Christmas Eve/Christmas Day menus

[quandrea]

I love this thread each year. What’s everyone having? For the first time ever, we are on our own Christmas Eve. Can’t decide what to eat. We are Italian, so most of my life, it’s been fish. The past few years, we’ve gone casual with pizza delivery, sushi and salad. Always Christmas cookies and usually a trifle.

I’m knocking around the idea of tortilla soup with all the toppings, and salad for Christmas Eve. It has to be do ahead, as we are at Church for three until five or five thirty.

Christmas Day is turkey, which really isn’t my thing, but I’m not hosting, so not my choice!

 

[prprincess]

Everyone does their own thing on Christmas Day, so I host a big Christmas Eve dinner at my house. This year I'm making ham, pineapple stuffing, and a few yet to be determined sides and desserts. I am also making traditional Puerto Rican Coquito (Egg Nog). My mother will be bringing Puerto Rican pernil (roast pork) and arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas), my sister-in-law usually bring Filipino Lumpia noodles and eggrolls, and my sister random other things. It's always way too much food, but we have a great time!

 

[soccerdad72]

Christmas Eve is when we do a big formal sit down meal (there's only usually 7 or 8 people). I do a standing rib roast (e.g. Prime Rib) with all the fixings. We go to an early Christmas Eve mass then come home for dinner.

Christmas morning, I make a couple breakfast casseroles (a french toast bake and a egg and sausage casserole). Easy enough to make the night before and I pop them in the oven before we start opening presents.

Christmas Day we also do turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. Basically Thanksgiving dinner over again.

 

[Klayfish]

It's just the 5 of us, so we usually just buy a ham and make some sides and have dinner as a family (we don't often do this during "normal" weeks). So it's really nothing fancy and is quite easy for us.

This year we'll be in WDW. We may still go the ham route...and then buy premade sides from Publix. That way, we can just "heat and eat" when we get back from the parks. Or we may go out to a Chinese buffet, or order Chinese in and watch NFL on TV. That's my vote...

 

[Kitty 34]

I started last year making different meat sliders for my sister's Christmas Eve get together. We have many many snacks and beverages. The next day we eat ham and other yummy side dishes once again at my sister's house.

 

[pigletto]

This year we are hosting 40 or so people for Christmas Eve potluck. It’s at different house every year and it’s our turn. Typically host provides the main item and alocohol and drinks and fills in any gaps. We are still debating roast beef on a bun which our local deli will make for us, or lasagna. We would order 4 or more of the large lasagnas from an Italian caterer in town. I am still undecided but need to have my order in really soon.

Christmas Day is Prime Rib at my moms house with all my siblings and their families. Boxing Day (the 26th ) rotates and is at an Uncles house this year. It will be a traditional turkey dinner for about 25 people.

 

[quandrea]

Christmas Eve is when we do a big formal sit down meal (there's only usually 7 or 8 people). I do a standing rib roast (e.g. Prime Rib) with all the fixings. We go to an early Christmas Eve mass then come home for dinner.

Christmas morning, I make a couple breakfast casseroles (a french toast bake and a egg and sausage casserole). Easy enough to make the night before and I pop them in the oven before we start opening presents.

Christmas Day we also do turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. Basically Thanksgiving dinner over again.

I love beef on Christmas. Either prime rib or filet. That would be my pick for Christmas Day!

Forgot to add: Christmas morning is homemade cinnamon rolls, lots of coffee, juice, maybe egg nog if I have some left from the night before. Simple but still special.

 

[quandrea]

It's just the 5 of us, so we usually just buy a ham and make some sides and have dinner as a family (we don't often do this during "normal" weeks). So it's really nothing fancy and is quite easy for us.

This year we'll be in WDW. We may still go the ham route...and then buy premade sides from Publix. That way, we can just "heat and eat" when we get back from the parks. Or we may go out to a Chinese buffet, or order Chinese in and watch NFL on TV. That's my vote...

Love ham, but the rest of the family hates it. Ham is a hard meat to eat all alone.

 

[Christine]

On Christmas Eve, we do homemade lasagne (because it can be made ahead of time), salad, and dessert. It's pretty casual.

For Christmas Day, we do either Prime Rib or Beef Tenderloin and usually LOTS of sides. We all find turkey to be very bland and blah so the only time we eat is on Thanksgiving. Definitely don't want a Thanksgiving Part 2.

 

[amberpi]

This all sounds yummy! I love these threads!

My folks and I go out for dinner on Christmas Eve as they host the family on Christmas Day. It's usually the Palm, or Ruth's Chris. Beef tenderloin, salmon are for Christmas day lunch with she-crab soup starter.

ETA: There is a vegan pasta dish and all the sides in the world...I like the food at Christmas.

 

[erin1715]

My parents host Christmas Eve every year and it's one of my most favorite nights with family. My mom usually makes a bunch of side dishes and always goes overboard at basically every holiday but we all love it. We always have some type of fish and try to limit the red meat.

I am thinking of contributing stuffed shells as well as doing a cheese fondue to pick at on the table where everyone sits.

Christmas Day we split time between my side and my husband's but usually do a sit-down dinner around 2ish with my parents and mom makes a ham with a few sides.

And always Christmas cookies!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

We're hosting 17 people on Christmas Day this year...

Ham
Scalloped potatoes
Golabki
Pierogies
Swiss veggie casserole

Other people will be bringing the appetizers...MIL is bringing pies, and we're getting Junior's mini cheesecakes for dessert as well.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

Christmas Eve is our traditional cornish hens, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a veggie. We use the good china, Christmas placemats, wine glasses (wine for DH and I, kid wine for the kids) and dine in the candlelight. We all dress nicely for a picture.

