Cooking and Recipes for 1 or 2

[Roberta]

I am single. So generally I cook just for myself. It is very hard to find good recipes for just one or two people. Do other people have a similar expereince? Do you think that Cooking Forums should have a singles category?

Over the years I have found some truly great recipes for one, have adapted hundreds of regular recipes down to size, or even created a few recipes for one for myself.

I would be happy to share some of those recipes if there are enough people here who think this is a good idea.

[Chowhound]

A singles category? You mean for meeting people?
Let's see.... I think Columbus is about five hours from me... :eek:
lol, just joking ;)

I cook for one. I think your suggestion bears a lot of merit. There are some things I find it hard to downsize, so often I lose interest in making them. I know there are some recipes you simply can't half or the flavoring won't come out right. I don't mind eating leftovers for lunch or another dinner, but I often see containers in my freezer that I wish weren't there from meals gone by. Of course, I try to buy cheap, too. You won't find any 13 oz cans of tomato products in my pantry because the 28 oz are more economical, so that oftens means making more than I really want to.

Yeah, I think this could be a good discussion.

[stormbind]

Yes, I think there should be a singles category.

Furthermore, the increase in vegetarianism creates a situation where whole families are torn between meat/veg. and a singles category can benefit those situations just as much.

[Semigourmet]

I think a thread for cooking for 1 or 2 might be an idea, but a "Singles" thread might create the wrong mind set for others. It is not a dating site so Singles is not a good name. Sorry.

[stormbind]

Ticket-types are often defined as singles. For example, a single to..

Such tickets are not exclusively for people seeking a date. I think its a OK to understand that a word's meaning changes depending on the context and for that reason, I think its a good name.

To avoid argument, we could just say 'Meal For One' :)

[Semigourmet]

well, I don't want to fight the idiots that will come here looking for single women or men. so No thread labled Singles. Meals for one is a great name if that is what you all want to call it. then we will start that sub forum. Let us know.

[jimbo]

How about "Cooking and recipes for 1 or 2"

I think that the concept sounds good.

[Roberta]

Cooking for 1 or 2 would be fine as far as I am concerned.

Single people, and empty-nesters of two, are one of the largest demographics in America today. And it is a growing demographic. Whether you are never married, like me, or divorced, a widow or widower, or empty nesters cooking for two now that children are grown and gone, it is a largely underserved demographic.

[Tyler]

It's a good suggestion, but I think it's also unnecessary. We're really trying to limit the amount of categories in the recipes section as it's so easy to add 500 categories there... the thing with cooking for 1 or 2 is that you can pretty much just take any normal recipe and cut it down in size, or if you're like me, just eat it all yourself :-)

Or you could freeze them into homemade frozen dinners and eat later... but it's just that "cooking for 1 or 2" is really no different than any normal recipe... and what if people then wanted those same recipes but made for their whole family?

I'm not trying to be the bad guy here... I just don't think this category is necessary...

[Semigourmet]

Okay

[Kimchee]

I would love for Roberta to share some of her recipes!
I cook for two, and we generally have lots of leftovers, but I am learning to
cook smaller quantities....

[Roberta]

Kimchee, I will do that. Thanks for suggesting. :)

[Roberta]

As promised Kimchee I am posting a recipe for 1 or 2.

Hamburger Stroganoff
A Single Chef© Recipe
Roberta Hunter

2/3 to 3/4 pounds ground chuck
2-3 tablespoons butter
4-6 medium mushrooms
¼ cup chopped onions
1 small garlic clove minced
S&P to taste
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 – 2/3 cup beef broth (canned or from granules)
6 tablespoons sour cream
Cooked noodles

Brown ground chuck in one tablespoon of the butter

Add another tablespoon of butter along with the onion and garlic

Sauté until onion and garlic is softened

Add the salt and pepper

Add the mushrooms and cook until just beginning to soften

Add Worcestershire sauce and mix well

Stir in the flour

Then add about ¼ - ½ cup of the broth and mix well*

When mixture begins to thicken add the sour cream; allow the sour cream to warm a bit and then gently blend into the sauce

Serve over the noodles with a salad and some sautéed zucchini with onions and Parmesan cheese

* You may need more or less of the broth depending on how thick or thin you want your sauce. I start with about 6 tablespoons and proceed from there.

