Cooking for one

Cooking for one can sometimes feel like an effort. If you are home alone for an evening, or live alone, remember that a good meal needn’t take long to prepare.

Try one of these three very quick meals next time you are stuck for inspiration:

Stuffed mushroom

Take one large field mushroom. Remove the stalk, but take care not to break it. Wipe it with olive oil and place it, top down, in an oven proof pan. Cook for a few minutes until it begins to soften, then crack an egg into the space left by the stalk. Sprinkle with cheese, salt, pepper and paprika. Place under a hot grill until the egg is cooked to your liking. Serve with crusty bread.

Single serve chicken stirfry

Slice one boneless, skinless chicken thigh. Roll in seasoned flour and sprinkle with salt. Fry in a little olive oil until it is golden. Remove from the pan. Add crushed garlic to the pan, a splash of soy sauce and a teaspoon of golden syrup. Add two handfuls of chopped vegetables (broccoli, beans, peppers, courgettes) and stirfry for a couple of minutes. Splash over a wee bit of chicken stock if you like and return the chicken to the pan. Serve as is, or with steamed rice.

Vegetable soup

Slice leek and garlic and fry in a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter until soft. Add chopped carrot, parsnip and kumara and cover with chicken stock. Season and add a teaspoon of paprika – it’s a fast and nutritious vegetable soup.

Bon Appetit!