Ju-ust the 2 of Us

[Melissy]

I love to cook and try new recipes, but it must be in my Irish roots--this guilty feeling about wasting so many leftovers. Does anyone have any delicious recipes to make for two people? I have a couple of Cooking for Two cookbooks but they have a lot of stuff that's a little too fancy shmancy for the every day. I would like to print out a week's worth of stuff and head to the grocery store within the next hour. Wishful thinking?

-Melissa

[emilycat]

Melissy,
I cook only for myself, but I've never found myself wasting any leftovers -- I try to make it a point never to throw anything away.
Most recipes are easily halved, and the ones that aren't may be freezable for a quick, healthy meal at a later date when you don't have time to cook. If they're not, what's wrong with eating something twice? I find dinner leftovers great for lunch the next day.

[Ohioan]

I'll second what emilycat says: I also cook for myself and seldom have leftovers unless I plan to have them so I can reheat them the next day. Most recipes are pretty easy to scale down to two servings -- and if you have MasterCook, the program will do the scaling for you.

BTW, Melissa, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who uses that elegant term, "fancy-shmancy"!

Cheers, Phoebe

[Ralph]

I'll third emilycat (& second Phoebe)! We cook for two & ALWAYS plan for leftovers for tomorrow or the next day's lunch. And, yes, we've halved recipes, too, when necessary. (Or doubled smaller recipes with the expressed intent of providing leftovers.)

[newsomz]

you might want to look into the book "Going Solo in the Kitchen". The author is Jane Doerfer. Although the recipes are geared towards one person.. they usually make enough for two if a salad and side dish are made as well. The recipes are great for everyday cooking. Hope you enjoy!

carrie

[SusanL]

I receive a free daily ezine, called The World Wide Recipes. The current theme is cooking for two. We have downloaded many excellent recipes, for anyone else interested, the next theme is Holiday Cooking. I hope that I can put the email address on this bulletin board, which is
http://worldwiderecipes.com/contact.htm

I just love this site. Let me know what you think. Also, I don't get spammed, as they don't give out your email address.

[Natasha]

I usually cook for two or just for one. Instead of using recipes specifically designed for 2 servings, I, like many others on this thread, find that almost every recipe can be scaled down without difficulty (and I m getting better at fractions every day - my math teacher would have been impressed!) If something is a bit more work or we would like more of it, I will make the full recipe for planned-overs. In fact, I like to make four servings fairly often because it guarantees a good hot lunch the next day!

[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 10-30-2000).]

[Joyce]

We are so busy during the week that I make two meals that serve four on the weekend, one "30 minute or less" meal during the week. We then have repeats for the next three days. The seventh day we eat out. I have also found six cup bundt pans to halve bundt cakes, etc.

[pmmahan]

Joyce- I really liked that tip you gave aout cooking on the weekend! Very efficient, I'll have to give it a try.

[Jeanne G]

SUSANL

COOL WEBSITE!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!! I haven't had too much time to browse, but wow does it ever look like a good one!!!

[Wendy w]

Count me in on having leftovers for lunch or I send some home with my boyfriend, who lives on a boat and his cooking options are limited. I work at a university and don't like the fast food (and noise) in the local eating establishments.

Wendy

[StephanieL]

Hi! I am single and thus have discovered what is for me the best way to handle the too large recipe problem.

I will make a fancy-to-nice meal and have a friend or two over for dinner. This way I don't feel like I am "wasting time" just cooking for myself. Plus I get to feed my friends!

At the end of the evening, I put the leftovers into invidual-serving-size tupperware containers and freeze them. (I make sure to make extra steamed veggies or whatever is the side dish and include these too.)

Since I do this once to twice per week, my freezer holds a variety of "frozen dinners" -- from pasta to casseroles. And, I take one of these with me to work for lunch each day. Since there is always a variety in the freezer, I never have to eat the same thing the next day.

This is easy, in-expensive, and a good way to make your co-workers jealous!

[venus]

I have to be different and say that I never eat leftovers--unless it's soup or cake I really like very fresh food, and I always forget to bring things for lunch the next day. I cook just for two and have found that it is very easy to half and quarter many recipes for two people. Also, if I want to make something like roast beef or chicken, I will use the left overs in other ways such as hot sandwiches and chicken salad.

Buying a set of smaller baking pans is very helpful too. Lasagna can be made in a 9 x 9 pan. So can cornbread and macaroni and cheese. Cook only 1/3 of a box of spaghetti. Buy whole chicken breasts or half turkey breasts instead of whole chickens. make jambalaya one night and use the left over sausage to make bangers and mash the next day.

As for stuff being too fancy-schmancy, I think that things like broiled steak, steamed spinach and "fake" fries have a certain magic.

[BevP]

Add my voice to the leftovers plan. I also cook for two and always do leftovers. Most can freeze. Some are lunch. Some nights I just pull out all the leftovers and we smorgasborg (sp?).

Right now I'm experimenting with a two week plan of recipes, many of whom freeze. Bean soups, chili, quiche and such all freeze well so make extra. I buy the new disposable plastic containers, put a serving in each container and freeze it. Voila, dinner one night next week!

[SandyDee]

I love left overs, some dishes are even better after they are reheated. I do love the idea of using smaller baking pans so that you can make smaller cakes etc. What a great idea. You guys have just made my day. I always wait til special occasions to try my hand at all of the lovely baked goods, because the last thing that I need is a full size cake to tempt me. But to be able to scale it down and not have quite as much to seduce my sweet tooth. This is the best, I can't believe I never thought of that!

[This message has been edited by SandyDee (edited 10-31-2000).]