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Recipes for Cooking for One or Two |  |
Breakfast
Appetizers
Beverages
Main Dishes
Vegetables Salads Soups
Baking Desserts Little Extras That Make All the Difference
Appetizers
BeveragesMain Dishes
Vegetables
Salads SoupsBaking
Desserts Little Extras That Make All the Difference
“I never cook anymore, now that it’s just me.”
So report women, especially, once their families are grown and / or their husbands gone. It's the same for singles and empty-nest couples. Often, it’s just easier to rely on frozen meals or carryout or doggie bags. That means no cooking, no waste and no clean-up – but to my mind, little pleasure, either.
So this is a special collection of Kitchen Parade recipes, ones which I hope perfectly blend convenience and freshness, flavor and pleasure. Please note that these recipes are:
- usually written for four or more servings but either
- scale down easily for serving one or two, or,
- freeze beautifully in individual servings (see especially Freezer Surprises: Surprising Foods That Freeze Well)
I'd like to especially highlight my recipe for Chicken Sybil, what I think of as a "miracle recipe" for singles. It's so quick, so easy, so good!!! With just one technique, Chicken Sybil transforms into "multiple personalities" with inexpensive on-hand ingredients.
Breakfast
Creamy Oatmeal
Asparagus Whole Wheat Bread Pudding
Baked Bacon
Broiled Grapefruit
Chilaquiles
Finn Crisp with Marmalade & Cheese
Fried Bread
French Scrambled Eggs
Fried Egg Quesadillas
Gashouse Eggs
Green Chile Scrambled Eggs
Ham & Eggs
Healthy Smoothies Recipes & Tips
Homemade Egg McMuffin
Homemade Granola with Almonds & Apricots
How to Poach a Perfect Egg
Lifetime Pancakes
Magical Breakfast Cream
Make-Ahead Bran Muffin Batter
Mexican Gas House Eggs
Never-the-Same-Twice Vegetable Frittata
Oatmeal: How and Why to Cook It Every Day
Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothies
Perfect Hard-Cooked Eggs
Perfect Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
Refried Bean Sauce with Eggs on Top
Shakshuka (Eggs Nested in Summer Vegetables)
Simple French Eggs
Swiss Bircher Muesli
Ten-Minute Enchiladas
Triple-Banana Oat Pancakes
Favorite Breakfast & Brunch Recipes from A Veggie Venture
Baked Eggs in Cream with Spinach
Creamy Pumpkin Steel-Cut Oats
Easy Spinach Nests
Everything Bagel Breakfast Salad
How to Make a Spinach Omelet
Mexican Scrambled Eggs (Huevos Revueltos a la Mexicana)
Appetizers
Bacon-Wrapped Dried Apricots
Basil-Cream Cheese Dip
Blueberry Salsa
Cream Cheese-Chutney Spread
Creamy Ricotta with Tomato-Cucumber-Corn Salad
DIY Power Balls
Easy Easy Grilled Mushroom Appetizer
Easy Shrimp Bites
Fried Okra "Popcorn"
Herbed Ricotta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Hummus
Lemon Basil Shrimp
Parmesan Crisps
Peach & Cantaloupe Soup
Roasted Roma Tomatoes
Roasted Roma Tomato Dip
Savory Peach Appetizer
Strawberry Salsa with Sweet-Cinnamon Baked Tortilla Chips
Sweet-Corn Soup with Shrimp
Toasted Goat Cheese
Beverages
Bloody Caesar (Canada's Bloody Mary)
Cantaloupe Smoothie
Cold-Brewed Coffee
Finnish Glögi (Hot Red Mulled Wine)
Homemade Eggnog
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Mango Lassi with Mint
Mango & Beet Smoothies
Old-Fashioned Homemade Lemonade
Orange Julius Drinks
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Strawberry Milk
Sugar-Free Chai Tea
Thirst-Quenching, Low-Cal, Low-Alcohol Drinks
Main Dishes
Beef
Lamb Pork Chicken Turkey Fish Seafood Eggs Meatless Pasta
Rice, Grains & Beans
Beef
All Courses Lavender: An Easy Romantic Dinner Lavender Steaks, Lavender Potatoes, Lavender Crème Brûlée
Beef Tacos with Avocado, Cucumber, Mango Salsa
Chocolate Chili
Crockpot Chili with Spicy Sausage
Easy Beef Kabobs
Easy-Easy Marinated Flank Steak
Frozen Steaks
Green Chili Burgers
Minnesota Sloppy Joes
Oil Tanker Burgers
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
Steak & Tomatoes
Ten-Minute Enchiladas
Ten Tips for Better Burgers
Winter Stew
Lamb
Perfect Lamb Chops
Pork
BATTLE Sandwiches
Caper Chops with Curried Carrots
