Can one be fun?

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Posted at 2:15PM, 28 June 2010 by Eva Caiden - Writer and blogger

My partner's recent work trip left me with a whole week of cooking for one, something I rarely do these days. It would have been easy to resort to ready meals, takeaways or even my favourite student standby - a bowl of cereal. But my tastes have improved a bit and, fortunately, so has my budget. So I set myself the challenge of cooking each night and where better for inspiration than bbcgoodfood.com.

Being time-poor doesn't have to mean eating on the go

Home and hungry after a busy Monday and already I was regretting the challenge. But being time-poor doesn't have to result in eating on the go. Tomato, spinach & mascarpone gnocchi sounded delicious and filling, and I could have had it on the table in 20 minutes. But for sheer speed and ease, it had to be a cracking Beef stir-fry - whipped up in just 10 minutes, and with the added bonus that there was enough left for lunch the next day.

We all enjoy certain foods our partners detest. Mine loves bananas but I hate the smell. He's the same if I fancy mackerel. So we each tend to avoid those foods when we're together. So on Tuesday, with the coast clear, I tucked in to Smoked mackerel risotto.

By Wednesday I was seeing the benefits of single suppers. Normally steak is reserved for weekends and very special occasions. But cooking for one is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a prime cut of fillet or rib eye - without the guilt of the price tag. Teamed with basil hollandaise and a stack of sweet potato wedges, not to mention a glass of red, it's a meal fit for a king... or a queen.

After a few nights of indulgence, it was time to get back on track - surprisingly easy when I could choose the ingredients I wanted with no fear of grumbling from a 'hungry' partner. Thursday's supper was Thai chicken salad - with only 128 kcals per serving I felt I could also treat myself to a few squares of posh chocolate!

Five days in and the novelty was beginning to wear off - I needed the foodie equivalent of a hug. There are few dishes more comforting than a plate of Bangers & mash with masses of onion gravy. Also tempting was a hearty Butter bean soup with pancetta with a hunk of bread spread with salty butter.

So that's how I survived my week of singleton suppers. Does it sound like a dream or a drudge? And what's your favourite meal for one?

Comments

Cassandra Amy Rose

28 June 2010, 5:18PM
Cassandra Amy Rose

All those meals sound lovely!

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Elaine

28 June 2010, 9:07PM
Elaine

I really identify with your dilemma. My partner is away a lot and it would be easy to fall back on junk, but I like to cook supper from scratch if possible and often treat myself to something special - a duck breast, fresh fish, a few scallops. My absolute standby supper is Asian poached chicken with basmati and cucumber. It really is ready in 10 minutes and it's so satisfying. I often throw in frozen peas or chopped spring onions when I've got them - her's the link if you'dlike to try it http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4081/asian-poached-chicken-with-basmati-and-cucumber

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Paul

29 June 2010, 8:06PM
Paul

This is perfect for me. My circumstances have changed recently and I am now only working 3 days a week. As a result of this I am now tasked with cooking at least one evening meal a week for my wife (who also works 3 days a week). I don't have a problem with this but am very short of ideas after years of being pampered. You have gone a long way in solving my problem. Many thanks.

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lds1985

30 June 2010, 2:49PM
lds1985

This is just the sort of inspiration we all need to get going with week night cooking. You are so correct and with dishes like the above every night seems less of a daunting challange and more of an adventure! If you fancy trying something different check this Ox liver ratatouille. I did and it was tasty and fast!

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lds1985

30 June 2010, 2:50PM
lds1985

Sorry forgot to send you the link Eva! http://bit.ly/aNg271

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Aine

2 July 2010, 1:12PM
Aine

How refreshing to read an article espousing cooking for one. At the end of a busy day if I have to cook for myself I take the easy option, I don't! Instead I keep the hunger pangs at bay by making toast or having a ready meal. But now having read these recipes and seen how quickly they can be prepared, I most definitely will try them. The Broad Bean soup & the Smoked Mackerel rissotto sound really lovely. Thank you for the inspiration and please keep it coming!

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miniminx

5 July 2010, 3:46PM
miniminx

as sad and anti-social as it sounds, i really cherish and look forward to the odd night when my partner is away and i can make myself something. i usually treat myself to something really nice - a small piece of beef fillet with creamy mushroom sauce, a salmon risotto or duck breast, although i'm equally as likely to settle for my own personal comfort food of a massive baked potato with loads of cheddar and home-made coleslaw. of course i enjoy cooking for both of us, but cooking for one can definitely be a special treat not to be sniffed at. great article :)

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Mrs Figg

19 August 2010, 6:50AM
Mrs Figg

Cooking for one is easy enough, buying for one is more difficult. The culture of 'Buy one get one free' is all very well for shampoo or biscuits (they will keep) but for packs of sausages (yes, but my freezer is full of previous such purchases) or oranges etc I would rather the items were separated at half the price.

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vjforsy

16 October 2010, 2:11PM
vjforsy

When I first flew the nest aged 19 (12 years ago - argh!), my Mums leaving gift to me was Delia Smiths 'One is Fun'. I must admit, one glance at the title made me instantly depressed! Despite the advantages of being single (being able to spread across the whole double bed, not having to fight for the TV remote, etc), there are 3 problems I have with cooking for one: 1 - Sometimes when attempting to split down the ingredients, say a 6 person recipe divided to feed one, the ingredients are so pidly that the recipe doesn't work out properly. 2 - I find it difficult to justify having to wash up a load of pans, bowls, chopping boards, etc, just for one wee portion for myself (the cleaning up takes longer than the eating!). 3 - (this one is a bit selfish!) When you make a particularly stunning meal it's nice to have someone else there to appreciate it!

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Pepper12

18 December 2010, 9:03AM
Pepper12

Eating alone with Chocolate, ah yes , the new nut free "nutella" sold in Holland & Barrett is great (and nutfree) on bread, but try it in a tortilla and then toast it. Theres a brand in Universities called Wrapid (www.wrapid.com) that does a great chocolate wrap, served hot...chocolate I guess with anything, but flatbreads make perfect sense covered in a chocolate spread...

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