So how will this book help you get dinner on the table more easily? First, we spell out the time required to make each recipe so you know how much hands-on active time is needed to make a recipe and also how much total time is ultimately involved. (Recipes with 30 minutes or less of active time are tagged as Easy.) A Freeze It icon indicates which recipes are ideal for that purpose. The rest is really up to you and what sort of cook you are. Are you willing to make a big batch of stew on Sunday so some can go in the freezer, meaning dinner is solved for multiple nights now and in the future? Or would you rather spend just a few minutes the night before to ensure an easy dinner the following night by applying a spice-rub to flank steak to give it flavor (it requires only a quick sear to finish) and making a fresh corn and bean salad ahead in just 15 minutes to go with it? There are many options across the book for easy prep-ahead meals such as this that give you a serious jump start on dinner the next night, as well as recipes you can fully assemble and then simply store—ready to be baked when you walk in the door. Comforting casseroles are here too, along with one-dish meals, fresh main-course salads, and numerous sides and desserts that can all be made in advance.