What do you make for Christmas/Eve dinner?

[Tammy]

I'm planning my menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner and was curious what everyone else makes for those nights.

Do you have a tradition of making something special each year?

This year we are doing a Christmas Eve brunch with extended family (stuffed French toast, blueberry pancakes, fritattas, fresh fruit, hot chocolate, etc.) and then spending Christmas Eve and Day at home alone. I'm stuck on what to make for just the three of us. I was thinking about ordering Chinese takeout for Christmas Eve (since I know a great restaurant that will be open -- and that would mean no work or cleanup that evening) and a more traditional meal for Christmas Day, but not sure what...

I was going to post this in the Garden of Eatin' folder, but figured since it was holiday-oriented, it might be better here.

[Lizzie]

Your brunch sounds lovely and yummy, Tammy!

Well, I am hoping it will be the four of us for Christmas Eve since we missed Marissa terribly last Christmas because she was in Paris with Billy and family!
Our tradition is shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, veggies and Knorr spinach dip for appetizers...and I am going to have to ask everyone if we should have turkey or ham cuz I have no clue yet, lol!

I think you should go for Chinese food! They are always open and it will be relaxing for you all!

[mobetsy]

We have a potluck at the church with those of us on the staff who do two services that night; our families join us, and it's the one way we get to spend the evening with them We'll have Stouffer's lasagna, V-8 Splash, probably garlic bread and salad...nothing too fancy, but it's lots of fun and a good way for us all to relax.

[ruffages]

Christmas Eve it spent with the ILs. In years past we've done big meals after all the gift opening but by time we got to 22, we found the gift opening continued until between 10-11pm which really REALLY made for a late night (and that was when we, Chris and I, still had to come home and put together any of a variety of items from Santa). So we just do appetizers...all afternoon. Once one is gone (or almost) another is broken out. Typically, we have wings, shrimp, various dips that MIL provides. I'll be bringing potstickers (homemade) and shrimp salsa and MAYBE a honey and pistachio stuffed baked brie. My SIL typically brings a giant slab of smoked salmon with cream cheese , chopped eggs, capers and crackers. She comes up with some pretty good appetizers.

For Christmas Day, we go nowhere (as per my request) and we do a late breakfast of home made cinnamon rolls, maple smoked sausage, fresh fruit and scrambled egg (or an strata). Then I make a very traditional dinner of prime rib (Chris' favorite meal), mashed potatoes, asparagus, sautees mushrooms, gravy (which is OUTSTANDING) and yorkshire pudding. My SIL joins us and brings a salad. And I make a vanilla bean cheesecake with a berry compote for dessert. I don't get to cook for any other holiday and this one is mine. This year along with SIL/BIL (assuming he's up to coming) another set of friends are coming with their 3 girls. He's bringing cornish game hens for the kids. Christmas Day is at home. Anyone is welcome to join us...but it will be at our house.

Carolyn

edited to add...order the Chinese on Christmas Eve...be sure to sing...Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra

[TinaMarie]

Christmas Eve we usually don't do anything special.....Christmas day I'm making cinnamon rolls for breakfast while opening presents and then for lunch/dinner we're having turkey, ham, mashed tators/gravy, gr. bean casserole, baked beans, mac/cheese, rolls and desserts.

[funnygirl]

New traditions for this year. . . .

Christmas Eve will be a pork roast, mashed taters, and ? My mom is cooking.

Christmas will be a big brunch - sausage, bacon, cinnamon rolls, eggs,

Christmas dinner - not sure. Used to be turkey w/fixin's or Ham & cheesy potatoes.

[jane]

You guys have it all planned...and since I am working on opening a business in the next ten days I think I'm just ignoring that I need to plan.

SIL is hosting Xmas Eve dinner so that is out of my hands. She is making 2 soups and relishes. Not sure what my kids will eat but I'll probably grab a can of Campbell's for them.

Xmas AM my oldest and I will make cinnamon rolls in the breadmaker, so yummy. Probably ham and mashed potatoes for lunch or dinner Xmas Day but I need to get to the store for the ham.

I have always enjoyed hearing others foods for special occasions.

When you all have mac n cheese as a side dish with these big meals, is it homemade? How do you make it?

[hollymg]

I make spaghetti.

It's warm, it's colorful, and while I do get complaints (bah humbug) it is the ONE thing every one in my wacko family WILL eat so I just have to cook one thing.

[Tina]

Christmas eve is at my BIL's. We're having:
Appetizers:
Shrimp cocktail
Crudite
Asst. cheeses/pepperoni/crackers

Dinner:
Ham
Smoked Polish Sausage
Golombki (homemade by me )
Scalloped potatoes
Green bean casserole
Corn
Tossed salad
Applesauce

Dessert:
Lots of assorted desserts incl. cookies, apple crisp, cheesecake, fresh fruit platter

Not sure what we're having for dinner at Mom's Christmas day, but later that night we go to my nephew's for a HUGE assortment of desserts and specialty coffees.

Tammy, if it were just us I would definitely go for the Chinese takeout on the Eve. You can play games and chill. Before having kids, Dh and I had a tradition every Christmas morning of munching on a shrimp and crab platter from Red Lobster and sipping on Champagne while opening our gifts. Ahh... the memories.

