Less Slicing and Dicing, More Fun in the Sun 
 
Jun. 1, 2009 1:38 pm 
Updated: Jun. 2, 2009 3:05 pm
Gotta say, I’ve made it awfully easy on you all this month! I wish I could say I’d planned it that way, but when I began my own “Sunday Prep,” testing this month’s plan, I was surprised to realize there was hardly anything to do. Just a little slicing, dicing, stuffing, and boiling, and that’s it. The part that takes the most time is the marinating you’ll do for one recipe—but the marinade does all the heavy lifting, not you.

I think this worked out nicely, though—hopefully you’re enjoying as much sun as I’ve been enjoying (in Seattle—go figure!) and you will be able to revolve your Sunday around outdoor fun rather than meal prep. Although, I really have nothing against slicing and dicing, but I always prefer to take advantage of the weather if I have the choice between the two.

Happy June!

Prep and Freeze
Jalapeno Chicken II: Oh my, these are good. And I mean good. Instead of using toothpicks (they will pierce the plastic wrap—not good), wrap each rolled chicken breast tightly in plastic (it might be a little awkward, but it can be done), then store in your freezer in a resealable plastic bag.

To cook, allow to defrost at least 24 hours (36 hours is better), unwrap, and then secure with toothpicks before putting chicken in the oven. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness—chicken should reach 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Cook Once, Eat Twice
Cajun Chicken Pasta: This dish has a great little kick to it! Instead of buying Cajun seasoning, you can just make your own with this recipe, and here are a couple tips for making this dish healthier:
  • I skipped the pasta altogether and added just a half a cup of regular milk instead of all that half and half. It was a little on the soupy side, so in retrospect, I think adding just a dollop of sour cream just before serving would taste great.
  • There is enough flavor in this dish that I think you could do without the crème sauce. Skip the half and half and just toss the chicken and veggies with the pasta (maybe toss the pasta with a drizzle of olive oil first to loosen it up), and top with parmesan.
  • Use whole wheat pasta—it does a better job of filling you up. And, as always, the more vegetables the better.
Two Easy Meals—No Leftovers!
Vietnamese Sandwich: There’s a restaurant close to our offices that serves the best Vietnamese sandwiches, and this one was pretty darn close. The only thing I changed about the recipe was to use a few, thin slices of a jalapeño pepper instead of using the chili sauce.
NOTE: Change number of servings to one.

Serve with Cilantro Cucumber Salad. (Make just half of the recipe.)

Baked Salmon Fillets Dijon: This is one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made—and so good. I just used about a teaspoon of butter, and I’m thinking you could probably get away without using it at all. Serve with a side salad.

NOTE: Change number of servings to one.

And For Dessert…
Berry Yogurt Crunch: This is a nice, light dessert—perfect for summer. And it’s one that’s easy to make just a serving or two at a time.  
 
NOTE: Ingredients for this recipe not included in Shopping List.

Sunday Prep
You will need no more than two hours to get yourself ready for the week.
  • For Jalapeno Chicken II, pound chicken breasts to ¼ inch thickness, then do step one in the directions, getting the marinating underway.
  • Slice vegetables for Cajun Chicken Pasta—refrigerate in plastic resealable bag.
  • Make pasta for Cajun Chicken Pasta—refrigerate in covered container.
  • Measure out basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper for Cajun Chicken Pasta—combine and store in resealable plastic bag.
  • Make Cilantro Cucumber Salad—refrigerate in covered container (it tastes better after marinating overnight).
  • Roll marinated chicken around cream cheese stuffed jalapenos for Jalapeno Chicken II and freeze.
Go to Printable Shopping List.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments about this month's Single Servings—or if you have any ideas or other types of food you'd like to see in this blog. I'm open to whatever and love hearing from you all!

Thanks!
Mackenzie

Oh, last minute addition, here: if you're new to this whole Single Servings thing, feel free to browse past columns for more ideas and meal plans--go there now.
Jalapeno Chicken -- photo by FOODGU1
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Cajun Chicken Pasta --photo by Allrecipes
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Vietnamese Sandwich with Cilantro Cucumber Salad
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Baked Salmon Fillets Dijon
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Tags:  How-To, Meal Ideas, Quick & Easy Meals
 
Comments
DetectiveL Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
Jun. 2, 2009 9:23 am
Thanks for these ideas! I'm not cooking single servings but I need ideas for freezing, etc. And the pictures are great!
 
