Cooking for One

Written Monday, April 19th, 2010 by Anne Coleman

As the mother of seven, I often find myself daydreaming about cooking just for me. Many nights I have to cook what everyone else likes and set my own wants aside. Conversely, folks who live alone get tired of eating alone. Here are some tips to help you along when you're dining solo.

1. Enjoy it! Coming from the viewpoint of one who has to cook what others want all the time, I look forward to days when I can cook something that I alone can enjoy. You can experiment to your heart's content and the only palate you'll be offending
if you flop is your own.

2. Fresh is best. We all know this one, but when it comes to cooking for one, fresh is more than just good for your health, it's also good for your wallet. Fresh veggies and fruit that can be bought a piece at a time are perfect for one person. Often a can of food isn't used by one before it goes bad and fresh food is the perfect solution. It may cost more per ounce or pound, but food that goes bad before it can be consumed is a waste of money - period.

3. If you must buy more, learn to properly store the leftovers. Freezing is often the best option for canned goods that aren't eaten right away. Stow them in bags with one serving or small single-serving plastic containers that are freezer safe.

4. Buy in bulk - or at least from the bulk bins. A scoop of this or a scoop of that is far easier to manage for a single than bags and boxes meant for families. Check them out for things like nuts, legumes, grains and the like.

5. Don't let reipes for 4 or mor dissuade you. Make the recipe and portion it out then freeze the leftovers for quick weeknight meals anytime!

6. Use small appliances. A toaster oven is the perfect companion for one. It's just the right size to heat one or two meals and it's great for use in warmer months as it won't heat up the house like a full oven.

7. Plan leftovers. Make a full an of beans knowing you'll be using the extra in a burrito, or chop a full tomato so you have the leftover on-hand the next morning for an omelet. Thinking ahead saves wasted food and provides a lot more variety.

8. Buy appropriate sized containers. The perfect single-serve dessert fits into a standard ramekin and goes from freezer to oven easily.

9. Eat with friends - even when they're not in the same room! Grab your laptop and converse away with friends on Facebook, FriedEggs or Twitter while you're having dinner, or turn on a favorite movie for dinner theater.

10. Eggs. Yep, the perfect little natural single-serve food! The possibilities for eggs are endless, too so you'll have lots of recipes to choose from.

I made this for myself recently and it was so good I just had to share.

Shrimp and Veggies for One
Ready in 15 minutes
Serves: 1

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup fresh-frozen green beans
1/2 cup red, yellow and orange pepper strips
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup white wine
6 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat.
Toss in green beans, peppers and garlic. Stir-fry until veggies start to soften slightly.
Add wine and cook until simmering. Toss in shrimp and over with a lid. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Tags: cooking for one, tips

This entry was posted on Monday, April 19th, 2010 at 08:40 am and is filed under How To, leftovers, Quick Meal Tips. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.