Alternative Christmas dinner ideas please.

Lisaangel10

A friend always orders a veggie Indian curry and all the trimmings late on Xmas Eve. She reheats it on the day and loves it.

That sounds like a good idea.

After a very sad period before Xmas one year, and in no mood for festivities, we ordered Indian takeaway on Xmas Eve to heat up the next day. My husband, myself, dd and sil all agreed it was the best idea, comforting ourselves with some favourite food without having to summon up any effort.

Look out for Christmas quiches in December. They often have seasonal ingredients like cranberries and Stilton, or other more unusual cheeses. These can be cut in to three or four slices and frozen, so they can be used after Christmas for further treats. Buy a red cabbage, carrots, spring onions and festive nuts add mayonnaise and a touch of white wine and there you have coleslaw, a healthy counterpart to the stodge. It keeps for several days in the fridge. For afters you could make a couple of simple trifles in decorative glasses.glasses. Or you could try a dessert that you've never bought before and, once again, buy one that you can cut and freeze. Make sure you have a candle on your table and you will bathed in soothing light.

Waitrose do quite nice ready meals for £12
You get a main, sides, starter and pud

Their jambalaya is nice, or fish pie

Treat yourself to something from M&S ready meals which you wouldn’t cook normally and would be a real change for you !

That's an idea, LindaJ, stuffing instead of breadcrumbs!

I was on my own for christmas last year and made this - it was delicious!

I'm definitely in the posh 'dine in' type meals brigade. Add in a couple of treats to have in the evening when you are watching a Christmas film or two! Or if you eat in the evening a posh breakfast instead I hope you have a lovely 'foodie' Christmas 🎄

I think that I'd probably do a duck if I was on my own, or maybe one of those duck in sauce ready meals - festive but easy.
Or a nice gammon joint would be nice, boiled then glazed in the oven? You could have a small one that wouldn't last long or a larger one to see you through the festive season. I looked on Ocado and M&S do one which is quite small and ready to cook: www.ocado.com/products/m-s-select-farms-gammon-with-honey-glaze-boneless-516392011?srsltid=AfmBOoqSAG9bprPtWrNWDhQl8jIziTw4jRQt7ODepwCGLVtknJKz8HsC

A friend always orders a veggie Indian curry and all the trimmings late on Xmas Eve. She reheats it on the day and loves it.

Sounds perfect

I'd get ostrich steaks (2 in the pack but each sealed separately - one for New Year too?). Delish - very quick to cook. www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/the-lions-kingdom-ostrich-fillet-steak-x2-250g?istCompanyId=1e096408-041f-4238-994e-a7cf46bf9413&istFeedId=689af7a8-5842-4d88-be59-1ee5688a81b5&istItemId=pxararpww&istBid=t&&cmpid=cpc&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20333793068&utm_content=shopping&utm_term=%257Bsku%257D&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=759-449-0952&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0t63BhAUEiwA5xP54cbpcLs6gfEj7Lnh8cFAwmL0oophZW8g7XJsLuznK-C5AoPjoDEiqhoCvboQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Another vote for Cooks meals, my daughter gets their Christmas food. The vegetarian range is excellent.

I don’t know if you like pasta but I think of pasta in a robust red sauce, freshly baked bread, salad and best of all your favorite dessert!! Make enough for a second meal as it’s always better the next day!

Duck legs are a good idea, as suggested, but you can also buy duck breast, which is quicker to cook and equally as delicious. I make a port and orange gravy to go with it, but you can skip the alcohol and just add cranberry sauce and a little water to the orange juice and zest, thickened with cornflour (plus a little dried ginger if you like a bit of a kick). Serve with veg of your choice.
Small Xmas puds are available, too, if you like them, but any pud or fruit would be as nice.
Better get the sprouts on now, as mentioned 😂.

Whethertomorrow

Thank you everyone. The baked Camembert and ducks legs are staying in my head, but perhaps not together!

I don’t drink alcohol but I love the sentiment.

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas dinners, less than 3 months to go 🤪

As long as I don't have to cook it!
Although, if I do, I shall head for the ready-prepared section of M&S!

Thank you everyone. The baked Camembert and ducks legs are staying in my head, but perhaps not together!

I don’t drink alcohol but I love the sentiment.

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas dinners, less than 3 months to go 🤪

kittylester

Small, Bertha, come on it's Christmas!

😁🍾

BigBertha1

Love it RosiesMaw2!

Definitely a Charlie Bingham fish pie if it were me. Some nice greenery and a lovely pud to follow. Small bottle of fizz too.

Anything but fish for Whethertomorrow, I think, BigBertha1, although yes, or Smoked Haddock Gratin. DH prefers the Waitrose fish pie because it has prawns in it.

Small, Bertha, come on it's Christmas!

Love it RosiesMaw2!

Definitely a Charlie Bingham fish pie if it were me. Some nice greenery and a lovely pud to follow. Small bottle of fizz too.

Waitrose meal deals
Charlie Bigham
M&S
Tesco Finest

I'm sure they'll all do Christmas specials.

flappergirl

Starter, asparagus with ready bought hollandaise sauce or avocado salad with Waitrose french mayonnaise which tastes like homemade.

Main, Boeuf Bourguignon with potatoes gratin (you can buy packs of 2 individual gratin potatoes in Lidl and they are very good).

Dessert, Tiramisu which you can buy or make yourself the day before.

Buy a selection cheese and biscuits, some grapes and a good jar of chutney to graze on later in the day. You can also buy part cooked baguettes in most supermarkets so you have some nice fresh warm bread as well. Don't forget a box of your favourite chocolates and a bottle of your preferred tipple.

Sounds good!

Look at Donald Russell online, they have some good individual things, they do a lively one person beef wellington and nice desserts.

If not, how about something nice from M&S, they do a very nice Gastropub Chicken Kiev.

Boom boom Maw