I'm not familiar with that genre of cookbook, but I did an Amazon search and thought these looked like good possibilities:

Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything

The I Don't Know How to Cook Book: 300 Great Recipes You Can't Mess Up

Thank you, alisande, the "I don't know" book looks good!

Ellen

(But I hope you have a Kindle or other tablet for Bittman's books -- they weigh a ton and his 2 most popular ones, one recently revised, number just over 1,000 pages!) Try his blog, tho -- it has recipes.

Ellen, I am so sorry for your loss. Let's see if we can't help you learn to love to cook!

I wholeheartedly recommend Mark Bittman's "How To Cook Everything...The Basics". He has several How To Cook books but this one is the best to get you started. It will be the best little investment for you.

I also suggest that you browse the cookbooks in thrift shops and used book stores just to see what looks interesting and appealing. Reading cookbooks is a great way to absorb the basics.

I also advise you to watch some cooking shows on TV....not the competitions but those with a chef. You can learn techniques that way, if not recipes.

Cooking is much easier than baking, I think. Precision is not required! Experimentation is fun. I hardly ever follow a recipe when I'm cooking up a storm, lol.

Ellen, speaking of fun, why don't you tell us what you've been hungry for and let us offer some easy ideas?

I agree 100% with what Rhizo said, except I wouldn't recommend spending time with old cookbooks. Cookbooks are tools for cooking as shovels are for digging - if you have one or two good ones that you enjoy and that meet your needs, you have no need for 10 more.

I've been a fan of Mark Bittman for a dozen years or more. His old columns and recipes can be accessed on the NY Times website. I find many of his suggestions and approaches to be simple and fantastic.

Oh, I meant to add that the concept of "cooking for one" makes little sense to me. Unless, that is, you refuse to eat left overs or freeze servings for a later time. Some people are like that. If you get your freezer stocked with a few things, you can go for days without cooking. Just add a fresh salad or veggie for a brand new meal.

I'm getting ready to heat up some chicken soup from two weeks ago!

Another book I especially like is James Petersons Essentials of Cooking. It's a good reference for many cooking techniques, helping a cook fine tune those skills in the kitchen to make food prep easier, faster (and tastier;))

I agree with Rhizo on the 'cooking for one' though. My former neighbor could be your inspiration there, C has been alone the last 30 years (widowed at 57) and I can't tell you how many times we'll talk and she's preparing the same dinner I am for DH or DH and guests. Navy beans and ham, ribs, chicken and dumplings etc. Always with a salad and always with a vegetable. She tells me she likes to eat (and I suspect likes to cook) and she doesn't find reason to short herself because she lives alone, she still deserves to enjoy food. The difference is she will have ribs for dinner if she's made those, then again for her lunch or dinner the next day, any extra going promptly into dated packages in her freezer to enjoy another time. A piece of a ham steak will become diced after dinner and combine with scrambled eggs in the morning or a sandwich at lunchtime. Her budget is limited and she wastes little, eats like royalty...I think she could teach meal-prep classes to singles living alone.

Start with 'what do you like', become experienced in those first few dishes to begin. Ask here and we can help you. You can do this, it just takes getting started ;)

Decades ago, I was always so impressed that Nan would cook a full meal for herself after Grandpa died. She didn't even like to cook, but she made a small roast, or chicken, chicken pieces, pork chop, etc with sides. Alternatively a senior neighbour always ate a salmon or tuna sandwich standing up at the sink. What a difference between the two ladies.

When I cook for us 2, I always have leftovers. We enjoy leftovers, and they get used up instead of going in the freezer. When I lived alone, I always made a meal.

I cook for two, but it's the same principle as for one. We eat pretty simply...usually a grilled chicken breast or fish filet with a salad or vegetables. I love eating fresh vegetables that are in season.

So sorry for your loss. I am really not a cookbook person, although I do have Mark Bittman's book and many others.

Now that we are all internet savvy, I would recommend you look at recipes on sites like Pinerest. Or, just google and see what comes up.

What were some of your favorites? Start with the easiest. Meatloaf, Pasta, basic broiled fish, baked chicken. There is nothing wrong with frozen vegetables, get ones that don't have added ingredients.

Learn how to bake a potato. I'm sure you know how to make salads.

Side story of how I learned to cook: My mother never taught us how to cook. She never used recipes.
My first job out of college was working in a group home for severely disabled young adult women. One of my jobs was to cook dinner for three of these women! Everyday I would call my mother and she would talk me through the easy recipes and I would write them down. Slowly I started collecting recipes from other people and kept a small index box that I still have to this day.
I still put recipes in this box and they are only the favorite and tried and true recipes that we all like.

You can even ask for a specific recipe on the KT.

Also you can scale down recipes so that you are making the amount you want to make. We halve and third and fourth many recipes.

