“As I wrote in How to Cook Everything in 1998, “Anyone can cook, and most people should.” Why? Because when you cook you become engaged with food; you know what you’re buying, how it’s cooked, and most importantly, what you’re eating—as a result you’re undoubtedly going to eat better.

I’m not a proponent of fussy food; I’ve never believed that you have to buy heirloom vegetables and organically raised meat to eat well. All you need to have is an interest in eating wholesome, what we used to call “natural,” food and an inclination to spend some time in the kitchen. The recipes I favor, the ones I go back to time and again, are simple, fast, foolproof, and taste good; the kinds of recipes that make cooking at home easy and pleasurable—the kind you’ll find on NoTakeOut.

Cooking doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. These menus are evidence of that; they can all be made in less than forty five minutes from ingredients you may already have in the pantry or can pick up at any grocery store. So skip takeout this week and try cooking at home—I promise you’ll find it worth the (minimal) effort.”  Mark Bittman