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| An hour's time... a small pot of soup just for you |
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| Your Coffee Cup Cornbread |
One of the things people (solo cooks or other cooks) often say to me is, "I just never know what to cook." Sometimes this is an excellent cook talking and other times it's someone who seldom wields a spatula except to shake it at fools or make a grilled cheese.
To know what you want to cook isn't as important as just going ahead and cooking. People who cook daily don't always know what they want. They peer inside the frig or freezer and bang the cabinets a few times, wondering what's to eat. Or they jump in the car and run to the store, only to wander around aimlessly until something strikes them. Everyone does this...experts and beginners. More important is to have a head-start on the process
- by maintaining a pantry of some sort
- by making a habit of shopping a couple of times a week for fresh food and specials
- spending some time thinking about what you'd like to cook and what you're willing to cook (often two very different things)
- having access to recipes or cookbooks
This means you will have already made a time and financial commitment to feeding yourself well, which is an effort well worth the time. If you can't think of something that looks worthy of the Food Network or your favorite expensive restaurant, then that's exactly how it should be. We all can't eat like that every day (nor should we) and what's cool is that you jump in and make something. Anything. Something like:
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| Corncakes...using the recipe for cornbread on the cornmeal container. Why not? |
- Huevos rancheros (Fry up eggs and put them on tortillas with salsa and some shredded lettuce, tomatoes, beans and cheese...)
- Broccoli salad (Just like at Whole Foods...broccoli, mayo, nuts, raisins...maybe a little soy sauce or curry)
- Fried rice (Last night's Chinese take-out rice leftover..cook some eggs and push them to the side, then add chopped garlic, celery and carrots (cook 'til tender), throw in the cooked rice and soy sauce or stir fry sauce, let it cook a couple of minutes more and--top with chopped green onions if you have any.)
- Black Bean Soup (Saute onions and garlic, add drained black beans, toss in a sprinkle of cumin, a couple of cups chicken stock, salsa and hot sauce. Top with sour cream if it's in the frig.)
- Turkey burgers (You made patties and froze Italian-seasoned Jennie-O; you also keep frozen whole wheat bun or wraps in the freezer. Some sliced tomatoes finish the meal.)
- Omelet and whole wheat toast (Made with the cheese that's starting to mold and the cold asparagus you cooked the other day and didn't finish.)
- Fried corncakes served up with the chili you brought home from Wendy's. (Follow the directions on the cornmeal canister, add chopped onion and fry up big spoonfuls in butter or olive oil. After one side is golden, turn and cook the other side.)
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