if u only cook for one person it is really hard, without a lot of leftovers.
would like to know who does cook for only one. and any tips would be just wonderful.it is easier to do with prepared food than from scratch i have found. do like fresh .
babe
I cook for one & sometimes have leftovers. Since I'm not a fan of freezing cooked/prepared food, (I prefer fresh), I try to be creative & turn the leftovers into another dish. i.e.
When I cook a roast w veggies, the next day I may serve over broad egg noodles - similar to stroganoff.
Eggplant Parm - I smoosh up & serve as a pasta dish or make an ep sammich.
P/u a rotisserie chicken (already cooked - or roast my own) - then add the cooked chicken to a pasta salad or (caesar) salad, pizza, sammiches, calzone or add stir fry veggies.
Meatballs - serve w pasta (spaghetti, ravioli) one day, & serve as a sammich the next day. Add peppers & onions w melted mozzarella, provalone etc.
Be creative & keep a well-stocked pantry - i.e. various pasta shapes/sizes, rice, couscous, canned tomatoes & tomato sauce, olives, marinated artichoke hearts, soups, dried herbs/spices, breadcrumbs, tuna, salmon, etc. When you see a recipe you like, you already have most of the main ingreds on hand - only need to buy a few more ingreds for fresh salads & fresh fruit.
I keep some frozen packaged ingreds on hand, when I'm in a time crunch (or don't feel like cooking) - i.e. frozen/fresh ravioli, dumplings/potstickers, knishes, potato pancakes, blintzes, won ton skins etc.
My freezer is well stocked w chicken, beef, pork, fish/seafood, so I can pick & choose a main ingred & add sides of choice, & serve w fresh salad & fruit. I order (on line) from places like Kansas City or Omaha Steaks, etc. Foods are sealed & keep for quite awhile in the freezer.
I almost always have a few different varieties of cheese - & bagels, bread, flour tortillas to make a quick sammich. I try to vary the weekly menu i.e one night fish, chicken or beef. Don't eat dessert every day/night, so I only bake when I have the time.