Coffee Chops
Easy Ham Salad
Italian Sausage with Grapes & Greens
Juicy Pork Chops
Mint Julep Pork Chops with Sugar Snap Peas
Oaxaca Tlayuda (Mexican Flat Tacos)
Perfect Thick Pork Chops
Pork Chops & Rice Oven Dinner
Rapini Panini
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Thick Iowa Chops with Easy Stuffing Crust
Thick Chops with Sauerkraut & Apples
Tropical Salad Supper
Chicken
Asian Chicken Salad
Baked Chicken & Veggies in Foil
Baked Chicken with Fresh Peaches
Baked Chicken with Herb-Roasted Potatoes
Champion Chicken
Chicken à la King
Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Cider Stew
Chicken Greek Salad
Chicken Salad for Sandwiches
Chicken Sybil
Chicken with Creamy Cider Gravy
Christmas Chicken Salad
Easy Garlic-Herb Mediterranean Chicken ("Med Chicken")
Easy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Easy Margarita Chicken
Fast Roast Chicken
Greek Chicken Dagwood Sandwiches
Greek Feta Chicken
Grilled Balsamic Chicken
Honey Mustard Chicken
Italian Lemon Chicken
Mango Chicken Salad
Mexican Chicken Salad
Moroccan Chicken
One-Pot Chicken with Beans & Vegetables
One-Skillet Braised Chicken with Shallots
Parmesan Chicken
Rainbow Chicken
Spiced Yogurt Chicken
Sweet 'n' Hot Chicken
Vince's Baked Chicken
Winter Stew
Turkey
Easy Skinny Turkey Roll-ups with Fresh Veggies
Jerusalem Turkey Burgers with Zucchini
Turkey Salad Supper with Green Beans & Dried Cranberries
Turkey Tetrazzini
Fish
Cornmeal Catfish with Warm Potato Salad
Easy Baked Fish with Red Pepper & Cucumber Salad
Fish with Roasted Okra "Fries" & Tomato-Fennel Salad
Fish with Herb Butter
Herb-Coated Broiled Fish
Maple Glazed Salmon
Roasted Salmon & Asparagus
Salmon with Pesto Zucchini Noodles & Warm Tomatoes
Simple Grilled Salmon
Sole with Mushrooms & Onions
Smoked Salmon Salad with Quick-Pickled Cucumbers & Roasted Peppers
Favorite Fish Recipes from A Veggie Venture
Roasted Salmon with Garden Hash & Creamy Avocado Sauce
Seafood
Cold Shrimp in Creamy Dill Sauce with Capers
Lemon Basil Shrimp
Oyster Stew
Seared Scallops with Chimichurri and Garlicky Polenta
Shrimp Salad Recipes
Shrimp with Tomatoes, Spinach & Feta
Stir-Fried Shrimp with Asparagus or Other Summer Vegetables
Summer Seafood Chowder
Sweet-Corn Soup with Shrimp
Eggs
BATTLE Sandwiches
Chilaquiles
Estonian Deviled Eggs
Gashouse Eggs
Homemade Egg McMuffin
How to Poach a Perfect Egg
Mexican Gas House Eggs
Mini Egg Salad Sandwiches with Rhodes Multi-Grain Rolls
Never-the-Same-Twice Vegetable Frittata
Refried Bean Sauce with Eggs on Top
Shakshuka (Eggs Nested in Summer Vegetables)
Simple French Eggs
Simple Lentil Salad with Seasonal Vegetables
Ten-Minute Enchiladas
Easy Egg Recipes A collection of thrifty egg recipes.
Meatless
Broccoli Rigatoni with Chickpeas & Lemon
Greens & Grits
Mediterranean Eggplant Skillet
Personal Pan Lasagna
Quick 'n' Easy Raw Salad
Ratatouille Omelettes
Red Quinoa Salad Your Way
Shakshuka (Eggs Nested in Summer Vegetables)
Simple French Eggs
Simple Lentil Salad with Seasonal Vegetables
Squash & Carrot Stew
Summer's Tomato Soup
Sweet Pepper Pasta Skillet
Tropical Salad Supper
Vichyssoise
Pasta
Broccoli Rigatoni with Chickpeas & Lemon
Lemon & Asparagus Pasta
Personal Pan Lasagna
Rice, Grains & Beans
Cauliflower Risotto
Simple Lentil Salad with Seasonal Vegetables
Vegetables
Acorn Squash with Quinoa & Cherries
Baked Cabbage Wedges
Beet Röesti with Rosemary
Fresh Creamed Corn
Fried Okra "Popcorn"
Grilled New-Potato Kabobs
Grilled Zucchini Kabobs
Lavender Potatoes
Moroccan Onions
Ontario Greens
Power Food Broccoli Salad
Refrigerator Pickled Beets
Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple
Rustic Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Carrots
Shredded Zucchini with Thyme
Favorite Vegetable Recipes from A Veggie Venture
For more vegetable recipes than you might believe, also visit A Veggie Venture, my food blog where fresh and seasonal vegetable recipes are served up several times a week. There are hundreds of recipes, so start with my favorite vegetable side dish recipes or the A-Z of Vegetables.
