Help me with my menu

[Night Elf]

I'm going to cook a Christmas dinner but I don't know what to cook. I can't make two of my favorite dishes because dd doesn't like them. No green bean casserole or sweet potato souffle. 

 

So I have a ham, which is not my favorite but no one else likes turkey.

I have a wonderful corn casserole.

 

After that, I have no idea. I'd like to make another casserole. I could make mashed potatoes but that seems so boring. 

 

Is there something I could do with potatoes that would be good? 

Yellow squash and/or zucchini?

 

I'm cooking for 3. Ds won't eat anything except the ham.

[Mommyof1]

Scallop potatoes are yummy.

 

Garden salad

[Guinevere]

http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a55051/garlic-butter-potatoes-recipe/

 

These are good, and look fancy. Extra bonus is that they are quick, and you can just throw them in the oven once the are prepped.

[Frances]

I'd still make small batches of the green bean casserole and/or sweet potato soufflé for you and your husband to enjoy. Maybe ask your daughter what she wants for a side dish. Perhaps she would even be interested in making it.

 

Smashed potatoes or some sort of cheesy potatoes could be a change from mashed potatoes, and squash is very easy to bake. I prefer it with just olive oil and salt, but my husband likes some butter and brown sugar on his.

[regentrude]

Why can't you make your own favorite dishes just because a family member does not like them??? I would never get to eat what I want if I operated like this. 

Just cook what you want, and make sure those who does not like these dishes have plenty of other choices to eat from.

 

I like potatoes best if they are roasted with olive oil and rosemary. Or as gnocchi, with rosemary and onions.

 

Zucchini are not in season; I'd save those for the summer and cook a winter squash instead.

I love the Smitten Kitche butternut squash/chick pea salad.

The carrot mushroom loaf from Moosewood is one of my favorites

 

 

[Guinevere]

If you are making a corn casserole, and potatoes, you have a lot of carbs and starches. Maybe you'd like to add a salad? I made one last night with spinach, sliced strawberries, feta, and glazed pecans, with a light vinaigrette. I used Brianna's Blush, it's a white bottle with a strawberry on the label. The colors of the salad were festive, and it tasted good, too!

[Night Elf]

Why can't you make your own favorite dishes just because a family member does not like them??? I would never get to eat what I want if I operated like this. 

Just cook what you want, and make sure those who does not like these dishes have plenty of other choices to eat from.

 

Well, I could do that but then I'd have so many leftovers and I don't eat many leftovers. I could make a small sweet potato souffle I suppose but I only know how to make a big green bean casserole. I want to half my corn casserole too but that means using half a 15 oz can of niblets and another of creamed corn. I just hate the waste. No one will eat those leftovers. 

[Night Elf]

If you are making a corn casserole, and potatoes, you have a lot of carbs and starches. Maybe you'd like to add a salad? I made one last night with spinach, sliced strawberries, feta, and glazed pecans, with a light vinaigrette. I used Brianna's Blush, it's a white bottle with a strawberry on the label. The colors of the salad were festive, and it tasted good, too!

 

Yes, but we only do this once a year so I'm okay with overloading carbs and starches. I'm also thinking of making two desserts even though we'll have candy in our stockings. I never have so many sweets in the house at once. We have one thing at a time, usually either cake or sweet muffins. I need to make brownies for ds because that is the only dessert he'll eat. I haven't yet decided on the second dessert.

 

We're not big salad eaters, but it's an idea. I'll take a vote.

[Elizabeth86]

Scallop potatoes are yummy.

 

Garden salad

Perfect!

[marbel]

I'd make a small amount of my own favorite dishes.  Just cut the recipe down to a manageable size for yourself and whoever else might eat them.  Account for leftovers if desirable. 

 

For potatoes, you can do au gratin or scalloped.  I've been seeing recipes for hassleback potatoes which sound good. I'm having a hard time describing them, but they are sliced not all the way through, and placed in the pan so that the edges are exposed... just google them. Or someone else will come along, maybe, and explain better.

 

There is no reason for you to skip your favorite simply because one or two other people don't like them.  

 

Here is our proposed dinner:

 

Prime rib - 3 people will eat, vegetarian daughter won't.

