# YAFT: Best bachelor(ette) foods. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 1999, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648 "1999-11-29T22:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/21 "1999-11-30T16:51:00Z")
1. Kraft Macaroni and Cheeze 2. Tuna fish 3. Life cereal 4. Frozen lima beans I lived for better than a year on those four staples. But, whatever you eat, it must be done standing, leaning over the sink. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/22 "1999-11-30T16:52:00Z")
Yes, that’s true. But pre-packaged mixes lack the personal touch. The frijoles could pretty much make themselves one Sunday afternoon while bantmof’s watching the game or the T&A matinee on the tube, and then he’d have a whole batch of personalized legumes to play with. Let’s say that he picks up a lulu at Riley’s Bar one Saturday night…“let’s go up to my place,” he coos in her shell-like ear. “I’ll whip up some of my red beans and rice. They are nutritious and low in fat.\*” Bingo. He’s off for a homecooked meal for two and a night of steamy Cajun lovin’. - the money line when you’re enticing a woman with food ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/23 "1999-11-30T19:17:00Z")
Check out the crock pot recipes. I am currently making my borracho beans today. They are in the pot at home. When I get home I will make tortillas and spanish rice. Tomorrow I will have most delicious bean and cheese tacos for breakfast/lunch (I will make the beans into refried beans). Yum, and best of all they freeze well and taste even better the second day. HUGs! Sqrl * * * Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 1999, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/24 "1999-11-30T23:11:00Z")
Diet Coke and Camel Lights. No cooking required, and you get the added benefit of being wide-awake at 3 am. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/25 "1999-12-01T03:23:00Z")
This doesn’t really answer your question, but it is absolutely the best advise I can give to a young single male. LEARN TO COOK!!! This is not so you can enjoy wonderful meals every night (that is a side benefit)… it is the best and easiest way to get laid. Learn to get comfortable in the kitchen and make a few basics and you’ve got it made. Food is one of the easiest and most non-threatening subjects you can bring up and discuss with a young woman. Most young single women are just as tired of their diet of Ramen Noodles as you are. They think you are “sensitive” because you like to cook. The answer to “would you like to come over for a nice dinner?” is almost guaranteed. Now you are set… Fix something nice… you can prepare it yourself for a fraction of the cost it would take in a restaurant. You can pour the wine freely. And when it comes time for the “would you like to come back to my place?” question… quess what… you are already there!! Hopefully I don’t need to give you advise on how you need to approach the “a neck rub is always the best finish to a good meal.” One word of caution. DON’T ask her to help you with the dishes. Take this simple advise and you can’t go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![bantmof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bantmof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bantmof)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/26 "1999-12-01T04:25:00Z")
Oh, I can cook up some pretty fancy stuff already, if I have a mind to. It just usually comes down to what somebody posted earlier in the thread: “it’s just me, so no point in spending a lot of time on it.” But yeah, cooking does impress the Hot Babes. 🙂 – peas on earth ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/27 "1999-12-01T14:41:00Z")
What,no home recipes from Satan? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/28 "1999-12-01T14:49:00Z")
A nice piece of filet steak will cost you less than five bucks (it goes for $5.69 a pound at my Brooklyn butcher, even with BOTH thumbs on the scale). Saute some sliced potatoes with onion, steam a package of frozen spinach (squeeze of lemon, S&P), plop that steak (S&P, dash of onion and/or garlic powder, the merest sprinkling of oregano) in a hot pan. Dinner for one bachelor’s ready in less than 30 minutes. I do this often when the wife and kids are away. Popeye’s Supper, I call it. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/29 "1999-12-01T15:03:00Z")
I love to cook; do it for a living right now. But I prefer simple stuff. A few pointers: 1. Cooking is more art than science. 2. Know the basics(explained in any beginner’s cookbook) and you are free to do whatever you want. 3. Recipes are to give you ideas. Feel free to play with them (of course, if it doesn’t work…don’t blame the recipe) 4. You can make soup out of anything. 5. You can do anything to chicken and it will still be good. Same with potatoes. 6. You can take any 5 random ingredients and make _something_. 7. Precise measurements are crucial only in **baking**. Same goes for time&temp. 8. Less is more. Simplify, simplify. ---
**Author:** ![Melatonin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Melatonin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melatonin)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/30 "1999-12-02T00:45:00Z")
Are blenders allowed? Toss in some frozen fruit, milk, and yoghurt. More a breakfasty kinda thing, but it’s good. Toss in some canned artichoke hearts and feta cheese, blend, gush onto a bagel, heat. Divinity. And then, of course, there’s cup-o-noodles. I dig the middle-Eastern boxed foods. Falafel, hummus, tabouli esp. Most of them require only water and oil to prepare. Favorite disgusting college student food: chunky applesauce, cinnamon, cottage cheese mixed together. ---
