1. New journals! I’m a huge fan of writing for oneself, as I’ve mentioned, and have been writing up a storm these last few months.
I ordered this one off Etsy a couple days ago and it just arrived, even more perfect than I’d hoped. I’m really picky about the kind of journal I write in, and must have: unlined paper, a unique cover, and must not look mass-produced. This is made out of a recycled book, and I love the faux library card insert the artist put in the back cover.
2. Single lady dinner! A friend recently sent me this book, which is a collection of essays by writers (including Ann Patchett and Haruki Murakami, two of my very favorites) about the rituals of cooking and eating alone. Do we make the same kind of elaborate meals we would make for family or friends? Do we assemble random ingredients similar to a pregnant woman’s cravings? What is our ultimate dish to eat in private? I love it.
In the third essay, “Beans and Me,” Jeremy Jackson describes the meal he makes for himself night after night: beans + cheesy rice (or sometimes beans + cornbread). Reading about it on the crosstown bus, I was salivating. So last night, I had to make it myself. And it was the best rice and beans I’ve ever had. You’re probably rolling your eyes and thinking, “Come on, Katie, how good can rice and beans be?” I’ll tell you. Jackson uses canned beans, but instead of draining and rinsing them as I normally would, he first sautés garlic and onion in oil and then dumps the entire can, liquid and all, into the pot to simmer. Uh-mazing. On the side, Green Giant Cheesy Rice + Broccoli (bought with a coupon from the company… surprisingly delicious!) and steamed butternut squash. Heavenly dinner alone.
3. Single lady desserts! I made Katie’s Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie for One over the weekend, and I experimented just about every way I could. I tried using pumpkin first (instead of oil) and nuking it in the microwave, but it came out sort of rubbery. I tried again in the microwave, this time using oil. Again, spongey and not at all crisp. I was craving a cookie, which is as much about texture as flour and chocolate, so I started a third time, this time using coconut oil and baking it in the oven.
I baked it in a ramekin and ate it with a spoon. Third time’s a charm! All that was missing was the ice cream.
4. A special “chipment” from popchips! I went out for spinach, and came back to this heavenly sight on my doormat.
If you’ve read my blog in the last couple months, you’ve probably noticed my obsession with these air-popped chips. And up until a couple months ago, I didn’t really have an opinion about chips… I could take ‘em or leave ‘em. But popchips? I had to have them every day. Somehow the company must have heard about my obsession, because this box showed up on my doorstep, complete with two new-to-me flavors: Parmesan Garlic and Jalepeño. 
5. I want to hook you up, too!
On behalf of popchips anonymous (ahem), one US reader will win the same sample pack you see above. And before you go ahead and say you couldn’t possibly finish those all yourself, know that I, too, was once a non-believer. Those things won’t last two weeks!
Want to win? Here are 3 ways to enter!1. Leave a comment with your favorite meal to make for yourself. Rice and beans? Grilled cheese? Banana-pickle sandwiches? Let’s have ‘em!2. What’s your favorite savory snack? (Other than popchips, of course 
.) I’m always on the lookout for things to bring to school!3. Tweet this contest @lilveggiepatch + @popchips.
You have until Friday morning to enter. In the mean time, I’ll be building myself a lil’ chip-nest.
The giveaway is now closed. The winner is:
Congratulations, Nikki! Please send me an e-mail with your mailing address.
my favorite meal to make for myself is probably spaghetti squash with quorn meatballs and light ragu. it’s warm, comforting, and delicious….either that, or butternut squash fries and grilled cheese
my favorite savory snack right now is kashi spicy salsa pita chips. they are AWESOME. i tried the sea salt and loved them, so had to try another flavor!
xo.
i’m obsessed with pop chips!! my favorite meal to make myself is a homemade veggie burger with a big side of sweet potato fries!
AND i’m usually not into savory snacks, but the trader joe’s spicy almonds are amazing.
Any time I can, I make myself meals with all of the ingredients that my partner won’t eat. Mainly mushrooms. If I can put anything together with 20 mushrooms, it’s my meal and I will down it quick. Lately it’s been mushrooms and whatever squash (roasted) that’s been in our CSA.
Favorite savory snack right now (even though Cavan and I just polished off a bag of salt and vinegar popchips last week) are probably the Everything flavor Pretzel Crisps. We both LOVE everything bagels and these are a nice snacky (110 cals in 11 crisps) interpretation of them.
My favorite meal to make for myself is a veggie stir-fry with soy sauce. Yum!
OH I LOVE Popchips!
My favorite meal to make myself is to basically dump a bunch of veggies in a skillet, sautee, pour soy sauce on, sprinkle some almonds on – and you have stir fry
And my all time favorite snack got to be m&ms pretzels. I just can’t get over the sweet and salty deliciousness!
My favorite savory snack is a big soft pretzel. Hands down. With tons of yellow mustard.
My favorite meal to make for myself would be pizza. Lately, I’ve been using flatbread, marinara sauce, roasted veggies, and a little cheese. Yum! So fast and easy!
I love POPCHIPS! My favorite savory snack right now would be roasted cauliflower (tossed with soy sauce).
