christms meal: anybody else want something

[Tinijocaro]

We never, ever, ever, ever do a Thanksgiving repeat for Christmas for just that reason--everyone is sick of it.

We usually do Prime Rib or Beef Tenderloin which, in my opinion, is tons easier than cooking a turkey and much better tasting but different strokes, right!

Our other fall back is lasagne. I prefer the Christmas meals so much more than Thanksgiving.

This year I took the thawed bird out of the fridge, pulled out the insides, rinsed it, threw it in a pan, forgot to salt and pepper it, stuffed it and cooked it. It was soooo good. And so easy. Turns out turkey really doesn't need much fuss at all.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I'm totally at a loss for what to do for Christmas dinner. My mom wants another full turkey dinner and I just can't stand the idea. My brother wants pizza. My husband doesn't seem to care.

At this point, we're having Hot Pockets.

Please check out this video- you will be ROTFL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaLpVzPxY6w

 

[Tinijocaro]

For all you cheese fondue people, what will you dip in it. I have carrots, peppers, onion hunks, asparagus, mushrooms, grapes, breads...any other ideas?

 

[aprilgail2]

We are making reservations at a resturant for Christmas dinner!

 

[emer95]

My favorite meal at Christmas (actually Christmas Eve) is appetizers & desserts. To us, Christmas isn't really a "food" holiday, so we all bring our favorite appetizers and desserts, and it ends up being so much better than a whole meal! You make up a small plate of a bunch of yummy little bites of different things, and it's so much more satisfying! This year we're having:

French Onion Soup Stuffed Mushrooms (Pioneer Woman's recipe)
Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza with goat cheese and real maple syrup
Regular Cheese & pepperoini pizza for the kids (both pizzas are homemade)
Brie and Hot pepper jelly phyllo cups
Stromboli
BBQ meatballs
Shrimp
Vegetarian meatballs made with chickpeas and leeks
Candied cashews and almonds
Christmas cookies
Tea ring

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I want to make chinese but everyone else wants ham.

Since my in-laws invited themselves (they drive here from MN), I'm going to make the darn ham. And they want to eat in the middle of the afternoon. Sorry, not going to happen. Supper is at 5pm or so on Christmas day.

But I think on New Years, I'm getting my chinese food.

For Christmas Eve, I ordered stuff from Publix. Plate of sub type sandwiches, vegetable tray, cheese and fruit tray and a chocolate cake. It's costing a mint but at least I don't have to cook.
And about 15 minutes ago the in-laws just called and may not arrive until Christmas Day. Oh well, whatever is left over will make a good lunch for Christmas day.

 

[aprilgail2]

Since my in-laws invited themselves (they drive here from MN), I'm going to make the darn ham. And they want to eat in the middle of the afternoon. Sorry, not going to happen. Supper is at 5pm or so on Christmas day.

.

Dinner on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Sundays is always around 2pm---been that way since I was a kid and we continue that.

 

[kirstenb1]

I'd love pizza!! we do Christmas Eve here, with heavy hors d'oeuvres, and pasta/salad/bread/dessert. Then Mom always get a turkey on clearance after Thanksgiving, and has roast turkey etc on Christmas Day.

Mom has cooked for so many years, I just want to tell her to ease up. We'll do pizza or Chinese or whatever.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Growing up we always had either vegetable soup & cornbread/crackers or chili for Christmas Eve -

On Christmas as a kid we were always at my dads parents & we had tom rice soup, and ham (turkey only on Tgiving)/dressing/all the casseroles & tons of pies, pound c ake, banana bread, etc

Once I started hosting about 5yrs ago -its for only 8 of us I do the ham, adult mac n cheese, dressing (cause thats MY favorite) deviled eggs & green beans or butter beans, croissants & some pie my MIL buys cause she insists on bringing something. Or I'll make peanutbutter pie

We always have Christmas lunch around 12:00 For b'fast we have sausage balls & pigs in a blanket & for supper its leftovers (usually a ham sandwhich)

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'd love to know how to do your beef tenderloin - I don't think I've ever eaten one but since it looks like its what the majority cooks I need to learn how to do it

 

[Planogirl]

I would love to do a tenderloin or prime rib but I'm afraid of overcooking it. That's a lot to pay for a burnt hunk of meat.

I might just pick up a bunch of barbecue and fixin's the day before. I want something different but I'm not excited about cooking a bunch of things.

