Cooking for One

[LaraW]

DH and I are moving from our home in Iowa to Boulder, CO this summer. He is leaving next week and I will be by myself until the fourth of July. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif I am really bad about cooking for just myself - I tend to eat cereal. This is fine for once-in-a-while eating, but does not seem like a good idea for a whole month! Does anyone have any ideas about cooking for one person? Any ideas will be much appreciated!

[emilycat]

Hey, Lara http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I live by myself, so I cook for one all the time -- and unless I'm making dessert (which doesn't happen very often because I don't trust myself with an entire cheesecake), I never really have a problem. I usually half, third or fourth recipes, and eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. If I have random ingredients and no recipe planned, I just make something up in the amount that I want for dinner. And the great thing about it is that there's no one else's taste preferences to deal with -- I can think I'm the greatest chef ever, and there are rarely any complaints http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
I'm sorry I didn't offer any concrete advice (was this post useless?? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) -- good luck!

Oh, and let me say that I am so envious of your future locale -- how wonderful for you both! Are you terribly excited?

Emily


[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 05-20-2001).]

[LaraW]

Thanks, Emily http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I guess that I can just modify some of my usual recipes and use up some of the food in the house before moving. Some of my resources are going to be somewhat limited, since our grill and other kitchen gadgets will be moving with him. I never use the grill myself anyway, since I singed off some hair the last time I tried to light it!

I am both very excited and nervous about our move. We have been wanting to move to Colorado for a long time, and the time was finally right. We are really looking forward to our new home, an excellent new job for my husband, and so on, however, we know we are leaving friends and family behind.

[Holly in KC]

Lara -

OOOOH! An excuse to buy a new cookbook! I have an old, old cookbook that I bought after I had just moved to KC from Nebraska (we were neighbors!!) and was officially "on my own" -- it was titled "Cooking for One". It had lots of great ideas for the single cook, including some make ahead/freeze "components" that you could incorporate into meals (like ground meat flavored with spices & onions - use it in lasagna rollups, oven porcupine meatballs, etc). Come to think of it, that was probably my very first cookbook.

Anyway, I just did a search on Barnes & Noble for "cooking for one". There were 151 titles that matched (okay - there were several that didn't quite fit, but there were several titles that looked interesting). A couple of examples: "Healthy Cooking for Two (or Just You)", "The 15 Minute Single Gourmet", and "Going Solo in the Kitchen". I don't personally have any of these books, but the reviews look pretty good. As a matter of fact, since my fiance travels 4 days out of the week, I think I'm going to go back and order one (or two http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) for myself.

Have some fun cooking for yourself - as Emily said, you don't have to worry about someone's else's likes/dislikes for a while.

Good luck in Colorado... I'm sure you are going to absolutely LOVE it there!!

[Jewel]

My husband is frequently traveling on business trips to Alaska for a week at a time. I used to eat nothing or just do the Cereal thing for a few nights, then realized that I had to keep my meals interesting and healthy, or I'd go into 'junk food binge' mode again!

I started eating a lot of whole wheat pasta and healthier sauces. I'd make a pot of lowfat alfredo or thai peanutty sauce, and a big pot of whole wheat linguine or spaghetti. Each night I'd spoon a serving of each into a bowl and add my assorted veggies and/or meats, and nuke!

Recipes like Peanutty Noodles or Fettucine and Tofu with Finger-Licking Peanut Sauce (I use chicken for that one!) are perfect meals to eat on for a few days. I also ate a lot of hearty soups and beans. You can cook for two or three like normal, and just eat for one and spread it out!

[Jen]

I recommend the book that Holly mentioned - Healthy cooking for two (or just you). I got it out of the library a few years ago and copied several recipes. All that I've made have been good. They're very simple, and every recipe is laid out in kind of a "table" style, with the ingredient list for one person or for two. This book would be perfect because you could still use it once you're back with your hubby again! Anyway, I got it at the library so you may be able to do the same.

