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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Meals for One

Anything to do with the kitchen is exciting, stimulating, enjoyment for me. I love everything about it. Presentation, table setting, table linens, cookware, peeling, dicing, chopping, shredding, simmering, broiling, frying, roasting, grilling, sauteing - yes........even shopping. _____________________________________________________________________ Preparing dinner for a crowd of 30 people has me on high alert, making lists, preparing and freezing, rearranging furniture so everyone is comfortable while they eat. I draw up menus, make a time table, get out seldom used serving ware, think about decor (candles, paperware, beverages, etc.) And, all the while, I'm on cloud nine. ______________________________________________________________________ I have arranged a meal for all the faculty and staff in our local Christian School. I recruited a cooking-serving-decorating team. It was a lovely meal, consisting of a first course of chicken soup, chicken parmesan, stuffed shells, salad, Lemon ice for dessert. Backstage, it operated like a well-oiled machine. _______________________________________________________________________ But my current life situation has caught me off guard (a bit). I expected to be preparing meals, at least, for two, until I died. This has not been the case. My precious husband and dear companion went to be with Jesus a little over two years ago. I find myself in this "cooking for one" situation without much practice. But, I think I am finally getting the hang of it and I want to share it with you. Please send the link to this post to those you know who may be struggling with a similar situation and making do with "fast food" or prepared meals, when cooking for one is so rewarding and delicious. ________________________________________________________________________ When you're cooking for one, you usually make a whole bunch of servings - have one of them for dinner, separate the remainder into "one meal" portions and freeze. How lovely to peek into your freezer like you're looking at an array spread out at a sumptuous buffet. ________________________________________________________________________ Here's a START. Buy one of those rotisserie chickens at the supermarket. Choose the least spiced up one. (I usually get the lemon chicken). For tonight's meal - pull a little of the breast off - shred that - set it aside - cover a large tortilla with tex/mex shredded cheese - nuke for about 20 seconds (til the cheese melts)- lay your shredded chicken onto the top half of the tortilla on top of the melted cheese - then add whatever trimmings you like - I like medium hot salsa, sour cream, guacamole, a few scallion bits - roll up the tortilla by first rolling it over the filling, then tuck in the sides, then finish up rolling it, nice and neat. Cut in half crosswize on the diagonal. Serve with a tall glass of iced tea. And, perhaps a bit of dessert. This is very satisfying and meets the RDA food pyramid guide lines. _________________________________________________________________________ After dinner, remove the entire container with chicken to the fridge for tomorrows meal.On the following afternoon, remove remaining breast meat from the rotisserie chicken to make chicken salad from it for tonight's dinner (recipe on next week's post) After making chicken salad with the remaining breast meat, take the chicken carcass with the dark meat on it, wrap it in saran, tuck into a plastic zipper bag and freeze it. Also any juices in the bottom of the supermarket container. Pour them into a small container and freeze. Those will be for the wonderful chicken tortellini soup you'll make for meal #3.

8 comments:

  1. I have always thought that if I only had to make meals for myself that I would eat really healthy and gourmet. Your ideas sound like they would fit for me perfectly! Great post!

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  2. When I cook for myself - I make a lot and do the freezer thing also.
    The only problem is Jenifer and the boys take up most of the freezer with ice cream!

    ♥♥♥
    Sue

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  3. LOL, a great post. But when I cook, I'm often fortunate if there is any left for me, after feeding my two young children... I often will prepare something for them and end up eating Hot Pockets myself... have to really focus on eating healthier.

    Seems a lot of people are writing about food tonight... interesting :)

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  4. My Mother in law delights in only cooking for herself. It is the only thing she enjoys about living alone. My Father in law and she had very, very different tastes in food. My Mom, I think, struggles more with cooking for just herself. She was used to making full meals every day of the week. Now she does a lot of cooking as you describe. In fact just the other day she asked me to pick up a chicken for her when I was at the store. She commented on how she can get multiple meals from it.

    I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation but I applaud you for sharing your encouragement and knowledge with others.

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  5. this reminds me of my freezer cooking day, it is always great to get the most out of things and then have food left over for later

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  6. Great post! Sounds absolutely delicious! By planning, you get good nutrition and take care of yourself in a way that is an inspiration and brings glory to God.

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  7. Thanks for the great ideas for rotisserie salad. I usually make a chicken salad or a pasta salad with the chicken. I'll have to try the soup and Mexican dish.

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  8. Great ideas for rotisserie chickens -- and if you can get those on sale it can be really economical too.

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