 

[Tinijocaro]

My favorite meal at Christmas (actually Christmas Eve) is appetizers & desserts. To us, Christmas isn't really a "food" holiday, so we all bring our favorite appetizers and desserts, and it ends up being so much better than a whole meal! You make up a small plate of a bunch of yummy little bites of different things, and it's so much more satisfying! This year we're having:

French Onion Soup Stuffed Mushrooms (Pioneer Woman's recipe)
Roasted Butternut Squash Pizza with goat cheese and real maple syrup
Regular Cheese & pepperoini pizza for the kids (both pizzas are homemade)
Brie and Hot pepper jelly phyllo cups
Stromboli
BBQ meatballs
Shrimp
Vegetarian meatballs made with chickpeas and leeks
Candied cashews and almonds
Christmas cookies
Tea ring

I'll be needing the recipes for these please.

 

[golfgal]

For all you cheese fondue people, what will you dip in it. I have carrots, peppers, onion hunks, asparagus, mushrooms, grapes, breads...any other ideas?

We will have pretty much the same thing, might have apples too. We won't do too much because we are doing full courses of fondue. I was planning on looking at the menu on the Melting Pot restaurant site when I make up my shopping list.

 

[Tinijocaro]

We will have pretty much the same thing, might have apples too. We won't do too much because we are doing full courses of fondue. I was planning on looking at the menu on the Melting Pot restaurant site when I make up my shopping list.

Are you the poster that is doing oil too? Tell me about that please.

 

[mtemm]

I'd love to know how to do your beef tenderloin - I don't think I've ever eaten one but since it looks like its what the majority cooks I need to learn how to do it

I've done mine several different ways, but this is pretty foolproof. make sure to get a good instant read thermometer if you don't already have one! we like it to get around 133-135, just personal preference, and we usually make a horseradish cream to go with it. huge hit!

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe...anna-sauteed-swiss-chard-and-raspberry-trifle


Serves 8

2 1/2 pound center-cut beef tenderloin tied by your butcher
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Horseradish Cream, optional
Bearnaise Sauce, optional
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or a roasting pan, rub beef tenderloin with oil. Generously season with at least 2 teaspoons each salt and pepper.
2.Roast, turning halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 125 degrees to 135 degrees for rare, 135 degrees to 140 degrees for medium, and 150 degrees for well done, 30 to 45 minutes, depending on desired doneness.
3.Remove from oven; cover loosely with foil; let rest 10 minutes. Remove twine; thinly slice beef. Serve with horseradish cream and bearnaise sauce, as desired.
.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Beef Tenderloin - Martha Stewart Recipes

 

[MichelleVW]

Dinner on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Sundays is always around 2pm---been that way since I was a kid and we continue that.

That would never work around here since Christmas breakfast is usually eaten around 11 am. No one would be hungry at 2.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I want a simple menu because it's Christmas and I don't want to spend all day cooking. So here is what we have planned.

Filet mignons
Lobster tail
Potato Gratin (I rock these and can get one made in about 15 minutes)
Brussel sprouts
Some amazing bread that I will buy at the market.

easy peasy and it's going to be delicious!

Lisa

 

[lovesmurfs]

Are you the poster that is doing oil too? Tell me about that please.

Different poster, but we do meat fondue as well -- we've switched to chicken broth from oil, though -- it seems a bit healthier (a bit hypocritical, though, seeing as how we're eating it at the same time as cheese fondue!).

The meats are really easy --- raw shrimp, chicken, beef. More time consuming are the sauces -- I've started getting some in the store -- sweet and sour sauce, plum sauce, wasabi, horseradish.

We sometimes do veggies in the chicken broth -- broccoli, peppers, etc. as well.

For the OP -- Yes. I would love to do something different from HAM, but the kids and DH are particular about it. This year, I've added some of my Ukrainian "soul food" (as my grandfather used to call it) -- pierogies, kielbasa and sauerkraut, etc.

 

[PaulaSue]

We always do seafood for Christmas. Usually crabcakes, shrimp, baked pot, bread, salad and corn.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

We will be having the same Thanksgiving dinner part 2 on christmas Day, with luck it won't be overcooked and dried out. My MIL loves to serve dinner in the middle of the afternoon and it drives me crazy. Part of it is that it's never ready when she says it will be either. So a 2pm dinner might be ready by 2:30, might not.

I have suggested doing a simple homemade soup and appetizers - and offered to bring the soups, but that gets shot down. The excuse was always that DH's grandparents wanted the full holiday dinner. His last surviving grandparent passed away this fall so we'll see what the justification is this year. I can predict the menu in my sleep...yawn...