Serves One: Super Meals for Solo Cooks

by Toni Lydecker

A collection of fabulous, single-serving recipes that are inventive, yet simple to make. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1891105019
• ISBN13: 9781891105012
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Lake Isle Press
• Length: 183 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Cookbooks

I received what I ordered in good shape and minimum time. Would buy again.

Worthwhile and accessible "middlebrow" book for the novice and intermediate solo cook

Even with my limited experience, (but I've dated and lived with some very good, experienced cooks), I can tell that about half the recipes in this book are uninspired, workaday fare. They are there to fill out the pages and create a thicker book that the average cookbook shopper will think gives more "bang" for the buck. But even with that caveat, I feel that this book deserves an extra star for its attempt to focus on the needs of an underserved American market : beginning and intermediate cooks who need (or want) to start cooking for themselves. For this audience, "Serves One" is a great choice, especially if they need to get started right away and can't wait to score a copy of "Going Solo In the Kitchen". I am OK with the "averageness" of many of these recipes. I don't need gourmet cooking, I don't need bistro fare, I don't need Mario Batali cuisine. I can go to my local bistros for that. At this stage in my cooking career, I need simple, foolproof recipes that deliver decent results with a minimum of fancy ingredients, and I need them scaled for 1 or 2 servings so I don't waste time doing algebra in my head while I'm trying to master the basics of braising or sauteing...or else stuffing my refrigerator with more wasted leftovers than I'll ever be able to finish. I also want some variety, so I don't get bored with making the same 5 or 6 dishes again and again. It's OK if some of the food I produce is unexciting - whatever I cook and make for myself with 'Serves One" is bound to be cheaper, fresher, tastier and better for me than any pizza, takeout or drive through food around. And in fact, some of the recipes do sound promising ( I'm looking forward to making the "Pickled,Spiced Grapes"), and a couple have rewarded my inexpert efforts with pleasant, satisfying dishes that gave me confidence in my abilities to cook proper, worthwhile meals. So in that spirit, I would recommend this as a worthwhile addition to the beginning/intermediate cooks' library. My ex-girlfriends might turn their noses up at it, but this has been a very useful book for me, well worth the purchase price and the time spent going through it.

Small on perishibles, big on fast successful bites.

What if you're cooking just for yourself? Try the completely revised edition of Toni Lydecker's SERVES ONE: SIMPLE MEALS TO SAVOR WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. The tendency is to revert to canned, boxed or fast food when you're alone - or to eat leftovers of the same food for weeks. SERVES ONE presents over a hundred fast bite- sized meals which quick quickly. First build a staples shelf from canned goods and condiments. Then, think small on perishables, shopping for a few days only. Then use SERVES ONE to whip up gourmet delights. Color photos mid-book add to the excitement and appeal.

Great Ideas for Easy Meals

I was given Serves One (the "Simple Meals to Savor When You're on Your Own" edition, though) for Christmas and I've been using it all of the time. The choices are really appitizing and easy to shop for/prepare, so it's better than take-out. Definately try the spinach/orzo/pistachio/onion salad, which I've made pretty much every week since I got the book, and actually looks like it does in the picture.

praise for Serves One

Serves One is the model follow-up to anyone's first cookbook or introductory cooking experience. Besides the helpful first few pages about an appropriately stocked pantry and the necessary equipment, the rest of Toni Lydecker's book assumes that you know the working end of a frying pan from the other. Taking off from there, she supplements her recipes with personal notes about how to add an expert touch to the meal or how to vary it specifically to your liking. I'm a guy, so I'm not going to use words like 'yummy' or 'scrumptious,' but I will say that everything I have made from Serves One has been awesome. Even so, Toni's recipes are never intimidating, and their relative simplicity is surprising because the food still turns out delicious. Although Serves One isn't a health/dieting book, Toni keeps to the lighter side of food. I find that tendency is a nice alternative to the otherwise grease-laden diet of people eating on their own, who choose to order instead of cook. My single problem is with a few of the ingredients. Most people aren't going to keep Japanese sweet rice wine or Swiss chard around, but then again, this book is about treating yourself to something special. And it can certainly be about treating others as well. So, even though I'm a fairly busy med school student, I don't keep to the title of Serves One but often double or quadruple the recipes for company. Some personal favorites: the grilled tuna with mango sauce, the one-pot bean and corn dinner, and the spaghetti alla carbonara. And even though some planning is required for making the homemade pizza dough, definitely try the grilled pizza with brie and arugula as well. Just saying the recipe title to a dinner guest will be impressive. But regardless of whether you have company or not, get yourself Serves One and get to treating yourself right.