Christmas Day open house meal ideas

[ntburns22]

I am hosting my first Christmas Day open house. I am having both sides of the family (30 people) over. People will be in and out all day. I am planning on having a sliced spiral ham from Sam's Club. Other then that I am not too sure what else to have. Any ideas?

 

[Nancy]

I like to have foods that are able to be kept warm in the crockpot and finger foods. I like to do swedish meatballs, hamburgers in a barbeque sauce (I make them small so they fit on dinner size rolls) relish trays, cold cuts (for sandwiches) and cheese and crackers.

 

[ellyn2000]

Small rolls for the ham would be nice and maybe a pasta or potato salad. The best part of an open house is dessert so I'd have a wide variety (something chocolate, something with fruit and maybe something creamy and decadent) I hope your open house is a wonderful success and that you enjoy yourself as much as your guests.

 

[GIOny]

I would try to have some cold dishes, this way you can just leave it out and not worry about it getting cold. Maybe a cold green bean salad or green beans with oil, vingear and garlic or a cold pasta salad. Applesauce is good with ham or escalloped apples or apples with a brown sugar syrup. It would be tough to make mashed potatoes so I would go with a potatoe salad. aw:

 

[ntburns22]

Thanks so much for the great ideas. Now if I could just make all the in-laws get along.

 

[ntburns22]

Anyone else want to share?

 

[Jennifer S]

I like the crock pot ideas- what about roast beef in a crock pot w/ rolls, a potatoe casserole. I have a recipe that is delicious if you want. It has cheese and sour cream in it. You can make a week ahead and freeze it.

You could even put chips in a nice basket.

 

[kdibattista]

Tomato pie (or cold pie as some call it) is always a popular choice with my family.

I would also get the small rolls for the ham and maybe get some extra for mini sandwiches (roast beef, turkey, etc)

Maybe also some sort of Holiday punch? I'm not too familiar but they always seem to go over pretty well.

Good luck!!!

 

[kdibattista]

At many bakeries you can get the tomato pie with different toppings... we always get plain, cheese, white w/broccoli, and a sweet pepper.

Our bakery also has a selection of cold stromboli's (ham n cheese, pepperoni, steak, etc) which are always a hit.

 

[christineann]

...Barbecue in a crock pot

...Tortilla rollups (with coldcuts or with cream cheese mixed with salsa and shredded cheddar)

...Miniature quiches

I like the Kraft and Pillsbury websites. They have lots of great recipes.

 

[PatriciaH]

I am getting platters of shrimp, cold cuts, small sandwiches, spinach dip in a pumpernickel bread bowl and cold salads. We will also put out slasa/chips, cheese/crackers, fruit, veggies and about 4 dips, celery, olives, hot peppers, pepporoni, leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner for turkey terriffic sandwiches, lots of soda, beer, pre mixed stuff like mini kaluha mudslides, etc., ice, apple pie, ice cream, a Coldstone ved velvet cake, eggnog, coffee, water... I may use the crock pot idea for meatballs and also have veggie lasagna for vegetarian friends. Happy Holidays and good luck!

 

[ntburns22]

Any other ideas? I may go out and finish up my shopping today.

 

[luv2nascar]

my standard lots of people, no fuss for me at party, people eating at different times buffet is:

spiral cut ham (great minds think alike)
rolls
pickle/relish tray
veggie/dip tray
sloppy joe hamburger BBQ in crock pot
pierogies with butter and sauteed onions in crock pot
chips/pretzels
macaroni salad
cookies
brownies
cake

 

[LoveWDW]

Good suggestions.

Something I make is to cut hot dogs in half (across) and roll out biscuits from a tube. Put each half hot dog (or cocktail dog) in a biscuit and roll up, bake according to the directions on the tube, have some nice mustards to dip. This is always a big hit.

edited to add- I just thought, I make this for New Years Eve, not Christmas, it may not be fancy enough for Christmas.