Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Pasta with quickly homemade marinara from a can of whole tomatoes crushed, sauteed garlic, salt and butter is the comfort food I have craved since I was ten.

A sandwich using whatever I have in the fridge, whether it be some prosciutto and some asiago with spinach, or some of last night's corned beef with a smear of mustard, or a fried egg and a cross of bacon. And just about always on toasted bread. Mmm.

I'm really partial to making fresh bread and then slatering it in oil, balsamic, and/or chopped garlic: It's not a meal per se, but it fills me up because warm bread is good for the soul. :)

my favorite is barilla spaghetti with tons of melted butter, in which i have poached an obscene amount of chopped garlic, and a mountain of freshly grated parmesan. followed by vanilla ice cream with raspberries.

however, the meal i most frequently make for myself these days currently involves a huge bowl of romaine lettuce, followed by an edy's ice pop. sigh.

buttered noodles. always always. I tend to get pudgy when I eat alone too much. :)

usually some sort of noodles...soba or hayashi chuka!

Risotto - it's a wonderful base, and I can throw whatever veggies in that I have and whatever wine is open at the time.

I'm an egg person myself too...either scrambled or lightly fried w/toast to soak up the yolk.

I used to make a veritable vat of pasta salad with fresh vegetables and eat it all week for lunch. Now, I just throw a burger or some chicken on the grill, top it with cheddar, and put it on a bun. Or, if I'm not too lazy, I'll dig up some leftover rice from the fridge and make some fried rice with whatever is handy.

seasonal! summer is good for light wraps with fresh tomatoes and red bell peppers and feta...when it's winter i like to make vegetarian chili or corn chowder with whatever vegetables i have on hand and reheat for lunch. my new favorite ingredient to cook with is israeli couscous, so any leftovers i have with that are good.

Breakfast - I love making an indulgent breakfast for dinner since most mornings only allow for oatmeal.

Some kind of pasta, usually spaghetti with oil, garlic, and hot pepper flakes.

I like making something like a tuna melt or sunny side up eggs with toast.

Quesadilla or grilled cheese or a little piece of brie and some good bread...i should probably do a vegetable now and then, but i just love cheese.

I cook for one all the time. This winter, my favorite was halved brussels sprouts and minced garlic tossed with olive oil and roasted cut-side down on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. I also love toast with black beans, a fried egg, cheese and avocado ... yummy!

Pasta with butter and parm

My bf cooks EVERYTHING at home. When he's gone, this one's my favourite (and it takes no time at all)!

Stella's Stellar (and super easy) wraps:
-- wrapper --
2 flaxseed wraps (or try the spinach/sundried tomato)
-- mixture --
1 can tuna in water, drained
4 tbsp of Sweet onion dressing
2 handfuls of mixed summer greens (or spinach leaves)
(lots of) feta cheese, crumbled
diced scallions or green onion; to taste
-- topping --
1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Combine the mixture and divide evenly between the wraps; then place on small baking sheet and sprinkle topping onto wraps. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until heated through and cheese melts to your liking.

I switch this recipe up with some mexican-type flavours (cumin ground beef, jalepeno cheese, etc.), greek-style (olives, cucumber, lamb, etc.), whatever you feel like that day. I survived 1.5 weeks on these things. It worked great but I still missed by bf's cooking!

ps. barely any dishes to do alone!

It's not often that I eat dinner alone, but when I do, I want a big, comforting bowl of spaghetti carbonara.

My favorite is a tomato sandwich with onion and a slice of provolone.

Brownies!

I lean towards eating more veggies when I eat alone b/c those I cook for aren't big fans of them! Usually I'll stir fry some veggies either to put in an omelet or to mix with rice and/or chicken. Simple. Easy. Tasty.

I always make noodle soup. Usually some broth with noodles, some kind of greens like spinach or chard. Sometimes I stir some egg in there too so its like an egg drop soup.

I make brown rice, then fry an egg over real easy. Place egg over rice. Sprinkle on furikake. Stir to let all the yummy egg coat the rice. Enjoy.

I like to make pasta with tomatoes, capers, olive oil, and shredded cheese.

Pasta - something with a lot of sauce and not that much pasta. Fresh grated cheese on top. Yum.

Grilled chicken breast and vegetables with pesto (usually from a batch I'd frozen in an ice cube tray).

