On Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:54:24 -0800, sf > wrote:

>On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:38:51 -0800, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>> Probably the easiest to cook for is 4 or 6. Things tend to come in those
>> amounts. Not all things of course. But a lot of things. I think 8 would
>> be the next easiest because you can buy things in bulk.
>
>I buy most things in bulk. Perishables, like boneless chicken pieces,
>are packaged in 2 person portions and frozen for later. I just don't
>buy into the "cooking for two is harder" theory. Either you calculate
>an average of what you estimate each person will eat and buy what you
>need or you throw a whole bunch of food in your cart and cook it. One
>method produces a lot of leftovers, the other doesn't - and your
>attitude toward leftovers will influence your shopping personality.

Most everything I cook has left overs calibrated in... I wouldn't
bother to cook most foods unless I prepare enough for at least a half
dozen (or more likely a dozen) portions to freeze. A lot of time,
effort, and of course money is saved by cooking in bulk. I don't
consider the portions I freeze as left overs, they are absolutely
planned. I don't even like the term "left overs"... If I buy a case
of beer are the unopened bottles left in the fridge left overs, if I
eat half a box of chocolate chip cookies is the other half left overs,
of course not, no more than than the portions I freeze from when I
prepare a 16 quart pot of stew, or meat loaf that contains minimally 5
pounds of ground meat... I've never made a meat loaf with less than 5
pounds of meat, I wouldn't bother. To me left overs are what remains
in a half gallon package of ice cream I put back in the freezer
because I couldn't shovel anymore in... I *planned* to eat it all but
sometimes I just can't, so then what remains is left overs. And I
won't forget, the next evening that third of a container will be
calling my name. And of late half gallons are getting smaller and
smaller and have more air whipped in... it's not all that difficult to
finish those shrunken half gallons in one sitting, did that last week
with Breyer's Triple Chocolate; one third each of milk, dark, and
white chocolate... damn but that's good, especially that dark
chocolate. For me they can omit the white chocolate and call it Twin
Chocolate.

http://www.breyers.com/products/All-...Chocolate.aspx