3 corn casserole - 2 people will eat; my daughter and I might taste a spoonful but it's really for husband and son

Green beans sauteed with red onions and nuts - all will eat

Some form of white type potato - husband and kids will eat, I won't

Some form of sweet potato - I and maybe my husband will eat, kids most likely won't

 

What is the point of a holiday meal when the main cook deprives herself of her favorites?   :-)

 

 

[Tammi K]

If I stopped cooking things my kids don't like, I would never taste a sweet potato again.

 

With six kids in our household, they were lucky if a meal contained ONE thing they liked. (okay, I'm exaggerating a bit)

 

But, seriously, why shouldn't you get to eat things you like? Your cooking the meal.  When we have nice dinners that include fancy things my kids don't like I always heat a bowl of frozen corn or broccoli.  If they don't like the fancy veggies, they can eat the plain ones.  They're happy, I'm happy, and it only took an extra 2-3 minutes in the microwave.

Edited December 17, 2017 by Tammi K

[regentrude]

Well, I could do that but then I'd have so many leftovers and I don't eat many leftovers. I could make a small sweet potato souffle I suppose but I only know how to make a big green bean casserole. I want to half my corn casserole too but that means using half a 15 oz can of niblets and another of creamed corn. I just hate the waste. No one will eat those leftovers. 

 

Why don't you cook the whole thing and then freeze it in single serve portions???

 

And what about simply halving or quartering all the ingredients in the bean casserole? I don't understand "I only know how to make a big one". That's what fractions are for.

 

And why can't you use the leftover corn in another dish the next day?

Edited December 17, 2017 by regentrude

[marbel]

Well, I could do that but then I'd have so many leftovers and I don't eat many leftovers. I could make a small sweet potato souffle I suppose but I only know how to make a big green bean casserole. I want to half my corn casserole too but that means using half a 15 oz can of niblets and another of creamed corn. I just hate the waste. No one will eat those leftovers. 

 

I have successfully  frozen corn casserole.  In fact what I am serving at Christmas has been in the freezer since the day before Thanksgiving.

 

(Just for reference: My recipe consists of one can each whole and creamed corn, an egg, sour cream, the little box of cornbread mix, and cheddar cheese.)

 

ETA: Here is a recipe for a 2-serving green bean casserole.  (Taste of Home recipe; I've never made it)

Edited December 17, 2017 by marbel

[Cinder]

Our thanksgiving menu was ham, homemade mac&cheese, sauteed zucchini. That's it. Oh, and pie.

 

Go simple.

[Night Elf]

I have successfully  frozen corn casserole.  In fact what I am serving at Christmas has been in the freezer since the day before Thanksgiving.

 

(Just for reference: My recipe consists of one can each whole and creamed corn, an egg, sour cream, the little box of cornbread mix, and cheddar cheese.)

 

ETA: Here is a recipe for a 2-serving green bean casserole.  (Taste of Home recipe; I've never made it)

 

Thanks for the link. I'll make that for sure.

 

Don't chastise me people! We just don't eat many leftovers in our home. DH and college dd eat leftovers, but dd is usually away at school so it's really only DH who eats them. We cook Hello Fresh meals and have leftovers but only DH eats them. Tonight I'm making a big pot of spaghetti because DH loves it and he'll eat leftovers even as a snack at night. I don't like spaghetti. I put butter on my noodles and call it a meal.

 

I don't know how to freeze foods except for muffins which I just throw into a ziploc bag. I take out one at a time and microwave it. How do you freeze mashed potatoes? I'll also have leftover ham but I'm thinking that might go more quickly as college dd likes ham sandwiches. 

 

My ds, with Aspergers, doesn't eat any type of leftover at all. Ever. So once we eat ham on Christmas day, he won't touch it again. I buy him deli ham and we roll it up and put it into single serving ziploc bags.

[JFSinIL]

Make the green bean and/or sweet tater thingie and eat what YOU like, ...and toss the rest if it won't get eaten. It is once a year, and YOU deserve to enjoy what YOU like as much as anyone else there. Besides, you make the dinner, you get to have your favs! As long as there is other stuff others like, go for it. My mom used to make a congealed "salad" of peas, pickles and peanuts in a creamy dressing that no one ate but her.

