Cook the Book: 'Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant'
So much of eating is communal in nature. It's one of the great pleasures of food beyond its mere flavor or the simple fact that it fuels the body. Cooking for, or eating out with, friends or loved ones gives us a chance to share a beloved dish or a favorite restaurant. But as much as we all look forward the act of sharing something we love, we've all faced the prospect of dining or cooking alone.
As the title implies, Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant
Oftentimes, the authors' musings are accompanied by recipes that make enough for only one. We'll be excerpting one recipe each day this week, starting shortly.
But first, I'd like to note that Jenni Ferrari-Adler will be guest-blogging on Serious Eats this week. She'll be along later today, with some notes from a week spent in the Hamptons, on Long Island, New York.
And last, as always, we're giving away a copy Alone in the Kitchen. All you have to do to win one of ten (10) copies is to answer the following question in the comments below: What do you eat most often when dining or cooking alone?
Winners will be chosen at random from among the commenters. Comments will close Saturday, September 1, at noon ET. The usual contest rules apply.
Comments are closed: 126 Comments:
Left overs from dinner at my desk for lunch.
Colorado Jim at 2:46PM on 08/27/07
Grilled chicken & zucchini
EmilySC at 2:49PM on 08/27/07
Pinto or black beans I made over the weekend, Mexican rice made with brown rice, chopped onion, radishes, and some homemade salsa, adding some avocado and/or cheese if I am lucky. The tienda near my house also makes some darn fine tortillas so I rarely make my own. I probably eat this 6 times a week for lunch or dinner or sometimes both. I like tacos.
intheyearofthepig at 2:49PM on 08/27/07
Things that cook quickly and are no non-sense. My most frequently dish recently has been a recipe from Heidi at 101cookbooks.com. It is brown rice that is accompanied by chickpeas, asparagus and onion. I like to throw in some rosemary to make it more fragrant (and as a result tastier!) dish.
jpark107 at 2:53PM on 08/27/07
When I eat alone, which is seldom, I usually go for vegetables, particularly ones my husband won't eat: eggplant, summer squash. Sometimes I do a saute of onions and summer squash into which I scramble a couple of eggs, or even more simply, I'll have a tomato sandwich with thickly sliced tomato and Japanese mayo on good supermarket bread. Yum!
theminx at 3:00PM on 08/27/07
When eating alone I usually enjoy going out. My favorite thing is to go to a local authentic Mexican join, in North Jersey, and have some chips, salsa, grapefruit Jarrito, dos (head meat) tacos and uno lengua (tongue) taco. The tacos are made with flour tortilla and cilantro and raw diced onion.
Bosmer at 3:06PM on 08/27/07
A nice hefty BLT, with dijon and mayo, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon (Neuske's in the fridge now) and if theyre in the house, heirloom tomatoes from the garden.
troycarpenter at 3:06PM on 08/27/07
Crispy cheese. It's terrible and delicious, most often eaten at 2:00 a.m. on "those nights". I got the idea from my mother, who in the great Southern tradition of fatty sins, would slice cheddar cheese, place it in a cast-iron skillet, and bake it in the oven till it was half-crispy/half-gooey. Then we'd eat it over biscuits - or just by itself. Yum...
Makes for an excellent preemptive strike on hangovers - hence it's unholy-o'clock in the morning popularity back home.
BammerSlammer at 3:13PM on 08/27/07
Hmm. The idea of having Haruki Murakami's essay before me without even having to go to the bookstore is appealing. Therefore my answer is: Toast. Toast of any sort. Toast with butter. With toppings. The refrigerator's contents define the toppings. It is a dangerous thing, this toast, with the appeal that some people save for potato chips. Betcha can't eat just one is right.
