Alternatives for the Christmas day supper/dinner table...

Alternatives for the Christmas Day supper/dinner table...if dining solo. I was thinking a really nice homemade pizza with some higher end meats/cheeses etc but what else could be an option?

Sounds good!

I'm still doing the roast dinner. Have small boneless chicken and gammon joints which can then be sliced cold or into chunks for a pie. My high end goodies will be smoked salmon, prawns with a small pork pie (a proper one not that yukky bright pink meat).

Also have an individual Christmas pudding. I know it's not everyone's taste but will be a good substitute as can't seem to find a decent small cake this year (that doesn't cost a fortune!).

Saw a great idea on a cookery show at the weekend. A different way to prepare stuffing/seasoning. Line dish with streaky bacon, so there's some hanging over the sides. Then fill dish with your chosen stuffing (either shop bought or homemade). Fold the bacon over to make a "parcel" and bake in oven until bacon is crispy. I'll be doing this in a ramekin; just enough for me. Nearly forgot, will be adding chopped dried apricots to the stuffing. Yumyum!

I'm almost always alone for the holidays, and my go to, is a Cornish Hen. They're the perfect size for one person - 2 portions, they only take about an hour to roast, and I'll make it with sweet potatoes and other veg. that I like. Shortbread for desert.

Finger foods. Cold cuts and cheeses and veggies/olives/cut up fruits/grapes etc and either good artisan bread or nice crackers. Nothing elaborate or in need of warming up

Mum and I are getting brunch for 2. It’s enough food for all day Saturday. It’s quiche, casserole, sausage and biscuits, cinnamon buns. We won’t sit down to a traditional meal but graze all day.

I read that someone is going to have a chinese takeout christmas day

yum..

It's a stereotype in the US that Jewish people go out for Chinese food on Christmas day. Not sure if that's still the case or not.

I was all alone last year. I think I just got delivery from a restaurant.

I'm spending the afternoon visiting a friend who is in a physical rehab place. Two hour drive to get there, spend the afternoon and two hour drive home I suspect all I'm going to have energy for is a sandwich.

Quizzically, your homemade pizza sounds good.

Splitimage, I haven't had a game hen in ages. I might fix one on Christmas Eve.

My mom always made lasagna for Christmas Eve then ham, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies etc for Christmas Day. It’s just me now here so I’m not making anything. On New Years Eve though I’m getting Chinese takeout.

Thanks everyone! Was interesting to hear Chinese food mentioned. That's where Ralphie's family wound up in A Christmas Story isn't it. Wow...It would actually be a top 3 option if it was available around here. I haven't had Chinese takeout for ages. A Christmas buffet visit even better!

I only know one family who does go for Chinese place in Christmas Eve.. Other than that in my experience people either just live their lives like normal or celebrate with whoever celebrates.

My family often send me home with 'leftovers' which I sometimes make into 'christmas curry' if leftovers are just extra veg and meat.


I also keep pizza bases in the freezer so sometimes will save some of the meat to put on top of pizza with red and green peppers 'christmas pizza' ..lol! depends what the leftovers are!

I have no idea what I'm eating on the 24th or the 25th. I live alone.

I haven't had Chinese food since 2019! There aren't many Chinese places in Idaho. I miss it. I'd love to have Chinese food for Christmas or New Years!

I also miss Japanese food, too! I miss real ramen and sashimi!

Chinese doesn't seem to be so popular in the UK, it's Indian that's No 1.

Couple of Chinese restaurants locally but not very good. Takeaways more, but widely differing quality. My usual one now rubbish and really hiked their prices. Hadn't been to nearest one for ages then tried again couple of weeks ago. Food good, but only take cash. That's how they keep their prices down.

After lunch with mother and aunt the other day, when they were talking about sausage rolls, I've just made some. Skinned some pork and caramelised onion sausages then used ready rolled puff pastry. Now in freezer. Did try one; well you have to don't you? They are yummy

I noticed Chinese takeaways often say cash only too posh girl, I hadn’t really thought about why.

I knew a family who always had a Chinese meal every Christmas Eve at the same family run restaurant, it’s nice when people have these traditions.

We’re having the traditional lunch with turkey and trimmings tomorrow, but I’m having nut roast which I just made for myself. On Boxing Day I like to make Christmas casserole which is chestnuts, parsnips, sprouts and a spoonful of cranberry sauce in the gravy.

My sister normally makes lasagne as they don’t like turkey.

I might try to find some ramen noodles in one of my storage bins and eat that.

Tomato soup (red), grilled cheese (gold) and sautéed broccoli (green) is my Christmas Eve dinner for the last 11 years. A few years ago(2017) I had a few friends over on Christmas eve who were otherwise alone for a variety of reasons. They thought the soup, sandwich and veggie dinner was fun and festive. Easy to make and cleanup too.

I'm not Jewish, but my family went to a Chinese restaurant the Christmas after my mother died. She used to always host the holidays, so we needed to do something quite different. Chinese restaurants are a great choice since a) many are open on Christmas Day, and b) if they are good ones, a great feast can be had.

If I was alone, a Chinese restaurant would again be a treat. I lived in Taiwan and traveled throughout China in my youth, so especially appreciate fine Chinese cuisine. When I lived in New Jersey, there was an outstanding Sichuan restaurant nearby. I miss it.

Went to an excellent Korean restaurant for Christmas dinner since celebrated a few days earlier with sister and her kids

Thanks folks...lots of good stuff! I went with a codfish chowder along with some crackers, nice cheese and Italian salami for later. Couldn't get the cheese and meat out of my head! I made little mini pizzas I guess you could say...a slice of cheese and cucumber on a cracker topped with basil pesto and a chunk each of onion red sweet pepper and salami. I had cherry tomatoes on the side. Not a trad. Christmas feast but it was satisfying. The chowder turned out well. It's an old standard recipe of mine.