Christmas dinner for one…Part One.

I know Christmas for many people for a variety of reasons and Covid…sigh… social isolating and bubbles which could mean Christmas dinner for one…

Christmas in a household of 4, for example, may mean a few compromises…especially if there is a fussy eater…then we get the TV and the music…maybe the games there is always a sore loser…

Christmas for one...means you can indulge yourself with your food choices…TV or music…your choice…there is no one to hog and eat all the best chocolates…less washing up and clearing away…you can veg out on the sofa after dinner…you can take a nap, read a book and eat chocolate, have a choice of TV channels, your choices are endless…It sounds close to heaven on earth to me…

What’s for dinner then? 

You could ask your butcher to cut you small lamb rack of 2/3 lamb cutlets and make a lovely crumb… its fairly quick to cook,

A nice piece of steak with new potatoes and a salad or a beautiful red wine sauce.

Pork fillet with a nice peppercorn sauce.

Salmon with new potatoes and asparagus.

A small turkey crown or a stuffed turkey thigh…

I did think about a nice quail, pigeon or venison but my son told me that they could be quite difficult to cook if you weren’t familiar with the cooking of them so, I discarded that thought unless of course, you are a cordon bleu chef and then it is a doddle.

If you just want traditional then here’s how…

A traditional Christmas dinner for one…

Ingredients:

  • 3 pork chipolata sausages
  • 1 small apple, cored, ½ grated, ½ cut into wedges
  • 4 walnut halves, chopped
  • 2 slices brown bread, chopped into small pieces
  • pinch of dried sage
  • 1 skinless chicken breast
  • 4 rashers streaky bacon
  • 5 Brussels sprouts, trimmed
  • 2 small potatoes, quartered
  • 1 medium parsnip, trimmed
  • 1 garlic clove, sliced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp vegetable, or sunflower oil
  • 250ml milk
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 shallot
  • 2 tsp butter
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 250ml red wine
  • 250ml beef or chicken stock (can be made with 1/2 stock cube)

Let’s Cook Christmas Dinner:

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Squeeze the meat from one of the chipolatas into a bowl, discarding the skin. Put the grated apple in a clean tea towel and squeeze out any excess liquid, then add to the sausagemeat with the walnuts, a quarter of the bread and the sage. Season, then combine using your hands and form into a fat sausage shape.

Cut a long slit in the chicken breast lengthways on one side, being careful not to cut it in half (you should be able to open it up like a book). Stuff the chicken breast with the stuffing sausage, then wrap two of the bacon rashers around it so it’s fully enclosed, securing it with a couple of cocktail sticks.

Put the stuffed chicken breast in a large roasting tin. Wrap the remaining bacon rashers around the remaining chipolatas and add to the tin around the chicken.

Christmas lunch would be the same without our pigs in blankets although I did see a recipe the other day for ducks in duvets which I found amusing…That recipe is for another day.

Add the apple wedges, sprouts and potatoes to the roasting tin. Cut the parsnip in half lengthways and put it, cut-side down, on a chopping board. Make very thin, close cuts into the parsnip halves that go almost but not fully through just to fancy it up like a Hasselback potato it is Christmas after all…

Transfer to the roasting tin with the garlic and two of the bay leaves. Drizzle over the oil and season everything with salt and pepper. Roast for 40-45 mins, or until everything is cooked through. Brush the vegetables in the oil and meat juices once or twice near the end of the cooking time. 

Now a traditional Christmas dinner would not be the same without bread sauce…which we can make while waiting for the meat and veggies to cook.

Pour the milk into a small saucepan with the remaining bay leaf, the cloves and shallot. Heat gently for 5-6 mins, stirring occasionally, or until the shallot is starting to soften. Strain the milk into a heatproof jug, reserving the shallot and discarding the bay leaf and cloves. Return the milk to the pan with the remaining bread and cook, stirring, until you have a thick, porridge-like sauce. Add half the butter and stir until melted, then season, remove from the heat and set aside. 

That’s the bread sauce done…x

Time for a glass of wine…

Now slice the reserved shallot, then add to a frying pan with the rest of the butter. Fry until just golden, then pour in the balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook until the vinegar has reduced and is thick and sticky, then add the wine. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, then stir in the stock and bubble until the sauce is glossy and slightly thickened. 

