Christmas Lunch for Singles

[runningon]

I'm likely to be alone this coming Christmas, and of course my main concern is what to have for Christmas lunch.
Pref something I can cook the day before or is very minimal prep time.
Anyone been alone at Christmas?
What did you fee yourself.
I am definitely not going to do Turkey with all the trimmings for one!

Well what's your absolute fave food? Personally mine is snack/party food such as crisps, pate, good cheese, nice bread, olives and dips and so on.

I'd probably get loads of that sort of thing and some lovely ham on the bone to slice up and have with pickles!

Then I'd have icecream or pavlova with loads of fruit and cream.

What do you like to eat best?

If you don't want to do turkey and all the trimmings, is it that it's too much faff for one, or you don't actually like turkey?

If you LIKE turkey, a small breast joint can be easily done and would have some leftovers but not so much you can't use it up in a couple of days (1 sandwiches meal, 1 leftovers curry/reheated in gravy/pie) or freeze leftovers for using at a later time (it freezes really well). And the sides can be baby potatoes roasted (leave skins on, but halve the spuds, toss in olive oil, salt/pepper, dried rosemary and garlic granules in a plastic tub/Ziploc bag the day before, then just toss into a roasting dish for 45-60 minutes), 1 favourite veg dish (lots can be pre-prepared eg cauliflower cheese can be made and frozen to throw into the oven to heat up, or as simple as nice frozen peas boiled up), and gravy made with the turkey juices and some bisto powder or similar. So quite minimal fuss but still lovely.

When I am alone, I love to do things like lamb shanks roasted slowly, with some mediteranean veggies and baby roast potatoes, or sometimes roasted root veg and creamy mash.

Sometimes it is very simple - cured meats, cheese, pate, nice crackers (I got some lovely sourdough ones last year, really moreish), olives etc. Just laid on the table to nibble as I sip something lovely (Lidl do their prosecco in half bottles, for example, or I might open a bottle of wine and put the cork back in after a glass or 2 to drink over the next few days, sometimes its as simple as really nice lemonade) and read my good book or watch good movies.

If I'm going to be out and about, and need something warming when I get in, I make a pot of soup. It can last a few days, extra can be frozen, but it is great to have to just heat up and re-warm after an outdoor adventure. I particularly like:

• chunky mushroom (I put a dollop of crème fraiche in the bottom of the bowl, and snip some chives over the top to make it special);
• rustic tomato (gently fry a chopped onion, add a tin of Campbell's tomato soup and a tin of chopped tomatoes, measure the milk and water (50/50 mix) to add in the soup tin, but swirl it around both tins before adding to the pot to get as much tomato out of both, season with dried herbs (oregano or basil or thyme) and heat through);
• cauliflower (really tasty!); or
• a hearty chicken and veg soup.

I’d either go for your favourite food, regardless of what that is, or a little buffet dinner of special treat foods, or a roast duck.

Sorry, I meant to say something like the lamb shanks is generally prepped the day before - veggies chopped and seasoned in a Ziploc, lamb with some olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs (maybe a dash of balsamic vinegar) in another Ziploc, and garlic baby potatoes (as above) in a 3rd Ziploc in the fridge.

Turn oven on (I might even set it on timer with the lamb if I am doing low and slow), potatoes only need 45-60 minutes, veg about 25, and it's just a case of open bag, throw on oven tray, chuck in the oven for all 3.

A really hearty stew could be a good idea too, and done the day before and just reheated, maybe with creamy mash that you peel and chop potatoes the day before and put in the pot in cold water while the stew is getting cooked initially. THen on 25th, change the water and pour over boiling water from kettle, drain once spuds cooked through, heat up milk and butter in the spuds and mash, then stir in a dash of cream for extra specialness.

I'm with @FortunesFave. That's what I did the year I chose to be alone! It was great.

If you enjoy a Christmas dinner I would make that but in smaller portions and do most of the prep the day before. And simplify it, use ready made stuff where you can. And loads of your favourite treats too.

I'd definitely go with the absolute favourite things. Especially things you usually avoid or ration.

I feel better eating low carb but in actual Christmas Day, a full bottle champagne, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast. It would be late and toast for later.

Chocolates, loads of chocolate. Ice creme

A schedule of things to do incase I want to, that I can then skip if the mood takes me.

Take it in the spirit of a whole day absolutely to do whatever you want. Whenever you want. Bliss.

Ideally I would have a takeaway (I rarely have them normally).
But I live in a small place and the choice and quality of places is very limited.
There's nothing more disappointing than a rubbish takeaway.
I like most foods, love 'world' foods not a massive fan of eating loads of meat, but I don't want to spend time cooking on the day, I want a proper day off - as a permanently single person, just out of a marriage where I had to do all the cooking, I'm over it!
I think maybe a hot/cold buffet selection is maybe the way to go.

I will make myself a proper sherry trifle though - Bliss!

M&S party food selection
Or Cook do 1 or 2 person full Christmas lunches which you just pop in the oven, and they are really nice, not quite up to home made but the closest. If you don't fancy Christmas lunch they also do some fantastic other 1 person meals, the fish pie is divine

Oh yes, I see what you mean about takeaway. Some of the M&S options are very good, especially in comparison to standard takeaway fare.

I hope it works out for you and you really enjoy the time. All the best.

I'd have one of these!

www.facebook.com/grazeuponus/

Party foods all the way.
I did Christmas on my own one year, and I bought anything that I would want that was quick and easy and the Iceland or M&S pert foods and some cheese and a lovely dessert with lots of sherry and i was fairly happy.

I'd definitely go for the trifle! Grazing board with some special cheeses, olives, nice bread.

I’d definitely get some ready made M&S things and some nice cheeses and wine - as little prep as possible!

The best thing about Christmas is the food.

What about getting a nice takeaway a few days before that you could reheat?

I don't mind cooking so if it was me, I'd be treating myself to a nice steak and some read made potato gratin with some frozen veg, with a huge cheese board and some probably a trifle or treacle sponge. Then I'd eat what I wanted whenever I fancied it all day.

Get yourself some tasty cheeses and chutneys, biscuits and party food. Treat yourself to a take away or two

Mmm I often dream about having xmas alone. I would make myself a bacon sandwich for breakfast, then a nice long warm bath then go for a long walk in the late morning. Then come home and attack the booze mountain I've bought in and switch the telly on for background noise.

I would buy in loads of stuff from M&S to bung in the microwave and have something like a Beef Wellington or fancy pie as the main

There's loads of nice lovely nibbly things like baked Camembert with nice bread, tapas selections and loads of puddings! You can get smoked salmon blini kits for breakfast and nuts to snack on.

What's your favourite take away? Is there any chance you can replicate this at home before the big day and then just heat it up.

Personally I would go for biscuits, cheese, pate and a bottle of prosecco.

If the takeaways are open could you order one but have some other food in as a back up incase it turns out to be disappointing? (Maybe do a trial earlier in the year to find a good one!) Hope you have a great day, I agree with previous posters that processco and tons of chees is a good shout!

Pot of veg chilli in slow cooker or just buy the three bean one from asda and add some bits to make it a meal. Hate spending time cooking on christmas day.

Definitely check out the COOK meals, pricey but delicious. And yes a cheese and nibbles board for the evening (with a nice bottle of wine of course). Oh and chuck loads of sherry in that trifle!

Surely the best thing about being alone is that you don't have to plan it in July?
But some of these ideas sound punitive. Reheated takeway? Are Primark doing a range of sackcloth and ashes Christmas pyjamas?