So you want fresh baked goods, but you don't have a lot of free time...

Yeah, you can buy cookies and cake at the store. But really, what compares to a fresh out of the oven cookie, a warm slice of bread, or a slice of homemade pie? Very little, in my opinion. I like to play around with really intricate or time consuming recipes, but there is nothing wrong with the simplest recipes, and with a little forethought, even the busiest of you can have fresh goodies in your homes.

Consider the cookie: A basic chocolate chip cookie is almost foolproof. If you have half an hour or so on a weekend, consider whipping up a quick batch, but instead of baking them, put the balls of dough on a pan and stick them in the freezer for 20 minutes. Then, package the balls in a freezer bag, and pull them out to bake as needed during the week. Voila, fresh cookies any time! Almost any cookie that calls for spoons of heaping dough or rolled balls of dough will work great with this method.

Beer Bread - homemade taste in minutes: Most breads use yeast and therefore take quite the time commitment. But beer bread is just about the most simple recipe on the planet with phenomenal results. You can even mix it right in the loaf pan! It takes 2 minutes to mix up, and an hour to bake... just pop it in an hour before dinner, then enjoy a fresh, warm slice with your meal! This is the recipe I use.

Mixes, the ultimate time saver: Many cookies, cakes, even pancakes can be made quicker if you start out with a mix. But instead of the preservative filled mixes at the store, consider making your own one weekend and having it handy for when you want something yummy. You can store the mixes in ziplock bags or get some cheap glass jars at the grocery store. These also make great gifts. Find a bunch of mixes here.

So you see, it's not so difficult to have fresh baked goods in your home on a regular basis. But if you are still to lazy and are craving something delicious, you know who to call...