Cooking Single in the City

Being that it was Halloween, all of my married friends (and I do mean ALL) had "trick-or-treat" plans with their families, my Halloween dinner plans were to dine solo. Realizing I had began the defrosting process of my Mahi Mahi from yesterday, I decided to head to Maxine's to cook up dindin . With my dog already at her house, I brought the goods to cook and eat before heading off to Brynn's for a chill night of movies with the singles. I think tonight was one of the first night's in a very long time I wish I had my immediate family--immediate being my hubby, my kids and me. Oh well...so here's the treat that took me to yummy-land for about 15 minutes of the evening. I was by myself, filming it myself, while cooking for myself--yes, I was bored. Excuse the poor filming and the mess...my girl had no napkins, no paper towels, no handles on her cookware...and to top it off, I couldn't find a flippin ' potholder! Never-the-less, her cozy place and my M

In an attempt for this Blaxican to recover from last night's babysitting events, I woke up groggy, tight-gutted (from the Tums I took in the middle of the night), with burning eyeballs and in need of something to fix me...QUICKLY! For me that could only mean one thing--I needed to make some breakfast. Though I like to tease the Bates about being their lil ' ones nanny (which is SOOO not the case as really Missy and T-Rex are with the kids 24/7), I was left behind as the family of five left for the boys' soccer games. They hadn't even been gone for five minutes when my ingredients were out on the counter and ret -to-go. Maxine called me asking me if I wanted to meet up for some " brekkie " (as Jorg used to call it)...I still say that every now and then...it was cute and kinda stuck with me. Anyhoo ...about my morning plans, I was still "contessa-ing" barefoot and in my p.j.'s, crooning to the sounds of Billie, Dinah, Edie and old Blue-Eyes-- ye

Never with a dull moment in her home, Maxine couldn't even wait to get me into her home before serving a plate of hot egg rolls...not from the Panda Express, but fresh off her stove! I can tell you that although I wasn't exactly craving egg rolls before arriving at her home, I was more than overjoyed right to the last gulp. Maxine, like any other mom, is a single girl's dream on an afternoon where one's meal hadn't completely been thought out. Now what I'm not saying is to go knocking on the door of a friend who, like you, might be single-- especially not if they, who like my Maxine, happen to be a single mom. On the other hand if you're lucky, then you, like me, will enjoy the benefits of having a dear friend like Max. Since she said they're a " sinch " (or is it "cinch"?), she wanted to donate her quick 20 - 25 minute recipe to our blog so others, like me, could enjoy this simple and fast recipe...enjoy! Ingredients: 1 dozen egg

There’s nothing like making lunch at a girlfriend’s who, although is looking forward to the dish you’re preparing, refuses to read your blog. Such is the case with my girlfriend--we'll call her "O". So immersed in her tug-of-war between not one, but two, men, she can only concentrate on such matters one issue at a time. Destined to make lunch alone while she tottered back and forth on who to call back and what to say, I made my way to her kitchen to make the lunch I'd been craving all week long--a Feta Cheese Sandwich with Basil, Tomatoes, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar on a French Baguette! I love this sandwich for so many reasons--not only is it tasty, but it's an easy-make for that afternoon picnic at the beach. Don't live near one? Okay, a park. But it's very simple to make and easy to pack. Now back to O--I can't say I don't know where she's coming from...I can remember the times when recapping through my head the last conversation I had

Ever wonder how some guys just seem to get it all right? They're sweet, they've got the looks, charm AND they can cook, to-boot? There was a time I thought that one out of four was good enough, but seems like nowadays there ain't no point in settlin ! If the mug's good to go, then make sure the eateries and everything else follow suit--that was one thing our ex-bachelor, Luis, made sure of! Making sure he had the dress for success in the kitchen, he called upon our friend, wife and mother of three (with another on the way), Missy Bates of Orange County to help. Using Trader Joe's as her store of choice, her on-camera ease is one sure to help any single with an evening of hosting-at-hand...take notes by clicking on the arrow below! As the oven is warming up for the toasting of the baguette, don't forget to chill a well-paired bottle of Pinot Grigio , as well. You can pick up a pretty inexpensive bottle at Trader Joe's! For the non-Trader Joe's cities, vi

