Walking through my favorite store, Trader Joe’s, I came across their pizza dough. I grabbed the herb and garlic one and thought I can make individual pizzas. I haven’t made a pizza in years, not sure why not, but this will be fun to make. I cut the dough into thirds. I topped mine with lots of fun things that are in the fridge and the chicken I had in the freezer. I also bought some Trader Joe’s pesto that I will use as the base. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1/3 Trader Joe’s pizza dough, Trader Joe’s pesto sauce, 1 chicken cutlet, Greek olives, sundried tomatoes, gouda cheese, feta cheese, parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS: Cook your chicken in a little olive oil. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, salt-free dash. While the chicken is cooking cut 1/3 of the pizza dough. Using a little flour on the counter, spread out the pizza dough. Shape and place on a pizza stone. Spread some pesto evenly on top and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cut your olives in half and slice your sundried tomatoes. Place on top of the pizza. Slice your chicken and add that to the pizza. Cover with grated cheese. Add a small amount of feta cheese. Bake at 475 degrees for 10 minutes. Cooking for one can be fun.

Cooking for one can be fun and tricky. I will make a one-pan oven dish using organic chicken thighs and rice. I will make the whole package of chicken thighs to freeze part of it and enjoy two servings, one for now and the other for later in the week. This package of chicken thighs had 5 thighs so I will freeze three and enjoy the other two later. The combination of paprika and thyme is a delicious combination. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1 package of Mary’s organic chicken thighs, 1 1/2 cups Jasmine rice, 1 slice red onion, olive oil, 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, garlic powder, paprika, thyme

DIRECTIONS: Pour some olive oil to coat the bottom of a baking dish. Add one slice of red onion, chopped. Bake the onions at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. While that is baking, mix all the seasoning together and coat the chicken thighs on both sides. Add rice to the onions and mix well. Pour in the chicken broth and stir. Add 2 cloves of garlic minced. Place the chicken thighs on top. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes. Easy one-dish meal. Cooking for one can be fun.

My dear friend, Debbie, gave me this tarragon chicken salad. She has passed away, but I love making it and thinking about our good times together. This salad is easy to make. I used two chicken breasts because I like to enjoy it all week. You can make a lettuce wrap, or a sandwich, or put on some crackers. It is also good by itself. Also, I just bought myself a little Christmas gift and bought a titanium cutting board. The plastic boards after using it a lot will start to put plastic pieces in your food. The wooden cutting boards can put splinters in your food. I also like this titanium cutting board because it won’t contaminate the food. It cleans easily too. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 2 organic chicken breast, Greek yogurt, lemon, tarragon, 12 red grapes, pecan pieces, olive oil

DIRECTIONS: Pour a little olive oil into a baking dish and spread it around the bottom. Place your chicken breast in the dish and squeeze one lemon over them. Spread some Greek yogurt on both sides of the chicken. Sprinkle the tarragon, generously, over the top. You can also add some black pepper and salt if desired. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Let the chicken breast cool. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl. Cut the red grapes in half and add them to the bowl. Sprinkle in some pecan pieces. Add a large spoonful of mayonnaise. I added a small spoonful of some homemade cranberry sauce. Stir this all together. Refrigerate and enjoy. Cooking for one can be fun.

Making turkey meatballs can be messy and fun because cooking for one can be fun. I used the whole package of organic ground turkey but only used 6 for the soup. I enjoyed the remaining meatballs during the week as a sandwich and sometimes a quick bite of protein. I have enjoyed having them on hand. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1 pd organic ground turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, 1 egg, rosemary, garlic powder, black pepper, sweet paprika. For the soup, 3/4 box organic chicken broth, 1 carrot, 1 slice onion, handful of spinach, 1/4 cup rice, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, black pepper.

DIRECTIONS: Add the ground turkey to a bowl. Cover with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Add the egg and season generously. Mix everything together with your hands. Once everything is mixed in, start making small meatballs and placing them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. While the meatballs are cooking start your soup by pouring some chicken stock in your pot. Add the rice and let it cook with the chicken stock. Slice one carrot and one onion and add to the stock. Season generously. Simmer this all together. Once the meatballs are done, slice the spinach and add it to the soup. Gently place the meatballs in the soup and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Serve with some warm bread. Cooking for one can be fun.

Having rice in the pantry is always a good idea for a quick meal. You can serve rice with any protein. I have two pork loins in the freezer and decided to thaw them and fry up some rice and veggies. When you cook one cup of rice it does make a lot but once I finished making this pork fried rice it gave me enough to enjoy during the week. This is nice because it is a quick and easy heat-up and enjoyable meal. When I heat it up again, add an egg to the dish for a little extra taste. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup rice, 2 cups chicken broth, 2 pork loins, 1/4 green bell pepper, 1 carrot, 3 green onions, 1 clove garlic, parsley, thyme, black pepper, salt-free dash, olive oil, 2 tbs butter

DIRECTIONS: Place chicken broth in a pot and bring to a boil. Add your rice and simmer for 20 minutes. While that is cooking. Cut your pork loin into very small pieces. Slice your carrot, bell pepper, and green onion. (You can add any vegetables that you might have on hand.) After your rice has cooked, take a large frying pan add some olive oil and butter, and heat. Press in one clove of garlic. Add the rice and begin to stir and fry. Add your pork let it brown and fry with the rice. Add your carrots and let them soften. Add the green peppers and onions. Keep stirring and frying. Add some fresh parsley and stir. Add some soy sauce if desired. Serve. Cooking for one can be fun.