Ramekin Tuna Noodle Casserole

just a fried egg, with hot chilis/garlic/ginger and a nice piece of bread

Cooking for myself usually means my partner isn't around, so I can eat the food he doesn't like: eggs and fish. So I'll either make scrambled eggs & toast, an omelet, or a tuna melt. Or just a grilled cheese sandwich on a hearty bread with sliced tomatoes and mayo.

scrambled eggs with lots hot sauce

It's either buttered noodles with a few sprinkles of parm and salt/pepper, or a tuna sandwich on good sourdough bread with lettuce, tomato, and a slice of red onion (with a sweet pickle and Wise potato chips on the side).

i love making bean burritos and adding any veggies that might be lurking in the fridge.

nibbles: nuts, toast, popcorn, chocolate chips. not the healthiest. but not much clean up either.

pasta with lemon juice, mint and lots of freshly grated parm :)

I graze constantly, and since my "daily " diet is FAR from healthy.......Diet Coke, "nicotine", chocolate and a handful of sour gummi bears, I try to eat something healthy at night. I'll usually toss together a quick salad and include chunks of any leftover meat or poultry I have on hand. Sometimes I'll even include cheese if I've got any hanging around. In other words.......I HATE EATING ALONE, so this book might prove to be a GOD SEND! I've entered other contests before, but PLEASE HAVE MERCY on me, and send this "much" needed book in my direction...........GOD Bless You!

Grilled cheese! Yum!

An old friend gave me a recipe for spaghetti and tuna that I like to make. It's good I eat it alone, because I make murmuring noises of appreciation while I eat it. Maybe I'll make it tonight!

some sort of whole wheat pasta with whatever veggies i have laying around and whatever herbs. sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, but it's always nice to use things up and get my servings of veg

crackers with goat cheese and red pepper jelly :)

Pasta with lots of garlic and anchovies. Or whatever other canned fish or throw-ins I have handy. Artichokes are good.

Glass of wine, cheese, pate and good bread or fancy crackers - decadence!

Store-bought, fresh tortellini tossed with Jamaican Pickapeppa sauce and sprinkled with feta cheese. Sliced seasonal something (tomatoes when I can) on the side.

Whenever my roommate goes out of town, I make pancakes - which is sort of silly, since there are always leftovers, but they heat up fine in the toaster.

One of the best and easiest dishes to make alone is pesto, especially if you've got the basil growing nearby. You can improve on regular pesto, though, by adding some chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the pesto mixture, and then, at the end, some diced tomatoes. Use plenty of good Parmigiano, and it's good to go.....

I usually make myself a tuna steak, since my roommate and boyfriend hate on the fish. Also, a steak is pretty easy to portion for one person.

A fabulous omelette, complete with red onions, bell pepper, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, and tons of yummy yummy cheese.

spaghetti with garlic, oil, crushed red pepper, and grated parmesan. bonus if i can scrounge up some parsley from the vegetable drawer.

I cook for myself (1) every day of the week. I really enjoy a giant salad, bread & hummus.

Pasta of some sort. If I'm feeling lazy, simply dressed with some olive oil and garlic.

ooo NEED this book.
my go-to dish is usually asian noodles with a soy/ginger sauce and chinese snow peas. and sesame seeds on top.

Every morning - scrambled egg whites and toast (one slice topped with heirloom tomatoes and one topped with canadian bacon). YUM!

Pasta and salad, with chocolate ice cream for dessert

pasta with lots of garlic, onion, olive oil, prosciutto and parmigiano - yummy!

Baked beans on toast!

I'm big on grilled cheese. Or grilled peanut butter sandwiches.

Depends on my energy level. Often a hummus-tomato sandwich, summer rolls or banana pancakes. Or, if I'm particularly lazy, cereal with yogurt and fruit.

I like peanut butter and..............something creative each time: curry, chili sauce, pickles....

grilled cheese sandwich

Scrambled egg, green peas, white rice (brown will do), with salt and butter.

looks like i'm not alone in my love for single dinner servings of breakfast - eggs (and i can finally do that nifty over easy thing!), toast, hash browns, maybe bacon.

it's all about eggs 'n toast to mop up the yolk when it's just me.

Chicken Breast with salsa and broccoli

I love making omlettes for myself for dinner. Easy to make in one portion and I can load up on good protiens and veggies quite easily.

I have two. Eggs over medium over whole grain toast (and cellaphane cheese). Or whole wheat spaghetti and sauce with tons of garlic and my home grown basil. YUM!

Steamed artichokes since no one else I know seems to think they are worth the effort.

I'm basically pretty lazy when I'm preparing food for myself, so it's usually mac and cheese. I need some new, easy ideas.

