Ger-Nis INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Fall Solo Cooking guide
Do crisp, fall nights find you dining alone?

Don’t let being single or alone deter you from making exquisite, exciting meals. Not only can you whip up an exotic meal for yourself, but you will also enjoy time alone catering to your own tastes! We recommend always taking some time out to dine alone whether you prepare a meal for yourself or indulge at a fine restaurant. Dining alone allows you to treat yourself and appreciate what you are eating. Take a moment, if only every once in awhile, to really revel in it!

Cooking for one can seem overwhelming and wasteful, not to mention time consuming and energy draining. It can also lead to too many leftovers, unused ingredients, and a menu that has no variety whatsoever. Herbs are a wonderful way to transform simple staple ingredients into delicious meals by making them heartier, lighter, more or less intense or completely exotic.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when cooking for one:

SHOPPING FOR PRE-CUT OR PRE-MADE GOODS-No one eats an entire head of cauliflower in one week. Although we remain innately hesitant to pay more for less we have to realize that wasting is wasting and it all goes back to money. So, look in your local grocers for smaller, packaged goods like vegetables, cheeses, meats and a variety of other products. Don’t take this too far; we are not recommending that you buy cut carrots and peanut butter all in one. We still find that kind of packaging a bit odd!!

SHOP IN SMALL LOCAL PLACES-At small, local places, they are much more apt to do what you need. They will cut the meat, separate the cheese, and give only a part of the bunch of vegetables you need. Small, local places are the kind of places where your needs are valued and as you get to know your grocer by name, you will have much more freedom to speak up and get what you need--a roast for one, a specialty cheese, or even an exotic dessert made for one or two.

GET CREATIVE-No one says meals have to be “dinner.” What is important is that you are eating healthy and consistently. If you are alone and do not want to focus on an entire meal, make yourself a few appetizers or a bunch of snacks. Eating alone has very few boundaries. For instance, you can chop herbs and goat cheese on toasted pita bread with a fresh minted fruit platter for dessert.

ALUMINUM BAG MEALS- These meals are an excellent way to make easy, small, one person meals. Preheat your oven, take a large piece of aluminum foil and place a bunch of herbs, vegetables and/or meat, fish or poultry and a liquid like lemon juice, lime juice, wine or other juices and wrap it all up. Place the aluminum bag on a cooking sheet (in case of leakage) and cook it for about 30-45 minutes depending on whether it is a meat or fish or vegetable.
Here are a few ideas: Try chicken breast with lemon thyme, parsley, mushrooms, carrots, fresh garlic, a bit of mustard and white wine; or halibut with fennel, calamata olives, tomatoes, lemon, basil, chervil, chives, a splash of citrus vinegar, and juice of half an orange; for a great vegetable dish try zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, oregano, red chili flakes, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

HEALTHY ONE PERSON DESSERTS-Let yourself indulge healthily using fresh herbs. Try fruits mixed with minted lemon sugar or a basil whip cream and strawberries perhaps.

Make it simple, keep it simple. Do not use too many pots and pans or too many ingredients. Save the lengthy, time consuming meals for when you have the energy and inclination!