Im not used, to cooking for, one

[kozar]

I tend to wander, in grocery stores, and buy, what I used to cook, for MsK, and LilBit.
I honestly do not know, how to cook, single servings.
I admire NJCher and her recipes,
I just gotta feed me. I had gastric bypass surgery, years ago.

I just don't know. These recipes! I eat my 2 eggs in morning,, then I'm lost, I need flavor,
There care cooking techniques, I'm just tired, of earing the same thing, every day.

Koz

[Permanut]

1. I hear ya there..

I get lost trying to sort through the 5,000,000 recipes in the million cookbooks available.

[usonian]

7. YES. I cook for one and I'm a cookbook junkie.

It's just hell. In addition to the remaining printed cookbooks, I collect online recipes and save them in a recipe manager app.

I'm up to 4262 recipes.

I gave away lots of cookbooks when I got electronic ones (PDF and EPUB)

Lost count of them.

[leftieNanner]

2. I cook for 2

But my concept is to make two things each week and alternate thru the days. Things like soup, chili, or meatloaf. Maybe a roast chicken.

[Eko]

3. Bratwurst is good.

I like to slowly pan fry them. The whole beer thing takes away a lot of the grease but I think they taste better without it (the beer). Easy to freeze and thaw when you want them.

[kozar]

5. Uhmm i had gastric bypass,

I can't eat Brats



Koz

[Eko]

6. Sorry.

[Clouds Passing]

27. Have you tried the vegan brats? Beyond Meat brand is yummy. Not spicy.

Also I cook a couple different pot of beans and grains. Refrigerate enough for a few days. Freeze some in single serve.

[usonian]

4. I've been cooking for one for almost 10 years, and it never makes sense.

I'm still experimenting. Packages at stores all seem too large, so if something can't be frozen, some of it spoils, unless I want the same thing 4 times a week, it seems.

My favorite stores (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sprouts) are 50 miles away, which totally negates the idea of "just in time" shopping, which might help. I plan to move to a place with stores, the V.A. and so on.

The latest experiment (today) involves making a lot of chicken soup in the slow cooker, since I never seem to tire of chicken soup.

I used to cook often for three, then my daughter went to college, and then I got divorced, so back to bachelor cook.

Good luck. I got some advice here previously and I hope that you get some good advice.

My problem is that I learned to cook from my Italian Mom, and it's really hard to scale down from "abbondanza" cooking.

It gets really tough around holidays, because I know how to make many of the holiday treats. Just so far from everyone else.

Working on the cure.

[kozar]

13. Yes!! Packages Suck!

And, I am a full time camper, I have a very small freezer, that doesn't do well, when it's packed.
I feel like starting a movement for single cooks. Surely, the chicken farmers, could pack 2 thighs per pack, instead of 6. Heck, I can't remember the last time, I saw a 4 pack of thighs!
But, we are a " bulk nation" now.

24 "double" roll packs of TP, 50 garbage bags, per box, all cereal, seems to be, " Family Size!", even TVs need to be 80 inches now!
I consider myself lucky, I found a smaller market, that has, a meat counter, so I can say," can I have 2 chicken thighs and a half pound of ground round" and smaller packaging, due to their space. Occasionally, I need to go to wally or a chain, out of necessity.
Then, I end up, making a post, like this.

Koz

[Marthe48]

17. I buy a family pack of meat and repack

If I get chicken breasts, I cut them into bite size pieces, freeze meal size packs. When I want to cook, I thaw a pack and make a meal that'll last me 2 or 3 days. If you like soup, a pk of cut up chicken, a bag of frozen mixed vegs, spices you like, onions, garlic and a can of broth will make about a quart of soup.
I'll get the family pk. of ground beef and divide it into 3/4 lb portions to freeze. I make meat loaf or casseroles, get 3 meals of meatloaf, maybe 4 meals from soup or chili.
I don't follow recipes for soup or meatloaf. Even if I use the same spices, flavor can vary from batch to batch.
Making meals and freezing portions is a good idea, too. I would rather eat unfrozen leftovers, so that's what I do.

[kozar]

20. As ive said

I have a very small freezer!!¡¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Koz

[Marthe48]

22. I do too

But I pack it full.

[LiberalBrooke]

8. Cook for the group, then freeze in individual portions to eat later.

Then you can take out what you feel like another day. I also go to the salad bar and get a small amount for 2-3 days. Beats throwing out all of the fresh veggies when they get stale.

[brewens]

9. I learned to cook a few years back. I make big batches of stuff and freeze it. I eat great and it saves me a fortune.

If I'm ever not feeling good, I have a handy frozen meal to nuke.

[Tetrachloride]

10. veggie lasagna -- keeps well in refrigerator

bean soup with turkey ham in slow cooker

oatmeal in the mornings, small
serving. 1/4 banana. maple syrup

hope these help. fairly safe all
around

[Autumn]

11. My sister does Hello Fresh. Dinners are like 9 dollars, lunch around 5 or 6 dollars.

They also have breakfast items but she hasn't tried those. She orders for for 1 about 3 or 4 meals a week. Look at the menu and pick what you like. Delivered to your door and each meal comes with everything you need. Direction, spices, condiments every ingredient you need.

