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Well sometimes it's great cooking for one..it's cheaper and less complicated, as you know what you want! lol Anyways, I am the lazy type and don't like cooking every day. So I make one big dish on a Sunday and later divide in portions. I stick it in the fridge or freezer ready to heat up during the week! I actually tried this AMAZING lasagna recipe..It was incredible! Here is where I got the recipe: http://mylasagnarecipe.com

Cooking for one (or even two) has long been a challenge. When I was on my own I made main dishes that could put into the freezer. I would make 3 or 4 different dishes, package them into small servings and freeze them. When I was ready to eat them I added fresh salad, veggies and a dessert. There used to be a number of cookbooks specifically designed for cooking for one or two people, copies of which may still be available.

ha ha! this is something new have heard. a great diswasher which doesnt need electricity!

It's all about portioning. Remember, frozen meats, stored properly, will keep for 6 months. When buying beef or chicken, separate it into single portions and freeze individual portions. Then, the ladies can take out only what they need. Pastas are another one that can be portioned easily. Spaghetti, or any long noodle, make a circle with between your forefinger and thumb, this is about one serving. Other shapes, take a bowl you would use to eat from, fill it about half way with pasta, this will also be about one serving. I'm also a huge fan of frozen vegetables. I would avoid ones that are pre-salted/ pre-sauced. I like frozen vegetables because they are cheaper than fresh and for someone who is cooking for one, is more economical because they will keep for 3-6 months versus 3-6 days. Hope that helps!

I am the caregiver for my parents. When they were able to live alone I would make extra when I made my dinners. Then I would package up plates for them and deliver them when I went to visit. You might also want to suggest meals on wheels. In our area they will deliver from 1 to 7 days worth of meals once per week at a very low cost.

Thanks for all of the great advice! Its nice to get feedback to share. By the way, I have 2 small puppies!

Yes, that's a hard one. I am an empty nester and my husband travels sometimes, so I realy have to think when I cook. Sometimes I buy the cut up chicken in the deli and make a salad or heat it up with veggies. I also will go to a better grocery store(Whole Foods) and buy just one serving of lasagna or something. It may be expensive, but I usually get 2 meals out of it and at least I have enjoyed a nice meal. Some ccoking sites will also break down a recipe for you. Last but not least cook meals with a friend and share. Hope this helps.

Megan, If you go to the 1 hour to cook & eat post and read the post from Tracy, you may find an idea that will work for them. I wrote about a book called "Once-a-Month Cooking" in the book they talk about freezing portions for 1 person. This might work for your mother and mother-in-law. They could either adjust the amounts needed so they would get what they need for themselves or they could get together with a few friends and divide it up amongst themselves. Tracy

We''ve got a dawg (English Bulldog) and he is finishing up all leftovers... Sometimes(when my wife ain''t home) I even use him as dish washer...