Not a cook?!! Maybe a baker? Definitely an Olympic-worthy left-over warmer... I told Cyndi that I would need to write for that category! Yes, that's me--that I had the inspiration for a dish was miraculous. It was even a thrill to shop for the ingredients and picture myself, oh so chef-like, putting the ingredients together, spending hours in the kitchen enjoying the creativity and the smells and then when it came to that first bite... I realized ...chef-like? Was I crazy, I could win "Not Top Chef"! It wasn't all I dreamed it would be and I wouldn't be rushing home to MY leftovers. In fact, I knew I would be desperately snagging money from my "I thought I might get a vacation" fund in my meager budget to buy food I would actually look forward to eating. It's really bad when you won't even eat your own cooking!! Me...write for this blog? Well, even the worst of cooks eventually hit on recipes that are YUM enough to be remembered and just can'

...only it was a Saturday. Of the 39 years I’ve spent being single, one thing’s for sure--I never feel more alive, content even...as when I’m preparing a meal for myself–Dinah Washington never failing me with candles aglow, wafts of a freshly-picked bouquet of flowers, while enjoying a slightly chilled glass of Zin–Cellar 98 to be exact. Saturday morning it happened to be breakfast, which now that I’m thinking about it, is definitely one of my favorite meals to chef! With Edie’s purring of La Vie En Rose in the background, I can’t help but smile as my sweet Luke is well-aware of the joy that resounds throughout the living room and kitchen, his tail being living proof. I’m not sure why making breakfast makes us so happy, but it does--just something different in the air. Could it be that it’s a new morning, thus making the day’s possibilities endless? While most Saturdays my cooking is for both, my roomie and I, this particular Sabbath is solely for one (although I definitely enjoy the c

No one ever said the morning after would be fun, but this morning proved to be different as I logged on only to find a response to yesterday's entry. There are few things I enjoy more than reading a reader's response to someone's blog--when it's my own, it "ups the ante" just a tad bit more! Okay, well maybe there are more than a few things I enjoy more than that, but I enjoy it never-the-less. Now I know that a blog is just that--writing or blogging whatever you'd like(in this case, I'd ), only hoping to find readers somewhere out there who'll land on, and read your page. But it is after all my blog, and therefore my opinions, which by now I realize not all agree with. After logging on and seeing that Yogiwan took the time to do just that this morning--respond, I decided to do a little research as to who this person (or persons) may be as I thoroughly enjoyed the validity and sincerity of their comment, which in part read: " ...However, the

...to cook up a dish at the drop of a hat? While most married friends of mine would say "of course," I'd have to say that I've got plenty of single friends whose kitchens are barer than a plate of already-eaten bones followed by the feasting of dogs (and I'm just not talking in a "Bachelor pad", either). The thing with singles, is were just happy to host parties, because although we may live or be alone, we really are a fun group of people and love the sounds of other humans in our homes! I've been invited to homes where my single friends were forced to "make shift" in order to create the simplest of dishes--whether for grilling or even a simple saute, although the ingredients were there to eat, the goods needed to cook them on, were not...this ought not be so. I think it's easy to overlook the importance of these staple utensils for many reasons--some singles eat en route to work, for others, their first meal of the day is lunch, whic

For some baking comes easy, for others not so much. Single mom, Maxine Stevenson, shares a quick recipe for that sweet-tooth that may come at any time of your day! Now my suggestion to you would be to take a trip to the market for these ingredients and/or bakeware if you don't already have them--Pampered Chef has some great stoneware (link to where you can order your first stoneware provided below). Of course you can always cheat and bake the cut-n-bake cookie dough already made for you, but why go there if you can at least chef it up on your own with a recipe that'll not only have you eating that soft, chewy cookie (or golden brown) in less than 15 minutes, but will also leave you feeling like a pro! Besides, everyone can always use a little practice in the baking department...and what better way to make amends, say thank you or "wink" at someone, than to bring them a little tray of treats the next morning? Whatever the occasion, click on the arrow below for a sneak