Martha Stewart Living Magazine - Fresh Flavor Fast: 250 Easy, Delicious Recipes for Any Time of Day

When Everyday Food: Great Food Fast was published a few years ago, it resonated so strongly with home cooks that we quickly decided to follow it up with another collection of recipes that put a premium on time and ease. The new book would serve as a natural companion to the first. Where Great Food Fast was organized by season, here the recipes are grouped according to course (mains, side dishes, desserts, and the like), since thats the way we plan meals, regardless of the time of year. We also included smoothies and other fast breakfast options, a chapter on starters (which can double as snacks), and another on sandwiches that make great quick-assembly lunches or dinners.

Preparing good food at home has never been more important to our well-being, and its now well within our reach. Supermarkets have heeded the call of customers for the freshest ingredients, including produce, dairy products, poultry and meat, and other everyday staples. The recipes in Everyday Food magazine are consistently developed with this in mind: Whenever appropriate, the food editors opt for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as sauces, dressings, and other condiments prepared from scratch. Of course, a few shortcuts can make a big difference in getting dinner on the table quickly. So theres a recipe here for tomato sauce, but you should feel free to substitute your favorite store-bought variety. Just be sure to read labels on store-bought shortcuts. There are many good options these days that are natural and additive-free, and minimally processed, and theyre not just in specialty stores and gourmet marketsthey are widely available in supermarkets and wholesale club stores. And while its best to use fresh fruits and vegetables in season, its not always practicalfrozen peas, corn, and spinach, for example, are reliable year-round options (and they retain their nutritional qualities in the freezing process).

The 250 recipes in this book are quick to prepare, and youll be able to see at a glance which ones can be prepared the fastest by looking for the clock symbol (see an example). Each recipe is accompanied by a photograph, not only as enticement to make the dish, but as visual guidance when following the steps. Above all, the recipes are made without any specialty tools or ingredients, and the instructions are always clear and easy to follow. I know I look forward to cooking from this book whenever I want a fresh, flavorful meal, even on the busiest of days or nights. I hope you will, too.

WALNUT AND DRIED-FRUIT GRANOLA

Granola is easy to make, and will keep for weeks. Toasting the oats, wheat germ, and walnuts before combining with the other ingredients deepens their flavor and ensures a satisfying crunch.

MAKES 5 CUPS PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 35 MINUTES

Preheat oven to 300F. Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Add oats, wheat germ, and walnuts, stirring to combine. Spread in an even layer and toast until mixture is lightly browned, about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven.

Raise oven temperature to 350F. Stir together apple juice, brown sugar, and oil. Pour over oat mixture; stir to combine, and spread evenly in pan. Bake until oats are crisp, about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Let cool in pan, about 25 minutes; toss with dried fruit. Granola can be stored up to 1 month in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

PER CUP: 271 calories; 11.4 grams fat; 7.1 grams protein; 38.4 grams carbohydrates; 4.6 grams fiber

Apple juice adds sweetness and allows you to cut back on the usual amount of sugar. Because juice from frozen concentrate is thicker than bottled juice, it makes a better coating for the granola, helping it crisp in the oven without requiring much oil.

POMEGRANATE AND MIXED-BERRY SMOOTHIES

Combine tofu, berries, pomegranate juice, and honey in a blender. Add ice; puree on high speed until smooth. Serve immediately. MAKES 2

PER SERVING: 114 calories; 1.2 grams fat; 2.3 grams protein; 24.4 grams carbohydrates; 1.4 grams fiber