 

Here we are having beef tenderloin, pricey but it is just once a year.

Edited December 17, 2017 by JFSinIL

[regentrude]

We just don't eat many leftovers in our home. 

 

I don't know how to freeze foods except for muffins which I just throw into a ziploc bag. I take out one at a time and microwave it. How do you freeze mashed potatoes?

 

My ds, with Aspergers, doesn't eat any type of leftover at all. Ever. 

 

Best way to freeze mashed potatoes: use an ice cream scoop to make balls and freeze them on a baking sheet, then put them in a zip loc bag. that way you can grab individual portions because they won't be one large frozen lump.

Or you put servings to freeze in little plastic containers that held sour cream, salsa, yoghurt, anything that has a lid.

 

What's the difference between "leftover" and freshly cooked? So you don't ever eat anything that is purchased frozen?

How can he tell whether it's "leftover" that has been frozen or freshly cooked, unless he is watching you cook it?

I guess I am just puzzled by the concept.

Edited December 17, 2017 by regentrude

[marbel]

<snip>

 

Don't chastise me people! We just don't eat many leftovers in our home. DH and college dd eat leftovers, but dd is usually away at school so it's really only DH who eats them. We cook Hello Fresh meals and have leftovers but only DH eats them. Tonight I'm making a big pot of spaghetti because DH loves it and he'll eat leftovers even as a snack at night. I don't like spaghetti. I put butter on my noodles and call it a meal.

 

<snip>

 

Aww, I don't want you to feel chastised.  It's just that you do so much for your family, and it makes me sad to think you don't get to eat the things you like best on a holiday!  

 

As far as leftovers, I think some people can tell that certain foods have been in the freezer for a while.  I sometimes freeze chili in mason jars and no one really likes it when I reheat it, even if they don't know it's leftover, and I put out the same toppings, condiments, etc.  They'll say "this doesn't taste right" or "this isn't as good as last time" or something like that.  But, they will still eat it.  :-)

 

I think the idea that a particular dish freezes well is kind of subjective for some people.

[OrganicJen]

Our whole family loves braised red cabbage at christmas.

[idnib]

Carrots are good right now. Glazed carrots, roasted carrots, or carrot salad could all be good. 

 

Brussels sprouts, roasted or shredded and eaten as a salad.

 

Stuffing

 

Creamed onions or creamed spinach.

 

Stuffed onions can be good because you can do them by the each.

[AmandaVT]

Our whole family loves braised red cabbage at christmas.

 

That sounds delicious - my DH loves cabbage and it would be fun to surprise him with a new cabbage dish this year. Would you be willing to share the recipe?

[unsinkable]

Best way to freeze mashed potatoes: use an ice cream scoop to make balls and freeze them on a baking sheet, then put them in a zip loc bag. that way you can grab individual portions because they won't be one large frozen lump.

Or you put servings to freeze in little plastic containers that held sour cream, salsa, yoghurt, anything that has a lid.

 

What's the difference between "leftover" and freshly cooked? So you don't ever eat anything that is purchased frozen?

How can he tell whether it's "leftover" that has been frozen or freshly cooked, unless he is watching you cook it?

I guess I am just puzzled by the concept.

Qualities of food change depending on their age and storage.

 

Food flavors enhance or fade. Foods absorb other flavors being stored nearby.

 

Food textures change when cooked, then cooled (or froze) then heated again (or thawed then heated).

 

Some foods are at their best when freshly cooked, others are better after a day or longer.

 

It is not an unusual concept in the culinary wolrd.

[OrganicJen]

That sounds delicious - my DH loves cabbage and it would be fun to surprise him with a new cabbage dish this year. Would you be willing to share the recipe?

Cook a few slices chopped up bacon in Dutch oven for a few minutes then add a diced onion, a cinnamon stick, 1/2 tsp caraway seeds, 1/4 tsp allspice, and a dash of salt and cook until onion is soft and slightly browned.

