LNC Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We are baking a lot this season, but having a yummy but simple Christmas dinner. Steak, salad, & twiced baked potatoes. What are some of your ideas for Christmas Eve menus? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We're having ham, hashbrown casserole, rolls, and salad. I might do some corn, maybe a fruit salad, but I'm keeping it simple this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay in Cal Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Christmas Eve we are always busy at church, so our tradition is to go out for Chinese food before evening worship. Christmas Day is our big family dinner--usually lasagna. This past thanksgiving I made a lasagna and realized why I only do this a couple times a year. I added up the ingredients--cost was almost $70! Now admittedly, I make good lasagna, and I make a lot, but sheesh! We could have had three more turkeys for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 the day before Christmas Eve, then it's easy for me on Christmas Eve to have leftover ham and swiss on hard rolls, wrapped in foil and heated in oven, with leftover scalloped potatoes on Christmas Eve. I have to make sauce and lasagne, etc. on Christmas Eve day so it's ready to just pop in the oven on Christmas Day, and this setup allows me to make no dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but it's all still yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 of lasagne :eek: and the time it takes to make it. I only make it once a year too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 My mom usually makes lasagna, but we're having Christmas Eve here at my house this year. I'll be making it. Thanks for the head's up about the cost since there will be at least 11 of us for sup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina in WA Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding at our casa. Of course we will have the trimmings too (gravy, veggies, mashed potato's). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 In the past, I've done clam chowder, homemade rolls, and citrus fruit salad, but I'm thinking of changing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtolgd Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We may just order pizzas for Christmas Eve. It will just be us at home this year because we are doing our traveling the weekend after Christmas. Christmas day we'll have ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, corn, noodles, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Boy, I am jealous. My family tradition is to get together on Christmas Eve and we exchange gifts and have a feast. Well, my sister, the hostess of this event (her house is the only one big enough for our entire family) decided that coordinating a menu and having everyone bring something was just too much work (even though I volunteered to coordinate it), so our Christmas dinner will be Portillo's (Italian beef sandwiches from a fast food joint!) It just feels so unspecial to be eating greasy beef sandwiches, and mass prepared sides rather than food made with love. I am sorry, but I just don't think delicious homemade Christmas cookies go with fast food. Apparently, I am the only one appalled by this. Maybe I'll just show up in ripped up jeans and a ratty old sweatshirt. Okay, maybe I won't, but that's how I feel about the meal. Don't have plans for Christmas day, so I guess I need to shop for a turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We're atheist but our traditional meal is based on the Catholic Christmas fast, so there's no meat & no alcohol. The meal is served when the first star appears in the night to remember the stars the shepherds saw. Wild mushroom soup or borshcht. Fish. Pierogi. Braised red cabbage. Green salad. Pickled herring. Some families observe the tradition of 12 courses (I think this is from the 12 days of Christmas) - but all must be meat free. If you go to midnight mass (which we don't) you sometimes eat another meal when you get back - this is when the meats and roasts and wine come out - a big feast to celebrate the birth of Christ. Most families just have this the following day, on the 1st day of Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.S. Burrow Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner is: homemade beef tamales, avocadoes, and refried beans with all the trimmings: cheese, sour cream, rice (if anyone wants it), tortilla chips and salsa and tomatoes. This year we are adding DH's venison chili and MIL wants taco meat for taco salads. We do this every year. We also attend the Christmas Eve worship service and everyone gets to open new pjs on Christmas Eve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Mrs Whitlow's Artery-Hardening Hogswatch Pie. Can you tell we like Discworld around here?:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 potstickers, egg rolls, stuffed potato skins, meatballs, lil smokies, cheese, crackers, shrimp, sugar cookies, ginger cookies, eggnog, cranberry sierra mist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dayle in Guatemala Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Fondue and treats! We have a ministry time at a homeless shelter here so we will do something simple! It's just our family, so we don't feel the need to do a lot. Christmas day it's the traditional ham