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.

Fast low-fat fish and chips

Heat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6 and cut some medium-sized potatoes lengthways, each into 4 long wedges (leave the skin on). Brush or spray with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Use a pump spray bottle for oil as it coats lightly and evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix 4-5 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs, grated zest and juice of a lemon, some chopped fresh herbs (parsley, chives or dill), 1 tsp Dijon mustard and season with salt and pepper.

Lay the fish (use cod, haddock or any white fish) on a baking sheet and cover with the mixture. Place the fish on the top shelf over the potatoes and bake for 15-20 minutes. The top should be crispy and the fish just done inside.

Very easy veg

Casseroles don't have to take hours to cook. Start by bringing a large pan of water to the boil while you prepare the veg: cut cauliflower and broccoli into large florets. Chop some celery and carrots into chunks. Drop some baby new potatoes into the boiling water and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the rest of the vegetables and blanch for another couple of minutes until they are softened but not overcooked. Drain in a colander and tip into a baking dish.

While the vegetables are cooking, crumble some Danish blue cheese into a tub of Quark. Spoon this over the vegetables and sprinkle over some dried breadcrumbs.

Bake in a hot oven (220C/475F/gas mark 7) for 15 minutes or until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden.

Simple sausage

Let it simmer until most of the liquid has reduced off. Add 1 heaped tbsp grainy mustard, or if you like it spicy, a pinch of dried chillies. Now stir in a 200ml tub of Greek yoghurt, crème fraîche or double cream. Use the low fat versions of the yoghurt or crhme fraiche if you like.

Set on a low heat while you cook 250g pasta - use penne, farfalle or fusilli (quills, bow ties or twists). Drain the pasta and mix into the sausage. You can eat it now or spoon it into a dish, top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs and heat under the grill until the top is crispy.

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