Christams for 2

katie_saver

Hello,

Due to unforeseen and sad circumstances, my brother and I will be alone this Christmas (we're not children though, 39 and 40 -something me). Dad is in hospital and Mum passed away. Both single - friends all have lots of family and are busy.
I'm sure there are lots of threads here about how to have a cheap christmas dinner but I really don't want to waste food and brother is very fussy about eating the same thing twice, he is however an excellent cook! Any ideas or please direct me to one of the excellent threads that may help me?
Thanks in advance.
K x

PasturesNew

First you need to make a list of everything that's Xmas for YOU.

Then go through it together marking out "must have", "I'd like that", "we can drop that".

Then think about quantities. The hardest bit is reining in the quantities you'll realistically wish to eat your way through.

Only then can you really work out the best way to cook a dinner for the two of you.

I'm doing Xmas for one this year and I've been mulling over my list for ages as it's easy to just "get greedy".

You really need a list of everything, so you're not sucked in buying stuff in the shops just because it's marketed as for Xmas.

e.g. I don't have a breakfast, or a starter, or a dessert. There'll be no mince pies, no Xmas pud. I won't be tempted to slide any of these into my trolley "because it's Xmas". No Panettone (never had one, why do I need to even glance at them; they're somebody else's Xmas). No booze - no need/can't drink a whole bottle. Crisps - go easy, a multipack of 6 is enough - and that means you can't also have Pringles... as that's "too much".

Same with sweeties .... really nail exactly how many sweeties you'll eat and how many and stick to it. For me, say, I'll be having one bag of 250 grams of really nice sweeties I like.

Watch out for the "Xmas shopping traps" like entire nets of satsumas, or huge bags of mixed nuts. Really question yourself if you'll REALLY eat them.

I need half of one parsnip .... and one potato (cut into 1/3rds) as a roastie.

Some things you can compromise and say "we'll go frozen", some might be "HAVE to be fresh".

But nail a very specific list and stick to it.

The list needs to be out on the table all the time really as you re-adjust your thinking....

Oh - and keep your list - then compare it 3 days after Xmas and make notes on what you can do without next year.... then next year you've got it nailed.

jackyann

First of all, my sympathies, and secondly, I would throw all pre-conceived ideas out of the window!
1. How is dad in general, and what hospital arrangements are there for Xmas? Some invite relatives to eat Xmas dinner in hospital (have no idea if you would wish to this anyway, or if it is at all appropriate)
2. In a similar situation, we actually sat down together and said 'what we like to eat?'
In our case, we choose a rich venison stew that our mother used to make for special occasions (though not Xmas). It felt that we made a nod to her presence and the festive occasion, but could freeze left-overs easily.
2 very christmassy things that keep well are gammon, and spiced beef. Wrapped well, they will keep for cold cuts for a good many days.
3. If you really want to be close to turkey, then a small chicken (would leave a small amount of left-overs) or pheasant (a single one just about right for 2, if you have to buy a brace, freeze one) cooked with all the trimmings would be lovely.
4. Turkey thighs can be bought quite cheaply and pot roast - they taste lovely, and we have made a very festive pie using turkey mince, spiced & flavoured (using Tom Kerridge's chicken pie recipe with a few additions)
5. I had one friend who accepted Xmas afternoon invitations, but would have a lunch time feast of oysters & lobster, that she wished to share with no-one!

So, make your own traditions, raising a glass to those who have gone before you. Good luck.

C_J

Those are very thoughtful and useful posts from PN and jackyann.

Maybe you and your brother shouldn't be seduced by all the TV ads and supermarket marketing ploys - do you actually WANT a traditional roast Christmas dinner? I think if I were catering for two, I might be tempted to just do a nice Christmas lunch of whatever it was we really enjoyed eating - whether that was a nice steak, or some salon fillet or whatever. It doesn't *have* to be a great big turkey or christmas pud or endless tubs of Celebrations (although try telling Mister CJ that - he's on his 3rd tub and it's only December 8th!)

Alternatively, if you really want sprouts and the works, could you afford to treat yourselves to go out for Christmas lunch?

PasturesNew

For me, for turkey, I'll decide at the last minute from one of the following:

- get a small crown, start it in the slow cooker Xmas morning, then slide a portion into the mini oven/grill for 15 minutes to brown before serving. Or cook it the day before, then nuke it followed by browning.
- get a turkey breast, cut it into 2-3 chunks, cook in the mini oven for 20-25 minutes on the day.
- buy a ready-cooked package of turkey breast and nuke it at the last minute.



In past years when we were doing mostly a veggie Xmas I picked up a turkey breast joint from M&S the first few years, then a supermarket one in later years (as M&S was a 30 mile round trip at the time). Those are the ones that come in the foil package wrapped with a cardboard wrapper, where you put the whole turkey and foil package into the oven for about 40 minutes.

katie_saver

Thank you all for your great suggestions - it is such a difficult time of year for us both but with your suggestions I feel a little less overwhelmed!
jackyann, unfortunately Dad lives several hundred miles away and we can't stay at his house because it is too small and very remote. He has a good network of people who are visiting him regularly so I don't feel so bad about that. We will visit him the weekend before if we can afford a cheap b&b or maybe after Xmas.
I would like to have turkey and so would bro so I think the idea of a small crown is a great one - thanks PasturesNew!!
And yes I agree totally with the making of a list and going through what we both want but also wil actually eat. I don't want to waste anything as you all point out - things are sold in massive sizes at Christmas which makes it hard. Aldi & Lidll are my friends and have been for a while but their veg is always in massive packs...

Anne_Marie_2

Sorry that you are having such a hard time just now.