dinner, so that'll keep me busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari C in SC Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 For Christmas Eve - easy - Chinese take out. It has become a tradition that the whole family loves. My mom and I love that we can go to church and come home to a hot meal with no work. Christmas Day is at my mom's. She is making Italian Beef sandwiches or cold ham sandwiches. Everyone is bringing a side to share. I, personally, am making Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes because that is now a family favorite. I think my mom is making a pineapple upside down sheet cake for a Jesus birthday cake. Still pretty simple considering there will be about 24 people for dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We always do nibbly hor dervy kind of stuff. CHix wings cheese plates and crackers meatballs veggies cream cheese and relish Herring Fruit Lil smokies WE open gifts christmas Eve and tend to sit around and enjoy the evening, so it's easier just easier having a buffet setting out for a couple of hours. On occasion when it's just been the two boys and no daughters around, (after they got married and were living in diffent states) we went out for dinner or ordered pizza for 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari C in SC Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Boy, I am jealous. My family tradition is to get together on Christmas Eve and we exchange gifts and have a feast. Well, my sister, the hostess of this event (her house is the only one big enough for our entire family) decided that coordinating a menu and having everyone bring something was just too much work (even though I volunteered to coordinate it), so our Christmas dinner will be Portillo's (Italian beef sandwiches from a fast food joint!) It just feels so unspecial to be eating greasy beef sandwiches, and mass prepared sides rather than food made with love. I am sorry, but I just don't think delicious homemade Christmas cookies go with fast food. Apparently, I am the only one appalled by this. Maybe I'll just show up in ripped up jeans and a ratty old sweatshirt. Okay, maybe I won't, but that's how I feel about the meal. Don't have plans for Christmas day, so I guess I need to shop for a turkey. I think you have a couple of options... You could offer to cook something at her house that seems more fancy or you can dress up the sandwiches with fancy plates and tableware. Personally, we do Chinese because it doesn't involve work. Wanna know something funny? When I was about 8 years old, my mom was working nights in the ER. She always cooked a fancy dinner for Christmas Eve. This particular year, life happened. She doesn't remember what anymore. She couldn't cook a big dinner, so she ordered Pizza Hut. I remember DANCING around the living room waiting for that pizza to arrive. It was a treat! I don't think pizza ever tasted so good. My mom has told me since that she remembed crying in her bedroom because she felt like she was failing by not making a special dinner. I have told her that I can't remember a single other Christmas Eve meal as a kid, but I remember that Pizza Hut as clear today as the many years ago it happened. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Lasagna and Italian sausage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5sweeties Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Wanna know something funny? When I was about 8 years old, my mom was working nights in the ER. She always cooked a fancy dinner for Christmas Eve. This particular year, life happened. She doesn't remember what anymore. She couldn't cook a big dinner, so she ordered Pizza Hut. I remember DANCING around the living room waiting for that pizza to arrive. It was a treat! I don't think pizza ever tasted so good. My mom has told me since that she remembed crying in her bedroom because she felt like she was failing by not making a special dinner. I have told her that I can't remember a single other Christmas Eve meal as a kid, but I remember that Pizza Hut as clear today as the many years ago it happened. Just a thought And what a lovely thought. Really, I love this. Children are so easy to please, that we sometimes forget to relax and enjoy and share their happiness as we should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Well, we have gymnastics till 6:30pm - and there are a few of "us" actually planning on showing up so the coach doesn't feel lonely (really, i think he should be closed on Christmas Eve - but it's his deal not mine). We aren't doing much else Christmas Eve - so i have no clue what we are eating! LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in NE Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We have a tradition of having breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve. We are very busy with church, so by the time we get home, we have waffles, sausage and hot chocolate. Then we make sure the stockings and tree are "just so", put some egg nog and fudge out for Santa, and call it a night. The kids are EAGER to go to bed. Love Christmas Eve.... just love it!! The next day is our traditional turkey dinner day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Dh grew up in New Mexico and his mom still lives there, so usually she is here for Christmas and likes to make Posole, enchiladas, and green and red