Breakfast food -- a scrambled egg & cheese sandwich and grits, along with a simple tossed salad if I have a bag of the pre-mixed stuff.

Usually a English muffin with ham.

Usually a pasta dish of some sort with a salad, bread and a glass of wine to accompany the meal. Always eaten at the table with a place setting, a good magazine and the Sirius classic jazz channel in the background to help me linger over my meal.

Soup & salad
fried eggs and turkey bacon
various sandwiches and fresh fruit
wild rice and baby sweet peas

I live alone and eat alone but I don't let it keep me from cooking and consuming whatever I desire. This weekend I smoked an 8-pound pork shoulder that I'll be eating forever—every delicious bit.

Yakisoba fried in sriracha with shrimp, baby spinach, crepe, and Spam, along with some Japanese pickled cucumbers for a warm dish. Somen with cucumber, crepe, Spam, menma, and bean sprouts for a cold dish.

Anything that I like that my girlfriend won't eat.

Fried rice. And anything with loads of garlic!

My favorite meal to make when I am alone is pasta puttanesca. It is so easy to prepare and freezes well too.

Although it doesn't serve one in one sitting, I love making a duo of vegatables. After work, I'll go to the supermarket and buy some corn, squash, tomatoes, onions, and whatever. When I'm done chopping, I use one batch of veggies to make soup, and with a smaller batch I do a quick stir-fry with butter and olive oil. With the stir-fry, I try incorporate different herbs than the soup. For the most part, this meal lets me enjoy veggies in different ways of flavor, texture, volume, etc. without having to go through too much trouble. But I'll also have veggie soup with my meals for the rest of the week! :)

Depends on my hunger level, if not very hungry roasted asparagus with a balsamic reduction and parmasan cheese and some garlic bread. Or for fast, some Annie's Mac and Cheese.

If hungry, steak, baked or scalloped potatoes, and sauteed mushroooms and onions.

A giant chef salad with chunky blue cheese dressing, iced cold lemonade and some fresh fruit...YUM!!!

I love fried eggs with cheese. When no one is around, I even lick the yolk off the plate! sssshhhhh!

Eggs with a bagel.

Chicken and broccoli with cream of mushroom sauce over rice...

When I am alone I make a fried egg sandwich-nobody else in my family likes them.

And in summer crayfish - pasta or salad or just plain grilled with loads of butter and garlic.

I love a big, juicy hamburger with all the fixiings.

rice and miso

any kind of pasta that involves nuts (since my husband hates nuts thus i dont cook with them unless i'm on my own that night).

shrimp and asparagus stirfry

Lamb Chops with a really good red wine. I love indulging myself.

stir fry from whatever happens to be in the fridge, along with either rice or noodles.

some kind of a burrito........my latest has shrimp, peppers, onion, garlic and corn, saute in a little butter or olive oil...add salt, pepper and cayenne......pile on a tortilla, add shredded cheese, top with another tortilla....bake @ 375 for about 20 minutes......yum!

Grilled cheese

pasta and then an ice cream sundae!

I like to make a good turkey an avacado sandwich or a grilled cheese.

I make a plate with some cheese and olives, maybe tomatoes and some bread.

If I'm really hungry, I make pasta and use all of the vegetables my kids would normally turn their nose up at. Otherwise, I would make a small plate of some great cheese, green olives, french bread and some vine-ripened tomatoes. Oh! And a glass of chardonnay. Yum.
gkstratos@ yahoo.com

I could use this book, my favorite meal alone is leftovers!

Blue cheese dip and veggie or chips

Spaghetti - simple and yummy

Spaghetti Carbonara for One, found accidentally on a blog ages ago. Or, if I'm mysteriously and sadly lacking pancetta (or bacon), eggs any which way.

veggie scramble with a side of Fakin' Bacon - I can eat it for any meal and it makes me happy

Grilled cheese and tomato soup!

I love Old Fasioned oatmeal, cottage cheese and fruit.

deviled eggs

Fried egg sandwich on sourdough with cheddar, Neuske bacon, and ham.

Usually a breakfast scramble - eggs and some leftover veggies/meat with BACON.

A grilled cheese sandwich.

I like a good grilled cheese sandwich when I'm alone. mmmmm.

I call it Sausage Gravy Pie. It should probably serve 2-4 but I eat it by myself. I take a cup of Jiffy mix and 1/3 cup milk and dump the dough into a greased pie tin and bake it. Then I pour sausage gravy that I make over the top and serve it with tater tots on the side.

I inevitably go the omelette route.

Grilled cheese sandwich!

