You might need dinner ideas for one person because you are single or because you often eat alone while family members are busy. People who must cook for one often receive the usual advice to shop smart, keep a well stocked pantry, cook ahead and freeze, make one-dish meals and use leftovers creatively. After following all of the usual advice, a few ideas and recipes that make solo dining less of a chore are helpful. Planning and creativity can result in quick and easy meals that are healthy, nutritious and satisfying.
Quick Italian Turkey
Cook the quick Italian turkey meal on the stove top. Add your favorite vegetable to this dish, and, if you prefer, a small serving of rice or pasta. The recipe requires 1/2 tsp. olive oil, 1 4-oz. turkey breast fillet, 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, 1/2 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese and 1 1/2 tsp. Parmesan cheese.
Use a heavy nonstick skillet to cook the dish. After you heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat, add the turkey fillet and the salt and pepper. Saute the turkey for eight to 10 minutes, turning occasionally. When the turkey is cooked throughout, pour the spaghetti sauce over it, and let it cook until the sauce is hot. Serve the turkey with the spaghetti sauce and sprinkle the cheese over the turkey and sauce.
Herbed Tomatoes
Herbed tomatoes are made as a simple baked dish. The recipe calls for 3 tbsp. of dry bread crumbs, 2 tsp. of melted margarine or butter, 1/4 tsp of seasoned salt, 2 tsp. of garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. ground coriander, 1/2 tsp. of ground cumin and one large halved tomato. In a bowl, mix the butter or margarine, bread crumbs and seasonings. Stir the mixture well. Place the tomato halves in a small baking dish with the open, or cut, side up. Spoon the bread crumb mixture into the tomato halves.
Bake the dish for 10 minutes, or until it is completely heated, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you prefer to have this dish at dinner as part of a more well-rounded meal, add a baked chicken breast or salmon steak.
Make a Reservation
Many people are reluctant to dine alone, but an evening out alone for dinner can be a well-deserved treat after a busy week, a significant accomplishment or a desire to be catered to for an hour or two. Call your favorite restaurant and make a reservation for one. Dress for dinner, and get a window seat so you can watch the sights as you dine. Choose a restaurant that has great ambiance -- music, atmosphere, lighting and an interesting clientele. Order favorite foods that you don't have time to cook. Eat slowly; treat yourself to a low-calorie, no-guilt dessert; and enjoy your night out.
Use the Crock Pot
Start a meal in your crock pot or slow cooker, and set it so it will be ready when you get home from work or when you are ready for lunch or dinner. Make chili or a beef, chicken or vegetable stew. Crock pots are great for cooking beans or peas. Make a small pot roast with potatoes and carrots in your crock pot. Meals Matter, a website and free nutrition service of the Dairy Council of California, provides crock pot recipes for every kind of dish, including desserts.
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