Also, you can substitute sirloin cut into strips for the ground chuck if you prefer.

I have a picture of the stroganoff but I cannot figure out how to load it into this post. If someone can tell me how to do that I would be most grateful. The picture is in My Pictures and does not have a URL address that I know of. I upload pictures all theh time into my blog. But evidently this program is different. Help!

[Chowhound]

Roberta, click on Post a Reply (not quick reply) and scroll down below the text box until you see a Manage Attachments button. Click it. A small window will appear that will give you the option to upload pics from your computer. If you click on Browse you can search your computer for the pic. And then click Upload. You can put as many as five (I think) pics in your post, but you have to do this one at a time. When you are done close out that window. When you are done with your whole post you can also Preview it before hitting Submit to make sure your pics are OK.
If you have several pics and you would like to put them within your text and not all at the bottom, after uploading them, click on the paperclip that is on the toolbar above the text box. That will show all your pics as attachments and you can choose which one you want to insert.

Your recipe sounds good (and simple). I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for posting.

[Roberta]

Chowhound - First, I must apologize for not thanking you earlier this week for your directions to upload a picture into a post. I have had several other pressing non-cooking, non-food, non-recipe things on my plate this week. I only had time to log in and browse a few minutes and maybe make a short reply.

However, I have some time today so I printed out your directions. But I forgot to tell you, I am computer challenged. I did what you said, but was still unable to post a picture. I got further than I did before thanks to your directions. But I am going to have to work with this some more. For some reason I did not get a picture in this post as you can see.

Thanks for your great efforts. :) :) :)

[jimbo]

Your photos may be too large. I had that trouble and got the circle with cross line message. If you have W 7, you can downsize to 576 horizontal (in Paint). Otherwise you will have to reduce by percentage. Other photos systems will work as well

[Chowhound]

No problem, Roberta.
Maybe I'll upload a pic of it tonight, as that's what I plan on making for dinner ;^)

[Semigourmet]

Your photos may be too large. I had that trouble and got the circle with cross line message. If you have W 7, you can downsize to 576 horizontal (in Paint). Otherwise you will have to reduce by percentage. Other photos systems will work as well

Jimbo and Roberta, I too have windows 7 but I downsize mine a bit different. Just thought I would share with you another way to change the size: I use the same edit button, then click Resize, then click on the pixel option and then highlight the Horizontal , then type in 640 and the vertical will fill in with 480 and just click okay and save.

[Roberta]

Thanks Semigourmet and and jimbo. I wil try to do what you each suggest. However, I am not very computer literate. I have Windows xp, so maybe that is the issue. I'll play around with it and see what I can do.

Chowhound - I had my left overs for lunch today. To make it taste almost fresh I add a bit more beef broth and then slowly heat. Then I add a bit more fresh sour cream. Almost like fresh this way. I will look for your pictures tomorrow. :)

[Semigourmet]

Sorry Roberta, taht is the problem. XP even Vista doesn't have that option. So unfortunately if you can't take your camera down to VGA setting to make it smaller for emailing then you will be stuck with Large Prints, unless you want to use photobucket. you create an account (it's free) then up load your pictures, and resize them there. I can post the instructions if you want to try it.

[Roberta]

Thanks, Semigourmet. When you have time to post how to do it I will take a look see. If I cannot do it I will just post recipes and forget the pictures.

Again, thanks everyone for your help.

[Semigourmet]

Okay after you upload a photo, you click Edit above the photo. then click Resize. From that point I would click on Preset sizes, and choose, either medium or small and save the picture as that size. But looking at it again looks like you can also type in a number for the pixel size. If you type in 640 in the first window it will auto fill the second number for you (480) and will resize it to the perfect size for this site.

