This book will change the way you cook and eat! In a perfect world everyone would have as much time as they wanted to prepare delicious meals for themselves and their loved ones. Unfortunately, at the end of a day's work most people don't have time to create a fine meal from scratch. This book will teach you how to make edible building blocks that will enable you to prepare sophisticated meals at a moment's notice. What are the building blocks? Succulent roasted tomatoes and peppers; luscious mushroom duxelles; sweet and meltingly soft onions, shallots, and leeks; creamy roasted garlic; rich chicken and vegetable stocks; and fragrant herbal marinades. The building blocks can be used right away, or kept frozen, ready at a moment's notice, your own mise en place. Think of them as sunshine in your freezer. The building blocks will allow you to turn a steaming bowl of soup, some pasta, and a chicken breast into a feast in short order. Written for people who enjoy good, simple food with a Mediterranean accent, this book consists of two parts. The first part of the book focuses on how to prepare the edible building blocks. The second part of the book is filled with recipes designed to allow you to create fine meals from the building blocks. Quick, easy, and delicious, you will love the results.