# The people you cook for/dine with won't be home. What do you make just for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220 "2012-10-09T15:43:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/21 "2012-10-09T18:16:47Z")
Exactly. Either sauce less or learn not to slurp. Or wear Hawaiian shirts. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/22 "2012-10-09T18:41:26Z")
Chicken livers. With a side of boiled beets. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/23 "2012-10-09T18:48:58Z")
I usually make an elaborate salad for just myself, with absolutely everything in the refrigerator on it that can be reasonably connoted to be a salad fixin.’ There’s no real cooking involved, of course, but a lot of prep. I guess I’m pretending I’m at my own personal salad bar. If you’re like me, buy some frozen shelled [edamame](http://www.edamame.com/) for your salad; you’ll thank me. Yumsters. ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/24 "2012-10-09T18:52:19Z")
Whatever I make when my partner is around, we like the same things and can both cook. She’s primarily a vegetarian so I may make a pastrami on rye or something like that, but I’m just as likely to make a vegetarian curry or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/25 "2012-10-09T19:17:21Z")
Spam ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/26 "2012-10-09T19:36:41Z")
My husband doesn’t like cooked fruit of any kind but I love citrus flavours with chicken or shrimp so when he’s going to be away I’ll make lemon or mandarin chicken or just roast a chicken with lemons and limes in the cavity. He’s going to be at a business dinner tonight but since yesterday was Thanksgiving I have a fridge full of turkey and cranberry sauce (which he also won’t eat, cooked, fruit) to finish off. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/27 "2012-10-09T19:39:15Z")
I often cook bhindi (okra) when I am home alone. He’s not fond of it, but I take each okra, slit them lengthwise, and stuff them with a mix of spices. Then I sautee them lightly in oil and garlic. Sometimes I caramelize some onions first. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/28 "2012-10-09T20:10:43Z")
Most of our fend-0for-yourself meals are spur-of-the-moment, so they tend to be noodles or soups that we have on hand in single-serving size. If it’s something I have to make, I’d probably make the kind of thing I made while single – over-roasted chicken, or sloppy joes, or spaghetti, most likely. If I made the chicken, I’d definitely have cats for company. “Are you eating Bird? We like Bird.” “You’re not gonna eat all that by yourself, are you?” “This is a nice couch you got here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.” ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/29 "2012-10-09T20:18:01Z")
We are probably just strange, but I make what I want and he’ll make his own if he doesn’t like what I’m making. Sometimes he has special requests which are fine, but if I don’t particularly want to eat it, he will and I’ll make something else for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/30 "2012-10-09T20:23:35Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > We are probably just strange, but I make what I want and he’ll make his own if he doesn’t like what I’m making. Sometimes he has special requests which are fine, but if I don’t particularly want to eat it, he will and I’ll make something else for myself. He cooks food, and he loves cooking, and he kind of takes cooking personally. Like, right now I am going back to school and working full time and he feels guilty every time he doesn’t cook, because he feels like he’s not taking care of me. It’s nice and wonderfully sweet and I appreciate it…but sometimes I just want to eat something out of the freezer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/31 "2012-10-09T21:29:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “This is a nice couch you got here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.” Nice loafers, shame if something happened in them … Hm, hubby will generally eat anything that doesn’t try to eat him first. He is not overfond of heart, so probably braised heart. Roomie, can’t think of much she wouldn’t eat either. But I love me some gently braised heart, heavy on the onions and garlic with homemade spaetzel. Something about the way the garlic and smaller onion bits just melt into the red wine, and the herbs sink into the meat, and everything gets soft and unctuous. /drool ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/32 "2012-10-09T22:22:50Z")
Spaghetti Carbonara. My wife is trying to cut way back on the carbohydrates, so we don’t do pasta very often. I always have the ingredients on hand, it goes together quickly, and it’s really yummy and comforting. Or, I’ll make a big pot of chili and just eat it all week until I’m out. ---
**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/33 "2012-10-09T22:23:25Z")
Why, reservations, of course, darling! Ok, not really. I will indulge in rice and beans when I’m solo, surely you can guess why. **Anaamika** , care to share your okra recipe? Sounds interesting. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/34 "2012-10-09T22:37:19Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > **Anaamika** , care to share your okra recipe? Sounds interesting. Second the request, I love okra! ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/35 "2012-10-09T22:51:01Z")
Spam musubi or unagi and rice. Yes, share the okra recipe! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/36 "2012-10-09T23:01:11Z")
I’d cook a huge head of broccoli (I get complaints about the smell). I love it cold with vinaigrette, but if alone, I would cook some angel hair pasta, toss with broccoli, cooked shrimp, some good vodka pasta sauce, grated parm/romano, and have a side of garlic bread! Or just make a great big salad with the works. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/37 "2012-10-09T23:01:57Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > My husband doesn’t eat much processed food, and he’s won me over for the most part, but if he were going to be out of town I’d get me some frozen fish sticks, cocktail sauce, and a box of Kraft dinner and chow down! > > I might also cook this beef/broccoli/rice thing (verboten because it involves a can of mushroom soup). Recipe? Sounds good (and I’m sure DH would eat it too). ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/38 "2012-10-09T23:11:36Z")
Wings. I have a killer wings recipe, but I don’t get to eat them very often because wife picks at me about how bad they are for my health. Or pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/39 "2012-10-09T23:13:57Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > My husband Hates spaghetti (or any skinny noodle) so when he’s gone, I cook all kinds of skinny pastas. For dinners, even when I am alone, I have some kind of veg or greens. Same here. He doesn’t like “long pasta” so I cook spaghetti or linguine or fettucine when he’s away. Other than that, tuna sandwiches (I know, no sandwiches! but he hates tuna). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220/40 "2012-10-10T00:18:14Z")
Liver and lima beans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-you-cook-for-dine-with-wont-be-home-what-do-you-make-just-for-you/637220.md?page=3)