Ask the Chef
Pizza For One
Q: I am a single woman who loves to cook. How can I make wonderful dinners for one and use my leftovers before they go bad?
A: If you're just starting out as a cook for one, there are a couple of points you might want to keep in mind. First, you can develop the confidence to try cooking without a recipe. Cooking is fun. Get some good cookbooks, read them, and then use them as a guide for ideas, cooking times, and general cooking skills. But definitely try it on your own.
Second, realize that this may be the only time in your life when you have only yourself to please. So, if you think of cooking as a creative expression that reflects your personal food preferences, you may enjoy it more. Once you are in the habit of creating meals, you will get the hang of making dinner out of almost anything — and enjoy the challenge!
I have devised a way to make pizza in my own kitchen and not have any leftovers. There are other methods, I'm sure, but this is mine. If I get really ambitious, I make the dough from scratch. It isn't difficult, and it's far better than those pre-fabricated crusts that you buy ready to go into the oven. But if you are not inclined to start from scratch or don't want to take the time, I suggest you try the refrigerated crusts that come in a tube or the individual packages of pizza dough mix (just add warm water). Some stores also carry frozen pizza/bread dough (if you like a thicker crust).
Pizza for One:
1. Prepare your pizza dough according to package directions and partially bake it until it's no longer tacky or soft, but hasn't yet begun to brown. You may have to experiment with the time and temperature to find just the right combination to prepare your dough.
2. Take the dough out of the oven and cut it into individual servings. I generally cut mine into quarters, but have been known to cut it into thirds to make larger servings.
3. Set one portion of partially cooked crust aside, and freeze the remainder. Place each piece into a separate freezer bag, and lay them flat in your freezer.
4. Place whatever toppings you like on the remaining portion and bake only that piece.
The goal is to be creative. Leftover meat and vegetables of any kind work well. If you don't have any sauce, you can use salsa, barbecue sauce, or pesto, or no sauce at all. I've spread refried beans on my dough to create a Mexican pizza, and have used leftover pot roast and roasted potatoes for a delicious "pizza from the heartland."
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