Meal in Minutes

For busy fall evenings when you need to feed your family in a hurry, try these fast favorites. Mix and match from three main dishes, three sides or salads and three desserts…all ready in 30 minutes or less.

Barbecued Chicken Pizza
My daughter loves creating smiling "faces" on this pizza with shredded cheese and fresh veggie toppings. —Patricia Richardson, Verona, Ontario

Mushroom Beef Tenderloin
This quick-to-fix dish looks special and tastes delicious. A delightful mushroom sauce nicely complements the juicy beef. I like to serve it with toasted French bread. —Blanche Stevens, Anderson, Indiana

Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi from Lori Packer of Omaha, Nebraska looks like you fussed, but it’s a snap to prepare. Lemon and herbs enhance the shrimp, and bread crumbs add a pleasing crunch. Served over pasta, this main dish is pretty enough for company.

Pecan Mandarin Salad
Pecans and mandarin oranges give this salad the color, crunch and sweetness that convince children to eat their greens. They can even help shake up the dressing. —Patricia Richrdson, Verona, Ontario

Lemony Brussels Sprouts
Joyce Guth shares this family favorite from her kitchen in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

Garlic-Almond Green Beans
The beans stay so bright and crisp. To speed things up even more, you could use frozen green beans instead of fresh. —Genny Monchamp, Redding, California

Gingered Melon
When I have guests, I like to let them spoon melon from a large serving bowl and add their own toppings. You can also combine the fruit with ice cream or frozen yogurt and ginger ale to make a melon float! —Patricia Richardson, Verona, Ontario

Rapid Raspberry Torte
This tasty, layered dessert is simple to assemble, because it calls for a frozen pound cake, raspberry jam and little cups of prepared lemon pudding. —Ruth Peterson, Jenison, Michigan

Granola Fudge Clusters
This recipe is short and sweet, calling for only four ingredients. I always make a double batch because no one can eat just one. —Loraine Meyer, Bend, Oregon