Easy food ideas for X-mas eve

[Buzz Rules]

 

[prairie_girl]

We always get Chinese take out on Xmas eve.

We’re doing this for the first time this year because no one wants to spend time in the kitchen that night.

 

[georgina]

Usually something pasta-y - lasagna or baked ziti. Have vegetarians visiting so this works well, sometimes I make 2 separate lasagnas with and w/o meat.

 

[Boopuff]

Years ago my Mom and Godmom decided they were done doing the big, heavy meal on the Eve. So everyone brought appetizers. And we just had a grazing evening, some apps were more "meal-ish" but the tradition has continued to this day. Now the torch has been passed to my daughters. They do Eve and we do a traditional big dinner on Christmas.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Baked Ziti
Can make a tomato sauce anytime in advance and freeze, can do it in a slow cooker or jar, whatever you like.
Boil the pasta & drain
Mix 15 oz ricotta, 2 eggs beaten, 1/8-1/4 cup parmesan, some tomato sauce until pink, mix with pasta and put in a big pan then bake about 45 min at 350 & serve with more tomato sauce.

Another quick idea is fish in the oven.
To save money any frozen will do, defrost however many fillet you need and lay on a foil lined cookie sheet covered with light oil to prevent sticking
In a frying pan or microwave bowl add butter or oil to saute, 1/4 diced onion, some chopped garlic, 1/2 roll ritz crackers & a bit of tarragon or whatever you like. Once it's a nice fragrant mix just scatter this on top of the fish and bake as long as that particular kind of fish bakes. Microwave potatoes as a side.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I typically do a simple chicken parmesan and/or shrimp scampi. Add rolls and a salad, you're done. Shrimp scampi is essentially shrimp in garlic butter--very fast and easy, tastes great. For chicken parm, I use the parmesan crusted chicken tenders from Aldi's (green bag, next to the famous "red bag" chicken). I cook it per directions, then take out of the oven, add a spoonful of (jarred) sauce, then top with shredded mozzarella. 5 more minutes in the oven to melt the cheese, and you're there.

The only reason I do two entrees is so both the pescatarian and the meat-lovers can eat.

Even easier would be a Stouffer's lasagna or two (again, I have different eaters). They aren't as good as the authentic lasagna I slave over, but they're still pretty good--especially for the work you put (heat oven, put in, set timer, make salad).