I have been cooking for two for a number of years now, since our son went in the Navy after high school, and
experiment frequently with cutting recipes down to size so we don’t have to eat
the same thing several days in a row.
Myrna has been struggling with cooking for just one for a year or so, and finds that it’s hard to keep your weight up and to eat real meals when
you cook just for yourself after years of cooking for others.
Two nice ladies who live in a duplex next door to us have
two different solutions for this problem, both widows, one of them cooks a
sit-down meal for herself every day; the other eats out except for breakfast!
We have searched the internet and available cookbooks for
ideas and recipes for small batch cooking, and that’s what we are going to
share this year on Mondays.
Experimenting is fine, but it’s nice to use recipes, even for old
favorites, that already tell you what size pan you need for your small recipes!
Both of us are eating better when we cook every day like my
neighbor. The cookbooks we have found
are good, not-so-good, and “nothing I would cook” in them. We will share reviews of ones we have
purchased, good or not so good, along with some recipes or ideas we have tried. Our experience is that the recipes are often for larger
servings than we think are sensible or healthy.
The same with most recent magazines that address cooking for one or two.
We hope you’ll follow along on our newest cooking adventure!
I love this idea. I am alone after losing my husband of 51 years 3 years ago. It is very hard to cook for one. So I will enjoy what you share with us. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDenise, it is an adjustment alright. After two years I am getting some better at it, but it is so easy to just settle for junk food when it is just you. Hopefully this will keep me more motivated as well as our readers.
DeleteWe cook for 2. We've cut way down in the quantity that we make for a recipe like "Red Beans and Rice". But, most of our cooking never follows a written recipe. We add the ingredients we like and make the food. Since I'm still working, I eat left overs for lunch. Or if there is enough left for 2 we have the meal again.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what y'all do.
JR, Both Sue and I think servings sizes have gotten out of hand. Many newer cookbooks call for a 1/3 LB. of ground beef or a whole chicken breast for one person, way to much food.
DeleteI use my brownie and mini loaf pans, muffin pans, etc. for making small portions in; 8 or 9 inch round cake pans for mini pizzas or small cakes; some to eat at the moment and the rest I wrap up in freezer paper and put in freezer for another time.
ReplyDeleteI will happily follow along with any topic you'd like to feature, Sue and Myrna! I am still cooking for 4 and 5 (daughter's boyfriend now added to the table) but the day will come soon enough when I don't need to make soup by the gallon. Looking forward to the discussion!
ReplyDeleteOne of my treasures is a little book called "My Daily Dinner" by Ethel Brice (Food Editor New Idea Magazine)
ReplyDeletepublished by Southdown Press, Melbourne, Australia.
My copy is from the late 1950s or very early '60s I'd guess, and has menus and recipes for dinners for summer and winter months. It's aimed at newly-weds I think, and contains advice and hints as well.
The quantities are for two or, where larger, recipes for using leftovers next day are included.
Looking forward to your articles in due course.
[Valerie, NZ]
That sounds interesting. I am going to look for a copy. Sometimes you can find them even though they are from another country. Thanks
DeleteMy best copy has a yellow cover with the title "My Daily Dinner" in red, and is marked "New Edition" in the top right-hand corner. The price is marked on the bottom right corner as 5/-, that is, five shillings.
ReplyDeleteThe other copy I have is a seventh edition, different cover, priced at 75 cents (so after Australia converted to decimal currency in February 1966). It's more "modern" in tone and type of recipes.
[Valerie]
Thanks, I did find more Editions and wondered which one you had. The cost of shipping is more than I want to pay so will most likely not order it. The only copies I can find are used and shipped direct from Australia. The postage is more than the book.
Delete