[Semigourmet]

I hope you can understand that. Sometimes I get to rambling on.

[Chowhound]

I have XP and she can do it like I outlined in that post where I addressed the large pics being posted. You can do it in Paint, like Jimbo said, by percentage. Then check properties to verify the pixel size.

[Semigourmet]

I see. I didn't know that! I will bet that it can be done in vista the same way then. Okay then, good to know.

[Chowhound]

Maybe, but I wouldn't bet anything can be done in Vista the same way... or even Win 7..... lol
I got off the phone with someone a couple hours ago trying to look for and email me pics (as we were talking) and complaining he wished he had XP back, rather than using Windows 7. He was rattling off a bunch of stuff he didn't like. Of course, we all know we hate changing something we are familiar with.

[homecook]

Vista is really different. That's what I have. Paint is really the only way to go. Yes, it is by percentage. I usually go 50% in both boxes and then check the properties. Depending on the size the camera takes them at I sometimes have to go another 50%. Vista is a real PITA. lol

[Roberta]

I love xp. When I heard it was being taken off the market, and after hearing all the horror stories about Vista, and even some what with 7, when my previous computer died I went out and bought one of the last of two computers in my area with Vista still installed. I figured that would last me another ten years or so. Still no problems with it. Why mess with success.

I will keep playing with uploading pictures and see how far I get. Thanks for all the suggestions and support.

[Semigourmet]

well, here are a couple of recipes that I make for myself every now and again, when I am alone.

Salmon and Rice packets.

1 4 to 6 ounce salmon fillet, skin removed.
1/2 cup white minute rice, or minute brown rice
1/2 cup broth (for white rice, beef broth for brown rice)
1/3 cup shredded or matchstick carrots
2 to 3 very thin slices lemon
your favorite seafood seasoning (I use Durkee brand citrus grill seasoning) or lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and onion powder
1/2 teaspoon chopped chives (1/4 teaspoon dried)
foil

lay out a piece of foil, spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375.

In a microwave safe bowl, add rice, carrots and broth, heat for 2 minutes for white and heat 1 1/2 minutes at a time for 3 to 8 minutes for Brown rice. cook either until tender.

Add rice to foil, top with salmon, season the fish, Sprinkle with chives, and then lay the lemon slices across the top. wrap in foil and bake for 15 to 18 minutes.

[Semigourmet]

My spicy sausage and cabbage packets.

2 cups green cabbage, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 pound your favorite polish or smoked sausage sliced into bite size pieces
1/8 cup chopped yellow onions
1/4 cup peeled, diced potatoes

SAUCE INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce such as sriracha (asian) your fave will work
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
salt to taste

Preheat oven to 375.

in a measuring cup or bowl mix sauce ingredients, and set aside.

On a large piece of foil, spray with cooking spray, add cabbage, onions potatoes and sausage. Top with sauce mixture. Wrap, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cabbage and poatoes are tender.

[Semigourmet]

for the leftover salmon packets or pan fried, or grilled.

Salmon with creamy tarragon Mustard pasta


1/4 cup uncooked pasta such as bow tie
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 pound (4oz.) cooked salmon
1/8 cup chopped onion
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon or 1/4 teaspoon dried
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley or 1/4 teaspoon dried
4 teaspoons dry white wine
1/4 cup heavy cream, whipping cream or half and half
1/2 teaspoon stone ground mustard (Dijon should work too)
1/8 cup freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. cook and drain pasta as directed on package.

2. While pasta is cooking, heat oil in 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, tarragon and parsley in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender. Stir in wine. Cook uncovered about 4 minutes or until wine has evaporated. Stir in whipping cream and mustard. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.

3. Add pasta, salmon and half of the cheese to sauce in skillet; toss gently until pasta is evenly coated. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.