Suggestions from a single person and yes I do cook but am not an expert by any means.
Don't collect a lot of books. If you have a computer, that is good. Food Network has good recipes and tips to cook, Good Housekeeping is good, Do searching and there are so many recipes and you can print them out, put them in a file/notebook, etc. If you are near a high school/college find out if they have any cooking courses. Some stores that sell cooking supplies also have classes. There is so much information on line about cooking. There are videos, to view. There are also CD's to check out. Check your library also. Garage sales, thrift shops have books, magazines, etc. Friends here and in your social life have ideas to share. Church cookbooks are good also
Start out slow and simple Catalogs selling spices have a good selection . Type in Penzeys Spices. There catalogs give you a good selection AND the description of the spice and recipes.
Good luck and DON"T be afraid to ask any question you have here. Check out the different forums GW has also. They have several from cooking to what we use to cook with.
Good luck
Marie

Ellen, I am sorry for your loss. You received many excellent ideas here. The only thing I would add is to learn techniques. Currently I am trying to cook on my cast iron skillet. I don't care much for stir fry, but I can see how good that would be to do with some leftovers and or favorite vegetables. Soups! Make and freeze. The people here make all sorts of things; they can walk you through all sorts of things. Come back often.

I love collecting cookbooks especially local ones from churches and Jr leagues. They usually have very easy home cooking type recipes that are very tried and true.

I would recommend that you set up a pinterest page and start doing searches on pinterest for the type of food you are looking for, or specifically search it for recipes for one. You can set up your own pin board of all the recipes that you find interesting.
I have found some fantastic recipes on pinterest. Being able to see a picture of the final result and in many cases step by step pictures with the instructions.

You have the whole world of recipes right here on your computer. Don't have to go far to find great ones.
I agree with cooking a full size recipe and freezing the extra in single servings.

Here is a link that might be useful: Recipes for one on pinterest

Have you tried going to your local library and seeing which cookbooks they have?
If you find one you like then you can buy it. (At a book store or online.)
So sorry for your loss.

Ellen, deepest condolences on the loss of your husband. I know you are struggling with a lot more than cooking, so please accept my best wishes.

Sorry....no cookbook suggestions but I am interested to learn about Mark Bittman. Never heard of him, but will check him out.

I'm sure you will cook some wonderful meals!

Keep making those pies & cakes! Ragu Sauce & a box of spaghetti is better than frozen. Just one of those recipe websites will have ideas for more food than you can eat. Type the name of a dish in google and start cooking. Pop a slab of ribs in the oven, add some BBQ sauce, and forget carry out meals for 3 days. You'll be fine in no time.

online is your best resource. Check pinterest "meals for one", Google is my best friend when looking for anything. Check out the cooking forum too. Yes the library is great, ask the librarian for suggestions.
Good luck, those store bought dinners aren't very tasty to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: meals for one

I don't recommend online recipes. Unless it's a source with recognized chops, something like Cooks Illustrated (which charges a few dollars per month for an annual online access subscription).

Why? There's no quality control. You don't know what to expect. Even sites like Food Network have recipes from random sources, which they themselves disclaim any knowledge of or responsibility for. Social media sites - all the more so.

To me, it's all about enjoying and relying upon the author's skill and knowledge. Along with Bittman and Cook's Illustrated, I also like Melissa Clark (a current NY Times contributor). Bittman and Clark individually each have more books in print than you'd ever want to buy, so there's plenty of choices.

Taste of Home has a new online cooking school. Good simple recipes and Taste of Home also has recipes for cooking for 1 or 2. Check out Taste of Home dot com. You can check out many things from this site.
Snidely, most recipes from magazines, companies, or tv shows are kitchen tested before publication. The web is full of useful wonderful recipes.

All wonderful suggestions! I'm on Pinterest, but didn't even think of it!

And thank you all so much for your messages of sympathy.

Thanks again,
Ellen

If you are on pinterest then you have a world of great recipes at your fingertips!
I have found some of the best recipes there that are now regulars in our menu.
The great thing is you have real people telling how they liked it in the comments section of the recipe and also making suggestions for changes and additions.
So many of them show step by step pictures and instructions it's like a class and very informative. I do a lot of searches for casseroles or for a specific ingredient I have on hand, works great! Also we have a kt site with tons of recipes we have posted over the years that joann maintains, check it out.
Tried and true is the best kind of recipes and that's what you find there, and on pinterest.
I am very sorry for your loss, I hope you are doing well and please let us know if we can help you with anything.

Kt gathering place, recipes and more from the Kt

Here is a link that might be useful: Kt gathering place

I don't have any cooking suggestions for you other than what has already been posted.
I do want to offer my condolences on the loss of your husband. I know what that is like. Mine has been gone 15 months now and it is still hard sometimes.