Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Sunday, January 11, 2009

One Chicken and One Woman

She purchased a 3 lb fresh chicken yesterday. It was simmered on the stove and then all the meat taken off of the bone. The broth was refrigerated so fat could be removed. In the past she cooked for a family and she finds it is not very uplifting to cook for one. The chicken separated into containers for a casserole of chicken and rice and another for a lunch of several chicken salad sandwiches and the remainder is going to be added to the pot of broth and vegetables for chicken soup. So that is 6 or 7 meals out of this one chicken. Not bad she thought.
She always bakes every week or two and has banana bread, pumpkin bread or cookies on hand.
There is always something sweet on hand in her home.
Since she is coming down to the deadline of next week big decision of whether to launch another project and build smaller home in country and relocate - she is trying to think of food she can take with her for lunch. Even if this plan is deleted she will be traveling to the country weekly and needs to be prepared.
When she built her current home it was a problem staying well nourished. After the long drive to and from her location she just did not feel like cooking or eating. She sometimes would stop at a restaurant and it never agreed with her.
This project she will prepare better. She cannot lose weight as she struggles with her 110 lbs.
She will eat a good breakfast of fruit, oats, yogurt, green tea and English muffin. For her lunch
she can take a sandwich of tuna, egg salad, peanut butter, roast beef or chicken. Container of green tea, yogurt, something she has baked. Some cheese, fruit, a side of nuts or a piece of chocolate and an Ensure in her small insulated box should do it. Also 3 or 4 bottles of water are always in her vehicle. When weather is warmer a salad will be made.
With her briefcase of ideas, camera and binoculars I think she is all set.
Her crock pot at home will be used to put a meal on for her return. A roast and veggies can be cooked on the weekend, vegetable soup, bean soup, butternut squash soup and chili can be made for several meals.
The only thing missing is a great piece of crusty bread. She use to make sour dough bread and stopped years ago.
For evening meals she always keeps frozen salmon cut in portion sizes for a quick meal with a baked potato and green vegetable and also frozen shrimp for a stirfry meal. There are times of just corn chips, beans, salsa and chips with cheese. Also there are always salad items and fruit on hand.
So she wonders if someone out there living solo has any other suggestions

Some thoughts this morning from One Woman - who said she was not going to post on weekends!!!

11 comments:

Tabor said...

There is one item that I love to eat like popcorn and that is boiled and salted edamame. If you don't use too much salt it is quick healthy. Also popcorn is a nice small meal in different flavors.

kenju said...

I'm still cooking for two, so I can't be of help to you. I second Tabor's idea of popcorn. I eat some everyday!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Tabor, I forgot to mention the edamame. Kenju, always ate a lot of popcorn until I cracked a tooth on a kernal.

Lonely Rivers said...

Ah Food!...Whether to nourish or simply fuel the body..we have to think about it whether we are single or feeding a family. I have only recently become intersted in cooking as way to express myself - and my own creativity! Again, the internet has been one inspiration and reading blogs like "Smitten Kitchen" and "Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy" with their great photos has been most helpful! I love your blog. Thank you!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Lonely Rivers, thanks for the comment. I guess food is to both nourish and fuel my body. Sometimes the meal solo is special. Music, wine, candles and then other times I think " I do not feel like preparing anything"

Darlene said...

I wish I had your metabolism. I gained five pounds just reading about all you eat. You must serve incredibly small portions to eat such a variety at each meal.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Darlene, kids say I eat small portions. But I always have.
So will see what times does to my appetite.

Beverly said...

I do not have any ideas for you, but you make it seem so easy. I cannot find a way to cook for one. That is why I guess I am so unhealthy. I cannot get my b*tt up to cook knowing it will not taste very good.....
Way to go with the new plans. Look forward to see how things go.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Beverly, come on - living solo like myself - you have to cook something. But I understand that it is a challenge. Take Care

Nan said...

I'd like to 'struggle' with 110 pounds. :<) As far as foods, I think you've got it covered! You have great ideas. Almost anything I make can be cut down in size or part of it frozen. I'm a big grain girl, so a lot of my faves are things like brown rice and sauteed vegetables or pasta with same. As for baked potatoes, sadly I cannot, simply cannot eat one. :<) I like to roast a little garlic in the oven when I've turned the potatoes down from 450 to 350 - for about half an hour - to put on the top of the baked potatoes. Yum!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Nan, I love brown rice also. Thought I had listed enough food and was hoping for some ideas.
Did not get any. lol