Christmas day is super casual. Canned Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (gross, I know, but it's sentimental value for DH and I from when we first moved in together and I had no idea how to make real ones lol) for breakfast with sausage links (and DH makes eggs for whoever wants one), and we pre-order about 2 dozen tamales to eat as we are hungry through the day. Sometimes we go to MIL house for dinner, although I try not to as I don't want my kids growing up with Christmas dinner memories of her favorite holiday dinner recaps of which members of her crazy family have been in/out of jail through the year or who has gotten knocked up by a new flavor of the month. Now, IF we go visit her, we go early and don't stay for dinner. Last year I made lassagna and invited her over so as to avoid having to go there and see the relatives we try to keep our kids away from. It was a disaster, because instead of her visiting with those people and THEN coming to my house, she invited all of them to join her. We wound up with about 30 people in our house, when we were expecting 12. Not making that mistake again!

 

[Aimeedyan]

For Christmas Eve we have reservations at Seasons 52 after the Christmas Eve service. That's a busy workday for me (esp with Christmas Eve on a Sunday!) so eating out makes sense.

For Christmas Day, it'll just be us + my mom who is visiting for the holidays so we'll be super casual. Breakfast will be an overnight casserole and for lunch/dinner I'll probably do a Honeybaked Ham, charcuterie board (heavy on the cheese), cocktails, and a few sides. We like to graze

 

[MIGrandma]

We host our family gathering for Christmas, it's usually a week or so before the actual day (on a weekend, because of everyone's work schedules) and this year it's going to be Sunday, December 17th.

There will be 15 - 17 of us (depending on if the two middle granddaughters bring their boyfriends) and we have a very casual meal. We provide the ham, and cheesy potatoes. I also make a tray of meats and cheeses with crackers, and a veggie/dip tray. I make some sort of dessert (usually a pumpkin roll, or individual cheesecakes) and have a cookie/candy/fudge tray out too. Our DS brings bourbon baked beans and our DD brings meatballs, plus they both usually bring something else they've made as well (their choice). Our oldest granddaughter brings ham dip, and oldest grandson brings several 2-liter bottles of pop. I also make iced tea and coffee. Sometimes I add a couple other appetizer type trays if I have enough time to fuss.

On the actual day of Christmas, the past couple of years we've taken my elderly Mom to a local Chinese restaurant. She passed away in July so it will just be DH and myself here on Christmas, so I'm thinking of getting a feast meal from the grocery store or a restaurant. You can choose from ham or a turkey breast, and it includes all the trimmings. I thought about going out for Chinese again, but I think it would be difficult not having Mom with us, so opting to just stay home and have a meal here and watch Christmas movies sounds better.

We never have anything specific for Christmas Eve. Maybe I'll just do something in the slow cooker that day, who knows. Haven't decided yet.

 

[lovesmurfs]

My parents are coming to town for Christmas! First time in our 27 years of marriage they've come for Christmas (usually we'd fly or drive there).

Christmas Eve, DH is playing in a number of masses and church services with his brass quintet. So we're going out to dinner close to where he'll be. We have reservations at an Italian restaurant. DS and DDIL will be at her family's house, so it's just me, DH, DD18 and my parents.

Christmas morning - egg casserole and cinnamon rolls

Christmas mid afternoon - Shrimp and cocktail sauce, prime rib, some kind of potato, broccoli, and rolls. Apple pie with ice cream and chocolate cream pie.

 

[design_mom]

For Christmas Eve, we got to my parents' house and we always have heavy hors d'oeuvres. My sister and I go over early in the day and help mom make all the food. Then we all go to church. We get everything out when we get back from church, then start our celebration. It's one of my favorite days of the year.

Christmas Day changes. My parents and sister's family get together on Christmas morning to open gifts. (The kids haul their presents to whoever's house it's at. It started when the kids were all young and grandma and grandpa wanted to see everyone. We've suggested doing our own thing several times over the years but the kids are like "what?! Why?!" It's what they're used to.) Anyway, my sister and I alternate hosting for breakfast. This is my year. I will probably do bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade cinnamon rolls and fruit.

Christmas afternoon is at my in-laws' and MIL just asks me to bring cookies (she doesn't really like to bake). The last several years she's done barbecued beef sandwiches and sides. (She makes good BBQ beef, so I am happy with the menu.) But it's her menu, her choice, and sometimes it's something else.

 

[Meriweather]

Tradition for Christmas Eve is Subway.....DD won't let us change.
That and a cookie tray.

Christmas varies. We are looking at a change in plans this year, but I think it will be Lasagna, Garlic bread, green salad and some kind of dessert that I haven't decided on yet. Dinner will be at DS's if the change happens. We will find out in a day or 2.

 

[Minnesota!]

We go to Buca on Christmas Eve. We tried a few traditions over the years, but this one has stuck for 3 or so years now. It's loud, crazy, and not the best food - but it fits the bill, is in a great location to go Christmas light viewing afterwards (near a higher-end neighborhood!), and we get tons of leftovers

Day is at my BIL's and he is doing ham and traditional sides this year. Anything I don't have to cook is fine by me - I did it at my house for almost 10 years in a row and I hate it.

 

[quandrea]

So many great ideas. Looking forward to continued reading. Hope it sparks some ideas for me. I love the idea of nibbling. Maybe I can do trays of apps ahead of time? The kids love sushi. The sticking point is needing the food ready ahead of time. Not in the mood for pizza this year though. Chinese would be fun, but we can’t do Asian because of allergies with dd.