[kozar]

14. Ive thought about this,

As a meal in any restaurant now, is at least 10 bucks( even a burger) and, it would allow me to cook on a regular basis, again.

Koz

[Phoenix61]

12. As several others have posted. It's just me but I cook

for 4-5 and freeze individual sized portions. It’s like tv dinners but way better. Also, frozen veggies are my friend. Baked chicken, broccoli, a little pasta/rice/quinoa and I’ve got a meal.

[kozar]

21. Did anyone read my post??

I have a freezer, that will barely hold , 2 ice cube trays


Koz

[MagickMuffin]

15. I've been cooking for one lately

Which is quite difficult to do.


Here are some ideas

Flour tortillas can be very versatile
Mini pizzas, jarred pasta sauce works and add whatever toppings you like
Nan bread heat them up and have with Indian food. Grocery stores sell Indian sauces in jars as well.
And of course Mexican food
Burritos, soft tacos, quesadillas

I’m currently on a nacho kick. Black beans mashed, cheese, peppers.

I tend to eat a lot of fish since that’s the only meat I eat. But I get bored even with my made up recipes. I use a lot of spices: paprika, turmeric, garlic, lemon pepper, salt and pepper.


But it would be extremely beneficial if manufacturers would think about seniors no longer needing a 28oz can of beans. I can’t buy baked beans because the can size is too large for one person.


Let’s start a movement “SMALLER CANS, SMALLER CANS!”


On edit: I use to have to cook for my family growing up (6 of us) so again smaller portions are something I have to get used to doing.

[Marthe48]

18. You can freeze some of the canned stuff

My friend discovered she could freeze canned baked beans, so when she opens a can, she repacks the rest.
I think you could freeze tomato sauce into smaller portions too.

[spinbaby]

16. I'm in the same boat

Cooking for one and it needs to be healthy. Sometimes it’s all too much. I’ve been finding a lot of inspiration watching Japanese cooking on YouTube—the kind of videos that feature Japanese home cooking. I rarely reproduce recipes I watch because I don’t have the ingredients and sometimes the combinations are just plain odd, but it’s very inspiring to watch people cook in small quantities with a lot of vegetables. That said, I will probably have cottage cheese for dinner.

[Nittersing]

19. Have I got a website for you!!!!

https://onedishkitchen.com/

All of her recipes are designed for one.

The biggest challenge I had was finding the proper cookware. It looks like she now offers some on her site, but they look a little pricey. I know a lot of people have had luck finding them in thrift stores.

Anyway, I like a lot of her recipes. Hope these can help.

[usonian]

28. Thanks. I was looking for that.

Much appreciated.

[Marthe48]

23. if you asked

would the meat department where you shop put together smaller packs of meat for you? Some places will wrap or rewrap cuts, sometimes no charge

[kozar]

24. Ty, please read my reply,

To usopian yesterday,,
I already do that!!!

Does anybody hear me when I type????

[Marthe48]

25. Sorry I've been traveling

I was thinking of earlier posts that I replied to. I am probably missing a whole lot.

[malaise]

26. What do you like to eat?

Cooking is fun. You can start simple - do you like chicken?
If you do we can start with simple dishes.

[Tarzanrock]

29. Purchase a small freezer ...

... from Amazon on sale -- you can get a quality one for less than $200 bucks. Buy a crock pot and a crock pot recipe book. You are now in business. In a couple of weeks, buy a Le Creuset 10 or 11 inch non-stick pro frying pan with a glass top lid and a Le Creuset non-stick pro 3 quart or 4 quart pot with a glass top lid. In couple of months, you, too, will be posting recipes here just like Cher does and we will all thank you for them.

[kozar]

32. Ty, iI have a 35 ft camper,

30 Amp hookup, and small in space.
Once again, a freezer, could not help me.



Koz

[PikaBlue]

30. Mini Crock Pot

I had an extremely difficult time adjusting to cooking for just myself. I bought a mini crock pot and that really helped. If I buy a roast, I cut it into smaller pieces, vacuum seal, and freeze them. Then I make small roasts with a potato and a few carrots in the mini crock pot. I can do a single pork chop wth sweet potato and apple, a chicken breast with peppers over rice, soups, chili, etc, but all on a much smaller scale. Sometimes I bake mini meat loaves in a muffin baking pan. Small metal baking pans are great for baking a salmon portion with a little asparagus. For me, cooking for one came down to buying 3 smaller pieces of cookware: a mini crock pot, a small metal baking pan, and a small frying pan.

[Hotler]

31. How about giving us and Idea what you can have and can't have in case we want to share a recipe.

My problem cooking for one is thinking of something that my taste buds will say, ooo ya...... The other day I made a batch of buttermilk pancakes. (had some left over buttermilk after making buttermilk bourbon pie), they freeze well and you can pop them in the toaster to heat up. I like mine with a dab or yogurt and honey.