**Author:** ![bantmof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bantmof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bantmof)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/31 "1999-12-02T04:21:00Z")
I was with you right up until the part about the artichoke hearts. But yeah, those fruit blender things are pretty tasty. Raspberries work great in there too. – peas on earth ---
**Author:** ![bantmof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@bantmof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bantmof)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/32 "1999-12-02T04:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I can’t remember the brand name, but around here there are some Indian dishe Hey Cher3, thanks for the suggestion. That sounds like my kinda thing. Do you happen to recall what section they’re in? I don’t remember having seen them in the groceries around here. Thanks, – peas on earth ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/33 "1999-12-02T05:49:00Z")
The pounded chicken breast thingy mentioned above really is a winner. It actually takes less time than “convenience” foods. But if you’re talking singleton, keep body and soul together, try DIY “baked” spuds. Okay, they’re miles better in the oven, but go ahead and nuke one in the microwave. While it’s nuking, go fridge diving: \*butter, cheese, leftover veggies \*chili, cheese, lots of tabasco \*cheese, peanuts, tabasco \*leftover veggies, butter and garlic \*slices of onion, olive oil, olives, herbs \*tomato bits, olive oil, garlic, herbs \*splash of malt vinegar, kosher salt \*bacon (BacO’s), cheese, onion \*feta, olives, olive oil, oregano you get the idea; work with what you have and fill up the tummy. Hope that helped. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Eris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Eris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eris)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/34 "1999-12-02T17:03:00Z")
I don’t know if it’s hit the US yet, but up here Kraft has come out with “Easy Mac” - basically, instant Kraft Dinner. Now I’ve always loved KD, but the fact that you end up with a pot you have to wash kinda sucks. So this stuff is the answer to all my prayers - you put the noodles in a bowl with some water, nuke for 2.5 minutes, then stir on the cheese sauce. And the best part is, since KD didn’t resemble real food to begin with, there’s no discernable taste difference in the “instant” version. What could be better? (and no, I don’t work for Kraft) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/35 "1999-12-02T17:07:00Z")
My beloved Uncle Willie (not a bachelor, actually a father of six, but he ate like one) used to cook up a round steak in a skillet. When it was done to a turn, he’d throw the steak out and eat up the grease in the pan with slices of fresh rye bread. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/36 "1999-12-02T17:13:00Z")
Hi bantmof, I shop at a little co-op here and they keep the Indian dishes with other ethnic foods (enchilada sauce, Thai stuff, etc.) I imagine that’s where they would be in a regular grocery store, if they have them at all. The brand name is Tasty Bite, by the way. Not exactly what I would have guessed. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/37 "1999-12-02T17:15:00Z")
This is all I had in my cupboard the other day so I put it together, and I gotta be honest with you, it’s not bad. - Kraft Mac and Cheese (White Chedder Variety) - Steamed Broccoli (I do it in the microwave in 8 minutes) - 1 can of tuna Mix together and serve. Bon Appetit! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/38 "1999-12-02T21:17:00Z")
**Marie Callendar’s Family Skillet Dinners** (the Pot Roast flavor is REALLY good, the other flavors are ok). Pour stuff from frozen bag into heated (lightly sprayed with cooking spray)skillet. Cover. Come back in 8 minutes and stir. Cover. Come back in 4 minutes and eat. EXTREMELY tasty, and it couldn’t be any easier to make. * * * **StoryTyler** _The fun starts here!_ ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/39 "1999-12-02T21:35:00Z")
Uncle Reuben’s Gut Filler: 1 box Mac & Cheese 1 can chili make mac & cheese heat chili mix together It really is tasty & filling ---
**Author:** ![dbwordgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@dbwordgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbwordgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648/40 "1999-12-02T21:42:00Z")
About once every two weeks, I cook up a medium-sized pouch of Vigo Yellow Rice Dinner, put a good plop of salsa in it as it cooks(I use medium salsa, but as hot as you want) then put it into individual dishes with a layer of grated cheese on top. (Ultimate laziness – I buy pre-grated cheddar) You get about four meals out of it. You can also add chunks of cooked chicken breast if you are really feeling extravagant. When you microwave it, the cheese gets all gooey – yum. I save it for nights when I’m home by myself and don’t want to cook or go out. Maybe two minutes of actual work, the rest is just cooking time. BTW, I’m picking up some other great ideas for the day when I finally get tired of my salsa rice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yaft-best-bachelor-ette-foods/11648.md?page=3)