chile on Christmas eve. Then I make a spiral ham, mashed potatoes, and all of that stuff on Christmas day. We have a chocolate and fruit trifle for dessert, with kiwi and red berries so it looks festive. This year MIL isn't coming out, for the first time in years, and I'm not going to a lot of trouble on both Christmas eve and Christmas day, so we'll eat some fun and easy snacky stuff Christmas eve and watch a Christmas move together. I'm really tired of the ham for Christmas day and need to do something else next year, though my parents and brother and SIL come over on that day and they're all attached to what we've always had for Christmas dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We have chili on Christmas Eve. My dh's family always did fondue on Christmas Eve, so we have started doing that on Christmas day. I don't really miss the big meal when it's just the 4 of us anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey in TX Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Zuppe de pesce every year! (yummy) It's a seven-fish soup to include oysters, halibut, shrimp, lobster, and other white fish. Served with baguettes and wine. It's delicious! New Year's Eve dinner is frenched rack of lamb, mashed potatoes, and spinach. I LOVE holiday cooking!! mmm good...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We've done lasagna before. Great because you can make it early. Lately, it's been Tex-Mex Stew or Tortilla Soup. This year, maybe cheese fondue with crepes for dessert. Or, I like the idea of a buffet. There aren't many of us here, so it will be fun to be casual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Tamales, Posole, Beans, red chile and green chile, tortillas, bizcochitos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We will once again attend an open house of some local friends - the mil is Vietnamese (as is our friend) who lived in Thailand - they always have this tiny white-haired grandma in the kitchen cooking up a storm with wok and cleaver - they alternate and do Vietnamese one year, Thai food the next. YUM!!!!!! When we get home we make our stupid, unappreciative kids a frozen pizza. And open a jar of herring for hubby. Now - New years Day I will make dirty rice, gumbo, jambalaya.... and the kids will eat more frozen pizza!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I think you have a couple of options... You could offer to cook something at her house that seems more fancy or you can dress up the sandwiches with fancy plates and tableware. Personally, we do Chinese because it doesn't involve work. . It is what it is. I just need to accept it. I am just the weirdo crunchy conservative of the family and saying anything will just open me up to ridicule. I just feel bad because the focus it taken off of the meal and the gathering together. The meal is just something to be rushed through until we can commence with the orgy of opening presents and consumption of alcoholic beverages. To me, it feels like ordering takeout for Thanksgiving because cooking gets in the way of watching football all day. Funny, one year, we did Chinese takeout for Christmas eve (I think this was the beginning of the downfall) and it was the worst Chinese food I ever had. Almost everyone got sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMom2One Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We have a long standing tradition of clam chowder on Christmas Eve. It is always part of a smorgesboard of food, but the main dish is the chowder and little oyster crackers. Blessings, Lucinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Hen Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 For Christmas Eve - easy - Chinese take out. It has become a tradition that the whole family loves. My mom and I love that we can go to church and come home to a hot meal with no work. We used to do Chinese take-out but now that we don't attend Christmas Eve church service we go to the Chinese Buffet Restaurant and have a relaxing, long meal eating Chinese. Ummmmmmm (I do miss the service but....) Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 We have our big Christmas meal on Christmas Eve. This year we are having ham, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, biscuits, steamed broccoli, green beans, fruit salad, and the dessert has not been decided yet. I am considering a chocolate fondue, now that I've read this thread. I have a couple of kids who love pizza, so I will make a pizza because it's Christmas. RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Tamales, Posole, Beans, red chile and green chile, tortillas, bizcochitos I forgot about the tamales and biscochitos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Christmas Eve is spiral ham with crusty bread, mustards and cheeses to make sandwiches. Also potato salad, fruit, veggie tray and several different appetizers for munching (little smokies in bacon, mini quiche, hot cheesy artichoke dip, crab popovers, etc). Then we do birthday cake for Jesus as our dessert. Christmas Day is fancy lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Christmas Eve we celebrate with dh's family. I have to work this year so I'm exempt from cooking duty. Usually dhs suggest a theme and then various people cook around that idea. This year he's suggesting vegetarian. We'll see if people go for it. :) For Christmas we have my