#quick-dinners

#quick-dinners

Protein-rich, savory dishes like pan-sauteed pork chops are classic cold-weather food because they don't just fill your belly with something incredibly satisfying - they also fill your kitchen with wonderful, comforting aromas. They're especially flavorful when topped with apples and shallots simmered in butter and perfumed with fresh sage. This recipe comes together in a flash - less than 20 minutes - making it a perfect dish for busy school nights or after a long day in front of the computer. For a complete meal, the chops are served with another winter classic, a warm green cabbage slaw.

The best weeknight meals are ones that come together with minimal prep and a fairly short cooking time. Some can be largely prepared ahead or in batches - say in a slow cooker - and simply reheated. Choosing recipes that don't have you running all around town for an unusual ingredient also helps, as does picking one-pan dishes that guarantee easy cleanup.

Lightning fast to cook and always satisfying to eat, shrimp is a hero in the kitchen and, if there's a stash in the freezer, it can be dinner any night of the week. Best of all, it has so much range, standing on its own in a delicious shrimp cocktail, pairing beautifully with a rich sauce or cozying up to vegetables, rice, grits or pasta.

Got too much zucchini on your hands? This zesty summer pasta will help you use it up! 2 full pounds of grated squash cook down into a lightly silky sauce for the pasta.