30 Minutes or Less

Talk about flexible, this chicken is a cheerleader. Yes, it’s equally good steaming hot or icebox cold. Eat this dish four seasons of the year, hot or not, indoors or out. It’s G-R-E-A-T . . . great!

The French are notorious for their stuffy and particular attitudes . . . especially when it comes to food, but they’ve got nothing on the Sicilians. It takes a Sicilian ’tude to think one could improve on a French classic, especially in 30 minutes. Well, this Sicilian says “Bring it on.”

You have to buy a quart of buttermilk in order to get the 2 cups you need for this recipe, but I’ve got your back on the extra 2 cups: transfer it to a large resealable food storage bag and freeze it. Don’t forget to label the bag—if you’re like me, you have enough mystery items in your freezer already! Use the buttermilk to make this recipe again, or check out the recipe for Bacon and Creamy Ranch Chicken Burgers with Crispy Scallion “Sticks” on page 236.

Rich, but not heavy, this dish is delish.

Here’s a hipster menu for urbanites or just hep hicks from the sticks like me.

Lamb chops are always perfect for 30MM because they are quick cooking. If you are the type who only indulges in leg of lamb once a year at holidays, pick up some chops and try this one at home tonight.

This is my chicken and rice recipe number 14,654. But, this one is as colorful as it is flavorful!

I’m always trying to come up with yet another version of chili and yet another chicken dinner. Here’s both in one meal in another new way.

Fancy? Yup! Got people you need to impress? Invite them over . . . you’ll get the raise. Then you won’t be so tired.

This dish is preventative medicine; it prevents one from ordering and pigging out on bad Mexican-style take-out food. If you make this instead you won’t end up feeling too fat or too full.

This is a real-deal, square meal (that is, one you might find in a restaurant on a square in Barcelona!).

Here’s a killer dinner that even a charging Pamplona bull would brake for. Olé!

If you have a mini meatball in your house (or you’re just a kid at heart) this one will feed you well, stomach and soul!

This one reminds me of the California surfer scene. It’s a way-cool mega-rito, dude!

Sweet and salty food . . . I can eat it at the same time? I’m there. How about you?

This sammy is so hearty you won’t think to ask “where’s the beef?”

This meal is high protein and high fiber, so it gets high marks.

I love sandwiches because they are one-stop shopping: meat, salad, and cheese, all stuffed into bread. Oooooh-la-la, this is one fancy French grinder. Vive la Hoagie.

This is one of my fancy fake-out meals. It looks like it came out of an Asian influenced bistro, but the difference between your Express Lane receipt and your dinner check, not to mention the prep time, is substantial.

This is not your average steak and baked dinner; it’s about meat and potatoes in a whole new way. Try the same recipe with beef cut for London Broil or skirt steaks. All of these cuts are affordable, but with this exotic recipe they become way above average.