Singletons -- what are you cooking?

Is it that it's too much bother, or that we can't stand a week of leftovers . . . ? 

Either way, many of us don't cook much, although it can be done.  Hoping a few will share things that work out successfully when cooking for one.

I have a mini-slow cooker, and use it a couple of times a week.  Tonight I was greeted with the aroma of chicken and veggies.  I place a chicken leg (thigh and drumstick) into the bottom, add half an onion, a couple of whole peeled carrots, a handful of new potatoes, and if I have any other root veggies (turnips, parsnips, etc) I add those as well.  Then a bit of water or wine, salt and pepper, a bay leaf if I can find one . . . and set it to LOW for the day.  I'm gone about 11 hours, and it's perfect when I get home.  I also prepare it all the night before, and leave it in the fridge in the crock -- just have to pull it out, put it into the metal base, and turn it on before my mad dash out the door.

I also do bacon and eggs one night a week, a burger weekly with some oven chips . . . not very creative.

I roast a chicken on Saturdays, and on Sunday I boil down the carcass and make a broth, then add chicken bits, carrot shreads, and rice.  I use the leftovers for chicken salad -- my fave recipe is chicken chunks, mayo, red grapes, and sometimes some walnuts. 

OK, let's hear from others -- and no fair telling what kind of cereal you eat each night!     A real meal for one, please!  I hope to get some ideas . . .

I enjoy cooking and I cook for one all the time. Usually I can carry it over to lunch or dinner the next day... but never a week. 

Try smaller protion sizes if you keep cooking too much for one- half a head of broccoli or half a carrot... a palm sized heap of rice is just right... make your own bread or buy the smaller loaves. I usually use dried beans instead of cans. The only cans in my cupboard are tuna and tomatoes. Frozen corn is handy.

I usually go meatless and make substitutes or if I do buy meat I divide it up and freeze it for individual meals later.

I have a cupboard full of spices and lots of cookbooks for ideas so I rarely get bored.

Last night I made a stew.. Fried up some meat and poured in a pint of stout, a few carrots, corn and left over veggies from the night before. While that was going, I made a small loaf of soda bread. I tend to half recipes or quarter them.

Another one of my favorites is chicken pita pockets. Dice up a couple of fillets and fill a pita with favorites. I like this for lunch too and enjoy eating it for a couple of days just mixing up the ingredients. Pitas are freezable too.

Cous Cous is another easy one I whip up with all sorts of things to vary the taste.

I admit though, my cupboard usually has crackers and a nice selection of cheese in the fridge for those non cooking nights. Ah, one of the joys of cooking for yourself.

Whenever I do cook a full meal, I usually make enough for two (since two is an easy number for meat, canned stuff, etc) and then eat the other half the next day.  Sometimes I over-do it and make about 3, but that works too, lol.  One of my absolute favorite things is creamy chicken & broccoli over pasta.  It's dead simple, because all you need are those things & cream of mushroom soup.  I also like roasting a chicken and then using the leftovers for various things - chicken salad, sandwiches.  It's really useful.

Also, I buy meat in fairly large portions because it's cheaper, so when you go to freeze it, just divide it up beforehand.  Steaks are frozen individually, I cut mince packs in half, etc.

If all else fails, there's always a good sandwich waiting nearby!

(oh, and big bags of spinach are great for making your own salad...just tear up however much you need...I usually eat it well before it starts going off!)

Recently, I'd been doing fish or chicken on the George Foreman grill. Then I'll have a jacket potato (or rice) and veg with it. Not terribly imaginative, but I've never really liked leftovers so try hard to cook only enough for me. When my bf is here, we'll do a big roast chicken dinner on Sunday nights. For some reason, I don't mind those leftovers. At the moment, I'm recovering from surgery and am not really in the mood for cooking ... so it's been a series of ready-meals. Ick. I did make a huge pot of Indian-style lentils when I first came out of hospital, thinking it would be good to have something to tide me over a couple of days. But after eating lentils for three days straight, I went mad and threw them out.

I admit though, my cupboard usually has crackers and a nice selection of cheese in the fridge for those non cooking nights. Ah, one of the joys of cooking for yourself.

That is definitely one of the joys of being a singleton! Cereal for supper! 

I did make a huge pot of Indian-style lentils when I first came out of hospital, thinking it would be good to have something to tide me over a couple of days. But after eating lentils for three days straight, I went mad and threw them out.

You can always freeze some of the lentils and then when you're not sick of them any more, you will have them already ready to heat up and eat!  I love doing that.

You can always freeze some of the lentils and then when you're not sick of them any more, you will have them already ready to heat up and eat!  I love doing that.

Normally I would have, but my tiny freezer is full of those awful ready-meals! 

I have to admit I don't cook much for myself.  My girls are still w/my parents for a few weeks, so it's just me at the moment.  I'm finding myself eating lots of soup and the occasional sandwich.  The mini slow-cooker intrigues me, though....

I'm also a hater of ready-cook meals, but I always keep one in the freezer for emergencies (ie, the I-reallllly-don't-wanna-cook emergency! ).  Other than that, my freezer is always full of meat (since I buy in bulk, as above), frozen veg (also a really handy way to make single servings), and ice cream!

I frequently throw together chicken or salmon with veggies... usually broiled or steamed.
Just put a few spices/seasoning salt on and throw it in the oven and steam some broccoli. 
I also will chop it up (the chicken or salmon) and put it in a mixed salad with whatever additional extras I have (mushrooms, cucumber, peppers, pine nuts, feta or mozzarella, etc.).

Thanks to Lola, I am now a fan of chili and make a big batch of that at least once a month.

My only frustration with food and being single is when I buy bags of lettuce, spinach, etc. and I can't seem to eat it fast enough before it goes bad! 

My only frustration with food and being single is when I buy bags of lettuce, spinach, etc. and I can't seem to eat it fast enough before it goes bad! 

I hear you. Happens with veg, bread, milk, etc.

Normally I would have, but my tiny freezer is full of those awful ready-meals! 

Oooh girl get rid of those!!! 

My only frustration with food and being single is when I buy bags of lettuce, spinach, etc. and I can't seem to eat it fast enough before it goes bad! 

Yes, yes yes!  I have to eat bread almost every day to finish the loaf before it goes off, and I can never seem to buy fresh fruits or veg without it spoiling before I eat it all.  It's completely maddening.

I'm reading along with this thread but I don't really have much to contribute since I'm hopeless in the kitchen and struggle a lot with trying to cook for just myself.  You guys have some great ideas though- keep 'em coming!

Oooh girl get rid of those!!! 

I don't particularly like them, but they are a god send at present. I'm really not feeling much like cooking real meals at present. Hopefully in a week or so I'll be back at it!

I can never seem to buy fresh fruits or veg without it spoiling before I eat it all.  It's completely maddening.

I buy my fruit & veg at a greengrocer, rather than at a supermarket. I find that so much of the supermarket produce is pre-packaged so you can't control how much you buy. I don't need a huge bag of potatoes, thank you very much! Four will do me fine! It does mean more frequent shopping, but at least things are fresh.

If you keep bread in the fridge it lasts far longer. We don't eat a lot of bread but I always have toast before work so I want to have it on hand. It's not very nice straight from the fridge but if you just need it for toast it's fine.

When dh is out I usually have fishcakes (M&S does REALLY nice ones) with homemade mushy peas! He doesn't like most fish so it's a bit of a treat for me. 

I don't particularly like them, but they are a god send at present. I'm really not feeling much like cooking real meals at present. Hopefully in a week or so I'll be back at it!

Oh sorry yes you have a cast-iron excuse why you've got them!  Hope you're feeling better soon dear!