 

Stir in: one head of red cabbage that is cored and shredded or finely sliced, 1.5 cups Apple cider, 3 bay leaves, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp minced fresh thyme, and 1/2 tsp salt, and cover and cook stirring often for 30-40 minutes or until cabbage is wilted and tender.

 

Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaves, and add 2 Tbsp brown sugar and 3 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar. Eat.

 

It's even better the next day.

[Alessandra]

Night Elf

 

Forgive me if I am misremembering, but I had the feeling from previous posts that you may put other people ahead of yourself. That is a wonderful quality, but I think that what some people here are suggesting -- gently -- is that you are deserving of the special foods you like to eat and cook. Your original suggestions sound delicious and they would go well with ham, imo.

[Selkie]

Our whole family loves braised red cabbage at christmas.

 

This made me think of A Christmas Story. "You love red cabbage, Ralphie!"  :laugh:

[OrganicJen]

This made me think of A Christmas Story. "You love red cabbage, Ralphie!" :laugh:

Well, years ago while watching A Christmas Story it was that scene that gave me the idea and I've made it every year since then LOL.

[KungFuPanda]

When I’m the only one that wants sweet potatoes, I just bake one for myself and put on the toppings I like.

[OrganicJen]

Well, years ago while watching A Christmas Story it was that scene that gave me the idea and I've made it every year since then LOL.

In fact, I even looked up and found the recipe used during the filming and I used it the first year, but since then have found a recipe we like better, which is the one I gave above.

[solascriptura]

I would probably roast off a bunch of different vegetables according to everyone's preferences.  You can have your sweet potato, baby potatoes, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, etc.  Something for carb lovers and carb haters alike.  

[Tammi K]

I would probably roast off a bunch of different vegetables according to everyone's preferences.  You can have your sweet potato, baby potatoes, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, etc.  Something for carb lovers and carb haters alike.  

 

That ^^^^^^ is a terrific idea.  I was trying to figure out what veggie I wanted to do for Christmas. 

 

The only thing my tribe has agreed upon this year is spatzel.   The two boys asked for London broil but I vetoed that in deference to a rib roast.  It's Christmas, sheesh.

 

But, dang, with the addition of the roast veggies, I will barely have to do any work and I'll have an impressive meal sure to please someone.

 

[MaeFlowers]

Well, I could do that but then I'd have so many leftovers and I don't eat many leftovers. I could make a small sweet potato souffle I suppose but I only know how to make a big green bean casserole. I want to half my corn casserole too but that means using half a 15 oz can of niblets and another of creamed corn. I just hate the waste. No one will eat those leftovers.

You could buy the half sized cans of corn. No waste on that end.

 

I get it, though. I cook with the intention of not having leftovers (most of the time) and throwing food away drives me crazy. I don't freeze cooked foods either, as I dont like the taste.

 

Whenever I have ham, I want macncheese. Could you do a baked mac and cheese? I'm planning on doing one in the crock pot. Super easy.

Edited December 18, 2017 by MaeFlowers

[Night Elf]

Night Elf

 

Forgive me if I am misremembering, but I had the feeling from previous posts that you may put other people ahead of yourself. That is a wonderful quality, but I think that what some people here are suggesting -- gently -- is that you are deserving of the special foods you like to eat and cook. Your original suggestions sound delicious and they would go well with ham, imo.

 

Yes, I usually put my family first but I never feel deprived. I have a very good reason why I can't have sweet potatoes. Dd got sick, meaning vomiting, after we had a dinner with sweet potatoes and that was what was coming up. So she has a super bad association of that food with being sick and even smelling them bothers her. I can have sweet potatoes when she goes back to school. Someone linked me a recipe for a small green bean casserole. I'll do that. That takes care of the two foods I normally have on a holiday.

 

Mac and cheese could be good as long as I don't get a recipe that calls for an egg again. That was a disaster. I didn't temper it right because I didn't know what I was doing and I ended up with scrambled eggs in my mac and cheese. We all ate it but agreed we wouldn't do that again.

 

I like the idea of an assortment of roasted vegetables. That could be good. Roasted carrots taste so good. 

 

I'll cook some form of regular potatoes for dd. If I do roasted vegetables, I won't need another fancy dish.