Hi Sarah – I’ve cooked for only one or two servings forever. Like you, I love to cook, which keeps me looking for new ideas. You probably have thought of these ideas, but I’ll share them with you just in case.

I rely on the circulars from the supermarkets that come in the Sunday paper to help plan my weekly buying and cooking (and clip coupons at the same time). I see which meats and veggies are on sale, check what I have hanging around the fridge, look back through my recipes or search online to get some inspiration, and make my shopping list accordingly. Some of my friends give me a hard time about this process – they have families and feel like this takes up too much time, but it works for me, since making good food is a priority for me.

I freeze individual servings of meats so that I can pull them out as I need them. I also freeze small portions of things like chicken and beef stock, pureed cubes of fresh herbs like basil, and tablespoonfuls of tomato paste (in ice cube trays – then pop them into a Ziploc bag). I keep dry vermouth on hand for when a splash of white wine is called for – it keeps in the cabinet better than wine. Marsala (a good red wine + brandy replacement) and Sherry are also good bottles to keep on hand. A well stocked cupboard will make all the difference, too. Keeping pasta, rice, cans of beans, tomatoes, and some good condiments on hand (mustards, capers, olives, etc.) –makes the difference between fixing the “same old thing” every time.

I also make some true favorites in larger quantities and freeze them in serving sizes, but I have so little freezer space that this isn’t a big option for me. If you have more freezer space, this is a great idea. If not, working with seasonal specials and sale items, plus a search for new recipes, will help you keep your cooking interesting.

Hope something here has helped out! Share some of your tips with us!