Columbia College Alumni Association

Close Search

You are here

Cooking Solo on a Budget

Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and author Klancy Miller CC96 demonstrates how to prepare pappardelle and beef ragù — or what she calls You're in Love Pasta — from her new book, Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself. This easy dish can be prepared in less than 20 minutes ... making it a perfect last-minute option. Find the recipe and cooking tips below. Bon appétit!

Resources

Cooking Solo by Klancy Miller CC'96
Want more?

Learn more about Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself by Klancy Miller CC’96.

At a time when 31 million American adults live alone, Miller is here to show that cooking for one is something to embrace. While making single servings from other cookbooks means scaling down ingredients, adjusting cooking times or being stuck with leftovers, Cooking Solo gives readers just what they need to make a delicious meal — all for themselves.

Food Storage
Stocking a Fridge for One

Klancy Miller CC'96 gives her advice on how to stock a fridge and freezer for one on the Food52 blog.

Klancy Miller by Tara Donne
Kitchen Essentials

Klancy Miller CC'96 shares her lessons learned in the process of brainstorming, pitching, writing and publishing her first cookbook, Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself , and lists must-haves in the kitchen:

Bowls
A whisk
A chef’s knife or a good knife set
A cutting board
A good sauté or frying pan
A spatula

CCT - Klancy Miller
Table For One, Please

"Being a singleton is definitely on trend. The number of people living alone in the United States is on the rise, and hey, they get hungry! And even if you’re coupled, sometimes you want to spend a little quality time with yourself."

Read more about Miller and her new cookbook in the Winter 2016-17 issue of Columbia College Today.

Recipes


Pappardelle and Beef Ragù (You're in Love Pasta)

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ pound lean, grass-fed ground beef
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups of water
  • ¼ cup red wine
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste (preferably San Marzano)
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 5 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
  • 4 ounces fresh pappardelle
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  1. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the oil over low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground beef, salt, and a grind of pepper and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon.
  2. Meanwhile, put the water on to boil in a large saucepan. Add a pinch of salt to the water.
  3. When the meat is browned, stir in the wine, tomato paste, butter, and sage. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain well and stir the pasta into the meat sauce. Taste to check for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. Divide the pasta between 2 plates and serve hot. Top with the parmesan, if desired.

Bonus Recipe! Greek Salad

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 ½ teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt
  • 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large tomato, chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped red onion
  • 4 ounces feta cheese, diced
  • 8 Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
  1. In a large bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, oregano and a pinch of salt. Whisk until emulsified.
  2. Add the lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, feta and olives. Toss with your hands to coat the salad with the vinaigrette. Transfer to a plate and serve.