Sally Wise - The small kitchen: 141 everyday recipes for one or two

Furthermore, it is estimated that DINKS (double income no kids) and empty nesters will soon overtake parents with live-in children as the most common family type. In actuality, in Australia in 2011, the number of households that consisted of a couple with no children was 2,150,301. However, a report in The Australian (9 June 2010) stated, again based on ABS figures, that one-person households are the fastest growing of all demographics. In 2011, one-person households accounted for 23 to 24 per cent of the population. Single-person households are projected to continue to increase to 30 per cent of all households by 2026. Making up these small households are young professional working single people and couples, students living alone or as couples, empty nesters and grey nomads as well as those who may travel alone for a time, such as backpackers.

Robert, my husband, and I, after 35 years of raising children, have found ourselves fitting neatly into the category of empty nesters. It was a little disconcerting, to say the least, after so many years of hustle and bustle with children and their friends coming and going; to now be so quiet. Id always revelled in cooking for so many, and never did quite get the knack of cooking for a gradually declining number. However, I realised that the time had finally come for me to address my over-cooking habits. And it was then that it occurred to me that we are in only one set of circumstances to which the principles of small kitchen cooking applies. I remembered how when each of our six children left home, it was really important for them to know a few quick and easy recipes catering for one or two people.

Fending for themselves and many young people are in a similar situation is hard enough to adjust to without thinking about cooking. Two-minute noodles or takeaway food seem an easier option but the inadequate diet will lead eventually to their work or studies suffering. Ive often been asked to write a cookbook for couples or single people, and thought that all that would be involved was reducing a recipe accordingly. But, once I found myself in that situation, I soon discovered that special recipes are really a necessity. Most larger recipes dont convert well at all. So that is how this book came into existence.

I have to say it was great fun putting it together and certainly one of its greatest benefits, I think, is its focus on healthy, seasonal, readily available products. It is also very handy to know the exact amount of ingredients to buy and how to buy them. The recipes contain the amounts and the hints provide tips for small kitchen shopping. This helps to greatly reduce or eliminate wastage, which is good for the budget. The portion sizes in the recipes are for two people with good appetites, if such a thing actually exists. Should it be that your appetite is smaller or you live on your own or even have a slightly larger appetite, then, in almost every single recipe, options are given for using leftovers.

Actually, leftovers are not a bad thing at all as you have something for lunch the next day or to make into a meal that you can use in the next day or so or even freeze. And now the last recipe has been typed, the dishes all tested. I truly hope that the resulting book will be helpful for those to whom the challenges of cooking for a small household apply. Through the development of recipes for this book, Ive finally been able to curb my over-catering ways, but still I confess to loving nothing better than having a huge cook-up when friends and family are coming to call.