Read your recipe through twice before starting to cook
After reading, take out all ingredients and all equipment. Then plan your attack: If you are going to need boiling water at some point in time during the recipe, put it on the stove now. Preheat the oven if you are baking the dish, or heat up the skillet if you are frying. Look at where you have time to squeeze in other tasks. If you are simmering a dish for five minutes, plan on setting the table or tossing a salad during that time. Plan when you need to microwave your vegetables or bake the rolls and juggle the times so that everything is finished at the same time.

RESOURCES:

• What do you need to stock your pantry?
• Here's a list of handy kitchen tools.