To ask for a festive meal for one!

[mytartanscarf]

Any ideas? I wasn't going to bother ... But I may cave after all. But I can't cook at all much ... anyone got any thoughts?

It all depends on what you want to eat

Not being able to cook should no longer be a problem with the 1000s of internet tutorials to follow.

What sort of food do you like?

M&S.

They do everything ready made... go early tomorrow and grab yourself a small roasting joint, some tatties, veg that can co in microwave, and they even do gravy that you just heat on hob.

Also do desserts.

Go early tho. I was in at 8am today and it was empty but fully stocked.

I second M & S for sensibly sized delicious stuff.

What do you normally eat if you can't cook? I'm not saying this to be judgemental but Christmas dinner can be a simple - and festive - as you like. There's plenty of ready made food in M & S that takes no trouble to bung in an oven.

I don't know how to roast meat

Worra the difficulty is you end up with far more than you need as most recipes assume for about 4 people.

You've got access to the internet. Google up how to roast meat! Truly, it's about the easiest cooking job there is!

I normally just have soup (tinned), cereal, toast.

I don't really like a lot of ready meals. Although I guess M & S should be quite nice?

Hm I'm not sure about that summerisle

M&S or supermarket prepared stuff. You even get little joints that do 2-3 so there isn't too much wastage.

That is what I'm doing as I am post nights and on my own and really won't be in the mood to cook!

A poussin (very small chicken) is enough for one, roasts in about 40 minutes. Salt and pepper the skin, dab a bit of butter on top, squeeze of lemon if you like, pop in the oven. It's pretty easy to tell when it's done - none of that clear juices thing, just pull the leg and if is comes away easily, it's done.

Do you want "Christmassy" or just "special and tasty"?

the thing about being on your own is you can have exactly what you like.

Nigella's feast has a great chapter on special meals for one including an individual one pan roast with a lamb shank, spaghetti al vongole, T-bone steak, wedges and onion rings and loads of other delicious bits. That's where I'd get my inspiration from.

For me if I'm on my own and fancy something special it's always a really good steak, one I'd never afford more than one of!

Id do a stuffed chicken breast - slice a pocket into it, add in a couple of slices of mozarella, a sliced tomato and a squirt of balsamic glaze. Wrap a few strips of parma ham around the chicken breast and shove it in the oven for about 20mins or so(its done when you stick a knife in and the juices are clear)
Id buy a ready done tray of dauphinoise pots and id boil up some broccoli.

Then for suppertime id get a pate and a nice block.of cheese, crackers, and a red onion chutney.

Yeah but being on my own I get what I want everyday.

I don't even know what I want! A home cooked meal made by somebody else

Agree that a poussin would be excellent, to make it a bit special, put a couple of spoonfuls of herb Boursin cheese inside before cooking. There will be cooking instructions on the pack.

Steak is also a good idea, you could get some ready made Peppercorn sauce or sauce Diane to dress it up a bit, maybe some mushrooms too.

Where in the uk are you. A lot of places are doing meals for 1 Christmas day so people are not on thier own.

Tarted I'd either go for a nice grazing plate. Anything you fancy from the deli; cheeses, cold meats, paté, olives etc with a nice bottle of wine and crusty bread.

Or I'd go for a nice steak. Make sure you take it out of the fridge 2-3 hours before you eat it. Season with salt&pepper. Put in a really really hot frying pan with olive oil. (Google cooking times) finish off with a good knob of butter. Serve with mash and green beans. For dessert I'd buy a nice chocolate mousse.

Im packing ds off after the prezzie experience, then I'm having an Aldi beef wellington all on my own. bliss

I've done lots of solo Christmases My choices are a swanky steak (which has the advantage of cooking in 5 mins) with oven chips & salad - this is my favourite meal any time! - or my other fave, crispy duck. I bought that ready prepared from Aldi (a whole duck!!) with all the pancakes, sauce, etc, included.

I also lay in lots of cake, mince pies & my preferred booze of the season, whack the heating up and schedule my films & tv. Nobody believes me, but I really enjoy it!

Oooh, another excellent choice, Rabbit!

I believe you Garlic

You don't have to roast meat big enough for just one!

Get a nice big [whatever] that feeds 8...have one meal then use the rest for soup/stews and Sarnies.

It doesn't surprise me, Garlic as I think a lot of us spend Christmas running ourselves ragged due to the competing demands of various relatives. Another vote for a nice steak, treat yourself to a really good quality one. I'd have it with garlic mash (very easy) and veg rather than chips though. I probably wouldn't bother with pudding, I'd just work my way through a box of Christmas chocs in front of the telly or with my favourite book...Hmmm, now fantasising about spending Christmas day alone.

If i was cooking for myself I woud do duck- it's fairly small with red cabbage and garlic potatoes - also enough for Boxing Day