Philosophy Behind Cooking for One

I can't remember how Lynn Shahan's Living Alone and Liking It came into my life, but it was years ago as a teenager. I always remembered certain pleasurable moments reading her book, kind of just like she describes in the last paragraph I've quoted below. I eventually gave the book away in one of my clutter clearing sessions, but it was a happy feeling because I imagined the pleasure someone else might get from her uplifting yet simple prose.

As I thought about starting this blog, I remembered Living Alone and Liking It fondly, and was luckily able to find it at the library and locate this passage that made an impression on me so long ago! Thank you Lynn Shahan!

During my first year of living alone I did not believe that it was possible to cook a decent meal for one. I spent the first six months frequenting fast-food outlets. When I could no longer down another fast taco or hamburger, I survived on canned soup and TV dinners. Although this was a step up, the food was so bland that I began to lose interest in eating. I lost weight, caught frequent colds, and suffered all the agonies of an improper diet.

Nevertheless, perhaps because I was raised in a large family, I was stuck with the notion that cooking for one was a virtual impossibility. In my mind it simply could not be done, so I ignored the idea for quite a while. Other "loners" I knew were dining out regularly, and this reinforced my conviction.

By the end of that first year, however, my attitude began to change. One afternoon as I was working around my apartment, I was overcome by a craving for something good to eat. As I contemplated empty shelves and an empty refrigerator, I became angry and decided at that moment that I would attempt to master the art of cooking for one.

I made a list and went to the supermarket determined to stock my shelves and refrigerator with cooking supplies. I had fun on that shopping trip. As I acquainted myself with specialized sections of the supermarket, I realized that I did not have to buy in quantity. This allowed me to be a bit more creative in my selections and made the adventure a more personal one.

From the butcher I purchased specific items to build meals around: one pork chop, a quarter-pound of bacon, and a T-bone steak. In the produce section I picked out a tomato, an apple, two bananas and a potato. Adding to a growing menu, I chose milk, some orange juice, cereal, and a carton of cottage cheese. My last purchase was a small German chocolate cake, my favorite dessert. At the checkout counter I realized delightedly that it would be mine to savor from the first bite to the last! Feeling proud and satisfied, I headed for home with a week's supply of groceries.

For some unknown reason that week is planted indelibly in my memory. I think it might be because I felt that I had made another significant stride along the road to living alone successfully. I will never forget the anticipation I felt prior to each cooking experience and the feeling of smug satisfaction once it was completed. It felt so good to be prepared to cook instead of wondering where the next meal was to be had. That feeling perpetuated itself and, as the years have gone by, I've come to enjoy cooking for myself in a way I never imagined was possible in the beginning (pp 133-134).

Living Alone and Liking It by Lynn Shahan. New York: Stratford Press. 1981. ISBN 0-936906-02-2