Plea for help...

lizzie_b

Hello everyone
Long time lurker, rare poster here, I need your help
I notice all the lovely recipes and meal plans you post on here for families, but can any of you lovelies help me with some recipes for one, or point me in the right direction for where to find them.
They are for a Christmas present for my sister, a bit of background, she is 31, lives alone and has recently started to worry me saying she's going to stop eating if she cant find something a bit more inspiring to eat!! I know she's being a bit overdramatic but I do worry about her being on her own
So ...any thoughts??
Thanks in advance
Lizzie xxxxx

CCP

It's a bit difficult to answer that without knowing what she might consider 'inspiring'! I live alone and feel I eat a fairly interesting selection of meals, but I love cooking - if she doesn't enjoy it, I can imagine it would be difficult to find the enthusiasm. What sort of thing does she enjoy eating if she's not cooking for herself, as that might give me some ideas where to start?

The one thing I can suggest is, if your sister has a freezer, she can make just about anything and freeze it in portions for days when she can't be bothered - my freezer's got portions of lamb curry, pigeon pie, vegetarian moussaka... you name it, it's been in there at one time or another! (Except cauliflower cheese. I can't stand cauliflower! _pale_)

Helen2k8

Ahh bless her!
Is she the kind to devour ( ) cookbooks for ideas and play around from there, or does she like proper instructions?
Is she at boil-an-egg level or smoked-salmon-souffl! level?
Veggie, vegan, gluten intolerant, kale-phobic?

If she has a freezer, how about "once a month cooking"? I used http://blog.stuffimakemyhusband.com/p/whole30-oamc-freezer-menu.html recently, some worked, some didn't really, but the logistics meant that I ended up with much more interesting meals.
Erm so instead of bulk cooking just bolognese, it was worth buying nuts, fresh basil etc to make pesto to go in several different dishes, does that make sense? And using a big box of mushrooms in a gazillion ways, so I get the best value, rather than eating mushrooms for a week so that they don't go off!

Butterfly_Brain

I can recommend Delia's one is fun cookbook
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p3910.m570.l1313&_nkw=delia+smith+one+is+fun&_sacat=0&_from=R40
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everyday-Cooking-One-Imaginative-ebook/dp/B009LO7BW6/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353613390&sr=1-2

lizzie_b

Thanks so much for the replies already.
There is not really much that she wont eat, or at the very least try.
She is quite capable of cooking well, but lacks confidence in a lot of ways so needs step by step (simple) instructions or she thinks she will get it wrong (even though she wouldn't) and that would just be the end of the world or she would poison herself.
She does freeze the leftovers when she does spag bol or curries, she has a slow cooker which I bought her last Christmas which she likes but whereas I just make it up as I go along with mine, she likes clear instructions.
She's my big sister but I worry about her so much
xxxx

SUESMITH_2

i second delia's one is fun, dead easy and nice recipes

kittycatface

hi lizzie b what about getting her a recipe binder (ktwo and paperchase do nice ones) then adapting recipes you have tried and tested by dividing portion sizes by 4 or 6 depending so she knows what amounts to do for one person. The binders have plain sheets for you to write out and design own recipe cards as well as pouches to shove inspirations torn from food magazines.

I have huge problems motivating myself to cook and eat, but my mum's personalised recipe binder has really helped, she chose recipes we both like and some from our old relatives then i add to it when i can be bothered. Maybe stick in there a "sister" recipe and a written promise to cook it together.

I also find student recipes have fewer fancy ingredients, are designed for one, and have clear instructions: http://studentrecipes.com/recipes/cooking-for-one/

It sounds like she has a lovely thoughtful sister and if you give her a personalised gift some of your positivity might rub off! hope you both have a happy christmas

skader

I like Rachel Allen's home cooking booke
Lots of useful recipes that your sister may try, also she has quite clear instructions; I was going to suggest Jamie Oliver but I find at times his recipes don't read easily, for example 30 minute meals the recipe is a bit confusing, especially if your sister worries about getting it wrong
How about a cooking class for both of you to spend time together and also instill some confidence in your sister? Just a thought, could be done as a xmas/bday present if she would enjoy that sort of thing, for example bread making

AlwaysAllie

If you are closeby and have time how about organising some joint cooking sessions at your house or hers. Make things for your freezers. You could provide her with vouchers for Christmas for these sessions.

AA

meritaten

Nigel Slaters 'Simple Suppers' - cos they dont have to be for supper! Lunch dishes or for Tea, or Breakfast if you prefer!
simple dishes with simple instructions. Can't go wrong! Yet they look so scrummy and elegant!

[Deleted User]

I too would reccommend Delia, if only for her recipes are really simple and easy .No frills, or 'take a jugged har and marinate' type of food.I live alone yet delight in trying out different things,if only for the fact that if I mess it up I can always do egg on toast :) you have to find out what sorts of food she likes to eat and being her Sis it shouldn't be too hard.When I was widowed over 9 years ago it took me ages to get out of the thought 'Oh I'll have a jacket spud ' as it was all I could be bothered to cook for awhile as I had spent three quarters of my life cooking for two, then three, then a bare minimum of four plus friends.To suddenly have to only think for ones self is a bit dispiriting.
Why not if its possible have an evening or lunchtime meal and take it in turns to cook and then you could swap ides.Its much more interesting to cook for someone, than just cook for meal just for yourself.I have an old friend whom I have known for over 40 years and I love it when she comes down from Dartford for a visit as I plan a nice meal for us both plus pudding and the left overs do for the next day or get frozen.