Karen Resta at 3:21PM on 08/27/07
That one is easy! I always tend to go with roast chicken with roasted carrots and potatoes. simple, good and tasty.
firewren at 3:22PM on 08/27/07
In my world eating with others means eating out in a restaurant. The vast majority of meals are spent eating alone. I don't let that restrict my cooking options. Instead, I'll usually spend most of Sunday cooking some large involved meal. Oxtail stew, cassoulet, sausage, roast meats, Indian curries and dals...whatever I feel like trying that week. What I produce becomes lunches or dinners for the week (and beyond, if some ends up in the freezer). Eating alone does not mean I should not eat well, after all.
VMBrasseur at 3:24PM on 08/27/07
i make cold soba noodles, dipped in soba sauce and wasabi, accompanied by whatever i have on hand: grated cucumber, pieces of nori, chopped scallions, pickled ginger.
spoonerism at 3:25PM on 08/27/07
definitely pasta. I can mix it up so many ways, and then have leftovers for lunch the next day.
painterjane at 3:43PM on 08/27/07
Solo dining; what a world this opens up!
My dad always goes out to get his fill, but I can't stand the idea of going to a restaurant alone. Especially not when I can cook something just as tasty without the loneliness (embarassment) of looking like I just got ditched on a date.
I'm known to be a fan of bread. There are days when I just go out, buy a head of sourdough, and toast and butter the whole thing for supper. Most of the time though, I ditch healthiness and go buy some wonderful hot and cold dessert-brownies with ice cream rings a bell, as does drumstick cheesecake drizzled with hot caramel, melted peanut butter, and toasted walnuts.
michichan at 3:49PM on 08/27/07
rice and stir fry...I LOVE MY RICE COOKER
Kbear919 at 3:50PM on 08/27/07
usually a basic pasta dish with whatever veggies are lying around and whatever herbs are in the fridge. nothing too exciting but it always hits the spot.
ceforrester at 3:56PM on 08/27/07
Usually breakfast at dinner (eggs and toast) or a salad of romaine hearts, goat cheese, dried cranberries, almonds or walnuts, and topped with raspberry vinaigrette. When it's cold outside, I love baked yam fries with nutmeg, dipped in mayonnaise. I love cooking for one because I can keep things simple, or experiment and not worry how things will turn out!
LiveToEat at 3:56PM on 08/27/07
Always eggs... my favorite is to stir fry an egg or two with some brown rice and (frozen) broccoli, with a dash of tamari and sesame oil, and sprinkled with some toasted sesame seeds. Simple, delicious, nourishing and made from things that are always in my freezer/fridge/pantry.
KitchenKore at 3:58PM on 08/27/07
Usually a simple salad of a vegetable, a cheese, a fresh herb, olive oil, salt and pepper (for example, my dinner last night was beet and pecorino romano salad) with a hunk of bread and a diet coke. Or if I'm too lazy to put even that together, either toasted bread with cheese, or carrots and hummus.
ChristineB at 4:02PM on 08/27/07
I eat almost every meal alone so I have to say "my entire repertoire."
Pierogi at 4:07PM on 08/27/07
leftovers
hedgehog at 4:10PM on 08/27/07
My go-to dish when eating alone at home is spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, topped with parmesan cheese. I'll make a big batch of it and eat it all by myself. It's incredibly simple and satisfying.
artichokeheart at 4:13PM on 08/27/07
When cooking alone I take advantage of the stuff in the pantry that my husband just doesn't like. Lately, the drive has been toward making pasta puttanesca as the hubby prefers his pasta unbesmirched by the presence of fish, olives, or parmigiano. I swear, he just doesn't know what he's missing.
