Beat the clock with this zesty pork stew in half an hour

Beat the clock in tasty style with this pork dish. It can be ready in half an hour -- the only thing that comes from a can is chicken broth, and you don't need to mix your own Cajun seasoning by hand.

Usually, the word stew suggests a long, slow cooking process. This version, however, lives up to the title of the book it's from: "Betty Crocker's Quick and Easy Cookbook" (Wiley, 2002, $26.95). The pork stew is one of about 300 recipes, all of them dishes you can get on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Handling the book itself is quite a breeze, too. It's a sturdy, ring-bound volume, sprinkled with color photos, simple in design and layout, with tabs defining sections from appetizers and snacks to desserts.

Zesty Pork Stew

(Preparation 15 minutes, cooking time 15 minutes)

1 pound lean pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (2 cups)

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 cup coarsely chopped cabbage

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

14 1/2-ounce can chicken broth

Spray 4-quart Dutch oven with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Cook pork in Dutch oven, stirring occasionally, until brown.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes, stirring once, until sweet potatoes are tender.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 240 cal., 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 70 mg chol., 730 mg sodium, 22 g carbo., 3 g dietary fiber, 29 g pro.