Cooking for one

Hello Ladies

I'm wondering if some of the single OFF members could give me some tips and/or recipes. I hate cooking for myself and most nights I buy prepared food and bringing it home. I try not to eat much junk food but it gets kind of expensive. I need some really simple dishes I can prepare or ideas for getting food ready to cook ahead of time and thowing a meal together quickly when I get home from work.  I HATE leftovers so no cooking and freezing. I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

Barbara....wish I could help....I always cook ahead...I don't mind leftovers. I use my Crockpot and George Foreman grill a lot....but then there is always food left over. It would really be hard to cook single serving meals when we eat so little at a time.

I hope someone else can give you some help with this.

Hugs....connie d

Most of my meals are simple and done in less then 30 minutes. . .  but they also involve having leftovers that I freeze for future meals, which overtime gives me a freezer full of frozen dinners that I can take to work and/or have on those nights when I just don't want to be bothered. . .

Here is something you can throw together without having freezer or leftover issues. . .

Boneless Chicken Cutlet (thin variety)
Pepper/Garlic Grinder
Skillet or nonstick pan, sprayed with cooking spray or use small amount of olive oil

Season Chicken according to taste

Spray skillet and sprinkle liberally with garlic grinder (or any other kind of seasonings you prefer) and heat over medium flame, once pan is hot take the chicken cutlet after and sear on the one side, letting cook approximately 4 minutes, then turn it over to the other side, at this point you can add, if you like, a bit of white wine (cooking wine works fine), just to add moisture and taste and coo****il done, just don't overcook. . .  serve over a nice salad or with a side of vegetables.

Another is a vegetable omlet, you can add some cheese for extra protein. . .  it's all about trying to be creative with what you like and have on hand. . . 

Another dish I make, but again, not sure how you would make it for one meal (guess you can make it in toaster oven). . .

Preheat oven to 350

Take chicken cutlet, dip in lowfat mayo, then wholewheat, flavored breadcrumbs, mixed with coarsely grated parmesean cheese. . .  spray a pan with nonstick spray and put chicken on pan, cook on first side about 7 minutes, then carefully turn over with a spatula and cook other side for same amount of time, as soon as you take it out of the oven, pour a little bit of white wine or chicken broth over top and I do mean just enough to add moisture and flavor. . .

Hope these help. . .

I do a lot of frozen dinners ... Lean Cuisines, etc. ... and then a salad on the side. I work nights, so I do my main meal at noon and then bring a wrap (my version of a sandwich) to work for lunch. Sometimes I'll go out and get  salad or a Subway sandwich. Depends on money/time/food available at home.

On  weekends (which for me is Monday/Tuesday) I might make something, like a steak on my George Foreman, or a meal that I can have for a couple of days and freeze. In the past, I've made salsa chicken or chili or spaghetti or whatever ... when I moved, I had to give away a lot of frozen dinners and throw out a lot of chili. I make a mean chili! Since I've been down here, I haven't cooked much because I haven't had time, what with unpacking (or I haven't felt very good ... have had a lot of headaches down here).

Thanks. These ideas are good ones.  Sound like a George Forman might be in my future. It would be so easy to cook a small piece of meat or even some veggies for one meal.