I like pasta with olive oil, garlic, parmesean and hot pepper flakes. simple and delish

grilled shrimp. My husband is allergic so I need to be alone to eat it.
yummmm

Takeout or eat out

Peanut butter and honey on a tortilla!

i usually do a frozen pizza. boring i know

crab or tuna cakes

when my husband is out-of-town for a few days, i make a big bowl of couscous with garbonzos, kalamatas, feta, red onions, tomatoes, misc veggies, olive oil, and red wine vinegar or lemon. i don't usually make it when he's home because it's not his favorite. the best part is, the big bowl lasts me awhile so i get a break from cooking dinner for a few days.

Empty-the-fridge salad.

Either french toast or grilled cheese, yum.

Well, since I cook for one almost every night, I can't really choose. Probably spaghetti carbonara with peas and green onion, with a salad on the side.

On the rare night when I am both husband and kid-free, I'l whip up a quick pasta with sun-dried tomoatoes and any/every vegetable I have stored in the fridge.

Grilled cheese usually. Sometimes an egg sandwich.

tempeh and broccoli wtih bragg

I like macaroni and cheese best of all.
pintolinda (at) hotmail (dot) com

Soups or a simple veggie stir-fry.

I usually make myself a nice big omelette or a batch of soup so that I can have leftovers.

I love to fix myself dirt cake and indulge!

I toss together a mixture of tuna, diced cucumbers, and diced hard boiled eggs with mayo and seasonings that fit my mood. I pull out a good book and spead on Rye crackers.

I chop up a whole head of cauliflower, toss with lots of oil, salt, and whole cloves of garlic, and roast at 450 until brown and crispy (about 30 minutes).

pasta or a sandwich

chicken sandwich

I like to make an omelette stuffed full of veggies.

Seriously? Tostitos lime and chile chips with Marzetti's Southwestern Ranch Veggie dip. No cooking required, but I only really can enjoy this when I am alone as my husband lets me know that he thinks I eat too many at a sitting . . . . if I have to cook, then Kraft mac and cheese, made with full-fat milk and margarine like my mother used to.

Usually a small batch of any Korean soup or stew with a bowl of rice.
Tonight it's hot out and hubby is working late, I feel like bibim naeng myun (or cold, spicy, buckwheat noodles).

The easiest is anyhthing pasta - pasta salad, spaghetti or if it's a cold weekend, a big ol' pot of chili.

Buttered noodles with parmesan and a little fresh parsley....

sammiches!! delicious sammiches!!

usually pasta and ketchup.

I like to make my version of a Cubano sandwich: whatever bread I have on hand smeared with a mixture of mayo and spicy brown mustard, deli turkey and ham, kosher dill pickle slices, and swiss cheese. Toast the bread and stack the ingredients on each slice. Heat open-faced in the toaster oven until the cheese is melty. Smush the two sides together, slice in half, and enjoy!

I love to make scrambled eggs, sausage, hot tea.

I'll often make a big egg salad sandwich and make enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Fried potatoes, because comfort food rocks.

i like to make shrimp and grits with stone ground grits. i crumble bacon and grated vermont white cheddar in the grits. i then sauted the shrimp in the bacon pan!! never anything left for later or anyone else.

Okay, now I am hungry! Seems there are a lot of lovers of grilled cheese and of pasta out there, but I now have a whole list of great new things to try for lunch! Thank you all for being so creative!

My favorite would be to roast some salmon, usually alone or with something simple like on a bed of wilted spinach.

~ Alex

A sub.

either mac and cheese or spaghetti. yum

My garlic chicken curry pasta.
Make up a big batch, eat half and save the rest for another day when I'm too tired to cook.

Hot wings. It's quick and easy. My secret indulgence!

sausage gravy and homemade biscuits....no one in my house likes the stuff !!!...more for me !!!

I usually go for breakfast...even when it's not breakfast time. A few over easy eggs. Maybe fry up some ham or sausage along side. Buttered toast. Quick and easy.

Or some kind of omlet with whatever I have in the fridge.

Chicken sandwich with Havarti and garlic rosemary mayo on frnch bread

LEMON SPAGHETTI!! It is the best! Plain ol' spaghetti with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh basil, salt, pepper, some parmesean cheese (and mozzarella if I have it)...and wah-lah! It is so good! Don't knock it til you've tried it!

My favorite is pancakes with fresh berries on top and a squirt of whipped cream.