Stufsocker at 4:16PM on 08/27/07
Being a student and on a very low budget, it tends most often to be either soup or cereal. Ah the variety...(insert sarcasm here)
zekks at 4:39PM on 08/27/07
Generally, if I'm eating alone (not counting breakfast or lunch at work), it means my hubby is out of town, which makes me seriously grumpy/unhappy, so I tend to either make stuff he'd never eat (such as faves from my childhood, like pigs in a blanket made with hot dogs and crescent rolls) or splurge at the store and get something fancy and/or seriously caloric. Sometimes, though, I'll take the opportunity to just immerse myself in some serious cooking, and take on some majorly complex recipe I've been dying to try out (e.g., for a while, I was really into making soups).
msmla at 4:46PM on 08/27/07
I'm a student, so I do a lot of meals alone, especially since my significant other graduated recently. My go-to meal, at any time of day, is eggs. I usually have some kind of bread/biscuits/etc that I made/froze over some break, so I cook up some eggs (with cheese, good cheese...) and have some bread and sliced up raw veggies. Reasonably healthy--specially since I use more white than yolk, affordable, and incredibly comforting.
lovesomething at 4:50PM on 08/27/07
I'm eternally up for a fried egg on toast with loads of black pepper. if I've got more time, I'll just throw any leftover veg with curry paste into a skillet. it's great over rice, pasta, couscous, quinoa, or just a thick slice of bread
monicabg at 5:07PM on 08/27/07
Sometimes I opt for quick grilled cheese and chips. Others I treat myself to a great grilled steak, all depends on the time and the mood!
bobcatsteph3 at 5:08PM on 08/27/07
An egg and onion sandwich on toasted white bread.
bluebird at 5:16PM on 08/27/07
I usually resort to childhood comfort foods when alone - red devil (thickened tomato soup over crushed crackers), dumpling soup, grilled peanut butter sandwich. And then mint chocolate chip ice cream. Hmmm, how can I get my husband and children out of the house?
sparkythewonderdog at 5:18PM on 08/27/07
My favorite reasonably healthy fast dinner is rice, bok-choy stir fried with a lot of garlic and chilies, and a couple of fried eggs. Bliss. Or a mashed baked potato, topped with garlic-fried broccoli rabe, and eaten with a big glass of low-fat milk. The last time I had this, my SO called and asked what I was having for dinner. When I told him, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone, and then he said "Are you being punished?"
maggiesara at 5:21PM on 08/27/07
Sandwiches, wraps, pasta, and soup...all things quick. I save real cooking for the weekend when I'm not alone.
ricedream24 at 5:34PM on 08/27/07
A sandwich or leftovers from a meal the day before. Something simple and easy, really.
bannisterb at 5:42PM on 08/27/07
Being home alone gives me reason to make indulgent noodles: egg noodles with parmigiano reggiano, butter, scallions and basil.
(I'm longing to read this book, inspired I'm sure by the Laurie Colwin essay, and have been hoping my library would purchase it.)
celiathepoet at 5:54PM on 08/27/07
When home alone, I always end up with tomatoes to use up - so spaghetti with a fresh tomato sauce!
sulin at 6:02PM on 08/27/07
Typically I'll make up an easy pasta dish and crack open a bottle of wine.
On more adventurous days I'll try out new recipes so there's no one to disappoint but myself.
Ambrose_Slade at 6:45PM on 08/27/07
Lately it's been tomatoes, with just a sprinkle of salt. I sometimes eat over a pound in a single sitting. More generally, I eat a lot of eggs when I'm just cooking for myself. Most of the time I don't feel like preparing some meat like a steak or chicken breast, and eggs are so easy to cook and inexpensive.
Nicholas H at 6:51PM on 08/27/07
I love sauteeing up some garlic and cherry tomatoes in olive oil. Add some black pepper and nutmeg. When the tomatoes begin to release their juices I add eggs and cook them just until the yolks are on the edge of runny. Put that on some toast with parmesan.
spanklin at 6:52PM on 08/27/07
In cool weather I'll make a sheet pan full of roasted veggies. Whatever I have tossed in a little olive oil.
Other times it's often a PB sandwich. Usually with honey. I just made a great PB with mayo, tomato and red onion sandwich on garlic sourdough bread! May be my new go to dinner!
jackiecat at 7:19PM on 08/27/07
If I am at home alone, nothing beats Lime & Chile Tostitos and Marzetti's Southerwestern Ranch Veggie Dip (full fat). If I am by myself, I do not have to share and noone tells me to stop!! I also favor Kraft Mac & Cheese or Lipton Noodles & Sauce, both favorites from my student days that my husband disdains.
