What do you eat in the run up to Christmas?

Rockgran - sorry!

I will be on my own this Christmas, no need to go crazy but I want something decent to eat as well as the basics. I had had enough of supermarkets so I decided to do a large shop on line. I have asked for no substitutions so I will see what comes. I doubt if I will starve. I have decided on a sirloin steak for Christmas day, that is what I fancy.

Up to Christmas I cook the unmarked pakages in the freezer and like others, get a shock.

Never really plan food in advance. Well Xmas Day and Boxing Day have been vaguely sorted, and ordered on Ocado. Sunday will be a pizza place with grandsons (not the awful Hut or the other ridiculous one). Other days, who knows?

Daughter cooks Mama Sergio's pasta on Xmas Eve. That is always delicious. [chenille]

Sod.

Glad that you're in fine fettle, jings

It's funny how that happens isn't it! I just did the main Christmas food shop today ( my parents on the actual day, daughter, her fiancé and my GS to stay for 2 nights after that)I wrote a list of stuff for them , completely omitting to get anything for myself in the meantime! I did get some ham so will probably eat that in various ways for the next few days until Christmas. Luckily it's just me for meals so I can have 'make do' without having anyone else to complain about it!

Kept it all very simple in between some lovely lunches and dinners out! Pasta, gnocchi, rice for me, and the same with some meat thrown in for Theseus. It's been a matter of balancing things out, really.

Just had an egg mayo sandwich and a mince pie. I have no idea what's in the freezer for my evening meal. I might have a surprise!

We had ham egg and chips last night - with peas. Tonight DH is making pizza after he has iced the cake. I am having nervous breakdown as have just deep cleaned the kitchen!!!! Tomorrow we are going out. Family arrives Monday so Christmas menus start then - which just leaves the problem of Sunday!!
AAAARgh!

I just had 2 slices of Cheese on toast with Dijon mustard and one slice of a lettuce and cucumber sandwich. Along with a vegetarian mulligatawny cup soup.
It might not be "whole food" but it was very cheering. I can eat cheese on toast any time and you don't need thick slices of cheese.

Sounds lovely, Nellie, but how big is a slice of sandwich...?

Yes! That was a bit vague. One slice of bread folded in half! I really try not to eat more than 3 slices at lunchtime.

We are having quail in red pepper sauce and achocha vegetable curry with peach chutney. Everything homegrown, except the quail.

Wow Mamie, sounds divine. I have now idea what achocha is, so before I ask you, let me say what my daughter replies when I ask any question these days, whether she knows the answer or not - "Let me Google it for you" LOL.

Peruvian vegetable that gives us a small EEC mountain every year.
Very exciting today because Intermarché had garlic and coriander naan.

Granny , Achocha is Bolivian Cucumber.
We had it at SIL"S Mums when we were last in France with them .
I enjoyed it , currying it would I think add to the flavour !

I will do roast Mediterranean veg with Feta cheese and pasta over the weekend to reduce the courgette and pepper mountain.
Tonight its a "boughten" Cheese and onion quiche. I have my choir carol concert and need to leave home early.

I might do vegetarian enchiladas xmas eve. I will need to buy some wraps but the left overs freeze very well.

My big Christmas meals will be on Friday and Saturday when hopefully my family are all here.

The things you learn on Gransnet - Bolivian cucumber now. Just googled it but is it the spiky one or the smooth one? And do you have to peel it?

Cheese on toast or a boiled egg does it for me.

Ours is the smooth one, sort of cross between a pepper and a cucumber. You don't have to peel it, but it has amazing primeval looking black seeds that you have to remove. I think it is a very ancient vegetable; we got our original seeds from the Garden Organic heritage seed library.

Mamie your dinner sounds pretty fabulous , one way and another . bon appetit !!


we are having fish, cauli/broccoli

I had just reconciled myself to macaroni shees when I read Mamie and Nelliemoser and now feel totally inadequate.
Toast and marmite anybody?

I don't eat anything different in the run up to Christmas, but shall have to juggle my alternate day fasting to make Wednesday an 'eating day'. Before the family all visit between Christmas and New year I shall try a recipe which I might serve. To accompany a honey roast bacon joint, my GCs want me to make Pineapple and Ritz Cracker Casserole . It sounds revolting but I shall give it a go!

Thanks Mamie that does sound interesting. I didn't appreciate that I will have to grow it though. A long wait until next year's harvest. In the meantime, I'll have to make do with whatever veg Mr Sainsbury can provide, that I haven't labelled Do Not Touch, Christmas Only.

So tonight it is pan-fried scallops and bacon on a purée of squash with sage and garlic, with braised chicory.

I make a large quantity of bolognese sauce but I use quorn mince as my daughter is veggie. I add finely chopped vegetables - carrots, onions, celery, peppers, courgette, aubergine, whatever - plus tinned tomatoes, garlic, herbs, pepper, a few spices, whatever comes to hand! Use the mix as a basis for chilli (add tins of various beans or pulses), or shepherds pie, lasagne (we're having that on Christmas Eve with salad). Casseroles are easy to do; chicken portions with onion, garlic, mushrooms, herbs etc cooked in cider, add a sloosh of creme fraiche or grate some orange zest into it for a lovely flavour. Serve with rice, polenta or mash. Perfect comfort food!