Treat Yourself Tonight
There’s much lamenting over cooking for one. It’s boring. What’s the point in all the effort? We’ve all heard the negatives, told them to ourselves. But these days, it’s what we’ve got. Cooking at home, sometimes alone, is the hand that’s been dealt. So maybe we need to skip the sadness for a short while and make the most of it.
Think of the positives, OK? You can eat whatever the hell you want — no one to tell you what to eat, no one to make you eat your vegetables (um, you should), no partners or roommates to make a food compromise with. You can drink whatever you want, as much as you want. Maybe light a candle, put on some Django Reinehardt. You can even cook naked (not recommended, grease splatter, etc). At its best cooking and eating is a distraction, a reprieve from this rollercoaster world. Set a little mood and get to it.
As much as cooking for yourself is getting your mind right, this cooking for yourself thing, as far as the actual food goes, can go one of three ways: short and simple, long and grinding, or a sweet middle ground —Paul Brewer
SHORT & SIMPLE:
You’ve got no time and an empty stomach, so fill it well — have you tried a cheese crusted grilled cheese? If you can make it to the couch to eat it instead of over the stove, cheese dripping on the floor, you have more willpower than me.
LONG & GRINDING:
Made for the weekend or the unemployed, it’s hard to beat Thai cooking for its layers, ingredients, and, for a westerner like me, sheer opportunity to learn new flavors. It’s a meal, yes, but it’s also sort of an art project, so approach it as such. Try one of these from Benjamin Cooper/Chin Chin Melbourne, and make sure to have some lagers on hand to fuel your creativity.
SWEET MIDDLE GROUND:
Try risotto. It seems fancy, but it’s really just rice with whatever flavor you’re in the mood for. It’s super easy, super cheap to make, but requires constant attention for 30 minutes (no Instagram or pandemic thoughts equal a clearer head). I love the accessibility, ease, and full flavor of this roasted tomato risotto. Once you get the hang of it, you can freestyle with whatever’s in your fridge to invent your own. Treat yourself.
