When I was asked to look at Washington Post Food Editor Joe Yonan’s book a few months back, I was initially impressed. I gave it gave it a quick look and a thumbs up. Serve Yourself
I got a real copy of Yonan’s book a few weeks ago. Once I picked it up and started reading, I was hooked. His style is at once friendly and sophisticated, self-revealing, and entertaining. There’s little fluff in his chapter and recipe introductions. Instead the book is filled with useful information and informative stories. Did you know, for example, you can heat corn tortillas directly on a gas burner, or that you can substitute lower-fat coconut water for milk to make coconut rice? There are also tips for storing unused ingredients and shopping for one.
His inverted cast-iron skillet and a broiler technique for making pizza is brilliant as is his pineapple can-roasted Cornish hens (a la beer can chicken). Many of his great tips come from colleagues to whom he generously gives credit.
Yonan’s sophisticated, yet friendly style extends to his recipes as well. Knowing what specialty ingredients bring to a dish, he doesn’t shy away from them—crumbled pasilla or ancho chiles, for example. But there’s usually a readily available alternative—hot red pepper flakes, in this case. He also defines potentially mysterious ingredients. After “mirin” he’s quick to add “Japanese cooking wine.” “Pimenton.” he reminds us is “Spanish smoked paprika.”
I was enlightened by Yonan’s information-packed book and lively recipes, but he also charmed me with his stories of looking for love, disastrous dates, dining alone, shopping for one, and his lovely, complicated family.
It’s always brought me joy and satisfaction to bring people together with food. But as my nest has emptied, I find myself cooking more often for one or two these days. Joe’s book has enlivened my weeknight repertoire. Imagine my husband’s delight when I walked into his office with two of Joe’ Pastoral Tacos and a beer!
In the last few years I’ve started to see food as a pleasurable way of taking care of myself, and I’m mostly pretty good at it… except when it comes to cooking just for me. So thanks for the inspiration, Joe. Now instead of opening a bag of potato chips on my solo nights, I’m making Shrimp and Potato Chip Tortilla. I’m learning how to “Serve Yourself.”
We’re giving away a copy of Joe Yonan’s Serve Yourself. Just tell us what dinner looks like when you’re cooking for yourself. I’ve already admitted that I tend to grab a bag of something salt and crunchy, so we’re looking for honesty here!
Deadline for entering is midnight Monday, May 23rd.
Leftovers from my big Sunday cook!
I either go creative or lazy when cooking for myself.
Creative, because a cooking disaster would only impact me. So, I’ve tried out a savory baked oatmeal with mushrooms and I often experiment with sweet/savory salad combinations. Lazy, because a bag of popcorn is easy and tasty!
Cooking for one tends to happen 2 ways: 1.in batch cooking: i.e. grill a bunch of chicken breasts, then make that into several meals throughout the week. chicken tacos, chicken salad, indian chicken stew etc… 2. or it could look like some turkey pepperoni, pretzels and cheese lol…
Usually dinner alone is a pbj or a bowl of cereal. I want to cook better when it is just me or me and my hubby. I cook for my family, but when the empty nest happens I want to still cook.
When I’m feeling responsible, it’s usually a quick salad or easy, healthy veggie sandwich; when I’m feeling ambitious I will make a larger/more complicated dish that freezes/re-heats well; and when I’m tired and un-motivated, it’s take-out!
I get really lazy when it is just me. It doesn’t always seem like it is worth the effort for just one person, and so, it is usually a salad or sandwich.
Cooking for one in Naples Florida. Potatoes and salad — no meat required! I fry in Lucini fiery olive oil couple of yukon gold potatoes with vidalia onion, herbs, kosher salt, pepper. They should be soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside! While the potatoes cook (they take a while) i make a quick viniagrette with an orange or lemon/dijon/olive oil, kosher salt/pepper and open a bag of fresh greens. I top the salad always with either fresh avocado or mango – sometimes a good tomato — we have a load of them. I also keep little bags of pre-marinated chicken breasts around, pull that out and grill it on the baby George Foreman pan. Dessert is fresh berries..just eat them raw..well, I keep a can of organic whipped cream if I want something more. Another fun thing to eat is a watermelon/cuke/feta or goat cheese/mint salad — use lime juice for the viniagrette to bring out the flavor of the watermelon best! Outstanding and pretty! 5 minutes!
Dinner doesn’t look much like dinner, its anything I can find on hand, chips, candy bar, ice cream, and if I’m really lucky I might have leftovers.
That book sounds helpful and awesome!
Dinner for myself…well, other than not having a fancy presentation, it looks mostly like dinner for 3-4 people. I am single, so I tend to make stuff like beans or roast chicken or casseroles, which I then divide into portions and either eat that week, or freeze for future meals.
Tacos are my fast go to meal! I premake the filling and freeze it in serving size containers.
When eating alone I tend towards the simple… mac and cheese, healthier version of ramen, and popcorn.
my most likely solo dinner is popcorn, or pbj, which is crazy because I have a toddler who always needs dinner and that dinner usually involves beans, pasta or veggies and i could just eat that. Although it is a little less enticing after cleaning it up from the floor, the hair, the high chair and where ever else it may land.
As the perpetual singleton who works five days a week, I’m always looking for something quick and flavorful. Roasted shrimp and pasta puttenesca are often my go-tos. I always have a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer and ingredients for the puttanesca in the cupboard. It’s always tricky when preparing a meal for myself to not overmake, so as to overeat. I like so many women, struggle with my weight. I think this book sounds wonderful and would be a handy tool to have in the kitchen.
Huge sandwich with all the condiments, and chips, and pickels.. the works!
Looks like a great book! Every day is cooking for one for me. I tend to cook a lot on weekends and then divide the meals up into individual portions and freeze them for meals throughout the week. Since I work out in the mornings before breakfast, I try to eat somewhat healthy at dinner to sustain me through that.