This is a quick pasta dish using orzo and a chicken cutlet. I also have fresh asparagus from the farmer’s market and homegrown tomatoes. Add a little garlic, olive oil, and seasonings, and it is that simple. It is also nice to make a one-pan dish for easy cleanup. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1 chicken cutlet, 1/4 cup orzo, 1 cup organic chicken broth, 4 asparagus stocks, 2 heirloom tomatoes, handful spinach, one slice red onion, 1 clove garlic, poultry seasoning, garlic and herb seasoning. Italian seasoning, oregano, basil.

DIRECTIONS: Pour some olive oil into a skillet. Chop your onion and press garlic into the pan. Cut your chicken into bite-size pieces and add to the skillet. Season generously with the seasoning. Stir and brown. Cut asparagus spears and add them to the pan. Cut the tomatoes into bite-size pieces and add them to the pan. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 9 minutes till al’dante. Add the spinach last, and stir. Serve with parmesan cheese and a nice glass of red wine. Cooking for one can be fun.

I really enjoy that when I need a quick meal it’s just a peek in the freezer to see what I have leftover. I found some shredded beef that I had quartered and packaged in the freezer along, with some frozen slider rolls. I also have a russet potato in the pantry and a red onion. The beef and rolls defrost in no time at all, so this makes for a quick and easy lunch or dinner in less than 30 minutes. You can find shredded beef at Trader Joe’s and divide it for later. Also, grab a few potatoes to keep on hand. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1/4 package of shredded beef, 2 slider rolls, red onion, 1 potato, olive oil, Tajin, salt-free dash, black pepper, chili sauce

DIRECTIONS: Peel your potato and slice it into thin French fry slices. Toss with some olive oil and Tajin. Place in your air-fryer and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. While they are cooking pour some olive oil in a pan. Slice one slice of red onion and saute. Add your shredded beef and cook till the onions are soft and the meat is cooked. Season and add your favorite sauce. I added chili sauce. After 10 minutes in the air-fryer, shake and toss the French fries and cook for another 10 minutes. When the French fries are done serve with your beef sliders. Cooking for one can be fun.

It is starting to get colder outside, so what better thing to make but some beef stew. It’s easy to throw together and let it cook in the crock pot. I’ll make enough to freeze and enjoy for several days. The stew was done in about 4 hours. I bought the beef stew meat at Trader Joe’s and it came out very tender. I thickened the soup with some Wondra flour and it all turned out so delicious. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: 1 package beef stew meat, organic beef broth, 2 carrots, 2 celery stocks, 1/4 red onion, 3 russet potatoes, olive oil. Seasoning: garlic powder, thyme, Italian seasoning, chives, Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute, sage, basil, black pepper.

DIRECTIONS: Pour a generous amount on the bottom of your crock pot and add the beef.  Season generously with the seasonings.  Turn your crock pot on high and let the beef start to brown while you cut your vegetables.  Slice your carrots and garlic.  Chop your onion and celery.  Peel your potatoes then cut them into bite-size pieces.  Add the carrots and garlic first.  Give it all a stir with the beef.  Let it brown for about another 5 minutes.  Add the onion and celery and stir.  Let that all cook together for another 5 minutes.  Add your potatoes.  Pour in the box of beef broth.  Stir.  Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high.  Check after 3 hours and sprinkle 1/2 tablespoons of Wondra flour to thicken.  If the potatoes are soft, turn to low and serve when ready.  Serve with warm bread. Cooking for one can be fun.

Asparagus is in season again, so I decided to grill some with a piece of salmon. I have made this before. It is a quick and easy meal, and cleanup is a breeze. I did boil one russet potato and made mashed potatoes to go along with this dish. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: small bunch of asparagus, 1 small piece of salmon, 1 lemon, dill, butter, thyme

DIRECTIONS: Break and rinse your asparagus. Place on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Add a few pats of butter, squeeze 1/2 lemon, and season with thyme. Fold the foil making a nice tight package. Take your grill mat and place the salmon on it. Squeeze 1/2 lemon over the salmon and season with dill. Grill for 15 minutes. Enjoy with mashed potatoes or any favorite side dish. Cooking for one can be fun.

Shopping the other day at the local grocery store, I went up and down the aisles, which I normally don’t do. I circle around the grocery store and buy healthy items, however, this time I was looking for some staples and came across this Thai lime and herb rice. I don’t normally like to buy packaged food, but this one was only 280 mg of sodium and since I don’t salt anything else I thought I would try it. This rice is really delicious and cooks in 2 minutes. I cooked a chicken cutlet along with the rice and some asparagus. Both cook up really quickly and the rice is done in 2 minutes. This brand, Veetee, has other choices so I might try another rice dish from them. Cooking for one can be fun.

INGREDIENTS: Veetee Thai lime and herb rice, 1 chicken cutlet, asparagus, 1 lemon, salt-free herb seasoning, black pepper

DIRECTIONS: I fried the chicken cutlet in olive oil and seasoned it with salt-free herbs and garlic seasoning, and black pepper. Squeeze 1/2 lemon over the chicken. Once the chicken was almost done I poured a little olive oil and garlic in another pan and sauteed the asparagus. Then squeeze 1/2 lemon over them. Microwave the rice for two minutes and serve. Cooking for one can be fun.