If you only cook for yourself at night

What do you make? I feel like I'm so boring and really want to make meals. DH works in the evenings so I just cook for myself and it's usually grilled chicken and a bag of steamed veggies. How can I make something that's more exciting than that and not have 5 nights worth of leftovers?

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

Cut the recipes in 1/2 maybe? Or make it all and freeze half.

I have been making empanadas (beef/chicken/apple) lately and you can easily freeze them before cooking. You can also leave them in the fridge and just throw a couple in the oven when you want. They sell the pastry discs (frozen) in the goya section. Soo easy!

Here is a simple recipe: Chicken Empanadas

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

A bag of tortellini is basically enough for one (unless it is a big bag but Buitoni for example is) add some chopped garlic and evoo..delish.

A turkey / hamburger with veggies or baked potato

piece of fish

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

If its just me I usually just make a big salad and add grilled chicken or something...

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

When its just me I usually make a turkey burger and have a sweet potato on the side. Or a turkey dog with a knish.

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

Black beans, low fat cheese, whole grain wrap. Mmmmmm...

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

if it were once in a while, i would suggest just what you're doing. but since it's often that you're eating alone... i say, make something you want/like/want to try. freeze what you don't eat.

there are a lot of sites with good info on how to properly freeze just about anything.

this is the only thing that comes to mind

hth

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

I make enough for 2, and bring leftovers for lunch the next day.

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

You can easily make a single serving of pasta, a steak, hamburger, salad, a sandwich, a piece of fish an omelette.

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

sunday night i made a roaster chicken with some sides and last night with the leftover chicken i made this with some texas toast...it was great. it need more spice to my taste so i seasoned it up some more.

Chicken, Spinach & Gnocchi soup

Ingredients

Kosher salt
2 cups prepared gnocchi
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
pinch sugar
2 cups cleaned baby spinach leaves
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
freshly ground black pepper
hunk of good paremesan or other grana-style (hard grating) cheese

Directions

1. Bring a medium saucepan of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously. Add the gnocchi and cook, stirring occasinally, until al dente, about 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, put 1/4 cup of the chicken broth, garlic, butter and sugar in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, bring it to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until the garlic is tender, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and let it wilt for about 30 seconds. Add the remainding 3 3/4 cups chicken broth and teh chicken and bring just to a simmer. Stir in the gnocchi and bring to a full boil. Taste and season with salt and a generous amount of pepper to taste - use a light hand with the salt because the cheese is salty.

3. Ladle the soup into warmed shallow bowls and shower each with some freshly grated parmesan cheese

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

I always keep the frozen fish from BJ's in the freezer. When i lived alone, i could thaw a piece for me under cook water real quick and make a nice quick dinner for myself.

Also, if you make extra of something you like, save the leftovers for another night that week....

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

I like making soups because they last for awhile and can also be used for lunches.

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

Re: If you only cook for yourself at night

When DH worked nights and I was alone for dinner, I made what I usually made - and then froze small meals that I could just pull out of the freezer that morning or the night before.

I still do it, especially with leftovers.