Gently reheat the bread sauce. Slice half the chicken (reserving the rest for leftovers) and put on a plate with the pigs in blankets and the roast apple, sprouts, potatoes and parsnip. Drizzle over the red wine gravy and serve with the pickled red cabbage and cranberry and bread sauces on the side. 

Serve with cranberry sauce and my spiced red cabbage. This red cabbage can be made in advance it freezes well and keeps in the fridge well for at least 2/3 weeks. You can make as little or as much as you like by adjusting the recipe and it also pairs well with a roast dinner so there will some left if you are cooking for one for a few other meals.

Enjoy!

Until next time stay safe and well and have a joyous festive season…xxx

 

 

29 thoughts on “Christmas dinner for one…Part One.”

  1. Pingback: CarolCooks2 weekly roundup…13th December-19th December…Recipes, Whimsy, Music and Christmas…Oh Yeah! … | Retired? No one told me!

  3. acflory

    Fabulous recipe, Carol, and something anyone can look forward to eating. We’ll be Christmas for two with 2 x Five Spice duck. The first one will be eaten hot [Xmas Eve], the second will be eaten cold as my version of Peking Duck [Xmas Day]. Easy peasy. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Got to have a pudding on Christmas day ….puddings and starters for one are on their way very soon…I hope you have a fabulous festive season and a Merry Christmas 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. doandersen

    I have now read your blog and enjoyed it for many years. Your post today was heart warming and deeply caring.

    I am proud to call you friend!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. allysnotebook

    Hi Carol thanks so much for sharing Christmas Dinner for one. ….I have saved a copy and will get the ingredients just in case. The plan is for my son to drive 3 hours over the border from New South Wales to Queensland to pick me up and take me to his place for 4 days over Christmas. Well nothing is certain, it could change due to another Covid-19 outbreak in New South Wales and flooding very close to where my son lives. He might get flooded in and the border might get closed again. Regardless of the outcome I am quite ok here alone.
    Wishing you Carol and your loved ones a safe and happy Christmas xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Fingers crossed that you get to spend Christmas with your son, Ally however if not then there is always next year.. Thank you for your good wishes, Ally I hope you have a joyous festive season and a Merry Christmas Hugs xx

      Like

  11. Sue Dreamwalker

    Loved your mouth-watering recipe…. My kind of Christmas Dinner.. I remember having to spend many a Christmas day on shift… Working to support others create their Christmas Dinners in Supported Living with Adults with learning difficulties… Making others peoples Christmas day dinner a success… We then would have our Christmas lunch the following day.. 😀 My thoughts go out to all who spend Christmas alone.. This year especially with all that has occurred..
    Love roast parsnips!
    And while our parsnips this year did not do well on the allotment.. We have half a dozen still in the ground waiting especially for Christmas Lunch. 🙂
    Have a beautiful festive time Carol…
    Love Sue ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Thank you, Sue.. I have also done my Christmas shifts I used to work on a mental health unit.. Sad… so I can relate to a Christmas dinner the next day but well worth it.. Lucky you to have parsnips I didn’t get my visitors this year who bring me parsnips and celariac but my son has sent a care package with some cheese truckles etc which we hope will arrive before Christmas 🤶.. I hope you have a joyous festive season Sue and a very Merry Christmas xx

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sue Dreamwalker

        Enjoy your Cheese’s 🙂 Sorry you will miss out on Roasted Parsnips… Fingers crossed they arrive on time… Happy Holidays Carol… and so many things in our lives we have shared in similar roles lol…. No wonder our paths crossed… ❤ 🙂 MUCH love for Christmas too dear Carol ❤ 🎄✨🎁

        Liked by 1 person

      2. CarolCooks2 Post author

        We have Sue… Hopefully the parcels will arrive.. and I can have parsnips next year.. In the meantime everyone is safe and well which is the main thing… Hugs xx🎄🎄🤶

        Liked by 1 person

  12. beetleypete

    I only had one occasion where I sat and ate Christmas dinner alone. I was divorced, living alone in a cold rented flat, and had to go in for a night shift at 10pm. I made meatballs with tagliatelle, and relished not having a full roast turkey dinner for once. 🙂
    Best wishes, Pete. x

    Liked by 2 people

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