As I mentioned yesterday, meal planning is key to preparing heart-healthy dishes.

But it’s also important to have a variety of delectable recipes from which to choose. Dinners quickly become boring when you fall into a static rotation of the same old meals.

In addition to relying on my trusty binder, including lots of our favorite heart-healthy recipes and new ones I’d like to try, I have an assortment of healthy cookbooks published by Cooking Light, Weight Watchers and others.

A new book I’m exploring is Cooking Light Complete Meals in Minutes, which was a much-appreciated Christmas gift from my sister. This hardback binder is filled with lots of interesting dishes—from appetizers to desserts—that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Just the ticket for busy weeknights!

This week we enjoyed a wild rice, chicken and mushroom soup that hit the spot on a cold winter evening. I can’t wait to try more of these recipes!