Christmas alone

I have had two invites to AC, one will be before christmas and one after. I don`t stay overnight as I love my own bed. Prior visit are vegans and they always do lovely food, after I think it will be a roast dinner but tbf everything depends on the weather. I won`t be driving in snow or similar so am getting fully prepared for the long `holiday`

For christmas day and beyond, I have already made my order of an organic wild game and fruit loaf. I could not be doing with turkey. This will stay in my freezer as soon as it is delivered on 22 december. I will cook it when I feel like it

I have ordered some excellent cheese, chocolates and biscuits and a few other bits, including bake at home sourdough crusty rolls and smoked salmon. Nothing over the top but I will be quietly treating myself over the whole holiday

Thankfully, I am never the granny in the corner, as I could be if I stayed too long. Short, vibrant and a very lovely times await with AC then also a fantastic, quiet time in my own nest. Doorbell will not be answered, unless it is a delivery driver, everyone knows I am hale, hearty and independent, very happy in my own company

I don`t think I will bother to put any decor up, my room is already uplifting and I cba to put everything away afterwards. I did buy myself early christmas presents, all top notch stuff for my hobbies. Not put away but already in use

BA69

I've gone off big Christmas dinners so I'd choose a prepared lobster half from M&S or Waitrose and a watercress and orange salad with trifle for afters and a few glasses of champagne . Then I'd watch a good old Christmas film with a box of nice chocolates.

I’ve not had a turkey dinner for couple of years now.. I buy a Salmon Wellington with either a dill sauce or white wine sauce- have some warm and then the rest cold- it’s still delicious and tasty… don’t put pressure on yourself 😊

I had bad flu a few Christmases ago so my husband went alone to stay with one of our children. He bought me a selection of my favourite ready meals before he left and I had a lovely peaceful time, sleeping for most of the day. By the time he came back four days later I was feeling fighting fit and I cooked a delayed Christmas meal for us both.

I thought I was going to be alone this Christmas and if I still was if I was I fully intended to do myself a turkey dinner. I would either buy a little frozen turkey from Lidl and get my neighbour to halve it with his saw and freeze half. The rest I would roast, make a sarnie later, cold on Boxing Day and the remainder make a curry from the meat and stock from the carcass …. Freeze some and make a nice soup with some.😊

I wonder if a slow cooked Turkey leg might suit Juniewoonie? There seem to be quite a few recipes online or Cook do one:

www.cookfood.net/products/stuffed-thigh-of-turkey

www.cookfood.net/menu/christmas/christmas-day

I would do myself a Turkey crown roast dinner and all the trimmings and then have enough cold Turkey for Boxing Day and sandwiches. I would choose myself a nice bottle of wine and enjoy what I wanted to watch on TV.

Why not spoil yourself and go out for a meal.
Or if you have a slow cooker make one of your favourite meals the day before

I live on my own now and really missed roast dinners. Found M&S chicken breasts with skin on so now roast one, skin on keeps the chicken juicy basted with butter and onion salt. Cooked in oven same time as roast potatoes and mixed veg.

It is possible to cook a traditional Christmas dinner as a tray bake. Just use turkey breasts or chicken breasts add the usual vegetables and stuffing balls put it in the oven. All done in one dish and minimal washing up.

A lot of people arent even that keen on traditional dinners though.

Thats the joy of having nobody else to please, eating whatever you want.

Get the smaller turkey crown and do enough veg for two then there will be enough to make gorgeous bubble and squeak.
Ps. Don’t forget the brown sauce juniewoonie!

Give me good beef any day. But wouldn’t turn my nose up at a traditional festive roast turkey as long as there are lashings of cranberry sauce and gravy, and it is served HOT😋

Someone in here said they ordered Indian food on Christmas eve, then ate it on Christmas day.

That sounds quite appealing.

shysal

Last year when I was alone for Christmas Day I asked myself what was my favourite food. The answer was Baked Camembert, so that is what I had with a garlic baguette, all done in what was then my new air fryer. I think I also made a dessert to last over the holiday. This year I am already looking forward to doing the same again.
Enjoy your day doing as you please! 🎄

That’s the spirit!😃
Have whatever you like best.

I might be on my own this year and am already wondering what to have, you ladies have given me a lot of great ideas thank you.

Eat whatever you want and enjoy it. Before I remarried I was on my own for many a Christmas. I remember having fish fingers and chips the first year because I just couldn’t face cooking anything else.

My own personal choice would be steak and chips. A good quality thick cut sirloin, cooked exactly how I like it, with my favourite oven chips (McCain triple cooked Gastro chips) and some button mushrooms. Not much on puds but my favourite (and very old fashioned) starter is a home made prawn cocktail - in a cocktail or wine glass with shredded lettuce and spring onion in the base. To finish, later on would be Irish coffee and a couple of really nice quality chocolates.

If i do, I won't be doing much cooking, more assembly. I would
have a bottle of champagne, to be opened after 12. A steak and mushroom pie, that I had made and froze, loads of greens and a few roasts and gravy, or failing that a salmon wellington with lots of greens. A m and s trifle, ginger cheese and biscuits and a tin of Quality Street. A bag of walnuts and my favourite tv programmes and no stress. I might not get dressed I would have to see. Boxing Day I would try tovwalk it all off,

I've been on my own for over 12yrs. I always feel uncomfortable going to other people. I always tell myself be kind to myself and treat myself to what I fancy for dinner normally end up with a nice piece lamb. Eat on my own then put my feet up and watch what I like when I like. Try it you might enjoy it. Good luck

BA69, so sorry to read about your husband.

I absolutely get what you mean about feeling like a charity case. If on my own I know I’d never want neighbours to be thinking, ‘Poor old thing, hadn’t we better invite her for Christmas Day?’

I’m sure I’d far rather be at home, eating and drinking what I want whenever I want it, and watching whatever I like on the TV. Or feet up on the sofa, immersed in a nice new book!

Have a turkey roll with stuffing. They are very nice. We have had them from M&S and Aldi. Both good.

Unless you want turkey, I’d be making myself a nice lasagna. Bonus that it can be done in advance!

BA69

This is my first Christmas without my husband of 53 years, he has just passed. We always went out for Christmas dinner to a restaurant as we have no children, I have been invited to my brother in laws and his family for the day although we never went before. It is kind of them, but I know I will be out of my comfort zone and now having read all these suggestions for dinner I quite fancy good cheese and biscuits with a bottle of red wine watching something on TV. The only thing is I don't want neighbours etc. feeling sorry for me, feeling they have to invite me. They put out these things on tv about visiting anyone on their own on Chistmas Day. Know everyone means well but makes me feel like a charity case.

Like Witzend, I understand about not wanting to feel like a charity case, and I do offer you condolences. A day pleasing yourself may not be as daunting as you fear, so do just that.
The Bodach and I went away at Christmas, as once the children were grown neither of us were fans, so when he died, for the last two years I’ve gone away to the sun on my own, which I’m happy to do, and it avoids me feeling that my children are thinking they have to invite me. They are all quite happy to have Christmas day in their own homes with their children, and meet up another time. Mind you, if I am no longr fit to travel, I’ll be quite content to spend the day with food and drink!

BA69, I know of one lady who didn’t want inviting to either family,friends or neighbours taking pity on her inviting her for Christmas lunch that told everyone she was volunteering to wait on the local people’s Christmas dinner and would be very busy from early on in the morning and would be exhausted by the time she got home late afternoon!
Everyone said how marvellous she was and how unselfish!
I was very honoured to be let into her ‘white lie’