Good luck, but I think that reducing the volume cooked to a dish for one would be a matter of "trial and error". Why not just cook the recipe as directed and put three servings in the freezer for later?

Drop the idea and go for meals for one,

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/cooking+for+1+or+2

Stir fry is easy for one, pastas and any meat or fish with greens as a side dish.

I was also going to suggest cooking the whole recipe and either having it for a couple of meals and freeze the rest............good luck :-) 

Halving any recipe for four  is  easy.

and then halve again. Walla meals for one :)

Ahh the logic of a woman's brain.  Have to admit

having meals in containers, makes life easy also

as cooking the four  portions is no more difficult than

cooking a meal for one.

I agree with kfc - cook a meal, either eat same for your meal and maybe again  next day or freeze some for the future , - seems to agree with Phyl also but she is very wise :)

You are a dag Fwed. But a nice one and really

quite loveable  :) as long as we femmes keep

you in your place when you become too

obstropolous (not sure this is a real word but not googling) lol

My word for the day anyway lol.

I found it was easier to just look at cooking different recipes and use different cooking techniques. After my husband died I realy struggled with cooking for one and getting motivated to even eat. I have since changed the way I cook and have made it easier on myself at the same time. I bought a couple of bamboo steamers, one smaller than the other so they can be stacked.I will put potato carrots pumkin in a saucepan but instead of cooking in water I will cook these in chicken or vegetable stock.Once these are half cooked i will place a steamer on top with a green vege like beans broccoli silverbeet etc cover with bamboo lid and continue cooking untill tender. Cook enough for two days.remove what you require for that meal refrigerate whats left including the stock.The next day put all cooked veges and stock in a blender, season to taste, blend until smooth add a dash of cream,chilli sauce or soy and you have a lovely soupfor your meal.To cook fish or chicken fillet I oil a sheet of alfoil, lay fish or chicken fillet down in middle of the sheet put a layer of sliced onion tomato mushrooms,I have even used slices of potato cover with a handfull of chopped silver beet salt and pepper,drizzel about a tablespoon of olive oil or a sauce that you like,I like sweet chilli sauce .fold edges in wrap firmly into a parcel ,place on a hotplate or a hot pan on medium heat turn after 5 minutes and continue to cook for another 5 to 6 minutes,Pierce with a skewer to test for doneness chickenand fish will steam in the juices delcious and no washing up.When tender to the feel of the skewer slide from pan to plate split pack and you have your entire meal including veges and saucejust ready to eat.I have done entire fish this way stuffing the insides with whatever is handy in the fridge just varying the sauce flavour for variety, a reasonably decent fish will give you two meals heating the leftover in the microwave.I use a teflon coated casserole dish with a good lid to cook a roast on top of the stoveby browning my veges first in the casserole dish in a little oil then removing them and put aside then brown a small roast like lamb or pork  all over, then reduce heat put the lid on top and leave to cook turning the meat half way through cooking ,place your browned veges around the meat cover with the lid and cook untill done.You can do some frozen peas in the microwave to go with this meal.This will give you cold meat left over for sandwiches or another meal with a salad. Good luck   Wobbly

Thank you everyone for your time and emails re: cooking for one. Dare I say you have given me food for thought and something to chew over.

Toria the meals I have posted can be prepared in 10 minutes max And there is very little washing up as everything is cooked either in alfoil or one saucepan. I have endless recipes that I cook in my Bessamer casserole saucepan even scones and cakes on top of the stove,all one needs is a little imagination and a little practise.You are welcome to come for dinner if you are ever in Tassie again.Cheers Wobbly

kenlow,

For many years there has been a trend to single person households.  Cooking appliances, supermarket packaging and recipes have followed the trend.

You can buy a small crock pot that will supply some meals for the week and an electric frypan that will provide roast chicken and small roasts, with veggies if you like.  Microwave ovens are ideal for small meals.  Apart from that you can splt cans of fish into two meals to have with steamed veggies or salad.  A half cup of rice in cold water will 'cook' if left in the fridge for the day or over night.  Just heat to boiling point and strain to go with other food.

Cooking for one (or more) is about having enough respect for yourself to make the effort.  There is very little effort involved.  Having said that I will add that very few people actually cook much these days, most stuff is pre-prepared to be reheated.  Can opener or scissors and plonk in microwave.  Many veggie hybrids require nothing but minor preparation to cook.

Nautilus do you cook your own meals?? Real food I mean not prepared rubbish!! Would like to come for dinner to taste your cooking,if so. you could also cook me one of your cheesecakes too!! Look forward to the invitation soon!  xx

That sounds good Toria BUT I hope Nautilus

will invite us all and we can have a party.

(In the words of Homer Simpson cheescake mmmmm)

I have a feeling Nautilus could rustle up a real home

cooked meal maybe even as good as out mate Fwed.?

and how lucky if kfc comes to the party and brings his

fried rice yum.

Cooking is not something I do for an interest, however I do try new recipes often and do not stick to one style.  Don't mind doing dinner parties.  I don't do the typical English lard baked roast, suet dumplings, or goose wrapped in bacon recipes of the Two Fat Ladies though.  Nice people but heaps of grease and overcooked (sorry, TFLs) is not my way. All of my family are very competent in the kitchen.  Then again, up to a certain point in time most country people were all rounders.

I don't remember many of my male friends who did not cook, all seemed to have a go. 

No Bombe Alaska?

awwwww never mind

whatever you cook will be fine.