To make a meal in the shortest time possible, approach a menu by deciding what items you absolutely have to save until the last minute, and those that you absolutely must do first. For example, if you'll be serving Grilled Marinated Portobello Mushrooms, Polenta with Butter and Cheese, and a Warm Spinach Salad, you know that the warm salad will be the last thing you'll do, because it will wilt sorrowfully if you go on to do another project after making it. You know from reading the recipe that the polenta sits on a burner for a substantial time, and will stay hot for a very long time even after leaving the stove, so you'll put that on first. Everything else will fall into place after that. Generally, starches like rice, polenta, mashed potatoes, and grain pilafs go on first and green vegetables go on last.