Tips in minutes

Healthy, tasty, home-cooked meals don’t have to take a lot of time if you’re organized. Here are some tips:

1. Be prepared - Assemble ingredients and equipment first. If you take time to organize your kitchen, it will save you time.

2. Multitask - Do more than one thing at a time. For example, while the pot is filling with water, collect your next ingredients.

3. Take shortcuts - Use convenience products such as canned beans, quick-cook rice, couscous, bagged salad, pre-shredded cheeses and precut vegetables.

4. Streamline tasks - If you’re preparing more than one recipe that calls for chopped produce, do all of the ingredient preparation at one time.

5. Get fresh and frozen - Use seasonal produce for best flavor and to save money. Use frozen produce as your fall-back plan between shopping trips.

A recent poll shows at 4 p.m., 75% of Americans don’t know what they’re having for dinner. It’s true; meals have taken a back seat to our hectic schedules. But there is hope! A quick, delicious, healthy meal is attainable. We’ve got some great ideas on how to prepare and cooked simple dishes in just minutes. Below you’ll find secrets, shortcuts and tips to make cooking at home easy.