I know that a lot of y'all are in college or just living out on your own for the first time.  Or perhaps you're like me and often find yourself cooking for one.  Either way, I thought it might be helpful to do a mini-series of posts on cooking for one. 

Today, we discuss a few ideas for QUICK dinners.


* Baked potato.  This is my go to single girl meal.  I can eat a baked p'tater for lunch or dinner or even a small one as a snack. 

Simply wash a potato of your choice (sweet potatoes are great here too and they are like a magical super food) and prick it with a fork a bunch of times.  Place in a microwave safe dish and cover.  Now how long you microwave it will depend on the size of the potato of course.  But if you have a large potato for dinner, start with 5 mins and see where that gets you.

You can top your potato with anything and everything.  Basic butter and sour cream are a classic.  But salsa is my very favorite.  Or if you have bacon jam, that's pretty much out of this world on a tater too.  Leftovers from last night work.  Chicken salad.  Chili.  Steamed veggies.  Just about anything in your fridge or pantry really. 


* Oatmeal.  I know, it's a breakfast food.  But so is cereal.  Oatmeal is a step-up and a lot more filling. 

I love steel cut oats.  They are quick to cook but hearty too.  I add in anything from dried fruit to fresh fruit to preserves to honey to maple syrup to nuts to...  The list is endless. 


* A great big salad.  A huge pile of dark greens, such as spinach, can be really yummy if you jazz them up.

I add in anything from leftovers such as chicken salad to dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit, fresh veggies and even chopped up cold cuts.


* Scrambled eggs and omelets.  I eat eggs for dinner close to once each week.  I firmly believe that eggs are a great fat.  So complete and healthy.  My typical meal is a few eggs used to make an omelet.  Once it sets up, I add in frozen, defrosted spinach and feta cheese.  But anything else you have in your kitchen can be added into an omelet or scrambled eggs too.


* Fancy pants grilled cheese and soup.  First, start with any bread base.  Normal sandwich bread, leftover french bread, or even tortillas.  Add in cheese of course.  But branch out- don't just keep it stuffed with American cheese.  Have you ever used bits of brie, goat or feta cheeses?  You should!  Add in leftover meats, frozen but defrosted and squeezed dry spinach, avocado, tomato or bacon. 

With all the great soup options these days, it's easy to just pop open one of those soup boxes and pour a cup too.  The perfect side to a melty, cheese sammy!


Next up...Single Girl Dinners.  Perhaps not something that can be done in under 5 minutes but easy and yummy all the same.