Lately, I’ve been eating cauliflower roasted with mexican spices (cumin, oregano, paprika, etc) with refried beans, salsa, and vegan “cheese” sauce every single night. healthy nachos?! i cannot get enough!
that eggplant book sounds great! my favorite savory snack is celery and homemade hummus. yum.
that journal is sooo pretty!!
my fav. meal to make is a Caesar salad. HAHA. Or baked chicken….or sauteed spicy shrimp!
My favorite meal I make myself is my baked oatmeal or smoothies at breakfast, definitely best meal of the day
My favorite savory snack of late is a WW tortilla with a smear of goat cheese, crumbled chedder, spinach, then microvaed into a quesidilla! sooo good!
My favorite meal I make myself is chili with cornbread!
My favorite savory snack is definitely pretzels :9
I’ve got a lot of new oatmeal savory treats that I have learned from this blog, but as a creature of habit I will always have a soft spot for…
My Custom tried and true Single Lady Meal! An egg white omlette made with onions, goat cheese and spinach on the skillet and then wrapped in a flax wrap and toasted on the skillet all together. Its the perfect comfort food at any time of the day but dinner is the best as it gets cold! It’s amazing served with roasted red pepper and tomato soup. I have even dipped it in…sounds crazy but it’s my go-to for 3+ years.
Second to that, is the banana and vanilla extract and almond milk smooothie. The dream treat after a summertime run in the park!
My favorite meal to make for myself is breakfast: egg and cheese on whole wheat. So darn good!
I have been dying to finish Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant! I had to kill about 45 minutes last winter and ducked into B&N to pass the time. While there, I stumbled across that book and sat to read it, never expecting it to be so good. I would’ve bought it had I not been unreasonably broke at the time
enjoy!
My go-to solo meal is an omelette; Quick, easy, filling.
My favorite savory snacks are chips with salsa or guacamole. Yum.
And popchips!
My favorite meal to make for myself is thai green curry with chicken and lots of veggies. So easy but tastes special!
My favorite savory snack is TJ’s peanut butter filled pretzels.. tows the line a bit between sweet/savory, but the salt on the pretzel seals the deal.
That is one of my favourite books
my favorite meal to make for myself is a huge stir fry with tons of hot sauce!
my favorite meal to make for myself is a huge stir fry with lots of vegetables and topped with lots of hot sauce and peanut sauce.
I love that book : )
opps didn’t mean to post that twice and favorite savory snack is avocado on anything
that journal is gorgeous! i love etsy! nate just bought me 2 pairs of earrings from there and i am so in love with them!now i want a deep dish ramekin chip pie and i have no flour or any kind thanks katie lol.
My favorite meal to make for myself is black bean and beet burgers…I love to eat them over lettuce or a bun. too good! I am loving youur new journal!
My favorite meal to make for myself is baked spaghetti with garlic bread.
my go-to meal is definitely some type of burrito or wrap. whatever veggies i have (black beans, corn, squash, zucchini, etc–frozen, fresh, or canned) go in the skillet with salt, pepper, and cumin. then into a wrap with some combo of cheese, avocado, plain yogurt (instead of sour cream), salsa. and dinner is done.
I don’t exactly make it myself, but when I am eating alone I like to get sushi. My husband cannot stand fish, especially raw fish.
I love to make a tasting plate with pickled herring, lox, and crackers.
I love popchips! My favorite meal to make for myself these days in green curry shrimp!
My favorite savory snack are the wasabi seaweed packs are trader joe’s right now!
My favorite quick meal is a bolani with pesto and mint cheese spreads! Soo good!
My favorite snack (although not savory) is a think thin bar.
My favorite meal is probably this faux-fried rice, using barley and a teensy bit of sesame oil, tvp or egg whites for protein, brown rice, and lots of veggies…delish!
My favorite snack is peanut butter and celery, using peanut flour, salt, water, and some sugar free white chocolate syrup
I’d love to read that Murakami essay–I noticed in particular the moments in 1Q84 when solitary meals are prepared (and always sounded enticing, I’m a sucker for wakame, and realized that eating alone, and what is eaten, is a leitmotif in a bunch of his works and used really effectively for characterization… I’m w/ Jeremy on not rinsing canned beans in most circumstances. Haven’t cooked much just for myself recently, my eating habits could use some shoring up, quite frankly, so I won’t discuss that. Love the journal. I used to be a gridded paper addict for personal and academic writing, but this quarter I (through consumer laziness) have been strictly on yellow legal pads. Which I’m kinda starting to enjoy.
Also, apparently Adam Gopnik has a new food book out? Sounds like it could be up your alley.
YES! Rice and beans is SO good. But honestly, I usually go from egg and veggie scrambles when I’m on my own! I want those pop chips!
My favorite meal to make for myself is an egg and cheddar cheese omelette on wheat toast.
My favorite savory snack is pretzels dipped in pb or hummus.
My favorite thing to make for myself is nachos — I can put whatever toppings I want and don’t have to share!
My favourite savory snack lately is really good aged cheddar or aged gouda (by itself!) or pistachios
omg i TOTALLY need that cookbook asap haha. i feel like single lady dinners are the story of my life right now. which i’m fine with because cooking for one is so much easier then cooking for more then one
When I’m alone I throw everything in to one bowl: like greens, cottage cheese, salsa, veggies, cooked veggies, sunflower seeds, and maybe some more cheese!