Most advice on cooking for one goes like this: Make a gigantic pot of soup or chili. Divide it into individual portions, then freeze them. Eat this same meal eight days in a row. I don’t know about you, but the idea of eating that way makes me want to kill myself.

Smart Single Diner is different. I say, cooking for one shouldn’t make you feel like a prisoner. Cooking for one or two people presents an opportunity to experiment, to improvise — and to have fun in the kitchen.

Whether you’re a complete newbie or an experienced home cook, I want to give you the tools you need to cook for yourself at least some of the time. You’ll eat better food and save money, too.