I pretty much make whatever I feel like eating. Sometimes it's pizza for one made out of a wrap that is spread with my quickie pizza sauce, fresh mozzerella and an assortment of toppings. If I have a craving for something specific, I will ,make it for myself. Last week I had a craving for chicken wings. I sectioned and marinated them in a chili ginger, garlic, lime and pineapple marinade. After they were marinated, I broiled them on both sides. Then I brushed them with a glaze and roasted them for a short time. They turned out great!

It varies, but is always simple. Might be a bagged salad with some flaked tuna thrown on top, or leftovers, or heck, cereal! I'd like some other ideas for quick foods for one.

I like sardines on rye crackers as a snack. If I'm going for a full meal alone tho, I like to roast a chicken (perfect to use the rest of the week for salads/sandwiches) and partner it with some baby red potatoes in olive oil and rosemary or parsley along with some fruit.

Grits, fried eggs, and toast with marmalade.

I like to make a BLT or Pasta Carbonara or pasta with sausage, onion, basil, and parmesean.

Panini on my griddler or pasta

Home made pizza or calzone. A close second - tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich.

Pasta with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and red pepper flakes. And when I'm feeling especially healthy, I'll throw in some broccoli and carrots.

Brownies with homemade vanilla ice cream!

good old Kraft macaroni and cheese.

I usually make a casserole for myself that will last a few days because I don't like to cook every night.

Rare rib eye steak with microwave Bernaise or red wine sauce, Caesar salad and oven-roasted asparagus. Ready to eat in 20 minutes tops!

egg and turkey and cheese sandwich with herbs

My favorite dish to prepare when I am alone is Macaroni & Cheese! It's my FAVORITE comfort food!

I could REALLY use this cookbook as I am so used to cooking for 6 (hubby, 2 step-kids and 2 kids)! Now that I am divorced and kids are gone -- I am clueless as to how to even START cooking for one!!

Thanks!!

When I'm eating alone, I make mac n cheese. Macaroni, milk, melted cheese.

I like to make myself an awesome salad with toasted sunflower seeds, dill and hardboiled eggs. Just the way I like it.

I like to make my pared down version of salad nicoise with boiled potatoes, hard boiled eggs, tomato slices, canned asparagus, canned tuna and onion slices...I can't cook for just one, though, so I always have plenty of leftovers.

Mac n cheese with tuna

Spagetti with lots of fresh vegetables cut up in the sauce.

I love pasta with veggies. Thank you for the yummy giveaway.

salad loaded with veggies, toppings and shrimp, steak or chicken.

If it's not mac and cheese, or a simple sandwich, its lean cuisine chicken carbonara.

I love grilled salmon.

Bowl of rice with undiluted vegetable soup.

I love what I call a BOLT:
A bacon, onion lettuce & tomato sandwich.

A bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich.

fried egg, ham and cheese sandwich

nice big batch of chicken soup w/ lots of hot sauce

I t would have to be something with cheese---anything from cheese and crackers to nachos to scrambled eggs with cheese.

Hot Dogs

Ramen noodles.

....popcorn.....and lots of it!

tuna macaroni, or mac and cheese from a box!

I keep it simple and make macaroni and cheese or frozen pizza.

I make checken, vegetables and rice in a tin foil packet.

I enjoy a bowl of soup,chicken noodleor sometimes I just like a baked potato

i make myself an egg salad sandwich.

I make a lot of salads... if you cut up all the veggies when you first get home from the store, they are super fast and easy to make, and healthy too!

Roast beef sandwiches

A grilled cheese sandwich.

I love to have macaroni and cheese.

spaghetti!

My fave food for one is Chicken Fajitas, I normally buy skinless boneless chicken breast I always have some on hand. I usually let the chicken marniate for a few minutes Lawry brand are great. I grill a few minutes on the stove with my grill pan with onions and various types of pepper. add chicken to torilla with black beans, very good. Thanks for the contest

Cereal

veggie soup garrettsambo@aol.com

I love a steak, fully loaded baked potato, and a veggie (whatever is handy). It takes very little time and there is very little to clean up when I'm finished, and there are no leftovers. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich.

spaghetti

My favorite is a nice medium rare steak, baked potato and veggie like broccoli. What it usually turns out to be is some type of stir fry with whatever is left over in the fridge.

scrambled eggs

I like to make a casserole or big dish of something so I can eat off of it the whole week. Homecooked all week and only actually cooking once.

Since the kids have left the nest, I never have anyone to eat with anymore. I am embarrassed to say it's usually the mayonnaise and banana sandwich or a baked potato for me. I need some new ideas. lol

Soup- any kind

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

bndraldy
ch121
cbradford
gala2
boover57

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.