I don't know what it is about January. Maybe it's the approach of the Super Bowl, with its junk food-intensive menu. Maybe it's the post-holiday slump, when my cooking brain goes into neutral and primal urges for fat and carbs take over.

Whatever the reason, at this time of year I start remembering almost fondly some of those concoctions (I won't dignify them with the term "recipe") from my days as a single guy, when both my activity level and waistline would permit me to consume just about any organic material that came within reach without too much in the way of deleterious consequences.

The main characteristic for most "bachelor(ette)" food seems to be that, whatever the ingredients, they all go in one bowl/casserole and there is not bloody much in the way of fresh vegetables.

Of course, one need not have recipes to eat bachelor food. Take, for example, my weekly shopping list many, many times when I was living solo:

7 store-brand frozen pizzas
1-pound bag of shredded cheese
1 jar Bacos
1 jar crunchy peanut butter
1 loaf white bread
2 boxes Cap'n Crunch
1 gallon milk

The cheese and Bacos, of course, were for topping the pizza. The rest should be fairly self-explanatory.

You'll note the complete lack of any whole-grain products, fruit or fresh vegetables ... heck, vegetables of ANY kind ... in that list. And yet, I didn't die or get rickets or scurvy. I think, back then, I may have gotten enough vitamin C from the limes in my too-frequent margaritas and tequila slammers.

Sooner or later, of course, through curiosity, finding items on sale and infrequent urges to at least make a stab at eating healthy, I would end up with odd food items, jars of relishes, etc. Perhaps in an early attempt to cook creatively, I would on occasion get out my one mixing bowl (found in the apartment when I moved in) and begin throwing things at it until what was inside either looked edible or began trying to crawl away on its own.

Most often, the results of this random flinging ended up being, well, let's just say I had the EPA toxic disposal experts on speed-dial.

However, once in a great while, something good (or at least non-toxic) would emerge from the bowl.

In the spirit of such good memories, and for any of you neophyte food flingers out there who are wondering what to make for dinner, I present:

Bachelor's Tuna Surprise

1 can tuna in oil, drained
1 c. frozen green peas, thawed
Approx. ¼ c. Miracle Whip
Approx. 2 tbsp. stone-ground mustard with horseradish (or whatever you have on hand)
2 tbsp. hot dog relish
1 tsp. garlic powder
Dashes of Worcestershire, soy, Tabasco or whatever seasonings come to hand, to taste
Liberal sprinkle of Cajun seasoning
White bread
American cheese slices
Plain, kettle-cooked potato chips

Mix all but last three ingredients together in bowl. Refrigerate overnight, covered (since bachelor refrigerators are always full of odors that would taint the food).

Preheat broiler. Put 3-4 slices of bread on cookie sheet. Spoon liberal amounts of tuna mixture onto bread. Top with crushed potato chips for texture, then one slice of cheese. Place under broiler until cheese is toasted.

OK, so it's not Charlie Trotter or Jacques Pèpin, but it will keep the wolf from the door in a pinch.

So, now I've bared my culinary past. How about you? What bizarre-but-oddly-tasty concoctions did you come up with, sweet or savory, in your early cooking endeavors? Send me your recipes and I'll put a collection or two of them together for an upcoming column!