How to Cook for One

Food Is Not Just for Marrieds and Pro-creators

Here’s an excerpt from a recent conversation I had with one of my LTMFs (long-time-married friend)

LTMF:  Leslie, do you like to cook?

Me:  Yes, I love to cook!

LTMF:  Do you do it often?

Me:  Just about every day.

LTMF:  Really?  Why?  You’re single and you have no kids.  Why bother?

Really?!  Uhhhhh, because I enjoy it?  Because making healthy, delicious meals for myself is something I do as part of my self-care regimen?  Because childless, single people deserve to eat more than microwave popcorn while standing over the sink and bingeing Breaking Bad for the third time?  Sure, I eat on the sofa while watching TV, the whole time fending off the cats (yes, cats, but only two) from my healthy, delicious, homemade meal.  So, I don’t sit at the dining table with lit candles and dinner music, but it’s something I aspire to do.  I do, however, believe in the power of the home-cooked meal to elevate the single girl to a state of food bliss.

Feeling like you need to up your game in the chef department?  I learned the basics of cooking from my mom – how to boil water, how to prepare anything from a box, bag, can or jar, and how to roast meats to the consistency of an old tennis ball.  To say that my mom wasn’t big on cooking is an understatement, but it just wasn’t her thing, so no biggie.  It is, however, one of my things and when I was in my 30’s the Food Network finally came along.  Thanks to Ina Garten and Giada DeLaurentiis, I was resurrected from a life of convenience food a la the 1970’s.  I like to think that Ina is my food mom and Giada is my food sister, whom I secretly hate because she eats everything she cooks and still maintains the body of a 12-year old boy.  With big boobs.  Explain that one.  But I learned most of what I know about cooking from watching my food fam every weekend, so I’ve proven that it is possible to learn to cook simply by watching others.

So, c’mon single girl, you DO have someone to cook for.  Yourself!  I’m here to give tips, pointers and recipes for cooking for one.  And if you still decide to stand over the sink with a bag of microwave popcorn every once in a while, go for it, it’s one of the beauties of being single.  Single Girl Bliss in the Kitchen!

What I’m making for Single Girl Bliss Happy Hour this week:

• Made from scratch – Parmesan Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms
• Assembled – Mini Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle
• Purchased – Marcona Almonds with a little Herbs de Provence & Sea Salt

Wine – Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (overdone, I know, but so yummy!)

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com