Salads
VEGETABLE SALADS
Borscht Beets
Cauliflower Salad with Fresh Herbs
Festive Holiday Salad
Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad
Green Bean Garden Salad
Nana's Cucumbers
Panzanella
Power Food Broccoli Salad
Roasted Eggplant Salad with Tomato-Caper Salsa
Spinach Salad with Fruity Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit & Maple-Glazed Pecans
Wedge Salad with Homemade Low-Cal & Low-Carb Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
Zucchini Spiral "Noodle" Salad
FRUIT SALADS
Cantaloupe Salad with Feta & Basil
Deep Mexico Fruit Salad
Five-Minute Fruit Salad
Healthy Waldorf Salad
Melon Ball & Blueberry Salad
Mexican Fruit Salad
Mojito Strawberries
Savory Orange Slices
Strawberry Pepper Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Thai Cantaloupe Salad
SALAD DRESSING
Master Recipe: My Everyday Creamy Herb Salad Dressing
Buttermilk Balsamic Dressing
Homemade Low-Cal & Low-Carb Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
My Favorite Dressing
Orange & Cumin Vinaigrette
Traditional Balsamic Dressing
Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes from A Veggie Venture
Buttermilk Garlic Salad Dressing
Homemade Creamy Vinaigrette
Never Buy Salad Dressing Again
a collection of recipes from my fellow food bloggers
Soups
LIGHTER, SIMPLER SOUPS
Cold & Creamy Cantaloupe Soup
Easy-to-Elegant Asparagus Soup
How to Make Homemade Vegetable Soup
Laura's Healthy Carrot Soup
Mushroom Soup
Quick Cauliflower Soup or Quick Broccoli Soup
Spinach Soup with Perfect Hard-Cooked Eggs
Summer's Tomato Soup
Very Very Green Green-Pea Soup
Vichyssoise
Winter Tomato Soup
HEARTY SOUPS
At Last! Black Bean Soup
Chocolate Chili
Crockpot Chili with Spicy Sausage
Low Fat Vegetable Soup
My Chicken Noodle Soup
Oyster Stew
Saturday Soup
Smoked Turkey Chowder
Sweet-Corn Soup with Shrimp
Favorite Soup Recipes from A Veggie Venture
For more soup recipes than you might believe, also visit A Veggie Venture, my food blog where fresh and seasonal soup recipes are served up often. There are dozens of soup recipes, so start with a list of favorite soup recipes.
Baking
Finnish Whole-Wheat Flatbread
Simple Cast Iron Southern Corn Bread
Desserts
Banana Cream Pudding
Banana Mango Smoothie
Brown Sugar Peaches
Citrus Slices with Orange Flower Water, Spices & Chocolate Shavings
Easy-Easy Chocolate Coconut Pudding
Easy-Easy Pear Sauce
Grape Salad with Almonds & Cilantro
Homemade Chocolate Sauce In-a-Flash
How to Cook Popcorn in a Microwave in a Paper Bag
Light 'n' Easy Chocolate Pudding
Mojito Strawberries
Naked Peach Cobbler
Quick Banana Dessert
Peach-Pie Pudding
Raspberry & Red Wine Granita
Roasted Peaches
Roasted Rhubarb
Strawberry Banana Chocolate Crumble
Strawberry Fool
Strawberries in Wine
Thai Cantaloupe Salad
Little Extras That Make All the Difference
Green Mayonnaise
Maple-Glazed Pecans
Roasted Roma Tomatoes
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Garlic & Olive Oil)
Spiced Pickled Red Onions
Ten-Minute Foolproof Enchilada Sauce
I usually cook for just two and really enjoy it when it's just for me. Why? I can make exactly what I want and not have to worry about the likes/dislikes of others.
ReplyDeleteWhile getting amounts right can be a little tricky sometimes, I don't like cooking standard sized batches of foods and either freezing or eating them until they're gone. The exception is soup, but I make smaller batches of soups, too.
I'm glad to see you address this. I enjoy good food and it's better made at home than anywhere else. Even, or maybe especially, when cooking for just one (or two).
Sally
This is such a great resource! I always end up with so much food leftover and I hate to waste it but I get sick of the same meals again and again.
ReplyDeleteI think even families sometimes need this with eveyone's busy schedules - a lot of times not everyone is even eating the same meals.
Sally ~ Yes, there's upside to cooking for two. I'm in the other court, however, about eating up leftovers and freezing so "cooking just enough" remains a particular challenge, one I'm working on!
ReplyDeleteMaris ~ Thanks! And your point about busy families, I missed this so thank you for pointing it out!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. My (new) husband and I have been going round and round on the issue of food. I grew up helping my mom cook hearty meals to feed the 4 of us (but most meals were for like, 6, because my dad and brother eat like horses.) and so all of my meals are for way too many people. He doesn't mind until it comes to leftovers. I hate them! And so, we battle over how much to cook of everything. It is so nice to have a resource of meals for 2!
ReplyDeleteMeagan