Cooking for one can be challenging at times and using veggies up before they go bad can be even more challenging. So, I had some mushrooms that needed to be cooked before they went bad. I bought some Alfredo sauce a while ago and then went to the freezer and pulled out a pork loin instead of chicken, you know, the other white meat. I had some bowtie pasta and decided to make up a batch of pork Alfredo because cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1 pork loin, 1 jar of Alfredo sauce, 1/2 package sliced mushrooms, bowtie pasta, 2 cloves garlic, fresh basil

Directions: Add some olive oil to your frying pan. Cut your pork into bitesize pieces. Press 2 cloves of garlic into the oil and heat on medium. Add your pork and start to brown it. Cut some fresh basil. I use my hydroponic basil but you can buy fresh or just use the jar of basil. While the pork is browning bring some water to a boil for your pasta. Add a 1/4 cup white wine to your pork and 2 tablespoons of butter. Add your mushrooms and saute and reduce the wine. Let this simmer and start cooking your pasta. Add your Alfredo sauce and let it simmer a little more heating the sauce. Drain your pasta and add that to the pan and mix well. Serve with parmesan cheese. Cooking for one can be fun.

Stuffing a chicken breast really is simple and easy. It’s almost like making a one-pot meal. I used my air-fryer which makes your dishes healthier by not using the oil. You can bake this at 400 for 25 minutes if you don’t have an air fryer. You can also get creative and stuff with different cheeses or veggies. Artichokes and Havarti, eggplant and parmesan, peas and blue cheese, for example, would work. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1 organic chicken breast, spinach, mozzarella cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder, and Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute.

Directions: Cut your chicken breast down the middle but not all the way through, butterfly it open. Season with garlic powder and 21 seasoning salute by Trader Joe’s. Layer spinach leaves on top, as many as you want. Take one slice of mozzarella cheese, cut it in half, and place it on top of the spinach on one side of the chicken breast. Fold the chicken breast over and secure it with a toothpick. Spread some breadcrumbs on a plate and season with garlic powder, Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute, and some black pepper. Mix it all together and roll your chicken breast coating the breast. Place your chicken breast in your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Turns out nice and tender and crisp. Cooking for one can be fun.

I made some turkey meatballs the other day with 1/2 pound ground turkey. I also had some leftover homemade tomato sauce and thought I would throw this all together in one pot and see how it turns out. It turned out great and was quick and easy and clean-up was a breeze. This takes about 20 minutes to prepare and made enough for another meal later on. I enjoy being creative with what I have around the kitchen. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1/2 pd ground turkey, 1 egg, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 cup tomato sauce, spinach, feta cheese, 1/2 box chicken stock, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, basil

Directions: Making the meatballs; place the ground turkey into a bowl. Add the egg and bread crumbs and season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and basil. Add a generous amount of feta cheese. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix with your hands and form meatballs and place on a prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes turning once halfway through baking. In a large pot pour in your chicken stock, add the tomato sauce and meatballs and about 1 cup pasta. Stir. Slice a bunch of spinach and add that to your pot, stir. Bring to a boil and let the pasta cook. The sauce will thicken as it cooks. Serve with some parmesan cheese and enjoy with a glass of red wine. Cooking for one can be fun.

Even though cooking for one can be fun, sometimes you really want something like fast food. So, I had a pound of ground turkey. I divided it in half. I’ll save the other half for something else later. And I decided I was going to whip up some fast food tacos. These take less than 15 minutes to make. While the ground turkey was browning, I grated the cheese, got all the other things together, and then filled the taco shells. I use organic corn taco shells. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1/2 pd ground turkey, organic taco shells, pepper jack cheese, sour cream, salsa Verde, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, onion salt.

Directions: Lightly salt the bottom of your frying pan and add the ground turkey. Brown your ground turkey breaking it up into little pieces. Add 1/4 cup salsa Verde to the ground turkey. Get your shells ready and grate your cheese while the turkey is browning. Fill your taco shells and enjoy. Cooking for one can be fun.

I bought some organic bell peppers and had some leftover tomato sauce in the freezer and Wagyu ground beef, which will make perfect ingredients for stuffed peppers. I used the whole pound of ground beef when making this and had some leftovers for a mini meatloaf. The peppers were delicious and I love having cold meatloaf sandwiches. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1pd ground Waygu Beef, 2 organic bell peppers, 1/4 onion, 3 cloves garlic, tomato sauce, black pepper, garlic powder, Italian herbs, thyme, salt-free dash

Directions: Start with one pound of Wagyu ground beef. Place your ground beef in a large bowl. Chop 1/4 onion and add them to your beef. Press 3 cloves of garlic into the bowl. Season with black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian herbs, thyme, and salt-free dash. Rinse your peppers and cut off the top and deseed. Brush the outside with olive oil. I added some goat cheese crumbles, or you can add any other cheese or no cheese. Add a generous spoonful of your tomato sauce. Mix this all together with your hands. When blended all together, stuff your peppers and fill a small loaf pan with the remainder. Top with more tomato sauce and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. I made some black rice to go with my peppers. You can serve these by themselves or with a favorite side. Cooking for one can be fun.

