Greetings ,
I live alone. Nevertheless, I cook meals for myself. In fact, until I moved to Germany, I cooked for myself most nights of the week.
Yes, meals for one.
People are surprised. They think it must be a bother (1). But I quite enjoy it. For me, it's relaxing.
Meal planning is a trend at the moment, well, I've been doing it for years.
When I shop, I buy just enough for the meals I want to cook. At the butchery, that can mean I ask for one steak. I also only buy the vegetables I need for one week.
I have learned to be economical in the kitchen as well. The cooking part is fun, but washing up afterwards is not as enjoyable. So I try not to use too many things.
Professional cooks would freak out, but they can't see (and aren't going to help me clean up afterwards!).
I usually cook all my vegetables in one pot (2). It means I have to plan and add different vegetables to the pot at different times. I don't want to overcook things 🫣.
When possible, I use the one pot for different stages of the cooking process.
For example, when I prepare a bowl of pasta with a cheese sauce, I start by boiling (3) the pasta in a saucepan.
When it's done, I put the drained (4) pasta in the bowl I'm going to eat from and use the same pot to fry the onions and whatever. I add some flour and stir and then add milk and cheese.
Finally, I mix the pasta back in and serve.
'One Pot Wonders (5)', where the whole meal is cooked in one pot are my latest favourite.
First, I fry the onions and then brown the meat. Next, I add water and bring it to the boil. Then I add the vegetables - the slowest to cook (usually potatoes) first and faster-cooking ones later.
It works perfectly.
I can enjoy a tasty meal - and I only have minimal washing up afterwards!
What does your kitchen look like after you cook, ? Is it a disaster zone, or do you work carefully, to minimise cleaning up?
Here's to a week of good cooking!
Andrea
(1) bother - something that makes you feel annoyed, worried or upset
(2) pot - also 'saucepan' - the (usually metal) things you cook with that go on top of the stove. For example, to cook pasta, you need a pot/saucepan.
(3) to boil - to heat water to 100°C, so that it bubbles.
(4) drained - with the water/liquid tipped away
(5) a wonder - something that is amazing or surprising
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