Many of us just don’t bother to cook for ourselves when we are on our own, which is such a shame. Cooking for one takes less time, there’s less washing-up and, occasionally, you can splash out on luxuries such as lobster because you are only buying in small quantities. In Cooking for One, Amy Willcock explains why it is important to serve yourself good food at a nicely laid table, even if you are eating alone. As a special treat, setting out an attractive tray so you can eat supper in front of your favourite television programme can become part of the enjoyment.

The 150 recipes and ‘how to’ ideas in the book are also useful if you are part of a big family but find yourself home alone for a few days, for example. The meat, fish and vegetarian courses are divided into ‘More time’ and ‘Less time’ recipes, so no matter how much or how little time you have available, there will always be something to tempt you.

“Think of cooking for one as a treat. See it as an opportunity to cook something you have always wanted to try or a chance to experiment with favourite ingredients,” explains Amy.

“Where you eat is really important and setting the table or a tray should be a pleasurable experience. When I’m at home on my own, I always make sure I set the table or tray with a linen napkin and a flower – an arrangement, single stem or simply a flower head floating in a glass. It’s also a good idea to vary the places where you eat. If you have a fireplace, set up a table nearby and enjoy dinner by the fire. Or if you have a garden or terrace, eat outside as much as possible.

“This may sound obvious, but single friends I have spoken to often say they don’t think it is worth bothering about. The setting, however, influences our enjoyment of food. Taking trouble over it will lift your spirits and make you feel special.

Try some different things on toast

Really good bread toasted, a piece of cheese and some great homemade chutney is all you need to have a feast, but here are a few other ideas, some of which also work well as open sandwiches:

• Grilled radicchio, Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey on toasted walnut bread;
• Pan-fried mushrooms, parsley and Taleggio cheese on toasted ciabatta;
• Sautéed chicken livers with bacon and celery on toasted sourdough;
• Braised leeks with hard-boiled eggs and anchovies on toasted sourdough;
• Grilled peppers and pesto with melted mozzarella cheese on toasted focaccia;
• Roasted beetroot with grilled goats’ cheese, walnuts and honey on toasted walnut and raisin bread;
• Scrambled eggs with pancetta and grilled mushrooms on a toasted muffin.
  

Amy Willcock was the original President of Yarmouth WI, which was launched in 2006 and had 103 members (aged 28–83) at its first meeting.

Born in Chicago, she moved to the UK in 1980 and has more recently written many specialised cookery books as well as one on how to run a successful B&B business. A mother of two daughters, Amy also runs Lifestyle and Aga Know-how workshops on the Isle of Wight where she lives with her family, and is a food and lifestyle columnist for The Shooting Gazette. Still an active member of the WI, she is currently training to be an NFWI cookery judge.

Her most recent book Cooking for One, from which these recipes were taken, is published by Ebury Press, £12.99.

View some For you and you alone recipe ideas on our Recipes section here