cooking when you live alone

Thanks for starting this thread.  I also live alone and find it challenging to cook for one without alot of waste.  I love to cook, but right now I prefer quick and easy.

Whole wheat tortillas have become a staple in my kitchen.  They can be made into veggie wraps, a pizza, and quesadillas.

Chowhound is a great website for recipe ideas.  The Home Cooking message board is filled with great tips.

I'm looking forward to hearing other ideas.

I make a black bean chili thing. Saute an onion & garlic with cumin & red pepper/chili powder, add in a can of black beans and diced tomatoes. I also throw in a cup of cooked rice, and if you are up for it, you can grate a little cheese and cilantro. Veggies, good carbs and protein so you aren't hungry. It reheats well and if eating alone should cover 3-4 meals.If no cheese then it is vegan too.

I also live alone and find dinner challenging at times.  I don't mind cooking since it's the only way to eat good, nutritious food.  However, sometimes I'm just too tired!!  After working 10 long days straight, I came home exhausted today.  Dinner was quick, easy and delicious.  I toasted Ezekiel bread with havarti cheese and made a sandwich adding tomatoes, fresh spinach leaves and a little dijon mustard.

A couple of my staples are a little olive oil and garlic in a pan then add 1/2 pkg of spinach when that wilts down add a chopped tomato and then either a handful of white beans or chickpeas to warm and pour it over some brown rice or noodles and this week I have been doing veggies on the bbq, chopped up a bell pepper, a zucchini and a leek tossed in olive oil and then grilled and that was really good, these don't take very as I'm usually tired when I get in the door.  I too love sweet potatoes and yams and sometimes just microwave one whole and have that as my meal. 

Hi ladies, I'm not single but I wind up making two meals every time I cook because my DH is a picky eater and wouldn't last one day on the low fat, no sugar, no white flour diet I am following since my triple negative dx.  The main staple I have relied on since I started this way of eating has been my own homemade humus.  It's insanely easy to make and I can make up a big batch whenever I need to so I always have some on hand.  I wasn't really a big hummus eater until I started making my own.  My favorite recipe is a spinach, garlic and salsa mixture.  You can either get garbanzo beans in the can or buy them dried and then cook soak and then cook them.  The only thing you have to buy that you probably wouldn't have on hand normally is Tahiti ( a sesame seed paste) but you can buy it at most health food stores or a Whole Foods type market.  I take fresh spinach, some fresh garlic, a splash of lemon juice, a tablespoon of Tahiti, fresh salsa (whatever type you like) and a dash of cayenne pepper.  I mix it all in a blender until it's liquefied.  Then I slowly add garbanzo beans until it blends to the consistency of cooked oatmeal.  Then I pour it into seal-able containers and put them in the fridge.  I eat it with whole grain crackers or spread it on wheat tortillas when I make a wrap.  It's delicious and easy to keep on hand.  I've been following this diet religiously for a month now and have dropped 15 pounds.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.

Dee      

It was hot and humid in this area this weekend.  So, I had one of my favorite no-cook meals many times.  Take mixed berries (fresh or frozen) and top with fruity yogurt and granola with dried berries.

Garbanzo beans have been mentioned a few times.  They are quite tasty for a snack when roasted.  First, rinse the beans and dry.  Drizzle a bit of olive oil on them, and add just a small pinch of salt.  Other temps and times may work, but I've baked them on parchment paper at 400 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes.  After they are done, you can also add you favorite seasoning blend (italian, cajun, grill).

Gram- if you like artichoke try getting a small jar of marinated artichoke.( the kind you would use on a salad.)  microwave or saute a small chicken breast or turkey breast with some chicken broth and cumin.  when it's done, slice the chicken or turkey andthen  add the  marinated artichoke with half of the marinade from the jar.Reheat. As soon as the artichoke marinade starts to warm up, you're done.  It's a meal that can be done any quantity and gets a lot of raves for being a different way to do the plain old chicken.  This gets served with olives in it around the NY area as mediterranean style chicken/tukey for a big price. the nice thing is you don't have to plan too much.  It's easy to keep a tiny jar of marinated artichoke on the shelf for that time you want to do something different.

Like some of the others have suggested, cook more than you would eat and freeze it.  I would do taco hamberger or use ground chicken or turkey, cook some chicken breasts and stick it in the freezer.  Then you can make a salad and take some of the meat out and add it to your salad.  Salads are always but with warmer weather now salads are even better

a super fast pasta..

drain pasta and toss with a can or two of tomatoes (if you don't have fresh diced). cubed feta cheese and herbs.  it's quite good warm and makes an excellent chilled salad (with other things like olives, mushrooms (don't let them get soggy) and whatever.

i love recipe threads.

I am glad I found this string because its been hard for me to cook my meals these days.  I just don't want to.  I was doing really well before surgery.  I was eating lots of salads and veggies.  I would mix romaine, cilantro and spinach together by cutting them up in smaller pieces and shaking them to mix in the bowl.  This was my base for the week.  I would add chicken, tuna or just use it as a side with a small piece of steak or fish.  My meat was no more than 4oz to a serving for lunch and dinner.  I ate lots of oranges, grapefruits things that were easy.  I have to get back to that and as soon as I can I will start working out maybe in a couple of weeks.  Only yoga per the PS.  I think I also just  need to shake off this ho hum place I am in. 

Cindy

Hey, Apple, don't laugh or wrinkle your nose, but my fav sandwich is PB, mayo, boiled sliced egg, tomatoes, on WW or other delish bread or toast!  YUM!!  don't have it often, but always enjoy it!!!!