Christmas lunch alone, what food would you choose?

Joseann

I like your menu shysal.
Me, those smoked salmon parcels with soft cheese to start, then salmon (again!) en croute with a selection of vegetables, followed by trifle.
And plenty of wine.

This.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202401/medium-499790-cheese-y-semillas-de-granada.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202401/medium-211271-cheeseolives123139901-10159397024356800-8738893548741597406-o.jpg

My husband, married twin daughters, 2 son in laws and 3 grandchildren: Interesting question.

Perhaps a cheese board for the 31st plus ceremony 12 Spanish grape ceremony and for the 1st, Beef Wellington.

We cannot eat heavy at night. It just does not digest well.

See photos below.

henetha

Oh, grandetanteJE65. I do hope your Christmas Day will be peaceful. Just you and the cats. I hope I remember to think of you, and all those alone at Christmas. 😊

GrandetanteJE65💐. Sending you hugs.

Grants rope hung salmon with blinis, salmon caviar and sour cream. A Roast Duck with all the trimmings and cherry sauce. Followed by a big slice of Bouche de Noel and extra cream, Fortnum and Masons stuffed prunes and marron glace. With a Pantone and Panforte de Sienna to nibble. Just a scaled-down version of what we have. All washed down with a good Riesling.
All bought locally supporting the local eccomomy.

DrWatson Nothing snooty about Waitrose or M&S, more expensive, no doubt, but if you cannot throw caution to the wind at Christmas and indulge in something extravagwnt, when can you.

Standard caution: yes, I do understand that there are people who cannot afford to be extravagent - ever-, but for the majority, they can once a year.

Been thinking about the 'favourite' question. If on my own, I think I would give a nod to Xmas, and have a ready-meal, they'd be fine. [any snooty folk putting down Waitrose or especially M&S food-halls should think again!]. For a pud, assuming I thought ahead, I'd have some ice-cream, probably rum & raisin or pistachio flavour, not Xmassy but I just like them.

For a snack later, I think I'd delve back to my childhood, and have a fried-egg sandwich; it was a favourite after I saw my dad have one, and I was able to share. Best if you can keep the yolk intact to bite into, just have tissues ready?!

And to get into the Xmas spirit, I recall when young that my parents always had a big bowl of nuts, walnuts, brazils, etc, with a panic every year to find the nutcrackers, but those nuts didn't get eaten for weeks later, when my dad would announce they're not going to waste, so there'd be a major nutcracking session to use them up. Now, my feeble hands these days can barely crack a broad bean, but I WOULD recreate the nuts at Xmas thing, I'd have a giant bag (or some smaller ones) of Cashews, maybe roast peanuts, and certainly pistachios. I'd tell myself they'd be to offer if someone did come round, but actually I'd be dipping into them on a regular basis?!

Oh, yes, chocolates, another Xmas thing, but I can't eat many now, too sickly, so I'd indulge by getting a Fry's chocolate cream, (I'm sure they don't do the 5 fruity flavours now?), or possibly a Turkish Delight (they're only tiny these days!). I'd try to make them last a couple of days?!!

When did COOK become Cookfood?
(As far as I know, it isn’t)
BTW if you are in the Glasgow area COOK Glasgow are offering a 15% discount.

15% off is only available for purchases made in COOK Glasgow or online by visiting: www.cookfood.net as long as the order is fulfilled by COOK Glasgow. The code is not available in any other COOK shops, supermarkets, farm shops, or other independent stores with COOK freezers. Discount applies to all full priced products in store and online, excluding gift cards. Other vouchers, discounts and loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with the 15% discount. No returns or partial reimbursements on previous purchases.

I found this site www.trustedcare.co.uk/help-and-advice/christmas-meal-delivery-boxes-for-over-65

They have a list of, quite surprising places offering Christmas dinners. For most it is dinner for 2, but you could always put the second portion in the freezer for New Year's day.

It also seemed to me that you could always add a few extras - cranberry sauce, or make some really nice gravy, with a dash of red wine in it.

Waitrose seems a non-starter but ocado sell an M&S Cjristmas meal for one. You could also buy cold roast turkey and ham and then do all veg seprately yourself. There is rarely anything to beat freshly roast potatoes to your own recipe.

