Friday, August 24, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Cooking For One
Earlier this month, my husband went
away on a business trip for a whole week. I'm lucky that he doesn't
have to travel often and so the week felt like a very big deal to me,
but I'm sure those of you whose spouses travel for weeks if not
months at a time are rolling your eyes at me. But yeah, to me it was
a big deal.
One of the things I have always hated
about being on my own is cooking for just me. It just seems like too
much effort, what with the prep and the cooking time and worst of
all, the clean up. But whenever my husband has to travel for work, I
find myself forced to cook for one. And I've learned a few things
along the way.
Lentil Soup with Sausage and Kale |
One of my favorite ways to make things
easier on myself is by cooking big meals ahead of time and freezing
the leftovers in individual serving sized portions. This does not
work for everything. Potatoes for example don't tend to freeze very
well. But lots of soups, chilies, and pasta sauces freeze and reheat
beautifully.
Chili with Chips and Cheese |
To reheat soup or other liquidy foods on the stove, run the container under some warm water to loosen
it and plop it right into a small sauce pan. Warm it on medium low
heat and stir every 5 minutes or so to keep it from scorching to the
bottom.
Pasta with Meat Sauce and Salad |
Any meal with easy clean up gets a big
gold star from me. I enjoy cooking but I hate washing up.
One way to minimize clean up is to make one pot meals. It doesn't
have to be a literal pot, of course. Any meal that you can make with
a single skillet, cookie sheet, frying pan or whatever can be
considered a one pot meal. The point is that you don't dirty a lot of
dishes. Some examples are my fish in a packet recipe, fried rice, and
macaroni and cheese.
Asian Fish in a Packet |
Garden Veggie Salad with Chicken |
I'm a big proponent of spoiling
yourself a little every now and again. So go ahead and toss a few
luxury ingredients into the mix. Pasta with shrimp and smoked
artisianal bacon? Yes please! Grilled cheese sandwiches made with
aged sharp cheddar? For sure! Add some local edamame on the side and
wash it all down with your favorite micro brew. There's no reason why
you should eat a hot pocket while watching the real house wives of
wherever just because your significant other is traveling. Martyrdom
is for, well, martyrs. And there is no need for that.
Bourbon Bacon Pasta |
Thursday, August 16, 2012
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