Have you thought about getting a Christmas meal deal from one of the supermarkets? I did this for hubby and daughter's boyfriend for a couple of years, as daughter and I were eating vegetarian. It saved such a lot of fuss and there was no waste. It was purely a meat Christmas meal deal that I went for, although there well may have been bread sauce in there too, but no vegetables.
It's certainly not as cheap as buying a whole turkey and all the trimmings, when you compare it pound per pound. However, it's dashed worth it for the convenience, and not clogging up your freezer for a year.

Noticed on HotUKDeals that the Co-op have their Christmas meal deal (including veg) coming up from the 14th Dec.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/co-op-xmas-10-frozen-meal-deal-back-2567731

No doubt other supermarkets have similar deals on, so worth checking out.

Have a look in Iceland too if you have one nearby....I remember getting some frozen joints from there, ready to cook from frozen, which were quite good value, and went down well.

suki1964

katie_saver wrote: »

Thank you all for your great suggestions - it is such a difficult time of year for us both but with your suggestions I feel a little less overwhelmed!
jackyann, unfortunately Dad lives several hundred miles away and we can't stay at his house because it is too small and very remote. He has a good network of people who are visiting him regularly so I don't feel so bad about that. We will visit him the weekend before if we can afford a cheap b&b or maybe after Xmas.
I would like to have turkey and so would bro so I think the idea of a small crown is a great one - thanks PasturesNew!!
And yes I agree totally with the making of a list and going through what we both want but also wil actually eat. I don't want to waste anything as you all point out - things are sold in massive sizes at Christmas which makes it hard. Aldi & Lidll are my friends and have been for a while but their veg is always in massive packs...

Either use a greengrocer, market stall, or if no other choice, the supermarkets and buy just the fruit and veg you need. You don't have to buy a kilo of sprouts, just take a handful or two. I often just pick up one leek or 3 tomatoes or two spuds

Turkey crown will still leave a lot of left overs, so plan at the same time on how to use it up without it feeling like leftovers. My go to is turkey and leek pie ( Jamie Oliver ). I don't bother to follow the ingredient list, pancetta? A bit of streaky if I have it creme freche? Lovely but not needed

And maybe choose a different veg for those days

Depending on how many days you are cooking for, you can always pop out late Christmas Eve and nab some fantastic ys bargains, cream, pates etc. I always do to get a few luxuries at a price point that doesn't break the bank

Prinzessilein

Big virtual hugs for you!

There are usually just the two of us (my mother and myself) for Christmas. (9Although some years we invite an elderly friend of Mum's to join us).

The first Christmas after my step-dad died we realised just how MUCH we made for Christmas! Somehow we had never really sat down and thought about it all!. When Mum first married she brought her German traditions, and merged them with birthdad's British ones....and then when she much later married my step-dad his family traditions were incorporated too.....there was SO much food!

That first year we decided to forego the usual turkey and pork...and just have one piece of meat....venison, leftovers of which became a game pie for Boxing Day....More recently we have a mini-roast of turkey or chicken. It gives enough for two dinners each plus some sandwiches.

Make a plan for your Christmas food...obviously the main Christmas Dinner - including all your must-haves! ....but also consider things like Christmas breakfast (bacon and sausages? buy now if you spot an offer and freeze)...cheese and meats and pickles for sandwiches? (I have just bought ham which was yellow-stickered and popped it in the freezer)and 'extras' - what will you drink with the meal? (We have sparkling fruit juice - and get them when on a two-fer offer)...if you want alcohol, you could save by buying own label sparkling wine from budget shops....some of which are apparently highly-rated.....what about crackers? (We have stopped buying these as the gifts never really justify the expense)....nibbles, crisps,nuts, pretzels et.c - I find ignoring the big label brands is a real money-saver, and honestly the own-label popcorn I eat as my snack-of-choice is barely distinguishable from the bigger names which can cost 3 or 4 times as much.

Above all---have a lovely, blessed Christmas - both you and your brother...it has been a stressful time for you and you both deserve a day or two to relax and enjoy some treats and quiet times!

VfM4meplse

PasturesNew wrote: »

e.g. I don't have a breakfast, or a starter, or a dessert. There'll be no mince pies, no Xmas pud. I won't be tempted to slide any of these into my trolley "because it's Xmas". No Panettone (never had one, why do I need to even glance at them; they're somebody else's Xmas). No booze - no need/can't drink a whole bottle. Crisps - go easy, a multipack of 6 is enough - and that means you can't also have Pringles... as that's "too much".

Same with sweeties .... really nail exactly how many sweeties you'll eat and how many and stick to it. For me, say, I'll be having one bag of 250 grams of really nice sweeties I like.

Watch out for the "Xmas shopping traps" like entire nets of satsumas, or huge bags of mixed nuts. Really question yourself if you'll REALLY eat them.

I need half of one parsnip .... and one potato (cut into 1/3rds) as a roastie.

Some things you can compromise and say "we'll go frozen", some might be "HAVE to be fresh".

But nail a very specific list and stick to it.

PN, your restraint never fails to amaze me! Why not just forget its Christmas and stick to beans on toast?

katie_saver

Thank you thank you thank you for all your great suggestions and good wishes! I think that a last minute dash to suss out yellow stickered items is a great idea - I have 3 little supermarkets near me (I live in a city so am lucky) which means I can hoover up any deals! I love the idea of a turkey and leek pie for boxing day too - thanks!
I think I'm going to try and turn this into an alternative Christmas and see how much we actually do miss from the Christmas that is advertised (read rammmed down your throat!) who knows I may even enjoy it more.
And yes, bro and I will definitely be raising a glass to Dad and Mum. Got to be strong.