How to Eat Well when Cooking for One

When my daughter moved out at age 18 I faced a big problem in the kitchen. I could not figure out how to cook for one. No matter how hard I tried I either wound up eating the same thing for a week or living on frozen dinners. 

As one who loves to cook I slowly figured out how to handle the leftovers. I bought a small freezer and made my usual recipes I then divide the recipes into portions and after enjoying my meal placed the remaining portions in the freezer 

This gives me a chance to enjoy the same recipe again when I want it not for 4 or 6 days in a row. Below are a few suggestions to make cooking for one more enjoyable and interesting. 

Buy Chicken breasts in the family sized package and freeze separately on a cookie sheet. You can then store them in a larger bag without having to fight to separate one breast for dinner. This also works with pork chops and small steaks. Just toss one of these frozen breasts chops or steaks in the fridge when you leave for work and it will be thawed and ready for the broiler when you get home. Add a few fresh veggies and you’ve got a great meal for one.

Do you love the taste of fresh baked cookies? Try freezing cookie dough in cookie sized pieces. Simply place spoonfuls of your favorite cookie dough on a cookie sheet and freeze until solid. Then place the frozen dough into a freezer bag and when you are craving that hot cookie simply bake as usual adding a minute or so for defrosting.

Do you love pie but don’t want to eat apple pie all week? Slice the pie into wedges and freeze separately on a cookie sheet. Then wrap them in foil for later. You can toss one of these foil packets into the oven alongside your chicken breast to heat up for dessert with ice cream or simply leave it in the fridge after lunch to enjoy with dinner.
Note: don’t try the oven heating trick with cream pie you will have a sticky mess).

Try using canned diced potatoes to make a small amount of potato salad. This is one way to enjoy something that doesn’t freeze well.