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In today's busy and fast paced world, there is very little time for the cook in the household to prepare meals. Most cooks today opt for the fast and convenient meal. With today's technology of processed foods, microwave ovens and ready to make meals, we have become a nation of the twenty minute meal.

Does that mean that the twenty minute meal is a bad or unhealthy way to live, certainly not; there are plenty of healthy meals that can be cooked that are absolutely delicious. The following dishes are not only quick and easy dishes to prepare but also pleasing to the palate.

* A nice parmesan chicken with a fresh crisp salad and French bread for dinner is a real pleaser. Just four pieces of chicken, some shake and Bake mix, parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and your favorite spaghetti sauce is all that is needed. Take the chicken, coat it with Shake and Bake seasoning mix and bake it at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove the chicken, pour a little spaghetti sauce over it and then sprinkle on mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Reheat for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

While chicken is baking, prepare the salad and cut the French bread. When chicken is done, you now have a complete dinner for four made in 20 minutes.

* Another yummy and easy dinner is Chinese Teriyaki chicken with rice, vegetables, and egg rolls. In your supermarket, buy the frozen Chinese Teriyaki and vegetable mix in a bag. In a wok or large frying pan, pour contents of the bag into the pan with a little olive oil. Heat on high until mixture thaws and stirs constantly. Add teriyaki sauce (included) in mix, and heat until hot, about five to seven minutes. While mix is heating, put frozen egg rolls into oven or microwave and heat until done (about 5-7 minutes). Heat up minute rice from the box on stove, again about 5-7 minutes. Pour Teriyaki mixture with vegetables over rice and serve with eggrolls. This meal just melts in your mouth.

* My favorite quick meal though is rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes, vegetables and rolls. Buy the rotisserie chicken at the market and heat in oven or microwave oven per instructions on the package. Take mini red potatoes and boil for about 15 minutes, drain and mash. As a little special treat, add garlic mix (pre packaged at the store) and add to the potatoes for garlic mashed flavor. While chicken and potatoes are heating, place crescent rolls in the oven and bake for around 8 minutes. Heat frozen vegetables at the same time on the stove. Remove the chicken from the oven or microwave, drain the frozen vegetables and add butter. Place mashed potatoes in a serving dish add crescent rolls and voila, a delicious dinner in only 20 minutes.

While most would agree that the home made dinner that you design and cook with all of the accoutrements cannot be beaten, it is always the 20 minute meal that will satisfy the family in a hurry and accommodate even the most voracious appetites. So, get out your pots and pans and ready your microwave for some delicious 20 minute dishes. Bon Appetite.

Learn more about this author, JT Till.
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