Joanie Zisk - The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook

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DEDICATION

To my husband EJ and my children. Without their loving support, this book would not have become a reality. Also, to my readers: I want you to enjoy cooking for yourself because you are worth it.

Life gets pretty busy. And between all of the appointments, work projects, and errands, the thought of cooking can feel overwhelmingespecially when there is just one of you and it seems like every recipe is for four or more people. Food can often go to waste, and that is enough to have you reaching for a takeout menu. Fortunately, making a single-serving or small-batch recipe that you want to enjoy for a specific meal takes less time, and gives you the freedom to change things up every day and not accumulate a lot of leftovers that will just be thrown away later.

In The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook, Ive curated 175 of my favorite easy, flavorful, and waste-free recipes that youre sure to love. Organized into chapters by course, youll discover new go-to recipes for every mealfrom grab-and-go breakfasts like !

But before you pull out your cutting board and fire up the oven, take a look at the first chapter on the basics of cooking for one. Here, youll learn more about both prepping for and creating single-serving and small-batch meals, from which cooking accessories will come in handy, to what ingredients youll want to stock your kitchen with.

When you have accessible ingredients and easy, delicious recipes on hand, you can create and enjoy a fabulous meal for one in no time. Whether you live alone, youre a parent who wants to indulge while the kids enjoy their own favorites, or you have a partner who travels, The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook is for you! Enjoy!

Not everyone starts out loving to cook. For some, including famous chef Julia Child, who confessed that she didnt know how to cook until she was in her thirties, learning and loving cooking takes timeand a little shift in mind-set. The truth is that preparing a meal for yourself can often feel like a chore tacked onto a very long list of other to-dos you are tempted to put off. However, it doesnt have to be a hassle, nor do you have to spend weeks working through the same tired leftovers (or throwing them away altogether). In fact, it can be one of the most enjoyable and healthy things you do for yourself!

In this chapter, you will begin your journey into simple, joyful cooking for one. Youll first explore the essential tools and techniques for creating your best single-serving and small-batch dishes. Then, youll learn more about how to avoid wasting food (the biggest home-cooking pitfall for many!) and what ingredients are a must-have in every kitchen. After taking a look through this handy list, youll discover a quick guide to properly reading a recipe, so you can avoid classic slipups like measuring ingredients before sifting them when a recipe calls for sifting first. From important pans and the best seasonings, to determining recipe doneness, this chapter is your crash course in cooking for one.

You dont need a lot of fancy gadgets or special utensils to cook for yourself, but there are some pans and baking dishes you should have in certain sizes in order to make delicious small-batch and single-serving recipes at home. Cook times can vary depending on the size of dishes, and the recipes in this book have been developed and tested using the dish sizes that follow. Discount stores and thrift stores are great places to find small baking dishes and gently used pans:

• 8" ovenproof skillet
• 10" ovenproof skillet
• 1-quart saucepan
• 2-quart saucepan
• 5" baking dish
• 8-ounce ramekin
• 6.5" cast-iron skillet
• 9.5" baking dish or loaf pan
• 6-cup muffin pan
• 13" 10" rimmed baking sheet

In addition to the essentials, there are a few other tools you should have on-hand when cooking. From mixing bowls to a silicone spatula, the following equipment will make your kitchen experiences run as smoothly as possible:

• Immersion (or stick) blender
• Digital scale
• Kitchen knives, including a chefs knife, paring knife, and bread knife
• Hand mixer
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Mixing bowls
• Large, durable cutting board
• Silicone spatula
• Balloon whisk
• Spaghetti serving spoon

When you are preparing meals just for yourself, it can seem like a lot of work at first. However, cooking for one doesnt have to be complicated, and over the years Ive found great tips that can help you along the way. With a little planning and a few tricks up your sleeve, youll find yourself open to a world of delicious, simple meals.

Plan your meals for the week to make preparing dishes for one much easier. When planning your meals, think about the different proteins or key ingredients you want to use and see how you can use them in more than one meal during the week. For example, you can roast a chicken or pork tenderloin in the oven on Sunday and use part of the protein for one meal on Monday and the remainder in other recipes later in the week. Do the same for ingredients like eggplant, peppers, and onions.

Before you head to the store, look through your refrigerator and pantry. Take stock of what you already have so you dont purchase the same item again. Also note what you may be running out of so you are not stuck when cooking during the next week.

Keep your pantry filled with canned beans, cans of diced tomatoes, rice, pasta, chicken broth, and spices. Dried or canned beans, dried lentils, and rice in particular keep for a very long time. Consider purchasing extra cans of beans when you find them on sale. You might also think about purchasing larger, often less expensive bags of rice to have on hand when you want to put a meal together quickly.

Many mainstream grocery stores and markets have a bulk bin aisle. Buying your spices from the bulk aisles can save you lots of money. And by measuring out exactly what you need and paying for a smaller amount, you will not be left with jars of partially used spices in your pantry. Purchasing spices this way also allows you to try a spice that you wouldnt normally buy. Also look for grains, pasta, and nuts in this aisle. Purchase the amount you need instead of larger packaged bags.

Dont be afraid to experiment in the kitchen. Combining ingredients you love through trial and error is one of the easiest ways to learn how to cookand enjoy doing it.