It's been a long time since I've had to cook for one, KD, but I have done it and I recall well how difficult it was. It's pretty easy to cook a single piece of poultry or fish (or meat, if you eat meat), and veggies or salads on the side aren't usually a problem, but small quantities of starchy sides can be tough. Pasta can be made up in just about any quantity, and baked potatoes are easier to make for one than trying to boil a small quantity, but rice is almost impossible to make in small quantities and get the consistency right — so don't bother, and use the leftovers later for fried rice.
What you won't be able to do for one are things like casseroles, that just don't scale, so your choices there are to do without or deal with having leftovers for a long while afterwards.
Ok, I've never had to cook for one, but I agree it is hard to prepare foods for one or two people. Buy packages of chicken, or pork, and freeze on in a bag. Like Steve says, baked potatoes, small salad, veggies, etc are easy. How about making a stew and freezing it in containers for one serving. Do the same with stuffed peppers or even soups. I do that lots of times when I make those. Keep some cheese in the fridge. Have grilled cheese and a bowl of soup or salad.
When I was living alone, I would often have meatless meals of just veggies and/or salad, things like cottage cheese or eggs for protein. (I also like to fix breakfast for dinner, since I don't usually eat breakfast in the morning, but love those foods.)
Because I didn't always know when I would be around to eat, I would buy things like frozen broccoli, corn, green beans, etc., so I could cook just enough for one without having a great deal of waste (or expense) of fresh foods.
Chicken is great to have on hand. When you buy it, repackage it into single servings so you can just cook what you need.
As far as casseroles, you can make that sort of thing, eat it the one time, and then freeze it into individual servings for future meals. Soups and tuna are good to have on hand too.
I am giggling at the notion of a trained chef having difficulty with calculating portions LOL.
I always have some chicken breasts that I have broiled and stashed in the fridge to cut into strips to have on top of salad. I do the same with crab.
A small pot of soup is easily managed and separated into small containers and frozen for later.
A hand full of thin spaghetti is usually enough for one and cooks rather quickly....melt some butter, add garlic and parmesean, throw in 3-4 frozen cooked shrimp (thawed in cold water).....it's a 10 min meal.
I live by myself a lot, and cooking for one sucks.
One word: leftovers LOL.
Let's see.....
Stirfry on rice. You can control the quantity of veges here, and just lower the portion size of your meat to suit. If you have too much rice left over, then save it for fried rice the following night.
Risottos are good too.
Make foods that are large enough for two servings, then you can have leftovers the following night. Saves cooking LOL.
Pita bread can be used to make pita pockets - you can just fill with some sort of meat (hot or cold) and salads. For example, I've made them with small cubes of chicken and diced onion fried in a bit of olive oil and a teaspoon of curry powder for a bit of flavour. Then I put some lettuce, tomato, capsicum, etc into the inside of the pita bread and then add the meat. Makes it seem a little more interesting than a salad!
Alternatively: tortillas.
You can also use pita bread for making a version of garlic bread. Cut the pita bread in half. Use a couple of cloves of garlic, chop finely, mix with butter and marg, and put in the microwave to soften it up, then apply to the bread. Grill or bake in the oven.
Soup: vegetable soup can be kept for a few days. Or buy cup soup, so you're only making up what you need.
Frozen veges are good, because you never get through the fresh stuff on your own unless you know exactly how much you will need for the week!
Pasta! You can also make lasagne up and freeze single portions for later. Bolognese sauce - same thing.
Never underestimate how good fresh veges are as a snack: eg. carrot and celery sticks, etc. It's great if you can't be bothered cooking. Wine and snack night for one!
I don't bother to buy potatoes when I'm by myself, because it's too much hassle to cook them for one person.
Sometimes it's just easier to have a bowl of cereal for dinner LOL.
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What you won't be able to do for one are things like casseroles, that just don't scale, so your choices there are to do without or deal with having leftovers for a long while afterwards.
Proud Member and
When I was living alone, I would often have meatless meals of just veggies and/or salad, things like cottage cheese or eggs for protein. (I also like to fix breakfast for dinner, since I don't usually eat breakfast in the morning, but love those foods.)
Because I didn't always know when I would be around to eat, I would buy things like frozen broccoli, corn, green beans, etc., so I could cook just enough for one without having a great deal of waste (or expense) of fresh foods.
Chicken is great to have on hand. When you buy it, repackage it into single servings so you can just cook what you need.
As far as casseroles, you can make that sort of thing, eat it the one time, and then freeze it into individual servings for future meals. Soups and tuna are good to have on hand too.
Click a Blinkie!
Happy at Home ~ Have Hotter Sex/Ask Laura Corn
I've lived alone for quite a while and I agree with everything everyone has said here.
I am giggling at the notion of a trained chef having difficulty with calculating portions LOL.
I always have some chicken breasts that I have broiled and stashed in the fridge to cut into strips to have on top of salad. I do the same with crab.
A small pot of soup is easily managed and separated into small containers and frozen for later.
A hand full of thin spaghetti is usually enough for one and cooks rather quickly....melt some butter, add garlic and parmesean, throw in 3-4 frozen cooked shrimp (thawed in cold water).....it's a 10 min meal.
bon apetite
Mrs P
I live by myself a lot, and cooking for one sucks.
One word: leftovers LOL.
Let's see.....
Stirfry on rice. You can control the quantity of veges here, and just lower the portion size of your meat to suit. If you have too much rice left over, then save it for fried rice the following night.
Risottos are good too.
Make foods that are large enough for two servings, then you can have leftovers the following night. Saves cooking LOL.
Pita bread can be used to make pita pockets - you can just fill with some sort of meat (hot or cold) and salads. For example, I've made them with small cubes of chicken and diced onion fried in a bit of olive oil and a teaspoon of curry powder for a bit of flavour. Then I put some lettuce, tomato, capsicum, etc into the inside of the pita bread and then add the meat. Makes it seem a little more interesting than a salad!
Alternatively: tortillas.
You can also use pita bread for making a version of garlic bread. Cut the pita bread in half. Use a couple of cloves of garlic, chop finely, mix with butter and marg, and put in the microwave to soften it up, then apply to the bread. Grill or bake in the oven.
Soup: vegetable soup can be kept for a few days. Or buy cup soup, so you're only making up what you need.
Frozen veges are good, because you never get through the fresh stuff on your own unless you know exactly how much you will need for the week!
Pasta! You can also make lasagne up and freeze single portions for later. Bolognese sauce - same thing.
Never underestimate how good fresh veges are as a snack: eg. carrot and celery sticks, etc. It's great if you can't be bothered cooking. Wine and snack night for one!
I don't bother to buy potatoes when I'm by myself, because it's too much hassle to cook them for one person.
Sometimes it's just easier to have a bowl of cereal for dinner LOL.
With fall approaching soups are a great idea!!!
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