on, in plain water to prevent it browning.

4 More juice

For speed and to maximize the amount of juice extracted from lemons and limes, first roll the fruit firmly on a hard bench or work surface using the palm of your hand, or microwave on HIGH (100%) for 15 seconds, before juicing.

5 Herb-ready

Freeze fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and chives, either chopped or in whole-leaf form, in measured quantities in ice-cube trays and covered with a thin layer of olive oil. Simply add the herbs to your recipe straight from the freezer, increasing convenience and cutting down on food wastage.