If I am eating out alone, I generally choose something comforting, often in the breakfast category. My favorite breakfast "counter" features "Hot Hash & Holly" -- crispy potatoes o'brien, topped with two eggs, cheese and hollandaise (extra on the side, thanks!) and accompanied by an English muffin. Yum!
Mizbee at 7:33PM on 08/27/07
When tomatoes and lettuce are fresh from the Farmer's Market, it's definitely T&L sandwich on good whole wheat bread and a little mayo. I love fresh tomatoes but not cooked. After tomato season, I rummage for leftovers and heat them on very low heat in covered pan.
elaine at 7:44PM on 08/27/07
Mushrooms! My girlfriend and many of my friends with whom I cook can't stand them, so they tend to make their way into whatever dish I'm making when I'm alone.
Enmalkm at 8:32PM on 08/27/07
ice cream.
callmijane at 8:46PM on 08/27/07
usually something egg-related, frittata, omelette, quiche . . .
mspeicher at 9:09PM on 08/27/07
I usually stir fry or grill some veggies on the stove top grill.
nicdonn at 9:19PM on 08/27/07
Without question, I make different versions of fried rice. It's easy and it tastes good. I usually go with a simple vegetarian fried recipe I have from a Vietnamese cookbook but sometimes, I add Japanese flavors. And occasionally, shrimp, though personally, I like my friend rice veg-heavy and little else.
NSW at 9:35PM on 08/27/07
yogurt with dried figs and granola. I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.
ajelly671 at 9:54PM on 08/27/07
grilled cheese sandwich made with kraft singles, perhaps with tomato soup if i'm feeling ambitious.
skim at 10:00PM on 08/27/07
I find whatever sort of bread stuffs I have, look for some sort of liquidy dairy cheese stuff, like cream chesse, sour cream cottage cheese. Spread the cheese on the bread/pita add whatever veggies I have, (usually cherry tomatoes or this time of year some last run zucchini) shove it under the broiler until it's gooey, chewy, smoky and wonderful and dig in.
Overworked Barista at 10:34PM on 08/27/07
I like to make hummus with so much garlic that my mouth burns and I usually slather it on crusty bread rather than pita bread. Sometimes, if I want to be nice to myself, I'll buy a wedge of a really strong blue cheese, bread, and some nice grapes and call that dinner. Basically, I like to eat things that would normally make people want to run away from me after I eat them!
Jj6407 at 11:05PM on 08/27/07
Toast. Whether it's toast with just butter, or toast with butter and cinnamon sugar, or toast with jam, (usually just butter,) toast is one of those foods that satisfies the soul.
ErisianSaint at 11:45PM on 08/27/07
when there isn't much in the fridge, i just end up scrambling 4-5 eggs and mixing in whatever's around (cheese, meats, veggies). my friends tell me it's kind of gross and probably bad for me, but i really like it!
wing at 11:46PM on 08/27/07
I like my food spicier than the rest of my family, so when it's just me, I pour on the cayenne pepper, chili powder, and jalapenos. Unless I'm having cereal. :)
grace24 at 7:22AM on 08/28/07
Salad.
biojean at 8:46AM on 08/28/07
Kimchi ramen, it tastes like childhood but my husband swears it stinks so I only eat it alone.
South Philly Kat at 9:00AM on 08/28/07
Odds and ends out of the fridge/freezer, or something involving a giant blob of peanut butter. And as few dirty dishes as possible.
wellred at 9:35AM on 08/28/07
I like really simple fare like grilled cheese sandwiches, Parmesan chick peas, or nice bits of cheeses, breads, and fruit.
pezbabypez at 9:41AM on 08/28/07
My favorite is ham and cheese on rye with some chips. Or I usually look for leftovers that need to be eaten.
msbooch75 at 10:10AM on 08/28/07
Grilled chicken or an egg white omelet with low fat cheddar cheese and salsa.
stephanieb at 10:15AM on 08/28/07
Ramen with an egg on top.