parents here and I'm making a ham, spinach salad and either hashbrown potato casserole (if I want to be easy) or risotto (if I want to be fancier). We always have an apricot nectar pound cake for dessert as it was a favorite of my great-grandmother's whose birthday was Christmas Eve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in FL Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Tradition in my family is seafood on Christmas eve. It will just be the immediate family and this year my MIL. We'll have shrimp, steamed clams (ds's favorite) and then I'll either have lobster (depending on price) or scallops. Christmas day all the extended family will be over throughout the day, so I'll make a ham and assorted sides. I honestly haven't given much thought to food yet. I'm to busy trying to get christmas letters out. Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 After several years of tinkering with our Christmas tradition, we've settled on having our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. We always stay home for Christmas, and it makes the day more relaxing to do all the heavy-lifting on Christmas Eve, then just have leftovers and snacks on the day. We can get up and be leisurely about the whole thing, and I don't get a bad attitude about being stuck in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys new toys and naps ;). This year we'll have prime rib, scalloped potatoes, some other buttery delicious sides, and lots of desserts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet in Toronto Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Tourtiere (meat pie) and finger foods. It's a traditional Quebecois Christmas Eve meal, although I think it was usually eaten after Midnight Mass. Nobody's looking for food at that hour so we have it for dinner. This is my current favourite Tourtiere recipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Fondue is an ideal Christmas Eve meal. We eat this ~ along with good bread for dipping, as well as various raw fruits/veggies and white wine (or sparkling apple cider for the boys) ~ before going to the church service. Simple yet elegant and delicious! After church, we come home and sing carols while noshing on roasted chestnuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwinMominTX Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Do you have any good fondue recipes? Particularly that your kids like? I've tried it a few times and my favorites recipes are somewhat "adult" tasting - even for my adventurous eaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 On Christmas day I make a big brunch, then we have "snackies" at lunch time (lots of them: cheese and crackers, summer sausage, dips, etc.), and then leftover gumbo on Christmas night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I have no idea. Dh mentioned last wee that it has been a while since we had lasagna. That is an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I married a good, Polish man so we have peorogies, sausage and vegetables. My MIL makes the peorogies so I'm off the hook, at least this year. They are sooooo yummy. My folks usually ask for leftovers the next day at our dinner. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We always go to church that evening. I much prefer the later, "adult" service, but for the last several years, we've had one or both kids involved in the "family service" earlier in the evening. Add in the fact that at least one of them is always performing in one service or the other, and this means we not only attend both services but must show up an hour or more before the early one for rehearsals. We try to eat a real meal for lunch that day, but it's not usually anything holiday-ish, just a good, filling meal (burritos or something like that) There is a "stone soup" supper in between the two services, and we usually go to that, but it's a light meal. We do our significant holiday meal on Christmas day. We used to do a repeat of our traditional, non-traditional Thanksgiving meal, but a few years ago we all agreed that our favorite dinner is Indian-style curried chickpeas with sides and fixings. So, now I make that for Christmas dinner. It's weird, but it makes us happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Xmas day will be at sil's house -- huge spread of food. So, the night before, we're having our own mini-buffet. I like making tiny food. So, I've planned to make 8 different hors d'oeuvres. I also do a dainties swap with other ladies in town. That way we all make one kind of dainty, but go home with lots of kind of dainties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We are baking a lot this season, but having a yummy but simple Christmas dinner. Steak, salad, & twiced baked potatoes. What are some of your ideas for Christmas Eve menus? Thanks! Haven't read any replies. . . We have a Middle Eastern type dinner. Gyros, cous-cous, etc. Topped off by Baklava. Mmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill- OK Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Our tradition is a Mexican meal at my grandmother's. I'm bringing the tamales, there will be enchiladas, chile con queso, and...taco salad. (Not a traditional Mexican food, lol, but we all like it, and it has 'taco' in the name). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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