Cooking For Two

[CelticRoz]

I don't know if this topic has been already started (I didn't see one), but this is an area of cooking that is really difficult for me..........cooking for just two people! I always have leftovers and hubby hates leftovers but we eat them anyway so food won't go to waste. I try to cut the recipes down, but they don't always turn out well. I am hoping to get some good recipes from y'all who have the same battle in the kitchen as I do. Here is one I found to start off with:

Pasta with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients

2 boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fennel seeds or more
1 carrot, peeled, cut into matchstick-size pieces
1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine
1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
6 ounces linguine, freshly cooked
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese


Instructions
Spray large skillet with cooking oil spray. Add chicken and saute over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and fennel seeds. Saute until onion is tender, adding chicken broth as needed to keep vegetables from sticking to pan. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and rest of broth. Continue cooking until carrot is crisp tender (about 5 minutes). Mix together pasta, chicken mixture, and Parmesan cheese.

Yield: 2 servings

Credits
From: Author unknown

[Shadows]

Rose,
It has been a long time since I have had to cook for just two on a regular basis, but when I did I used a cookbook by Betty Crocker called Dinner for Two Cookbook. I will try to locate it in my collection and post some of the recipes here.

I also use a computer program called "The Recipe Processor" a free version can be found on the web, just do a search for that title ( I think the author is a Jay somthing or other). This program will let you take any recipe and scale it down or up making all the proper adjustmnets for you, works real well!

OK here is one link where you can get the free download ( the $25 full version is well worth the money also!) http://www.topshareware.com/The-Recipe-Pro...wnload-5998.htm I have been using this for over 8 years.

[Shadows]

Minute Steaks With Butter Sauce

Source Betty Crocker's Dinner For Two

Serves 2

1 Tbls salad oil
2 beef "cubed" steaks or "sandwich" steaks
Garlic salt
2 Tbls butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried chives
1/4 tsp dry mustard


Heat oil in 8-in skillet; cook steaks over medium-high heat until brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Season with garlic salt. Remove steaks from skillet and keep warm.

Drain off fat. Melt butter, in same skillet. Stir in remaining ingredients and heat. Place steaks on dinner plates; pour butter mixture on each.


Serve with Chili Mixed Vegetables.

[Shadows]

Chili Mixed Vegetables

Source Betty Crocker's Dinner For Two

serves 2

Cook 1/2 package ( 10-oz Size) frozen mixed vegetables * as directed except use only half the water and salt called for on the package. Drain. Add 1 Tbls butter and 1/4 tsp chili powder and toss. Serve.




*LEFTOVER frozen vegetable? Use in Shepherds Pie. Or cook the entire package; season half as directed above and marinate the other half with salad dressing to serve as a salad the next day.

[CelticRoz]

Hey Shadows! I saw that very same cookbook, "Cooking for Two" by Betty Crocker on Amazon.com. I considered buying it, but wasn't sure. So it is pretty good, eh? Oh and that "Recipe Processor" sounds just like something I need! I had never heard of that! Thanks ever so much. I knew you would come through, my friend!

In the meantime, thanks for the recipes as I have already copied them and I am going to continue to add some here as I find some, just in case there are others who are in the same boat as me. I know for single people it is really hard to cook just for one as well and I think these recipes will apply to them as well. So far I have found these on the net!


Taco Salad

1/2 pound ground beef
1 (8 ounce) can tomatoes
2 cups torn lettuce
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions
6 pitted ripe olives, sliced
1 (3 1/8 ounce) can jalapeno bean dip
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crushed corn chips

In skillet brown meat; drain off fat. Drain tomatoes, reserving liquid. Cut up tomatoes.

In salad bowl, combine lettuce, cheese, onion, olives, tomatoes and corn chips.

To meat in skillet, stir in reserved tomato liquid, bean dip, chili powder and salt. Bring to boiling. Add to lettuce mixture. Toss well. Serve at once.

Serves two

[James Milne]

Here is one I throw together when Kay and I want a quick light dinner.


Shrimp and much more salad [SIZE=7]

1 lb cooked shrimp small to medium

1/2 apple cored, peeled and coarsely chopped (slice and eat the other half while you are mixing)

1 lb frozen mixed vegetables cooked and cooled (any mix will do, tonight I used a mix of brocolli, carrots, white and kidney beans, and green beans)

1/2 sweet red pepper coarsely chopped

1 celery stalk chopped

a little chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

1 or 2 tbsps of lemon juice

4 tbsp of Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise

salt, pepper, and paprika to taste


Mix shrimp, apple, pepper, and parley with lemon juice in bowl. then stir in the vegetables and stir. Finally mix in the Mayonnaise and season.

Enjoy.

Jim Milne

[CelticRoz]

Ooh that sounds great, James! Thanks so much! And anything with cilantro in it has to be great!