Noodler at 10:16AM on 08/28/07
I eat alone all the time, so basically whatever I feel like, but my favorite thing, my go-to thing, is pasta. Yummy pasta, made with whatever meat, produce and pantry items I have on hand.
cam00023 at 10:33AM on 08/28/07
In summer: grilled hummus, arugula, cheese, and tomato sandwich. In fall, buttery mashed sweet potatoes and/or butternut squash. In winter: kale stir-fried with peanuts, garlic and ginger. In spring: berries and toasted almonds with yogurt and honey.
MarkO at 10:35AM on 08/28/07
two slices toast, one slice american cheese, one fried egg. "cheese" melts perfectly, it takes about 5 minutes, and it's filling.
Luckily my husband is there to save me from my cooking most days. :)
ansate at 10:40AM on 08/28/07
Eggs, in some shape or form
alynn at 10:48AM on 08/28/07
It's embarrasing that the rare times I eat dinner at home alone I tend to eat Asian soups with egg or oeuf coquettes - quick, easy brainless food. Now, however, that my live in boyfriend is about to go to the Middle East for work for a year, I'm going to have to figure out cooking properly for one...
Peasantwench at 10:53AM on 08/28/07
Baked chicken, rice, and some sort of steamed or roasted green veggie. It's a lot simpler than it sounds!
Phil W. at 11:12AM on 08/28/07
A big bowl of popcorn made in a pot on the stove topped with lots of melted butter and salt. Not very sexy, but ooooh so good. And the whole bowl all to myself!
Sue at 11:21AM on 08/28/07
Baked eggs, in piperade or spinach or something. Nobody else I know likes baked eggs as much as I do.
audrey at 11:25AM on 08/28/07
I eat alone most week nights. But the easiest, for those exhausted nights, is a good old fashioned grilled cheese. Sometimes with tomato soup, sometimes not (it depends on exactly how lazy I'm being).
darth_kittius at 11:26AM on 08/28/07
Honestly, when I eat alone, I eat a lot of nibbley things instead of a real meal. Chips and salsa when I get home from work. A salad of sorts for 'dinner'. Maybe some popcorn later on. Toast before bed. Oh, and a bite or two of chocolate for 'dessert' when the mood strikes. Mmm...sounds mighty fine to me!
EmmaC at 11:44AM on 08/28/07
When the husband's away, I like to eat cereal (it's easy and quick) or fattening things my husband hates to eat like, delivery pizza or frozen meals.
ehirschklau at 12:07PM on 08/28/07
Salad and cheesy tortilla (usually mozzarella on a flour tortilla). Ice cream for dessert. Yum.
Jobaby at 12:20PM on 08/28/07
Oatmeal. Not the instant stuff, so that it still feels like I'm, you know, -cooking- something over the stove. And I can add in all sorts of goodies, and still feel fairly healthy about it.
kmenick at 2:31PM on 08/28/07
Sauteed greens with a piece of whatever fish looks good at the store, it's easy, fast, and you can do it in one pan. Plus you can put whatever kind of spices so it can be Indianish, Lebanese-ish, French, or whatever.
fiatluxsemper at 2:34PM on 08/28/07
A salad of whatever looks most lonely in the refridgerator
lauelilan at 2:47PM on 08/28/07
Haruki Murakami talks about food often in his cooking. He seems to be an accomplished cook and lover of fine foods, as well as, interestingly enough, a runner of many marathons. I guess that helps keep the figure slim.
billburge at 2:49PM on 08/28/07
Salad with raisins or dried apricots, some soft cheese, nuts and toast croutons with a lemon olive oil dressing.
or
A can of beans drained with salsa, cheddar, and dollop of yogurt with tortillas or corn chips.
culley at 2:57PM on 08/28/07
takeout or I go to dinner in the neighborhood. Probably sushi.
sln123 at 3:13PM on 08/28/07
usually sushi if it's dinner, leftovers from the night before if it's lunchtime.
