How to Cook for One?

   It is often frustrating to attempt to plan meals that are designed for one. Divorce and the death of spouses or grown children leaving home to venture on their own are all reasons that someone accustomed to cooking for more than one would suddenly need to learn how to adjust all the cooking practices utilized before into a streamlined plan of cooking that is more efficient for one person creating less waste.

The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make cooking for one a challenge rather than a trial. Use this opportunity to try new and exciting cuisines. Perhaps one of the greatest things about cooking for one is the fact that it isn’t quite as expensive as cooking for two. This means that you have a little more money in the grocery budget with which to plan and prepare your meals.

One thing you may want to keep in mind however is that when cooking for one, if you prepare foods that are freezable. It may save more time (and in the end money) if you cook the full 2-4 servings that most recipes call for and freeze the leftovers in single serving portions for a later point in time. This leaves you with a freezer full of foods for those nights when the thought of cooking just seems beyond your capabilities. This also leaves you with doing the work once and enjoying the fruits of your efforts many times over. This is a great position to be in if you ask me.

We are finding more and more recipes and cookbooks that are designed around the concept of cooking for one. No matter what situation placed you in the position of cooking for one, there is no reason that you shouldn’t enjoy great food that is exciting and pleasant simply because you are dining alone. There is no harm in enjoying a fabulous meal with a glass of wine and great music whether you are cooking for one or one hundred.

Remember you are what you eat and if you relegate yourself to boring meals that lack excitement and spice that is what you will become. However if you decide to reach out and try new and exciting dishes with every meal you prepare when cooking for one, it will show in the way you embrace life in other areas as well. While we should not live to eat, we should also not limit ourselves to eating to live. Enjoy the foods you prepare whether the portions are large or small in size.

If you do not want to invest heavily in cookbooks that relate to cooking for one, the Internet is full of recipes, tips, and hints for those who are cooking for one. One of my favourite websites for easy and simple meals are as follows:

BBC Good Food - They have lots of ideas and really easy recipes. You can filter your search to easy, moderate, or the keen cook, if you are watching the calories you can filter to how much calories you want to eat. There are many well know chefs that also post recipes so you will be cooking like pro with such ease.  Why don't you go and check them out right now and see how easy it is. 

Whats for Dinner? - Is a South African based website and yes they do promote alot of Knorr products. All the ingredients is easy to find at many of our supermarkets. (No need to run around and looking for strange ingredients like sumac for example) Many of the recipes are super easy to make, freezable and also fast to cook. Many of them are also very healthy. 

The options on the internet is endless. 

Now its your turn. What is your favourite "Quickstix" Meal?