Warm-you-up dishes for busy weeknights

As fall slips toward winter and the days get shorter, it can feel like you have even less time to get dinner on the table. Add to that the busyness that goes with the holiday season, and before you know it, drive-thrus seem to take too long! These quick dishes satisfy better than a take-out burrito, so you can nosh on hearty, wholesome food and still have time to work on your to-do list.

APPLE-PEAR PUFF

Serves 8 – 30 minutes or fewer

This “Dutch Baby”—a puffy, ovenbaked pancake that’s like a foolproof soufflé—is an easy way to treat friends and family. Most of the ingredients are usually on hand.

3 Tbs. unsalted butter

2 Tbs. granulated sugar

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 Granny Smith or other tart apple, unpeeled and thinly sliced

1 pear, unpeeled and thinly sliced

3 Tbs. prepared caramel sauce

4 large eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. salt
confectioners’ sugar, optional

1. Preheat oven to 450F.

2. Melt butter in 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add fruit slices, and cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

3. Meanwhile, beat together eggs, flour, milk and salt until smooth. Pour batter over fruit, tilting skillet to distribute evenly.

4. Bake pancake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 425F, and bake 8 to 10 minutes more without opening oven door. Remove skillet, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, if desired, and serve immediately. (Slice into wedges after you bring it to the table.)

PER SERVING: 215 CAL; 6G PROT; 8.5G TOTAL FAT (4G SAT. FAT); 29G CARB; 123MG CHOL; 68MG SOD; 2G FIBER; 13G SUGARS