-SheRa
SheRa at 3:28PM on 08/28/07
When left in the house alone, my sweetie will end up with coffee and a pastry, because in a house with a fridge full of food she just can't decide. By myself, I often end up with a make-shift pizzaoid object if I don't want to go out or do something elaborate. Sliced bread, bottled sauce, sliced swiss or provolone (and a little ham or salami if it's available) all goes into the toaster oven. If I have more notice, I'll get a nice fresh super burrito from the local Taco Del Mar or other neighborhood joint, or pick up fresh rotisserie chicken and salad from the market on the way home.
Stushi at 3:32PM on 08/28/07
Scallion cakes with a sweet soy dipping sauce. A little salty, a little sweet!
krypien at 3:38PM on 08/28/07
ideally: pasta with creme fraiche, lemon, arugula, salt, and grains of paradise
but realistically...how often am i eating alone AND in possession of all of those things? so more often: toast with cheese under the broiler...topped with some sliced apples if i've got them.
yum.
carignane at 3:55PM on 08/28/07
When I eat alone, which is not often, I make pasta with parmesan, garlic, and olive oil (and fresh basil when I have it from my garden.), or a grilled hame and cheese, or Campbell's tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, or scrambled eggs with peas and onion, or mini "pizza" on a tortilla or pita.
amylou61 at 3:56PM on 08/28/07
The last 'dining alone' meal I had was a bacon-egg-and-rice stir fry bowl. It was delicious and delightfully bad for me. Next time I get the chance, I'll make it again for a night alone.
clumsycook at 4:00PM on 08/28/07
The Pasta Carbonara adapted from Bill Buford's book Heat, which is adapted from the line cooks in the Babbo kitchen. All you need is a couple slices of bacon, an egg, Parmesan cheese, and pasta. Oh, and loads of fresh pepper. Cooks in ten minutes flat and so satisfying.
Blake Royer at 4:43PM on 08/28/07
a nice, healthful salad with a slice of fresh bread. or panini. or, if i'm really lazy, a nice peanut butter sandwich.
happybites at 4:50PM on 08/28/07
Anything my husband doesn't like/won't eat! Most recently a yummy peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich.
LA_Eater at 4:52PM on 08/28/07
- Leftovers or a salad.
64sqftkitchen at 5:02PM on 08/28/07
Soup. Pop open a can. Heat and eat. It's fast, easy, and leaves little to clean.
emptyage at 5:12PM on 08/28/07
Lentils with curried veggies in garlic (onions, carrots, peas) and a dollop of sour cream
eatbemerry at 5:22PM on 08/28/07
A white flour tortilla covered with grated cheese and green chile, then microwaved until the cheese melts. We call it Mexican pizza!
hatlady at 5:53PM on 08/28/07
We have 6 laying hens, so there's always fresh eggs around to whip up a personal cast iron pan leftovers frittata. For example, yesterday I grabbed the leftover wild king salmon that we grilled the night before and mixed that with some green onions and eggs and voila, no big mess, and leftovers for when the others come home.
jhjustice at 6:33PM on 08/28/07
Usually it's eggs scrambled or fried with tomatoes and toast, or bacon, or sausage links. But if I'm feeling decadent or grumpy it's icecream and cookies.
peticook at 6:34PM on 08/28/07
It's silly and girly, but popcorn and (cheap) champagne is a favorite combo on solo-nights.
ironstef at 6:44PM on 08/28/07
Canned chickpeas dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
urse at 7:50PM on 08/28/07
I very often find myself craving a simple egg when eating alone - it seems, based on the above responses, that this is mysteriously common. Since I tend to prefer the unadulterated flavor of things, I'll just do a sparsely salted egg over toast and butter, and then whatever vegetables are on hand.
miso at 8:59PM on 08/28/07
Grilled cheese (gouda, gruyere, fontina, etc) with tomato.
madball911 at 9:09PM on 08/28/07
Leftovers, of course. But I love eating alone in the morning before the day really gets started, when I usually make oatmeal with flax, honey, and cinnamon. Sometimes pomegranate molasses and walnuts. It's the nicest way to start the day.
