Jesus Pimp

Can anyone offer any advice for cooking for one person? I've exhausted all the foods I like to cook. I also tired of eating leftovers. I'm at a point now where I don't like to cook at all. Lately I have been eating out a lot and it's slowly eating at my savings.

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maleficent

There's a bunch of cookbooks out there on cooking for one or two... but --

what you could do is get yourself some freezable containers that you can pop in the microwave, and whatever y ou cook, put half away in the frozen container for next week -- just be sure to write on thecontainer (on tape) what it is, and when y ou put it in the freezer)

I will do that because I love to cook, it just drives me crazy to mess up more than one pot or pan for just me...It's a lso harder to find, and more expensive as well, to get single serving packages of foods. So I'll cook 2 or three nights a week, when I am home, and freeze a lot of stuff do those nights I don't want to cook, theres something available.

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snowy

I usually make:
--sandwiches
--teriyaki chicken (one chicken breast, some teriyaki sauce, cook enough rice/vegetable for yourself, and voila)
--cereal
--nachos
--soup
--pasta with accoutrements (be it spaghetti sauce, olive oil, butter and parmesan)

I also buy some frozen foods and dress them up. Costco has a great selection of fresh foods in their deli cases like chimichangas and tamales. I keep the tamales frozen, take out what I need, and then dress them up with guacamole, sour cream and salsa. Chicken nuggets go well with a salad and some frozen corn. Little frozen pizzas go well with a Caesar salad.

Eating fresh vegetables is also a great way to eat enough without cooking a lot--salads are awesome. I have some frozen shrimp from Costco, a cheap head of lettuce from the local store, some cukes and mushrooms...voila, shrimp salad.

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Ripsaw

Not quite sure of your culinary background Jesus Pimp, but a rice cooker and a wok can feed you in nearly infinite ways. Add a grill pan and you can have your grilling, in addition to stir-frying, deep-frying, sauteing, steaming, and boiling. Steamed rice adds bulk to the vegetables you can buy on the cheap to supplement inexpensive cuts of meat (flank steak) sliced against the grain for stir frying.

Rice-a-Roni is also conveniently packaged in the small size to feed two people. One small box will give you enough for two or three portions.

Almost anything you buy can be frozen and will work out well. Buy large packs of chicken parts, divide them into sandwich bags, and defrost as you need them. Same with beef. I have pork necks in the freezer that I use as flavorings for simple soups that can be made in the wok. Shrimp can be purchased in bricks. You break off and defrost what you need for the meal, and throw the rest back in the freezer.

Dry pastas can be made in whatever amounts you require. Some vegetables such as spinach, corn, peas and carrots can be stored almost indefinitely. Stop by the market whenever you can to find a bunch or two of fresh, leafy green veggies. You can toss those in the wok for a quick stir fry. I usually end up with a snack and a clean kitchen inside of 15 minutes if i'm in the mood for greens.

Buy some ground chuck and ground sirloin. Mix it together in a bowl, and add some chopped onion and a handful each of salt and pepper. Form into burgers, and freeze individually. Defrost the morning before you cook them on the grill pan.

Some ideas:
Stir-fried Beef & Celery with White Rice
Grilled chicken breast with rosemary and lemon
Steamed 'Flashed' Tilapia (substitute other fish) with Ginger and Green Onion
Pasta with marinara sauce and grilled shrimp
Flank steak with Thai Chilies and garlic spinach
Blackened Tuna with Pasta Primavera
Burgers with wok fried potato chips
Firecracker shrimp with stir fried beef and greens with oyster sauce

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Jesus Pimp

Well I'm Chinese and do a lot of stir fries but I always end up making too much and get tired of eating it the next day. Chinese food is meant to be eaten fresh. I don't like freezing food but I'll consider doing it. Any particular books anyone can recommend?

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doodlebird

i'm with snowy on the salad idea. they're super easy to throw together and you can make just as much as you want to eat. if just plain veggies don't do it for you, you can add dried fruits, nuts or seeds, cheeses, and cooked or cured meats (like if you have a little left over grilled or roasted chicken - i always cook the whole bird, they're cheaper to buy this way too)

damn. i'm hungry now.

uh, and on the other end of the good for you spectrum. i love corn dogs.

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doodle