Mackenzie Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
Jun. 2, 2009 9:59 am
You're so welcome! I have to say, that Jalepeno Chicken is fantasic even after being frozen...glad this is still helpful even if you're not doing the single servings!
 
thepixiechick 
Jun. 2, 2009 12:48 pm
Hey Mackenzie! Have you ever considered making single serving recipes using a slow cooker? I love the idea of doing all the work in the morning or night before, and then having supper waiting for you when you get home, but all the recipes I've looked at generally make large amounts which is too much for a single person. I've read all your articles, and I can't remember ever seeing any slow cooker recipes in there. Just a thought...
 
Mackenzie Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
Jun. 2, 2009 1:02 pm
That's a great idea, pixiechick. I've gotten other questions about that, so let me think about it and I'll post something it in the near future...
 
BLUEALUE 
Jun. 2, 2009 2:35 pm
What a delicious menu! I love Viet. sandwiches but I feel it takes so much effort to find all the authentic ingredients and cook it when I can get a whole aunthentic sandwich for $3 in chinatown (NYC)! I'm droooling.
 
Mackenzie Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
Jun. 2, 2009 3:05 pm
That's so funny...the ones I was talking about at the restaurant close to my office are $3 too. If I were walking through Chinatown in NYC, I'd probably just spring for a whole one too! :)
 
 
 

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Mackenzie
 Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)
Home Town: Bellingham, Washington, USA
Living In: Seattle, Washington, USA
Member Since: Sep. 2006
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Interests: Baking, Asian, Mexican, Italian
Hobbies: Hiking/Camping, Biking, Walking, Photography, Music
 
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About Me 
I am a 32-year old woman (I still stumble over the word "woman," but I don't think I can get away with "girl" anymore) living in Seattle, WA, writing for the very website you are browsing right now! I am originally from Bellingham (about 80 miles north of Seattle), where I went to Western Washington University, and then just kinda hung out for several more years until I moved south in September of 2006. I've always loved cooking and even had my own little spiral recipe notebook when I was in middle school to collect my star dishes in. (Apple pizza and scones were always a hit with the family—thanks Home Ec.!) I seriously considered going to culinary school when I was twenty, but then decided I didn't want to cook for a living. I’m definitely more of an entertaining cook, as opposed to a professional cook.
My favorite things to cook
I prefer cooking over baking, but I've been branching out more in the past couple years--I made a pie from scratch for the very first time for Thanksgiving 2006 and it was delicious. But, I made a cake from scratch for the first time recently, and it did not go as well. It looked great, but I would not use the word "great" to describe how it tasted. I've resolved to go back to boxed cake mix, and put my efforts into the decoration where I can actually do some good.
My favorite family cooking traditions
People are always surprised when I say that my dad does most of the cooking for holiday meals. "Does your mom get stressed out for Thanksgiving?" people will ask. Are you kidding me? No way! She, my sister, and I are all watching movies while my dad is basting the turkey and making mashed potatoes and gravy. Thanksgiving is probably the most relaxing day of the year for my mom!
My cooking triumphs
Ah, I remember it well ... I was twelve years old; I believe it was a Thursday and there was a chill in the air that night ... I pulled that seafood pasta bake out of the oven oh-so-carefully, and when we sat down to enjoy it ... so cheesy, creamy and seafoody (and I mean that in the very best way)... so very, very, delicious ... though I lost track of the recipe, each bite will live on in my memory forever ... ;)
My cooking tragedies
On my 30th birthday, I set fire to a cookie sheet full of French bread that I had only intended to toast. I had just finished cooking something else when I turned the oven to broil and underestimated how hot the top element already was. Chatting away with a friend, I was completely confused when I saw smoke coming through the burners and it wasn't until my friend yelled, "It's on fire!" pointing to the partially open oven door, that I realized what was happening. I swiftly yanked the baking sheet from the oven, dropped it into the sink, and cranked the faucet. Disaster averted. Moral of the story? Let other people cook for you on your birthday.
 
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