Littlebluesiren at 1:05AM on 08/29/07
I love cheese, so if I'm eating alone I tend to indulge and eat either grilled cheese or just cheese, crackers and fruit.
abbysnail at 7:48AM on 08/29/07
When alone, I tend to snack, eating odd combinations that my partner would totally disapprove of: a couple slices of cheese, some leftover veggies, peanut butter on apple -- you get the idea!
AnneMarie at 11:14AM on 08/29/07
As a young, single gal, if I'm home coming it's usually just for me. i'd love to say that i make fabulous gourmet meals just for myself, but often this mean just eating little bits of different things I have left in the house - hummous and wheat thins, olives, nuts, cheese, beef jerky...When I HAVE actually gone out grocery shopping, I like to make big batches of pasta with homemade sauces so i have leftovers for lunch all week - cause who doesn't love leftovers?!
crafty at 3:10PM on 08/29/07
sushi and good tv after a long day makes me really happy
rebeccadiamond at 4:12PM on 08/29/07
i pretty much always eat alone, but i really like a turkey bacon LT or some good pasta
missmicker at 4:47PM on 08/29/07
What I'd like to say: something delicious, homemade, locally sourced, organic, and healthful.
What is true (on those rare occasions that I cook for myself): something hideous and processed like Hamburger Helper - lasagna flavor, natch. Or a frozen pizza. Or ramen noodles scrambled into eggs.
alycebh at 5:09PM on 08/29/07
BLT or hot dogs
stevebillings at 5:40PM on 08/29/07
Definitely eggs. My husband doesn't eat eggs, so when I'm alone I'll often make an omellete - goat cheese, greens, and tomato is a favorite, along with some buttered toast. mmmm.
mainegirl at 6:07PM on 08/29/07
SteamFresh veggies with leftover meats or soup with a grilled cheese sandwich
justboycrazy at 7:09PM on 08/29/07
If I'm on my way home and I know I'll be eating alone, then a slice of NY-style pizza (plain, of course). It is one of the most satisfying, easy, quick and cheap things that you can't go wrong with. If I'm already home, then I like to do crackers, different types of cheeses (we usually have at least a Pecorino, a blue cheese, and soft cheeses in the fridge), olives, cherry tomatoes and salami slices. Cheese and crackers with a little fig jam is quite satisfying. And we always have at least 5 pints of ice cream in our freezer to finish off with. If all else fails, I'm pretty happy with steamed and salted edamame.
hungrychicken at 7:10PM on 08/29/07
Unpeeled devined shrimp - just thawed in a strainer under cool running water and peeled - tossed in the pan with butter and cayenne pepper, cooked quick. Makes me feel like a queen.
maialisa at 8:40PM on 08/29/07
Left-overs, cereal, pasta, soup, deli sandwich, steamed veggies.
Erinay77 at 3:05AM on 08/30/07
i cook for myself all the time actually. i most often eat alone. i like to make soups though. warm soup on a night home is super comforting. plus i like to read in the kitchen while they simmer.
sarasweettooth at 10:47AM on 08/30/07
noodles.
