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usonian

(19,147 posts)
17. You are fortunate to cook for two. Cooking for one is a challenge. So here are some ideas.
Sat Jan 4, 2025, 11:57 AM
Jan 2025

Pasta is your friend. I am Italian-American, so this is a given. Frozen Ravioli. All sorts of pasta.
For fun, see if you can find long fusili or mafaldine. Fabulous texture.

I make my own sauce. I gave up on “store sauce”. I’l repost the recipe my Mom gave.
It keeps (or you can freeze)

Slow Cooker. Make beef stew or chicken. Chicken can get exotic with a few spices.
I found (by luck at the thrift store, as it happens) a book of Asian slow cooker recipes.
I can post the index pages later on. And recipes on request.

Frozen fish and seafood. Air fryer makes fish and chips (I like the big steak fries) (oops)
Seafood (frozen) can go into a cioppino or bouliabasse. (Or air fryer)
Cioppino is tomato sauce with white wine, fennel etc. Recipes vary but they are simple.
I cheated and got some in bottle and froze 2/3 of it.

Q: What is the primary difference between cioppino and bouillabaisse?
A: The main difference lies in the broth. Cioppino features a bold and spicy tomato-based broth, while bouillabaisse showcases a delicate and refined saffron-infused broth.


https://cooknight.net/cioppino-vs-bouillabaisse/

Good old TastyBite or other Indian. Get your cooked veggies. 1 minute. With rice.
Hamburger etc.
I like beef and tomato because it’s easy and balanced. Uses thinly sliced beef.
That also gets used making braciole for the tomato gravy, but that’s an Italian soul food thing.
I continue to experiment with Thai basil beef or eggplant.
Lots of asian dishes cook up quickly because ingredients are cut up small.
Get a cooked chicken. What you don’t finish on the spot makes great soup with a few veggies and broth.

My grandparents were Italian. Mom taught me to cook and ny grandfather grew a grand garden.
Walk through a patch of basil plants for a real treat. Intoxicating in a good way. I love basil.

Been cooking single some 30 years and half time for 27 years married.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Rice and dried beans are easy to boil up and together you get protein! GreenWave Jan 2025 #1
Your local library likely has a plethora of cookbooks. no_hypocrisy Jan 2025 #2
Try this PJMcK Jan 2025 #3
Bake some Cornbread take you 2 Boxes 2 Eggs bit of Milk Oneear Jan 2025 #4
Ask your wife what ideas she has about you helping out more. Irish_Dem Jan 2025 #5
Yeah she probably "does". Historic NY Jan 2025 #8
thanks everyone mdmc Jan 2025 #6
What about grocery shopping? Sanity Claws Jan 2025 #7
And besides just helping in the kitchen as you have been doing, the shopping too will help, and the shopping will SWBTATTReg Jan 2025 #28
Scrambled eggs are easy - just pay attention BoRaGard Jan 2025 #9
Youtube is your friend. Watch food prep videos. There are a ton on YT, ranging from simple japple Jan 2025 #10
Hobo Skillet or Hobo Casserole with hamburger is easy to cook. Emile Jan 2025 #11
On the nights you cook make enough for two meals. Hope22 Jan 2025 #12
Watch and take notes when she cooks. Use it as a tutorial so she can teach you best practices she uses. Nanuke Jan 2025 #13
No advice but to say what a jewel of a husband you are CousinIT Jan 2025 #14
actually, I'm pretty awful mdmc Jan 2025 #15
Get educated IbogaProject Jan 2025 #16
You are fortunate to cook for two. Cooking for one is a challenge. So here are some ideas. usonian Jan 2025 #17
Nice, nice, nice!! I love the tips and I do enjoy cooking too, for the fun of it. SWBTATTReg Jan 2025 #29
OH US, HOW could I have MISSED this??? elleng Jan 2025 #32
If you let your Wife teach you how to cook Turbineguy Jan 2025 #18
I've heard it said that cooking is an art and baking is a science SheltieLover Jan 2025 #19
Baking is less forgiving than cooking Retrograde Jan 2025 #20
For sure! SheltieLover Jan 2025 #21
Think of a category of food you like and start small. Keep it simple. chowmama Jan 2025 #22
To me the hardest part is the planning Phentex Jan 2025 #23
We have a set food category for each day of the week SARose Jan 2025 #24
I love the internet WhiteTara Jan 2025 #25
Corned beef hash and a cabbage salad is timeless. applegrove Jan 2025 #26
yummy! mdmc Jan 2025 #33
Post removed Post removed Jan 2025 #27
Be in the kitchen Marthe48 Jan 2025 #30
You could try Pinterest.com Tanuki Jan 2025 #31
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Cooking & Baking»Do you have any advice fo...»Reply #17