Pozole is a soup that started in New Mexico. It is so flavorful with the red chili sauce, veggies, and a squeeze of lime. It is a soup you can start in the morning and it will be ready by the early evening. Cooking for one can be fun and this makes a big batch that you can share or freeze. You add your veggies last after you serve the soup. They stay nice and crunchy and fresh. When I first tried this soup I fell in love. Anytime I see it on a menu I have to have it. So why not make a batch to enjoy by myself. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1 pork loin, 1 box chicken stock, 1 large can hominy, 1 large can red chili sauce, oregano, garlic powder, thyme, smoked paprika, radishes, cilantro, green onions, shredded cabbage, limes

Directions: Place your pork loin in a crockpot and cover it with the chicken stock. If you have some leftover chicken stock save it for another use later on. Season with oregano, garlic powder, thyme, and smoked paprika. You can add chili powder but I think the red chili sauce was enough spice. Cook for 4 hours on high. Pull the pork out and start shredding it. After you finish the shredding place it back in the crockpot. Add the chili sauce, {find the red chili sauce, not the enchilada sauce}, and hominy. Cover and heat on low for 45 minutes. While that is cooking gather the veggies. Shredded cabbage, sliced radishes and green onion or yellow onion will do too. Chop cilantro. Add this to your pozole in your bowl. It’s delicious. Cooking for one can be fun.

The other day I was looking around the kitchen for something to make. I wanted some protein but forgot to pull anything out. Then I remembered I have some frozen shrimp, fresh is better, but it is a nice backup. I had some butter, lemon, garlic, and pasta and will whip up some shrimp scampi, or my quick and easy version. It takes about as long as it takes to boil water and cook the pasta. When cooking for one, which can be fun, just cook a small handful of pasta. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 6 shrimp, 2tbls butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1 lemon, white wine, pasta, capers, cilantro

Directions: First start your pasta water and bring it to a boil. In the meantime, melt the butter and press the garlic into a pan. Add some zest from your lemon to the butter. Squeeze one lemon into the butter. Add a little white wine. And pour a glass for yourself. While that is simmering, add some capers and chopped cilantro. Cook your pasta. Add your shrimp last and let it all simmer together while the pasta finishes cooking. Cooking for one can be fun.

I don’t know about you but I love salmon, which is so healthy for you. This time I decided I would poach it. I usually bake or grill but poaching is quick and easy. And cooking for one is excellent when it is quick and easy. I made a salad using the poached salmon. I had some leftovers and decided to flake the rest and add some mayo, greek yogurt, red onions, and capers and mix it all together and make a spread for crackers. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: Salmon, butter lettuce, arugula, tomato, avocado, artichoke hearts, garlic, capers and anything else you might like to add to your salad.

Directions: First squeeze one lemon into the pan. Add a little water or wine to cover the bottom of the pan. Cut three cloves of garlic into pieces and place in the lemon water. Place your salmon in the pan on top of the garlic. Season with dill and lemon pepper. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. While the salmon is cooking, start your salad. I used butter lettuce and from my hydroponic garden, I used some mixed lettuce and arugula. I added 1/2 avocado, some tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and capers. You can add any of your favorite ingredients to your salad. Once the salmon is done just flake it into pieces and add it to your salad. Serve with your favorite dressing. I have a little leftover salmon so I made a spread with some mayonnaise and capers and onions. It was great on crackers as a nice snack or lunch. Cooking for one can be fun.

Making a quick chili using a can of organic black beans, some organic chicken, and salsa Verde with peppers and onions is easy. You can add green chilis or jalapenos too if you like. This chili takes about 30 minutes or less to make. You could even make a chicken and bean burrito if you have some flour tortillas. This can make two great meals, maybe even three. You can always freeze some for a quick meal later on. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 1 can organic black beans, 1/2 organic chicken breast, 1/4 red bell pepper, 1/4 red onion, 1/4 cup salsa Verde, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, avocado oil

Directions: Cut your red bell pepper and onion into small pieces. Add a little avocado oil to a small saucepan. Saute your onions and peppers in the avocado oil. Cut your chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Add the chicken to the peppers and onions. Season your chicken with chili powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and cumin. Season to taste, and make it as spicy or mild as you like. Mix it all together and cook till the chicken is done. Add a quarter cup of salsa Verde. Mix it all together. Drain your black beans and add them to your chicken mixture. Stir it all together and heat through. Add some pepper jack cheese on top of your chili if you like. Enjoy. Cooking for one can be fun.

I recently had half of a package of mushrooms and knew I had to use them up soon or they would go bad. I hate wasting food. So I looked in the pantry and I had some Arobio rice and some chicken broth I hadn’t made risotto in a while so what a perfect way to use up the mushrooms. I served mine with chicken breast but it is good alone or with any protein, you might want to add. As I was making this it kept growing and growing every time I added more chicken broth. I was trying to make just enough for one but I can enjoy the leftovers later on in the week. Cooking for one can be fun.

Ingredients: 3/4 cup Arborio rice, 1/2 pkg mushrooms, one box chicken broth, 4tbls butter, 2 cloves garlic, basil, thyme, white wine

Directions: Chop your mushrooms up into little pieces. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and saute the mushrooms along with two cloves of garlic. Saute till soft. Add 3 tbls of white wine. Add 3/4 Arborio rice and saute for 2 minutes. Add one cup of chicken broth and stir until the broth has been reduced. Continue stirring and adding chicken broth every time it reduces. Season with basil and thyme. Keep stirring your rice and adding chicken broth until the rice is soft and the mixture is nice and creamy. When the rice is done add some parmesan cheese stir and enjoy. Cooking for one can be fun.