1.   Combine different- shaped ingredients in the same dish to speed preparation.

2.   If you want to speed preparation time, pick up a package of prepared crepes in the supermarket produce section.

3.   Other recipes use convenience products such as refrigerator biscuits or buttermilk baking mix to speed preparation.

4.   To speed preparation time and for convenience, use prewashed spinach.

5.   To speed preparation, steam the cut-up broccoli pieces in a microwave oven until tender and cool before combining with the pasta.

6.   To speed preparation, use prepared pie crust dough, readily available packaged in the refrigerated deli section of supermarkets.

7.   To speed preparation, especially in the heat, we opted to peel and then cook the eggplant whole in a microwave oven until tender.

8.   At issue were several decrees issued by Mandela earlier this year to speed up preparations for the local elections.

9.   Athens organizers have been pushing the government to speed up preparations for the Games and the construction of delayed sports venues.

10.   Bracing for an influx of war refugees from Kosovo, the Italian government on Friday declared a state of emergency to speed up preparations.