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Alternative Christmas dinner ideas please.

(69 Posts)
Whethertomorrow Wed 25-Sept-24 22:36:01

I will be on my own for Christmas dinner again this year. I had baked beans last year but this year I thought I might treat myself.

I hate any sort of fish so can anyone recommend something else please.

Thank you.

Summerfly Fri 04-Oct-24 16:18:04

Lydie45

I don’t think you can beat M&S for special meals
Me too Lydie45. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with anything I’ve bought from M&S.

WelshPoppy Fri 04-Oct-24 12:25:33

We've had this in the past for Sunday lunch and really enjoyed it. Hubby even suggested it for Christmas but probably wouldn't serve 7/9 for a main meal. There would be plenty for some sandwiches too so you could have a traditional Christmas dinner.

Lydie45 Thu 03-Oct-24 19:59:12

I don’t think you can beat M&S for special meals.

Summerfly Tue 01-Oct-24 00:55:36

An M&S pasta tray bake with garlic flatbread and Parmesan cheese. Delicious with a good red wine. For dessert an M&S raspberry trifle with cheeseboard to follow, and coffee and mints to finish. A bottle of Bailey’s for later along with some chocolates. Well, maybe not all the Bailey’s 😉

gentleshores Mon 30-Sept-24 23:54:18

Also I used to get the mini Christmas puddings - they cook in the microwave in about 30 seconds - because I do like my Christmas pudding. I'd go on holiday over Christmas (or sometimes on boxing day), come back new year's eve and then have my Christmas pudding :-)

Now I just have the drudgery of food orders and cooking ha ha.

gentleshores Mon 30-Sept-24 23:52:37

You can do whatever you want :-) I once had a Fray Bentos tinned pie on Christmas day (admittedly I was on holiday and shops were closed). A friend who was a single Mum used to drive to the coast with a flask of soup and sandwiches. It can be a bind getting food in at all before Christmas - packed shops, having to book supermarket deliveries a month early. So if you fancy fish, you could get some frozen fish now for the freezer. I like the frozen smoked haddock from Sainsburys. Just bake it in the oven with a bit of butter on top and milk poured in (and foil over the top). Which is how my grandmother used to cook it.

If you want to be a bit more extravagant, I think M&S sell fresh Halibut - which is always a treat as it's very hard to find halibut. But that would probably mean ordering and going to pick up on Christmas Eve or something, which I hate.

I had a few years with Christmas on my own but only once where I was on my own at home and I didn't like it so I started going on holiday instead :-)

EmilyHarburn Mon 30-Sept-24 15:39:12

I would treat myself at M&S they do roast dinners for one and other treats

MissAdventure Sun 29-Sept-24 19:12:37

smile

JaneJudge Sun 29-Sept-24 15:41:42

nice bread and lots of cheese and crisps, what is not to likee

MissAdventure Sun 29-Sept-24 15:39:45

I've had cheese sandwiches, crisps, and pickles one Christmas, and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Dempie55 Sat 28-Sept-24 22:42:01

I was home alone last year and I hate ready meals. I had turkey steak (escalope) with a baked potato and sprouts on Christmas Day, steak and chips on Boxing Day. I did indulge in frozen fancy desserts from M&S.

Greyisnotmycolour Sat 28-Sept-24 22:37:24

My choice of meal for myself with no effort is an M&S Gastro pub Moussaka. There must be something that you love to eat. If you like to to cook, make it & freeze the rest, or just choose a ready meal. Cook to a great range, pricey but worth it for a Christmas treat.

Lisaangel10 Sat 28-Sept-24 22:30:54

I know a widowed lady and her sister is also widowed. They take turns staying over at each others homes and do exactly what they want.

It’s usually something like wake up late, shower and put on Xmas PJs. They have smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, bucks fizz and listen to their fave music. The rest of the day they just eat things that don’t need cooking. cheeses, crackers, dips, ready luxury salads, trifles etc. i think they also enjoy quite a bit of festive alcohol.

Emelie321 Sat 28-Sept-24 22:05:53

DH and I usually travel to see family at Christmas but had to stay home last year as had just started chemo treatment/vulnerable to infections/energy levels collapsed. Wonderful ACs organised delivery of Cook frozen Christmas dinners with all the trimmings,which were very little trouble to prepare.NB Did need microwave as well as ordinary oven though in order to get the timings right.

charley68 Sat 28-Sept-24 19:47:33

Good bacon would be my suggestion. The best bacon you can afford, some lettuce, good tomato, (a stretch I know), but there must be some somewhere, and make a BLT or 2 .
Delicious, and the best treat I can think of for myself if I was alone on Christmas Day.
Some bubbly at some point during the day, and some delicious (the best you can get) ice cream for later on.

Merseymog Sat 28-Sept-24 18:30:54

I love Lambshanks and can recommend the ALDI pack of 2 individually packed as slow cooked in mint/rosemary gravy. Simply reheat and enjoy with whatever veg you like. I remove the plastic packaging and thoroughly heat the shank in the microwave, the meat just falls off the bone.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 28-Sept-24 17:54:30

All these lovely ideas are making me hungry!

Applegran Sat 28-Sept-24 17:44:07

For a change you could try a vegetarian meal - here is a link which would help:
www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/vegetarian_christmas
And you could help make it feel more special by trying out different recipes in advance (along with cooking the sprouts......) and choose your own favourite for the day itself. I hope you find something which you enjoy.

Athrawes Sat 28-Sept-24 17:17:04

A tasty ready meal and pudding is a good idea. So suggests me who doesn't like cooking especially on Christmas Day - but still feels she has to do it! No filly faddling about. Perfect! Enjoy!

rocketstop Sat 28-Sept-24 16:25:57

I did a really nice special curry one year for Christmas lunch.

vampirequeen Sat 28-Sept-24 15:22:51

We're going to have a full English.

Shirls52000 Sat 28-Sept-24 15:20:25

Fancy ready meal with a starter and lovely rich dessert, bottle wine, nice liqueur for after and some chocolates, heaven xx

Gundy Sat 28-Sept-24 15:06:07

semperfidelis I like the idea of a ready made quiche that you can have for breakfast or lunch… then a bought dinner.

And yes, candles… more than one, I love candlelight. Don’t forget the music! Throw a small poinsettia in there too, for your dining room table, or wherever. You’ll have a readymade Christmas setup that will last till New Year’s.

Gundy Sat 28-Sept-24 14:52:30

Find a deli or market that will make a one person meal that you can take home and reheat. Then get a dessert or pudding for yourself. Done.

For cold selections: make a cheese and sausage platter you can munch on (or buy one) then supplement with a couple of premade salads (pasta, veggie, potato, coleslaw) in take out containers. You can eat for a couple of days off this and it’s delish.

Treat yourself!!!

V3ra Sat 28-Sept-24 14:07:39

I booked an Indian restaurant as a change one Christmas Day. They had traditional turkey on the menu as well.
My adult children were in uproar!
"It won't be the same..."
No, that was precisely why I did it!
Reluctantly I rang to cancel and explained why. The waiter was very understanding!