Going Solo In The Kitchen

by Jane Doerfer

Just because you are your household, don't assume eating solo limits you to having pizza, pancakes, or meat loaf in restaurants; buying them already prepared; or having to file extra portions in the freezer or the dustbin. As Jane Doerfer proves in Going Solo in the Kitchen, with no more effort than when cooking for two or more, one person can eat well and dine beautifully.

Doerfer's main strategies are to use fresh ingredients and to make friends with supermarket staff who can accommodate her needs in the land of large families. She gives detailed advice on storing foods--cooked chicken, for example, tastes better and has better texture when stored in liquid (like a sauce or broth), while potato salads and other prepared dishes keep better longer when left unsalted until just before serving.

Solo cooks do have advantages: you can eat what you want, as often as you want it, and the cost of a steak or lobster dinner is only for one.

Doerfer offers variations for recycling in case of leftovers. Her description of how to cut up a whole chicken is graphically clear (see "Chicken Management") and will save you money.

The recipes and techniques Doerfer offers will brighten the lives of solitary diners who love variety, good food, and home cooking. She provides recipes for everything you might want, from Chicken Noodle Soup to elegant Halibut with Asparagus, Cream Scones, perfectly cooked rice, and fresh, hot berry pie, made in just the right way for one. --Dana Jacobi

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

309 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 1995

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this cookbook, not for the recipes, but for the significant portion of the book spent on how to organize your kitchen and conduct your shopping and cooking to work best in a solo household. Many of these tips also are great for the 2-person home.

My favorite part of this book is a way of using the freezer as short-term storage that was completely new to me.

[Deborah Shaw]

I got this book for my father after my mother died and he started cooking. He wasn't interested in new recipes so I inherited it and loved it. I found so many GREAT ideas and tips in the book that I used for single recipes and adapted for use in other recipes.

[Kathy Duffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found 8 recipes to try out and hopefully add to my repertoire. Having ingredients broken down for cooking for one is helpful. This book was great for listing several variations for nearly every recipe.

[Abigail G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a collection of extremely practical recipes. It is a lot of basic family dinner type meals sized for a single person!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed looking through this book. Lots of fresh ideas for throwing together quality, quick meals for one. Also includes many handy tips on using leftovers to create a new meal for those of you who quickly get sick of eating the same thing more than a time or two. The night I picked this book up, I ended up making made-from-scratch pancakes for the first time. They were a bit rubbery (probably because I used soy milk) but yummy and a wonderful late night snack all the same.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A worthwhile book for anyone who is tired of spending money on prepared food or sick of pasta but not sure where to start with cooking real meals for oneself. Lots of tips for shopping, storage and using up leftovers so food doesn't go to waste. I didn't actually make any of the recipes, but for the most part they're straightforward and not complicated. Not a keeper for me since I'm already cooking for myself pretty successfully.

[Robyn]

Tends to be faster (and more successful) to double a recipe which serves one than to reduce recipes that serve 4-6, so I occasionally pick up a book like this one to supplement our large library of "cooking for two" books.

[Prubo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't normally comment on a cookbook, but this one is exceptional. I'll be returning my copy to the library once its replacement (58 cents on Amazon) arrives. Useful advice and inspiration on every page.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book I've found so far for the single cook. The book also includes lots of tips and tricks for singles.. As well as a nice baking/dessert section with smaller portion sizes.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful cookbook for a person cooking for one. Excellent tips and info.

[Pat Roseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cookbook so I'm not sure about even listing it here, but it had quite a bit of text at the beginning of each section that was helpful.

[Maryalice Hogg-O'Rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11686048

[Viki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely good for cooking by yourself. There weren't too many funky ingredients (except that the author seems to really love anchovies), and most recipes looked manageable.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

bought used, like it very much.

[Robin Stansel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book right after college when I had my first apartment of my own. It was perfect.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recipes. Her attitude toward being single could use some work though.