Oh dear, what happens when I internet browse, I went on cookfood and as I have been delighted with the infrequent past purchases, I have booked a delivery date mid december and made an order. For the periphery meals you understand, the main will still be home-cooked stuffed turkey I think, depends on finances as to whether I order it. All options are covered whatever

Puddings and solo meals are ordered as well as a veggie wellington for two, will keep fine in the fridge for the day after cooking

For SeaKay, where to find that ready meal, well, Mr Google quickly showed Waitrose and M&S as likely candidates, and I think I've seen them in the latter, though I wasn't really looking for them. On the online side, the CookFood and SquareMeal websites both claim several options of that ilk?

For CanadianG, sure, Black Forest trifle (or gateau we had for years) is fine, but you could also try the Italian marvel called Tiramisu.

I simply can't understand how others can really enjoy a meal that results from the torture and/or killing of other creatures - so I'd have my favourite, a vegetable curry.

I love tapas style food so would probably do a grazing board but would include pigs in blankets and some nice pork & cranberry type stuffing . With a nice glass of champagne to start and glass of red later on.😋

Gammon steak with egg and pineapple(!), plus peas and chips. Followed by Creme Brûlée.
OR
Trout with dressing plus chips and peas!

I wouldn't be bothered for just me...just whatever was in .....probably just snacks thru day

Travelling around have had all sorts of different meals for christmas and am on my own this year. So far I plan to have duck leg with roast potatoes etc and probably a glass of Pinot Grigio, maybe a small christmas pudding but more likely to be either banana flambe 9easily done in microwave) with either brandy or rum on it, or some tip top icecream. Of course the joy is that I can change my mind totally and have anything I want or more likely collect up a posh picnic selection and either go up to my beloved Swaledale and think of my darling husbands and our many times there or go the other way and off to the coast to see the sea!!

I am hedging my bets at the moment, widowed, hence alone. I picked up a marks and spencers christmas dinner and quickly put it down. I am not going mass produced

I buy organic and have filled my christmas delivery with all sorts of mains, from nut roast to stuffed turkey breast. Plus all sorts of delicious veg, probably 20 items for now, safeguarded for me but I will likely delete most by the last ordering date

I am still not sure, smoked salmon is a definite and I have already made the breakfast croissants (ok I like the process} all organic butter etc, none of that vegan stuff.

Ooh yes, I did already buy a small piece of gammon, I will prep slice, vac pack and freeze, I also bought good quality piccalilli. I love a ham and piccalilli sandwich.Yum thats at least a few meals after christmas sorted

I would have prawns and scallops for an entree followed by pan fried gurnard, salad and crispy spuddy.
And for pudding I'd have two of those little tiramisus from the supermarket!

I would treat myself to a Guinea Fowl with the usual roast and vegetables (not sprouts) I love the gamey taste of it.
No pudding but a lovely, large box of Ferrero Roche to last the rest of the day.
Then I could watch whatever I wanted on the telly or switch off if I felt like it.
Heaven!

I was so sorry to hear about your losses Nansypansy. I’m sure you will all be glad when it’s all over. Sending you a hug. 💐

Probably a poached egg on toast. 🙄

I had a couple of Christmas days alone after my divorce,before I met my present husband. I lived a long way from my brother and cousins and don't drive. I used to go to M&S and buy the nicest food I could find, not necessarily Christmas dinner, a creme brulee dessert, box of chocolates, ready mixed tin of cocktail. I didn't attempt to cook a Christmas dinner.
I took myself off to church, went for a walk, rang my son who lives abroad, sat down to watch films I'd recorded while eating my favourite foods. Just treat yourself to what you love.

Christmas is a dreadful time for me. My son was diagnosed with a brain tumour 23 years ago. He died at 34 two and a half years later. Last Christmas Day my 28 year old granddaughter died, unexplained …. It was also my daughter’s birthday. My other son is hosting Christmas this year and we will try and put on a brave face, but I shall be glad when it’s all over.

I would have cold meats and salad with a jacket potato and panna cotta with raspberry couli to follow.
I hate Christmas dinner!
Boxing Day would be a homemade soup with crusty baguette and more panna cotta 😋

I've been on my own now for about 9 years since my son left home and have spent every xmas on my own.

It's just another day, nothing special when you're doing exactly the same as you would any other day of the week/month/year, so I just wait until I'm feeling peckish and look into the cupboards/fridge/freezer and just have whatever I fancy. Although, as I've had a Pressure King Pro (electric pressure cooker) for about 8 years, every day from October to March there's usually a pot of some sort of stew on the go, so I will (more often than not) just dish up a bowl of lovely hearty stew for myself, and as some to my dog's bowl too (he loves my stews), then go back to bed to watch tv and keep warm.