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Interior and Designer: John Clifford
Art Producer: Sara Feinstein
Editor: Gurvinder Singh Gandu
Photography 2021 Elysa Weitala, cover; Emulsion Studio, p.. Food styling by Victoria Woollard, cover.
ISBN: Print 978-1-64876-707-4 | eBook 978-1-64876-708-1
R0
Dedicated to all
my solo cook friends
who provided me with
a wealth of ideas
for the book.
CONTENTS
I get it. Cooking for one is hard. But it doesnt have to be.
Allow me to rephrase. The motivation to cook for one can be hard. Why bother dirtying dishes and going through the effort of creating a meal when its just for you? The actual act of cookingwith the right tools, ingredients, tips, and, most important, mindsetdoesnt have to be difficult. In fact, it can be very enjoyable. Just like finishing an awesome workout, getting a haircut, or meditating in the morning, cooking for yourself is another form of self-care.
Cooking for yourselfas opposed to constantly ordering takeoutmeans you can control your ingredients, which means you can control your waistline and budget. Maybe thats in the form of adding more vegetables to a dish, reducing your salt intake by reaching for herbs and lemons instead, or building flavorful meals with just a few inexpensive pantry items. By consuming meals that are balanced in terms of color, variety, flavor, and textureand portioned correctlyits much easier to avoid overeating.
Cooking can help boost our mental health, too. When we step away from our screens, flip on some music, maybe pour a glass of wine, and carve out a little time to just be with ourselves in the kitchen, cooking can be an extremely meditative, pleasurable activity. After all, cooking ignites every single one of our senses: We see the brightly colored vegetables, smell the chopped fresh garlic and herbs, hear a sizzling steak, and, of course, enjoy the taste of it all.
I began cooking for myself in college while studying abroad in London. I had two cents (or I guess I should say two pence) to my name at the time, so daily restaurant takeout was not an option. My program didnt have an included meal plan, so I had to really think about how to prepare affordable, healthy meals for myself during the week. This allowed me to splurge on going out at other times while also avoiding the late-night-pizza-induced sophomore fifteen.
Cooking for myself took on a different meaning as I got closer to and into my early thirties. I was very active, participating in triathlons and enjoying the dawn of high-intensity interval training. Preparing healthy meals was a way to nourish myself after a hard workout or work week. It also helped me continue to maximize my food budget and reduce waste so I could enjoy those occasional restaurant meals outor ordered in.
When I met my husband, although I began technically cooking for two, the basics and fundamentals never changed. Now that we have two young kids, I still feel like Im cooking for one or two sometimes (given how picky the kids are right now!), but with the benefit of understanding how to shop on a budget, get creative with leftovers, and maximize freezer space. There are some nights when my husband is out, and Im fine with using up leftovers; other times, he might want a steak and Id like a quinoa salad. Even if you dont live alone, maybe you want to escape your roommates; retreating to the kitchen is a great way to do that.
Easy, home-cooked, properly sized meals are within reach; all it takes is a little knowhow in the grocery store and kitchen, and for that, this book is here to help. All the recipes can be made within 30 minutes or less and many are one-pan dishes without the need for any specialty ingredients or fancy tools and techniques. Now, lets get cooking!
Cooking for yourself is all about making time for yourself. It means you are putting yourself first, nourishing both your body and soul. Cooking for yourself, however, can only be one of lifes greatest pleasures when it doesnt add to your already full plate outside the kitchen. In this chapter, youll learn how to set yourself up for no-stress success.
Whether youre a novice cook or an experienced home chef, you might be new to solo cooking. This book provides quick, healthy, and delicious recipes to get you started, as well as advice on how to strategically meal plan and shop for one to make things as quick and easy as possible. The goal of this book is to give you the tools you need to cook for yourself at home without waste or leftoversand feel confident doing so. Most important, youll learn how to create meals that are simply yummy!