[Maelyn]

We don't make anything... my parents fix that meal. And it alternates between lasagna and fixin's or Mexican buffet.

Simple for a crowd and gives great leftovers for my parents.

[mamaotter]

Christmas Eve we don't have anything special planned because I usually work the day and I'm too busy cleaning up the house and getting ready for Christmas Day! This year my BIL and SIL will be joining us though, so I had better come up with something! I host Christmas Day for Dh's side of the family. This year there will be 15 of us. I'll have:

Appetizers
Shrimp
Sweat & Sour Meatballs
Pigs n Blankets
Veggie Platter
Cheese & Crackers

Dinner
Filet Mignon
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Sauteed Mushrooms
Green Beans & Almonds
Carrots
Salad

Dessert
Christmas Cookies
Cake (Yellow with chocolate frosting)
Fruit Platter
Apple Pie

[jane]

Janet I want to eat at your house!

[TinaMarie]

Jane - I make homemade macaroni and cheese in the crockpot.

Creamy Macaroni and cheese

* 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
* 4 TB. butter (1/2 stick) cut into pieces
* 3/4-1# Velveeta box cheese, cubed
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 1 (10 3/4oz) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
* 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Boil the macaroni in a saucepan until tender. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix the butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. In a crockpot, add the cheese mixture, then add the beaten eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper, stir well. (I usually use a whisk to stir it with) Add the cooked, drained macaroni and stir again. Set on low setting and cook for 3 hours or so, stirring occasionally. I usually cook on low for 2 hours and then turn it to the warm setting on my crockpot for the last hour.

[Andrea040805]

usually, tamales. we'll see if I get up the nerve to attempt it this year.

If I do, it will be for Christmas eve as we've decided to make reservations at marie callendars for Christmas dinner this year. I'm SO excited, you have NO idea.

[Nancy]

We don't do anything special. I will try Stephanie's caramel rolls for Christmas morning. I like to do something special for breakfast.

Andrea - Marie Callendar's is a restaurant?????

[Andrea040805]

Yeah, it is, Nancy. Not a really fantastic one either, but its going to be JUST US, so I'm COOL with whatever the food is, LOL!!! As much as I love to cook, I am SO excited about being alone with my family.

[SherrieM.]

Yeah, Marie C. was first a restaurant. They are all over TX. Have been forever.

We'll be doing appetizers on Christmas Eve: meatballs, toasted ravioli, and I'll do something for me, probably mussels in sauce or bacon-wrapped apricots and a fruit tray. With cookies, oodles of cookies.

Christmas day: breakfast of bacon/fruit/coffeecake

Lunch: Ham, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls. Maybe cranberry sauce.

Dinner: We're going to a friend's house. No idea.

[jennc]

Our tradition is some sort of homemade cinnamon roll. Have done Stephanie's famous rolls, apple-raisin sticky buns (that's the usual) or homemade cinnamon roll for Christmas breakfast.

We have a 4 day extravaganza this year (ugh).

Christmas Eve is at the IL's and MIL does an "open house" kind of thing.....ham and cheese on a tray to put on pistolettes, olives, pickles, crackers with various spreads, little desserts, etc. Kind of appetizer-y make it yourself stuff. I am not responsible for anything that night but may bring some caramel pecan brownies or something.

Chrismas Day at my parents. Mom is making ham, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes. I am bringing a fruit salad, a pecan pie, and a homemade coconut cake (her request).

Day after Christmas is Christmas again with DH's extended family, I have to bring a dessert and am bringing a triple chocolate cookie trifle pie....Southern Living, it's gorgeous and yummy.

12/27 we are headed to Dh's uncles for the Saints game and BBQ, not sure what I have to bring but it's something. Probably dessert, as MIL does not bake. Once she made a box cake and instead of decorating with sprinkles, used nerds candy. The family forbid her to bake again.

[CarolC]

This year I am only having five of Mike's family members plus the three of us for Christmas Eve. Rather than go my traditional ham route, I think I am just going to bake a lasagna and have some mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, and salad. One of our nieces is a picky butt, so I will put a DiGiorno frozen pizza in the oven for her. Dessert will be decorated sugar cookies and brownies (again for the picky butt niece, who, lucky for her, just happens to be one of my favorite people!).

My parents will be here Christmas morning, and I will make a sausage/egg casserole and serve it with banana bread and grapefruit. Lunch is at my Memaw's and will be the best food EVER! We are going to MIL's on Saturday, and I think I only have to take dessert.

[Lesley]

No traditions...anymore. Since Molly will be with Bill on Christmas day I'm having my Mom over to open presnets with Molly. We're going to have pizza and salad for lunch. For dinner I'm doing nachos and "Deck the Halls Spinach Balls" as a treat, since we don't usually have appetizers for dinner.

Christmas day my Mom and I are going to my brother's....he actually told my mother she could arrive at 12:30 and should leave by 3. My nasty SIL told me that the dinner she's preparing is part of our Christmas gift. I hope we can leave well BEFORE 3 as I'm dreading the day.