youthlarge at 2:33PM on 08/30/07
I eat alone a lot these days. I've been divorced about a year and haven't felt the urge to settle down and cook for someone. I've got 2 kids and we experiment and play around with food, but we eat a good deal of pasta, eggs and variations on tacos. I don't really fret with the big inventive meals I used to prepare in hopes of pleasing someone who couldn't be pleased. I go home for lunch now and my house and kitchen are completely quiet. Sometimes I fix a sandwich or reheat leftovers. Sometimes I start marinara sauce or make pico de gallo or whatever prep I can do to shrink dinner prep time to allow me freedom to help with homework or whatever. The thing is - it's so quiet then in my kitchen at lunch. There's no drama or fighting just me existing in the right now or getting something ready for the future. I love it. I'm sure I will eat so many great meals alone, but I'm positve that the meal will never be crow.
delta_gault at 2:57PM on 08/30/07
When I'm alone, I make & eat all those things that my wife won't go near, she being a particularly finicky eater: anchovies, olives, and capers (puttanesca sauce, say), and mayonnaise (chicken salad, for example.)
Problem is, I don't eat alone very often, so I don't get to eat these things much.
dikaryon at 4:58PM on 08/30/07
I make myself a quick salad when eating alone. Crisp romaine, sliced avocado, hard-boiled egg, quick-toasted sunflower seeds or pinenuts, with honey mustard dressing. On some nights, I put together a cheese platter of 2-3 cheeses, sliced fruit, whole grain bread, and hummus.
curiously ravenous at 4:58PM on 08/30/07
For someone who loves cooking for friends and family, I'm supremely lazy when it comes to my own meals. Take for example my dinner tonight - some lonely looking crackers rattling around a nearly empty box, the tail end of some cheese, and a still-hard-yet -deliciously-tart nectarine. It's a change from my usual bowl of cereal.
I only know how to cook in mob-sized amounts; I can't seem to get the hang of cooking in small enough batches (with just enough for some leftovers to toss in the freezer.)
lorelei76 at 9:22PM on 08/30/07
Breakfast for dinner: French toast is a favorite, as my husband isn't a fan. Scrambled eggs with sauteed mushrooms, some Canadian bacon or sausage, and hot buttered toast is also lovely.
macknitter at 10:30PM on 08/30/07
A few year's back, I tried Crescent Dragonwagon's recipe for Garlic Spaghetti. It's perfect for eating alone with a small salad or sliced tomato.
you don't really need a recipe, just fine-chopped garlic in butter and noodles with lots of cracked pepper
Thanks to her articles in Gourmet, I often make gingerbread, recipe courtesy of Laurie Colwin. It's delicious topped with lemon curd and I can usually find a chunk of it in the freezer, if it's not on the kitchen counter.
suegsf at 3:41AM on 08/31/07
Rice, protein, veg, kimchee
segalbraith at 10:56AM on 08/31/07
when it's in season, a steamed artichoke! With melted butter for dipping. it's the perfect "food for one."
jess in boston at 1:57PM on 08/31/07
Pasta!
Vermont at 4:15PM on 08/31/07
I eat leftovers or something with cheese. My boyfriend has a cheese-phobia so when I'm alone it's always a good time for me to divulge my senses in all that is cheesy goodness =)
chlamers at 4:41PM on 08/31/07
Jacket Potato: Heinz English Beans on a Baked Potato topped with Cojack Cheese
LauraW at 5:27PM on 08/31/07
i make big pots of food that'll last me a few days. during the winter, its chicken and rice soup. yesterday it was beef stir-fry. basically anything that will feed me for a few days on 11 or 12 dollars.
anado at 8:23PM on 08/31/07
I am very fortunate to already own this fantastic book. If by random selection my comment is selected, please select another SE fan so they too can enjoy her book. Being single, it is rare NOT to eat alone. My most enjoyable meal is breakfast. The simple poached egg & oatmeal quietly eaten before I'm out the door to start my day.
JEP at 6:30AM on 09/01/07
If I'm being a good girl, chicken or beef w/ stir fry veggies & Soy Vay Teriyaki sauce with basmati rice... if I'm eating whatever I want, it could be cereal, grits and eggs, cheese toast w/ some kind of soup or just ice cream. Yummy yum!
CaseyD at 9:12PM on 09/03/07