[CelticRoz]

I found this one and it looks good to me. Very easy and I like that!

Linguine with Mushroom and Garlic Sauce

Submitted to Recipe Goldmine by Treva (in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina)

3 tablespoons butter
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup whipping cream
Salt
4 ounces dried linguine
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut Into small cubes
Chopped fresh parsley

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, rosemary and generous amount of pepper. Cook until mushrooms exude their juices, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Season with salt.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water. Drain well. Add pasta and cheese to sauce and stir until cheese melts. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Yield: 2 servings

[celticfire]

Eaten in small doses, this is a good "couple" meal, I think

Spaghetti with Basil Cream Sauce
1 box of spaghetti
1/8 cup fresh basil
1/8 cup dried basil
1/2 cup light cream
Pinch of cilantro
Pinch of oregano
Salt to taste
Parmeasan cheese (adjust to his/her own liking)

Cook spaghetti; add salt to water if desired.
Meanwhile, set a saute pan on medium-low heat. Mix herbs and cream in measuring cup, stir well.
Add to hot pan. Simmer with lid on for 5 minutes, then take off heat but leave lid on as pasta finishes cooking. Pour sauce directly over pasta. Add parmeasan cheese to finish. Serve hot.

[CelticRoz]

oh, this is so exciting cause I am putting together a cookbook of recipes for two. I so appreciate everyone's input and help! My hubby is even more excited cause he gets to eat something different besides the 10 meals I have been cooking for him over and over and with leftovers too! Many thanks to all. I found this recipe today and thought I would share. It serves 4, but one can always freeze, eh?

Spicy Wine Pot Roast

from by Crockpot Cooking by Barbara Blitz

Ingredients:
3 lb beef roast
1 medium onion, chopped
1 package brown gravy mix
1 cup water
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup red wine
2 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
chopped parsley to garnish
salt and pepper

Preparations:
Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper. Place in crockpot. Combine all remaining ingredients, except parsley, and pour over meat. Cover and cook on LOW for ten hours. Remove the meat and slice. Thicken sauce with flour mixed in a small amount of water and serve over meat sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Makes 4 Servings.

[Shadows]

Try these for breakfast:

Recipe Name: BACON FLODDIES
Category: BREAKFAST
Serves: 2

4 Ounce potato, peeled
1 Medium onion, peeled
3 Ounce bacon, finely chopped
1 Ounce flour, self rising
salt and pepper , to taste
1 eggs, beaten
2 Tblsp oil
or
3/4 Ounce bacon fat

Served with sausages and eggs as a breakfast or supper dish, they can be served on their own if preferred. Floddies are traditional to the Tyneside town of Gateshead.

Grate the potatoes, squeeze out any liquid and place in a bowl.

Grate or finely chop the onions and add to the potatoes with the bacon, flour and seasoning. Mix very well together.

Stir in the eggs. Heat the oil or bacon fat in a large frying pan. Put tablespoons of the mixture into the pan and fry steadily for 5-8 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through.

Drain on kitchen paper and keep hot until ready to serve with sausages and eggs.

[CelticRoz]

hey, I don't know about anybody else, but I am pretty excited about this thread cause I am getting new and short recipes for my hubby! That means he doesn't have to eat leftovers! Anyway, this thread has been much more active than I expected and I thank you all so very much as I am putting together a cooking for two recipe book.....so keep em coming! Many thanks!

[celticfire]

Italian-Style Salad

(you can really eyeball the amounts for this one)

2 parts cooked (but cold) green beans
1 part chopped/diced tomatoes
1 part chunks of mozzerella
1 tbs basil
2-3 tbs Italian dressing

Mix together. Serve cold. Pretty tricky huh?

[CelticRoz]

Hey celticfire! Thanks so much!

[CelticRoz]

Meatloaf for two

Saucy Meatloaf

You will need 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1/3 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1 lightly beaten egg white.

Heat oven to 350F. Combine meat, bread crumbs, onion, water, pepper and egg white. Mix lightly, but thoroughly. Shape mixture into a loaf and place in a loaf pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until no longer pink and juices run clear.

While meatloaf bakes, combine mustard and honey. Spoon half over meatloaf for final 10 minutes of baking. Serve the other half on the side.


Serving Suggestions

Reduce fat by using ground turkey instead of beef.

Add fiber by using wheat germ in place of the bread crumbs.

Add color by using green onion instead of yellow onion.

Prepared honey mustard (1/4 cup) may be used in place of the sauce recipe.


Side Dishes

White rice with one tablespoon of fresh parsley mixed in makes a good complement to meatloaf.

Steamed Brussels sprouts are a good vegetable dish to complete this "comfort" meal. Use fresh or frozen, microwave or stove top steam until just cooked.