It’s almost that time of year again. Valentine’s Day! The day of lovers, roses, chocolate, sex and all things decadent.
I have a love-hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. While it’s nice to have a day celebrating love, like other holidays, it’s gotten so commercial, I feel the love part has gotten lost.
It’s time to get the love back. The love for self. The love for me, myself and I. It’s me first!
Hehe, I couldn’t resist taking a small political poke there. I hope that you will laugh along with me and say “It’s me first.” Because this is the year of working towards the BETTER YOU.
Taking loving care of yourself is extremely important in finding the BETTER YOU. After all, we are generally our own worst critics and we often abuse our bodies by putting in junk at moments of stress.
This year, we’re learning to be kinder and more loving towards ourselves including with what we put into our bodies.
Cooking recipes for one sometimes seem like a waste but it’s not. We should take care of our bodies and spoil it with good food. It’s time to stop making excuses for why we don’t cook for ourselves because here are 20 easy to make meals for one recipe ideas.
Occasionally the recipe might make more than one portion so you can make one for now and have a meal already made for later. Take it to work, freeze it for later or have it tomorrow. It just makes loving your body that much easier.
1. Chicken Soup For One
Chicken soup, especially homemade chicken soup as in Zag Left’s Chicken Soup For One recipe, is always a great way of providing love and comfort for the soul.
2. 5-Minute, 5-Ingredient Microwave Mug Granola
Start your day out with a little maple syrup, fruit and oats in this quick and easy self-loving recipe of 5-Minute, 5-Ingredient Microwave Mug Granola from Power Hungry.
3. Shrimp Scampi for One
Pour yourself a glass of wine and get to work on spoiling yourself with a delicious buttery Shrimp Scampi for One with just a hint of spice, recipe for one from Macheesmo that will have you licking the plate.
4. Bacon and egg Breakfast Ramen
Who said you couldn’t have ramen for breakfast? Delight your taste buds with this OMG silky pork belly and poached egg draped over ramen noodles dressed with a salty soy dressing from I Am a Food Blog recipe for Bacon and Egg Breakfast Ramen Recipe.
5. Balsamic Rigatoni
Combine high-quality balsamic vinegar, sweet-tart cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and beautifully aged parmesan cheese for the perfectly simple pasta recipe for one using Honest Cooking’s recipe for Balsamic Rigatoni.
6. Classic Chanterelle Omelet with Fine Herbes
Sauteed chanterelle mushrooms and fresh herbs combine with fresh eggs into a soft buttery open-faced French omelet in Forager Chef’s Classic Chanterelle Omelet with Fines Herbes recipe.
7. Avocado Caprese Salad
Spoil yourself rotten with peppery, crunchy rocket, warm tomatoes, silky soft avocado and fresh licorice basil leaves drenched in olive oil and balsamic vinegar as in the Avocado Caprese Salad recipe from Foodie Crush.
8. Single Serve Berry Cobbler
You deserve a little dessert and Real Life Dinner’s recipe for Single Serve Berry Cobbler hits all the right notes with fresh berries and a brown sugar oat topping.
9. Quick Mac and Cheese for One
Ooey, gooey cheesy Quick Mac and Cheese for One recipe from Baking Mischief wraps you into the bliss of comfort food.
10. Arctic Char Rice Bowl
Try the fatty, seared fish fillets gently laid over gingery soy sauce and rice wine drizzled rice, crunchy cucumber, sweet potatoes and broccoli in O & O Eats’ recipe for Arctic Char Rice Bowl for a sinfully healthy treat.
11. Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Salad
Instead of making a separate pasta and salad, combine them into as with the yummy Chicken Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe from Cafe Delites.
12. Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake
Decadent chocolate and peanut butter in the single serving size is the perfect dessert easily made in a mug when you use Yammie’s Noshery’s recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake.
13. Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Sandwiches with Balsamic Glaze
I love Caprese, so Bowl of Delicious’ Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Sandwiches with Balsamic Glaze recipe was a beautiful treat for my both my mouth and tummy.
14. Garlic Roasted Potato, Spinach and Egg Salad
Tangy Dijon vinaigrette dresses up crunchy green spinach, baby potatoes and hard-boiled eggs in Naturally Ella’s Garlic Roasted Potato, Spinach and Egg Salad recipe.
15. Cast Iron Skillet Roasted Hens
My Man’s Belly’s recipe for Skillet Roasted Game Hens uses two small game hens, fingerling potatoes, brussel sprouts and bacon, giving you the opportunity to have one now and one for later.
16. Easy Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic
Pair Girl Gone Gourmet’s recipe with Easy Pasta with Olive Oil and Garlic with a side salad and you’ll a complete meal.
17. Berry Quinoa Salad
Crunchy Honey Roasted Cinnamon Almonds, fresh mint and basil topped red quinoa and fresh berries in Two Peas & Their Pod’s recipe from Berry Quinoa Salad are just the right amount of sweet to satisfy any sweet craving.
18. Individual Tomato Cobblers
Summery fresh tomatoes, Gruyère cheese and biscuit dumplings in Eat Drink Garden with Valerie Rice’s recipe for Individual Tomato Cobblers are a delightful treat.
19. Single Chocolate Chip Cookie
Zag Left’s Single Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is a great chocolatey single serving so you can enjoy your treat and not be tempted to eat several more.
20. Eggplant Parmesan for One
The cheesy baked goodness of Eggplant Parmesan for One recipe from Betsy Life is an easy to make feast for one.
Originally published at simplysophisticatedcooking.com on February 8, 2017.