Cooking for One Can Be Fun!

Cooking for one doesn't have to mean heating up a frozen TV dinner, stretching leftover pizza, Chinese, and a six pack of beer for the entire week, or depending on take-out to satisfy your appetite. All you really need is some basic ingredients and you can have a decent selection of tasty meals waiting in the wings. Add to that a few simple recipes and you can have yourself a fairly diverse menu that will have you and your palette declaring that cooking for one can be fun! Check out some tips and recipes that anyone should have on hand if planning to be cooking for one.

Pantry Basics

• Peanut butter
• Dried pasta
• Dry breadcrumbs
• Canned beans
• White rice
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Dried herbs and spices

Fridge Must-haves

• Eggs
• Butter
• Milk
• Cheese (cheddar, Parmesan, and one other favorite)
• Condiments (pick your favorites, but usually ketchup, mayo, mustard, and soy sauce)
• Fresh herbs
• Plain yogurt

Freezer Basics

• Ground beef
• Bacon
• Boneless pork chops
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Frozen vegetables (pick your favorites)
• Pizza dough
• Ice cream (or dessert option of choice)

Recipes for One

Now that you have your basics covered, the next step to making cooking for one fun is to keep a couple easy to make recipes on hand. You won't need more than 10-15 minutes of prep time for any of these recipes and you'll have a complete meal that your mother would approve of when you're done cooking.

Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

• 8-10 oz. pork chop
• Pineapple chunks (1 cp.)
• Small red onion (half)
• Jalapeño chile
• Honey (1 tbs.)
• Fresh cilantro (1/4 cp., chopped)
• Vegetable oil (1 tbs.)
• Salt and pepper (as desired)
• All-purpose flour (1 tsp.)

In a medium bowl, mix pineapple, jalapeño chile, onion, cilantro, and honey. Add salt and pepper to taste. Coat a pork chop with flour and place in a skillet over medium heat. Cook about 3-4 minutes per side. Top with salsa mixture.

Creamy Potato Breakfast Casserole

• Potatoes (about a pound and a half, diced)
• Butter (1 tbs., melted)
• Chicken stock (1 cp.)
• Cream chesse (1 8 oz. pkg., cubed)
• Mozzarella cheese (2 oz., finely chopped)
• Onion (1, finely chopped)
• Sour cream (1/3 cp.)
• Powdered milk (1/2 cp.)
• Fresh chives (1 tbs., finely chopped)
• Fresh tarragon (1 tsp., chopped)
• Sage and black pepper to taste
• Eggs (3, beaten)

Boil the potatoes in a large pot in salted water. Reduce to simmer for about 20 minutes and drain. Place potatoes and butter in a large bowl. Add the other ingredients except for the eggs and stir together. Fold in the eggs and pour the mixture into a casserole dish. Back at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until browned.

Suggestion: Make it overnight for an easy dish to heat up in the morning.

Barbecue Chicken Sandwich

• Rotisserie chicken (1, 3-4 pound chicken with the meat shredded)
• Barbeque sauce (1-1 1/2 cups, or as desired)
• Hamburger buns

Mix the chicken and BBQ sauce in a bowl. Put the mixture onto a bun and save the rest for later or serve the rest to your guests. Serves up to 4.

Suggestion: Add chopped jalapeños for flavor and serve with potato chips on the side.

Easy Skillet Tacos

• Ground beef (1 lb.)
• Small onion (chopped)
• Olive oil (1 tsp.)
• Chili powder (1 tbs.)
• Ground cumin (1 1/2 tsp.)
• Salt (to taste or 1 tsp.)
• Pinto beans (1 can, rinsed and drained)
• Tomato sauce (1 can)
• Water (3/4 cup)
• Salsa (1/2 cup)
• Shredded cheese (1-2 cps.)
• Fresh cilantro (1 tbs.)
• Taco shells or flour tortillas
• Shredded lettuce, salsa, diced tomatoes, and sour cream (for the toppings)

Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium heat and drain. Mix the other ingredients in another pan, except for the toppings, pinto beans, cheese, and cilantro. Cook over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes while stirring occasionally. Add the pinto beans while mashing some and leaving some whole. Simmer an additional 8-10 minutes. Top with the cheese and cilantro. Let the mixture cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Place the mixture in taco shells or tortillas and add toppings.

The key to cooking for one is to either make enough for a single meal or to share with friends. For larger recipes such as stews, soups, and chilis, store what's left in the freezer for easy heat up when the mood strikes. With a little preparation, planning, and organization, cooking for one can really be fun!

Author Bio

Sandy is an elder care blogger associated with Assisted Living Today to help spread awareness for seniors and their families.