Toast is a fast snack or a versatile side dish that takes about two minutes to make (and just slightly longer to eat).

Tea-time toast: What to have with a cup of tea to tide you over till dinner? Flavored butter transforms toast into an unexpected treat. Mix soft butter with preserves or chopped fresh fruit--strawberries, apricots, and peaches are a few that will do nicely. Use any bread you like--white, whole wheat, or cinnamon.

Hearty toast: When you crave a savory treat, chop a fresh herb, such as thyme or chives, mix with butter, and slather on hot toast for the perfect complement to soup or stew on a wintry afternoon. Pair tomato or French onion soup with sourdough toast, chicken noodle with rye, and split-pea with pumpernickel.

A side of toast: Toast any thinly sliced bread and cut into triangles. Serve a heaping pile alongside salads and cheese platters.

Sweet-tooth toast: Sprinkle brown sugar and ground cinnamon (about 2 parts sugar, 1 part cinnamon, to taste) on piping-hot toast for an easy dessert. Any white or whole-wheat bread will do.