Then, earlier this fall, Knopf published The Pleasures of Eating Alone (compare prices) by Judith Jones. A marvelous little cookbook for one (or two) people. As soon as I heard about the cookbook I arranged to get a review copy - after all, cooking for one is more like cooking for two than cooking for two is like cooking for four.
Jones' husband died in 1996 and she found, to her surprise, that cooking for herself was as pleasurable as cooking for her husband and herself. So at the end of The Tenth Muse, Jones records some favorite recipes and as she toured the country promoting her book, giving seminars, and participating in conferences people would tell her that she had prompted them to start cooking again. She decided to write a cookbook dedicated to cooking for oneself - a practice that, as a single person, I've been advocating for almost 3 decades now.
The book contains excellent advice on outfitting a kitchen for one, planning for leftovers, stocking a pantry, and so on. It also contains some great recipes ranging from the elegant (although seldom difficult) as in the Lobster Bisque or the Souffle for One to more elemental fare such as Meatloaf or Warm Potato Salad with Sausage.
As usual when I review a cookbook I tried several recipes - I really liked the Warm Potato Salad with Sausage - but it was hardly necessary. The author's long experience editing cookbooks means the recipes are crystal clear and you can readily imagine the results. She also frequently includes variations on the recipe or suggestions for maximizing leftovers. For instance, she recommends adding leftover lamb to lentils - a combination that's a long-time favorite of mine (I'll often cook an extra lamb chop as an excuse to make the lentils).
The book's 250+ pages offer, at a guess, around 200 recipes in six sections ranging from "Cooking Through the Week" to "Treats, Sweets, and Special Indulgences." The Pleasures of Cooking for One is delightful cookbook, packed with sage advice and great recipes. Highly recommended.