Hope this helps!

PS Maybe it would be helpful if I gave you some sample recipes...Tamale Beef with Spoonbread, Spicy Orange Beef and Broccoli, Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler, Deep-Dish Cherry Cobbler, Russian Vegetable Soup, Autumn Veggies with Balsamic Sauce, Mexican Lasagna, Bistro Sandwich (with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olives, spinach, etc.), Mushroom-Barley Soup, Turkey Florentine, Turkey Medallions Seared in Thai Butter, Szechuan Chicken in Lettuce Bundles, Waldorf Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing, Warm Spinach Salad Chinoise, Moroccan Orange Salad, Carrots in Lemon-Walnut Vinaigrette, Vegetable Slaw with Spa Dressing, Red Snapper Panned with Pink Grapefruit, Pan-Seared Tuna with Red Peppers & Fennel, Fettuccine with Lemon-Walnut Scallops and Asparagus...wow, how embarrassing that I copied so many recipes and have hardly made any! I know I've made the waldorf salad many times, and it's very good. Plus, I remember the Turkey with Seared Thai Butter - that too was very yummy and quick. If you get the book and make anything, let me know so I can decide what to try!


[This message has been edited by Jen (edited 05-21-2001).]

[Holly in KC]

Jen -

I took my own advice, (new found "excuse" to buy a cookbook), & went back to Barnes & Noble.com last night to check out the recommendations. This was the book I ended up ordering (it was shipped out today). Can't wait to get it!!

I'll let you know what I try first. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Kristine]

Lara~
I suggest that you try a George Foreman Grill (the smallest one). They are a prefect sixe for a chicken breast or a steak or a hamburger. Then just steam some veggies or microwave/bake a potato and you are set. Campbell's soup also makes some single serving soups (called Soup to Go or something like that), so you could have that and a salad and a piece of toast. I also really like this one frozen meal (dare I suggest something like that on this board http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)...I believe it is Cascadian Valley Szechuan Rice Bowl--it has brown rice, black beans, peas, mushrooms, and other veggies in a Szechuan sauce. Hope I've helped a bit. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[LaraW]

Thanks for all of the ideas! I don't eat by myself very often, the last time I did regularly was when I was in college, and I don't really like a lot of the stuff I used to eat then (lots of convenience-type foods and such)

I did get one of the small George Foreman grills last week. Actully was buying it as a graduation gift for my sister, and got one for myself too!

I will have to check out some of those cookbooks. This may be a good opportunity for me to learn to cook fish. I like to eat fish but really only eat it when I am in a restaurant. Thanks for all of your input!

[KLynn]

My husband works late often, and I find myself eating alone - but wanting more than cereal and such. I have found that many vegetables, salads, etc. are often good leftover in wraps or pitas. That way you consume your leftovers, but don't feel like you are having the same meal over and over. Sometimes I will add a chopped tomato or toss in some roasted chicken - just something to vary the leftovers and make them seem like a whole new meal!

[amanda]

You mentioned starting to cook fish- I love to eat fish, but never cooked it.
Recently, I started making fish "En Papillote"- it is really easy and very good. You cut a sheet of parchment paper into a heart shape, fold it in half to crease the center, unfold it, spray it with cooking spray, put a fillet of fish and veggies and herbs next to the centerline (I usually use a white fish and zucchini, tomatoes, capers, lemon juice, a little white wine and herbs), fold the parchment over the fish, then close it by making little folds all the way around- start at the point and add a little more of the edge in each fold (sorry the description is not the best). Then put it on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 for about 12 minutes. Cut the packet open, and watch out for the steam. I usually serve it over rice. It is really good, and easily scaled to serve as many as you want (so when you move you can make it for 2). It is also good for picky eaters- my boyfriend makes his with lemon and Old Bay- no veggies.
Good luck in Boulder- I've always wanted to live there.

[This message has been edited by amanda (edited 05-23-2001).]