Christmas menus?

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Since we've already had Thanksgiving menus, can we jump ahead to Christmas?!?

Since we'll be traveling on Thanksgiving and not making our usuals, I'm most likely doing a menu similar to our typical Thanksgiving for Christmas Day. This is actually quite a relief because I struggle every year coming up with something different from Thanksgiving that meets everyone's food preferences, and we don't have a standard go-to that we always use at Christmas, it's always different.

Dinner
chicken
lentil pastry
mushroom gravy
stuffing
mashed potatoes
rolls
undecided veg ... possibly the green bean-mushroom-onion medley from the Thanksgiving thread
cranberry sauce

Probably I'll put appetizers out as a lunch spread earlier, and will include:
cheese and crackers
apples, grapes
spinach artichoke dip
maybe caramelized onion dip
veggies
candied pecans, cashews, marcona almonds, olives

For dessert on Christmas, we tend to not do anything major like the multiple pies we have for Thanksgiving. There are always so many Christmas cookies in the house, we'll generally just put out a plate of those, and maybe a bit of ice cream if anyone wants it.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am assuming it will have turkey, dressing, and dumplings at the very least. I am not in charge tho

 

[Meriweather]

I am hosting, but have no idea yet.
We get back from WDW 12-12, so I will be scrambling to get a lot of things done.

My family of 7 ......don't like the traditional holiday meals, so I need to come up with something else that will make all the picky eaters happy.
Maybe DD and I will plan it while we are at DLR .....we're there 11-10-15

 

[TippyThomas]

I'll more than likely just do some Chinese takeout for that day. I'll get food from friends as well, so I'll be set either way.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’m traveling as well this Christmas but decided to make a meal on site. Still haven’t settled on the menu (what a lazy Lima bean?!) but these are the thoughts floating in my head:

Antipasto platter shaped like a Christmas tree

Soup: carrot purée or mushroom consommé

Entree: Beef Wellington, chicken vol au vent or au poivre.

No deciding thoughts on sides yet except sautéed green beans are always on the table.

Dessert: Bûche de Noël, cookie tray. I could be lazy and just buy a small cake from CBS but no idea if they sell small ones. Always good to have a backup plan.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Christmas Eve is when my aunt's family get together in our basement to party and exchange gifts. I say my aunt's family because they're all from my late uncle's side so I'm not related to any of them. Anyway, we always have tons of food left over from that so Christmas Day we pick and choose.

 

[NYCgrrl]

@BlueStarryHat - it’s chosen love that brings you all together as opposed to blood .
That’s how I came to define the relationship between the man and DGD and if that wasn’t love it just doesn’t exist.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I'll more than likely just do some Chinese takeout for that day. I'll get food from friends as well, so I'll be set either way.

 

[easyas123]

Only thing set in stone for our Christmas Day meal is bloody mary's, champagne, cinnamon rolls in the AM and oysters later in the day.
I usually make a duck, not sure if still going to go that direction or just do all seafood.

Only going to be 4 of us I think, and we like to keep it casual so no formal seated meal.

 

[lovesmurfs]

It's just me and DH. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law were supposed to come AFTER Christmas, but are now coming on the 23rd, so I do need to plan.

Christmas morning - cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, egg casserole
Dinner - prime rib, veggie, rolls, either pierogi (our tradition) or just mashed potatoes.

Still thinking of a dessert. DMIL likes Italian Cream Cake, DSIL carrot cake, DH likes pie (but he's getting pie at Thanksgiving). I'm thinking of making a layer Italian Cream Cake and a rolled carrot cake, but that's a lot for 3 people.

ETA: Trying to think of Christmas Eve dinner - thinking appetizers and a charcuterie board, but dunno.

 

[White Cat]

We typically don’t hand out a menu but will order it all to go from a menu at Farm Boy.

 

[barkley]

we do the same thing every year-

christmas eve day I cook a roast which is sliced to do french dip sandwiches which are served with au gratin potatoes and other sides. I get a honey baked ham from which some is taken christmas morning for eggs benedict. christmas dinner is pretty low key and people have their choice of more french dips, honey baked ham, left over sides from the night before along with 3 cheese mac and cheese and potato pancakes.

 

[pinkxray]

We tend to switch up Christmas meals. I have to work Xmas Eve and the day after Xmas, so I don’t want anything that’s too much work. Ham and pierogies are usually a must. It’s not Xmas without pierogies or magic cookie bars. My kids think Cracker Barrel Mac and cheese is the best food ever so I’ll probably buy a tray of that vs making it myself.

 

[easyas123]

we do the same thing every year-

christmas eve day I cook a roast which is sliced to do french dip sandwiches which are served with au gratin potatoes and other sides. I get a honey baked ham from which some is taken christmas morning for eggs benedict. christmas dinner is pretty low key and people have their choice of more french dips, honey baked ham, left over sides from the night before along with 3 cheese mac and cheese and potato pancakes.

Mmm, that sounds good.

 

[soccerdad72]

I always cook prime rib for Christmas Eve dinner and then we do a turkey dinner for Christmas night, with breakfast casseroles on Christmas morning.

 

[tvguy]

No idea. Same issue as Thanksgiving, it will just be DW and I so no big feast. We will probably do Christmas with our Granddaughters (who live 400 miles away) 10 days before when we go for a visit. Tough for DS and DDIL to travel with three kids ages 6 months to 5 years. And their biggest car really isn't big enough, plus it's an EV and having to stop to charge with little ones is an additional challenge.
Since we're doing a turkey breast for Thanksgiving, probably do something else. And with crab season delayed until January First, crab won't likely be an option. Maybe ham? I'd love a prime rib but fixing a prime rib for just two seems crazy.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I'd love a prime rib but fixing a prime rib for just two seems crazy.

Just go to your local butcher and have them custom cut a prime rib for two; it’s doable. Or order a thick Porterhouse steak and make a “fancy sounding” sauce to go with it.

I’m a solo and eat what I want, fancy or simple. Why? ‘Cause after a lifetime of cooking for others, I’m worth it, .

 

[easyas123]

I’m a solo and eat what I want, fancy or simple. Why? ‘Cause after a lifetime of cooking for others, I’m worth it, .

Wise words!

There are just two of us most evenings and some day it's a bowl of cereal and some days it's 5 star depending on our moods!

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Only thing set in stone for our Christmas Day meal is bloody mary's, champagne, cinnamon rolls in the AM and oysters later in the day.
I usually make a duck, not sure if still going to go that direction or just do all seafood.

Only going to be 4 of us I think, and we like to keep it casual so no formal seated meal.

This sounds really good to me!

Breakfast is always another thing to figure out. I prefer a cranberry orange coffee cake I make, but I'm the only one that eats that, so it doesn't seem worth the effort anymore. And only DH would eat any kind of eggs, quiche, or eggy breakfast casserole. I always want to make something "special" but then no one wants it. So bloody marys and champagne it is!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Traditional turkey dinner. Actually 2 of them. We are hosting one and going to one.