Party for One - by Meredith Dawson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Enjoy what you want, when you want it, and exactly how you want it.

If you're picking up this book, chances are you agree cooking is one of the ultimate acts of care--both for others and for yourself. But why are most recipes meant to serve four to six people--or more? When you're cooking for yourself, all that matters is you, especially when you've got places to be, things to do, and a craving to satisfy. Cooking for one often means scaling down ingredients and adjusting cooking times: it can drive you crazy. Sometimes, one is all you want.

In her debut cookbook, Meredith Dawson invites you to lean in to being alone (because being alone is great!) and enjoy single-serving dishes designed to indulge whatever your mood might be in any given moment. Because your opinion is the only one that matters! Enjoy a cozy evening to yourself on the couch with Ride or Die Pad Thai or get a little messy with saucy Green Enchiladas. Step up from sad packaged noodles and whip up Not-Instant Ramen when the temperature dips. Reward yourself for earning that promotion--or just for getting out of bed today--with showstopping "Can You Ever Just Be Whelmed" Individual Beef Wellingtons, then fulfill your sweet tooth with a small batch of Nice Krispie Treats. Peppered with delicious photographs and laced with Meredith's humor, Party for One will empower you to treat yourself to something special whenever you like.

Review Quotes

"As a connoisseur of cooking shows, cookbooks, and single-serve recipes that don't require an abacus, I am excited to be invited to Party for One. In her clever, accessible, and delightfully down-to-earth offering, Meredith Dawson welcomes each of us to enjoy the art of dining alone without being lonely. From salty snacks and hearty mains to craveable desserts, she has written a winner--and a lifesaver."

--Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author, producer, and political leader

"As a single gal, I jumped for joy at a cookbook that is all about making food for one person. Y'all know how many carrots I killed cuz I couldn't eat/use them fast enough? A LOT! Anyway, Meredith's wit and easy-to-follow recipes make cooking loads of fun and delicious. Also, this book is cute as hell! Even if you're not in the mood to cook, you'll wanna chill on your couch and just flip through this book! It's a win-win!"

--Phoebe Robinson, New York Times bestselling author and actress

"If only I'd had this book when I was single. Having spent way too much money eating out because all the recipes I had served four people, Party for One would have been a godsend. Meredith's dishes are delicious, her writing is tons of fun, and you'll have lots of extra room in your now leftovers-less fridge. Happy cooking!"

--Paul Feig, filmmaker and author of Cocktail Time: The Ultimate Guide to Grown-Up Fun

About the Author

Meredith Dawson has written for both network and streaming television shows including but not limited to Four Weddings and Funeral, The Wonder Years, and Central Park. She was also a Co-Executive Producer on Paramount+'s animated revival of Everybody Still Hates Chris and director on hit series The Sex Lives of College Girls. More importantly, her favorite things to cook for herself are sweet potato gnocchi in a brown butter and sage sauce and Lou Malnati's frozen pizza. Meredith is originally from the Chicago suburbs and splits her time between Los Angeles and New York with her devoted chihuahua-mix, Peanut.