When I am home alone I usually make myself a big pot of soup or a one dish dinner so I can just heat it up and sit down and eat and have leftovers for a couple of days!
It is usually pasta of some sort, either with a cream sauce or a quick red sauce. If I have leftover meat it will go in, seasoned with peppers and onions & garlic. Whatever it is, good parmesan goes on top.
When I’m having dinner by myself it’s usually leftovers or I might make my favorite quick pantry pasta dish (spiral pasta, canned tuna or salmon, a few kalamata olives, whatever veggies I have on hand, olive oil and balsamic vinegar). Or I make a big salad with whatever I can find in the fridge.
If it is just me, which is rare, it is a bowl of cereal or some non-cooking required item.
I love to cook for my family and friends. I don’t eat out much because they always think, “Chrystal makes this better” and it becomes an exercise in frustration.
If I’m cooking for myself I usually scavange and eat something like cereal or leftovers.
On a good day, I’ll make an omelet, but more often it is crackers and cheese. I’m glad I cook for two more often than one!
Usually something without meat – since that differs from meals I make with my husband! And it will include dessert of course (sometimes served first) Thanks.
I would love to give this book to my single sister, who is getting better at cooking for herself, but could use help! Her go to meals are usually frozen items from Trader Joe’s or Costco.
My go to dinner for myself is cereal, my favorite being cream of wheat with toast. I blame this habit on my mom!
Nacho chips topped with cheese and microwaved. Then I top with whatever might be available. Hopefully lots of sour cream for dipping.
My go to dinner is children’s soup: chicken broth with little stars. It is comforting, quick and satisfying. I eat this during any season when I just don’t have time for anything else.
Dinner for myself is either a bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch or a scoop of ice cream with plenty of whipped cream.
I usually cook way too much just for me, but then I get to cook stuff that I like and no one else. Its usually some mixture of meat and veggies over pasta or rice…
My go to quick dinner is a omelet with peppers, onions, and cheese. YuM!
I love to cook for myself, so I make anything and everything and take the leftovers for lunch. But for me, the ultimate solo meal is a somewhat weird stir-fry. I sautee garlic, crushed red pepper, julienned carrots, and butter beans until crisp on the outside, throw in some spinach until it wilts, and serve the whole thing over rice. It’s so comforting and delicious.
Dinner for one…I usually throw half a bag of mixed greens in a big bowl, slice up seasonal fruit (lately, strawberries!), toast some pinenuts, add a large handful of feta cheese, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. It’s tasty, fresh, and perfect for one. Yummy!
When I cook for myself, I usually make something easy–one of my favorite things to make is fajita soft tacos with guac and sour cream.
when it’s just me, I usually order thai take out instead of cooking…
Dinner for myself is when I go crazy. My meat and potatoes husband disdains fancy ingredients like onions, so when he’s out of town, I splurge and try a new something.
When I am alone my go to meal is a swiss cheese sandwich made on a toasted ciabatta and slathered with mustard, pickles, tomatoes and lettuce. If I have avocado handy, I add several thick slices. Yummy!
I try to eat up perishables, so it ends up being cheese, eggs and milk in some combo.
When I’m home alone I always make a trip to the local seafood market and buy a nice piece of salmon or swordfish and grill it with whatever veggies I have in the house and throw a baked potato in for fun. I do this, because I am the only one in my house hold who LOVES fish, and so I splurge on it when I am alone 🙂
FRESH! When I don’t have to cook a meal for my family I grab raw fresh veggies. No fuss and healthy. During summer months you will catch me pulling them out of my garden, washing them off in the hose and sitting in my back garden enjoying the fresh Colorado air.
I usually end up with a fruit and cheese platter, but I am sure this book could change that!
Mashed potatoes and a large pat of butter is all I need for dinner for one! Maybe add a grilled piece of chicken and it’s a date!
Graham crackers with peanut butter, otherwise whatever ice cream that’s in the freezer.
Usually a tv dinner
Dinner tonight: Leftover artichoke flatbread from Birch & Barley Sunday lunch, field greens with fresh herb (parsley, chive, cilantro) vinagrette and some marinated tempeh sauteed in olive oil.
Oh yes, served with a glass of organic white pinot grigio, Lison Pramaggiore and 2 squares 85% chocolate for dessert.
Like many others, it’s either super simple (sandwich, leftovers, pasta and sauce) or overly complicated – like the time I made homemade pasta JUST for me or tried a new curry recipe.
fish tacos or a salad
Hey ladies,
I usually fix a veggie taco feast. 100 cookbooks (Heidi) introduced me to corn tortilla’s undo…so I saute part of an onion, a jalapeno pepper and spinach. I fix one egg-omelet consistency, plop a corn tortilla in the undone egg…flip and fill with re fried beans, sauteed veggies. I let the tortilla become warm and toasty. I top with perhaps a drizzle of creme fresh, or salsa. Tasty and filling…a delicious feast for one.
oops…101 cookbooks…and the egg cooks before I flip to the tortilla side. (-:
Dinner for one almost always is a fried egg on toast. When I have motivation I make a skillet of hash browns, eggs and bacon with cheese on top and when I have leftover Kraft Dinner around I fry it with egg mixed in for a quick and yummy childhood fave!
Ah…dinner alone…I often have big plans for it that rarely come to fruition, but there are 2 things I tend to fall back on… The first option is pancakes or oatmeal– something warm and warm and sweet and easy and comforting. The second is an assorted plate of odds and ends– olives, cheese, nuts, chocolate. Both are most likely to be eaten on the couch while watching a movie/TV.
Quesadillas are my go to dish. I always have tortillas on hand so it makes it easy.