Dinner for one ideas?

101709lovey · August 2010

H & I are on completely opposite schedules b/c of work & school for both of us so I find myself not knowing what to make for dinner. 5 out of 7 nights a week I have to fend for myself w/ dinner and all I've been eating is pasta for the past 6 weeks. I'm going to turn into a noodle soon! Smile

Do you ladies have any suggestions for quick(er), simple, on hand items you turn to? I will preface by saying I'm not a huge fan of things like sandwiches and if it could be something I could make enough of to have leftovers for lunch at work the following day, that would be awesome. TIA!

Karen2905 · August 2010

I'd love to suggest something, but I'm not sure how well stocked you keep your kitchen. What do you have on hand in terms of meat? Rice? spices?

Milliechel67 · August 2010

If I'm not really intentional about it, I end up eating pasta, pb&j or granola and yogurt when it's just me for dinner.

BUT I try to cook a chicken breast or piece of fish with a steamed/sauteed veggie and rice/quinoa/lentils when I'm eating by myself -- it's pretty fast that way and it's easy to increase quantities for leftovers.

Karen2905 · August 2010

I do this quite a bit: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Curried-Rice-Pilaf/Detail.aspx

... but I add more curry, yellow onion (instead of green) and chopped carrots. I also do not use raisens, almonds,

Cipolla2Be · August 2010

I eat for one maybe 5 times a week because my DH travels a lot. Frozen chicken is awesome because you can cook 1 or 2 chicken breasts for whatever meal. I like to cook one chicken breast with olive oil, mushrooms, garlic, and stewed tomatoes and eat it with rice, pasta, or a baked potato. I also make my own version of hamburger helper but healthier with stewed tomatos, onions, mushrooms....and then eat leftovers for lunch the next day.

I like to bake a quiche, so good. Stir fry is easy to make for one....and so is grilling anything such as chicken with pineapple, fish, and pasta salad lasts for days. The freezer is my best friend. Big Smile

101709lovey · August 2010

Karen2905:
I'd love to suggest something, but I'm not sure how well stocked you keep your kitchen. What do you have on hand in terms of meat? Rice? spices?

Right now, its sparce. I've been too busy to shop this week. In the freezer right now I have chicken breasts, ground beef, ground turkey.

Tons of rice and prob more than enough spices.

wittyschaffy · August 2010

Back when I was solo, I'd make a recipe for 4 and freeze/fridge the remainders for later. I love using frozen chicken pieces because you can thaw out only what you want/need. I also like to make a whole chicken and re-purpose the leftovers (pulled chicken sandwiches, chicken and pasta, chicken salad for lunch, chicken Caesar salad, etc.) Pork tenderloins are pretty small and make good leftovers. I really like the teriyaki one from Hormel. I do a lot of whole meal salads where I dump the protein in with veggies, fruits, etc. Pork chops are easy to thaw out just one and a mushroom onion pan sauce would be easy to do (cook the chop, remove and then saute the onions and mushrooms together until the mushrooms give off their liquid and it evaporates, then stir in some milk and let it thicken up - add some sage maybe as well as s&p) Even fish can work if you get the individually frozen fillets. Good luck!

101709lovey · August 2010

Karen reminded me I have a ton of rice and I haven't had that in forever. I feel so limited b/c I don't have a whole lot at home right now but don't have time to run to the store tonight. Does anyone have a rice based suggestion? Sorry for the multitude of questions. H is a chef and I rely on him to help me put something creative together and since he is working nights now, I'm so lost. I can cook really well, but when it comes to think of something on the spot, my brain freezes.

wittyschaffy · August 2010

Maybe Spanish rice? Something with some good/big flavors? Or Jambalaya? Stir fry of course- almost anything Asian. Depending on the rice, maybe risotto?

kelliejo83 · August 2010

When I lived by myself, I would cook a big baked potato and call it dinner. Load it up with cheese and onions and bacon (if you have it) and it's filling. And delish!

I love them in the oven, not the microwave. Wrap it in foil with either olive oil or butter and then salt on the outside. It makes the skin tastier. Bake it for at least an hour. The longer the better!

Witchys_Woman · August 2010

I have been eating a fair amount of shrimp lately. I fry them in a pan and when they get pink I put one of those minute rice cups in the microwave and when it's done I dump it in the pan with the shrimp and add a few tablespoons of sweet chili sauce. It's really good. Sometimes I add an egg, sometimes I use brown rice, sometimes basmati.

Sometimes I will make myself breakfast for dinner and hard boil a couple eggs and make some daystarters. They are like turkey bacon.

mikesboo23 · August 2010

These are great, quick, and serve 2 so there's enough for lunch.

http://www.smithfield.com/products/meal_kits.php

I think they're like $6 at food lion in the pork section.

101709lovey · August 2010

Thanks for the ideas ladies! This helps a lot. I'm going to try & get to the store sometime with the next few days to pick up some of these items.

picksthemusic · August 2010

Do you have a crock pot? I'm thinking that'll be the best way for you to go. That way both you and DH can have hot meals ready to go, and you don't have to do a whole lot - just throw in the ingredients and turn it on, and walk away.

You can Google crock pot recipes - there are literally thousands of them.

Dinner for one ideas?

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