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5 speedy after-work suppers
Need dinner in a flash? Here's a week's worth of quick dinners, each matched with the perfect wine
See also: 10 mid-week meals
Most of us like the idea of cooking up a homemade dinner, but who has time to fuss over complicated recipes? Although store-bought, ready-made meals have come a long way from the unhealthy frozen-brick-in-a-box of years past, there's still no substitute for the satisfaction of cooking something from scratch. The good news is, making a delicious dinner doesn't have to take hours of preparation to be tasty and nutritious.
Quick chicken
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a staple for quick suppers.
Start by deciding how many chicken breasts you'd like and wrap each one with a piece of unsmoked streaky bacon. For a special occasion or dinner party, use Parma or Serrano ham.
Place the breasts, seam-side down, in a baking dish and tip in 1 or 2 punnets cherry tomatoes. Drizzle over 4-5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and sprinkle over some dried herbs (basil, thyme, oregano or a mixture of herbs de Provence).
Season with salt and pepper and bake in a 200C/400F/gas mark 6 oven for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. The tomatoes will wilt slightly and form a nice sauce. Serve over tagliatelle or other pasta.
Panic-free pork
First, put some rice on to cook. Peel and core an apple and cut it into slices. Heat some plain oil and a little butter in a frying pan and lay in the chops, then scatter the apple slices around the edges.
Fry the pork for about 1 minute on each side to brown. Pour in 1 small carton (200ml) apple juice, lower the heat and simmer until done, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tbsp crhme fraiche and bring back to a simmer.
Serve pork and apples with the rice and the sauce spooned over.
Tip: Buy kid's size cartons of apple juice and keep in the cupboard just for cooking. The convenient size ensures it won't just sit and go off in the fridge.
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