Christmas for One part 2 ( The one with the vegetarian options)

 Welcome to part 2 of Christmas for 1 ( multiply  if you want to use recipes for more than 1 person).

As we go into a four week lockdown we are still unsure of how Christmas  will pan out for us all this year, and so I am trying to help out by giving some tips and recipes that may help. Some of us will be on our own for the Christmas period, so here are some ideas to make the best of the situation.

Just because you are on your own, don't let things slide, treat yourself, its all part of self care which is even more important at the moment.

Lets make a start.

To be clear this is for lacto-ovo vegetarians  ( eats dairy and eggs), for other types vegetarians I will be doing a vegan blog which will be better suited to their needs.

So lets see what I can offer up for a vegetarian Christmas selection.

Have a look at the menus and see what you can buy prior to  Christmas, this will avoid extra stress, especially in these uncertain times.

I am going to give menu selections which can be adapted to fit your own routine.

I personally don't ever have a starter with Christmas lunch but for those who do I have put together  some suggestions

The picture of the starter can be seen above,

Insalata Tricole

1/2 beefsteak tomato

1/2 avocado ( other half kept with stone in, put in dish with splash of lemon juice can be used on toast for  Boxing Day brekkie)

4 thin slices of  mozzarella cheese.

Slice tomato and avocado, arrange on plate with the cheese and garnish with basil leaves.

Dress with vinaigrette  dressing. ( shop bought or home made)

This has to be made and served immediately.

Hearty Butternut Squash soup

1 butternut squash ( peeled and deseeded and chopped)

1 onion (red or white your choice)

2 veg stock cubes ( add to pan and then top with water to just cover the veg in pan)

2 carrots peeled and chopped

1 mild red chilli

1 clove garlic

Salt and pepper

butter

cream or Creme fraiche for serving

This can be made in advance and frozen in individual portions that way you can take it out and have for lunch at other times.

put butter into pan and cook onion until soft but not coloured (put lid on pan and cook on low heat)

Add all other ingredients and allow to cook until squash is softened.

Using a hand blender or food processor, blend down the soup mixture until  a smooth consistency.

Swirl on cream or creme fraiche as you serve

This should make approx  4 servings 

Or buy a carton of soup and add cream or creme fraiche, great timesaving  cheat and some left for another day.

Suggestions for Main course

 A good tip is to prepare the veg on Xmas eve and put into bowls of water, this way you can prepare more than needed and have it on hand for Boxing day or the day after, change the water every morning.

Alternatively bags of prepared veg are very useful and can be kept in the fridge until needed ( 2-3 day max I would say)

Melty Mushroom Wellington

1 large field mushroom

1tbsp olive oil

4oz spinach leaves

sprig of fresh thyme

100g ready roll puff pastry

35g stilton cheese

beaten egg

dusting of flour

salt and pepper

Heat oven to gas mark 7.

Remove stalk from mushroom and cook in olive oil until tender, remove from pan and put onto kitchen paper.

I same pan add the spinach and allow to wilt, season and then put into a sieve to drain ( any excess moisture).

Dust flour on a worktop and add thyme leaves roll out pastry  and using a saucer cut a 2 discs. Use the saucer as the dish to cook. add the mushroom, spinach and stilton cheese.

Put the pastry top on, cutting a couple of slits in the centre.

use the beaten egg to 'wash the top'.

Put in oven and cook until golden (approx. 20mins). Serve

Roast Sweet Potato and onion tart with goats cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion sliced

1 sweet potato peeled and cubed

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

25g cranberry sauce

pinch of chilli flakes

100g ready made puff pastry

100g goats chees with rind broken into chunks

beaten egg 

Thyme sprigs

Heat oven gas mark 6 /200c

Heat half of oil in frying pan add onions and cook until softened add vinegar and cranberry sauce and simmer until liquid has disappeared.

Toss potato in remaining oil with chilli flakes and salt and pepper on an ovenproof tray and cook in oven for approx 20 mins.

leave to cool.

Lower oven heat to gas 4/180c.

Line small baking try ( individual size ) with baking parchment and roll out the pastry to fit.

Leaving a gap around the edge of the pastry case add the onion and potato mixture and cheese. Brush edges with the beaten egg and put into oven baking until edges are golden brown.

slice and serve

Vegetable suggestions

apart from from the usual roast potatoes and Brussel sprouts here are some other ideas 

Green beans with shallots, cut a shallot into quarters and cook in a frying pan until tender, steam green beans, season and mix together.

Why not try parsnip and potato mash, it is really tasty and something different.

Carrot and swede mash is also good.

more ideas are on the  blog from last week, 'Christmas for 1 part 1 

Suggestions for desserts

If like me you are not a fan of Xmas pudding ( some puddings contain suet so not suitable for vegetarians) then alternatives are below.

Mixed Berry Meringue Nests

A  very quick and easy dessert that can be put together very quickly. 

1 meringue nest ( usually pack of 4 or box of 6 or 8 keep in the cupboard)

Mixed berries either fresh or frozen ( defrosted)

Pouring cream or whipping cream ( or tinned squirty cream which is great for liqueur coffees too).

Assemble berries in nest and top with cream.

Easy

Eton Mess

And a super easy alternative  to this is defrosted frozen raspberries ( or fresh) mixed with whipped cream and broken meringue nest.

There are also a couple of alternatives in the 'Christmas for one Part 1' from last week.

And a quick and easy cheat dessert.

trifle.

In a small glass bowl put some raspberries or strawberries .

Slice some 'smart price mini swiss rolls and put a payer onto the berries.

Add more berries and another layer of thinly sliced swiss roll.

Sprinkle with Fino sherry or kirsch and leave to soak in.

Meanwhile open a tin of ready made custard and  place on top of fruit and sponge, place in fridge for about half an hour.

 whip up some cream and put on top of custard, decorate with grated chocolate or more berries.

I hope that some of these might be useful to you.

I appreciate that if you are spending Christmas alone for the time it may be a little daunting preparing food just for yourself.

Take time to decide what you will be having, and give yourself the time to make it, you have the luxury  of deciding what time you eat. Nothing to worry about really.

Try to make the effort to decorate your home in some way, it doesn't have to be over the top.

I put up my 'Cricmas' tree and decorate the dining table as well as putting out some old red glass candlesticks on my mantlepiece.

I don't go overboard, but add pieces that are special to me.

Remember to treat yourself too, these are strange times and we have probably never  encountered them before. 

Have some champagne or cava ( which ever your budget allows). Christmas fruit of satsumas and dates are lovely to munch on. 

This is (hopefully) a one off situation for many of you ( not me though). If you want to sit in your PJ's all day then that's up to you and who is to say that you shouldn't. 

Above all enjoy your day.

If you have  any questions about any of the recipes please message me, I will always try to help  if I can.

My words of advice if you are on your own are, make the most of it and treat yourself. I personally know how hard this year has been on all of us and I am determined to make sure that I treat myself well over the festive period.

Self care is high priority. 

Take care and stay safe.