Please share your Christmas menu

[aristocatz]

We are hosting an early Christmas this year-family will be coming the Sunday prior. I'm looking for ideas and recipes for our menu-from appetizers to mean dishes to sides to dessert. It will be: me, DH, my MIL, BIL, SIL, 2 nieces (3 & 5) & my DD (14 months). No one is picky, but obviously not looking for anything spicy, because of the kiddos.

So far, I want to make either a brisket or a pot roast. Any mouthwatering recipes you can share?

Sides ideas that would complement the meat?

Appetizer ideas?

We are going to make some fun cookies (snowman shaped maybe?), might pick up a dessert from Costco.

Thanks!

 

[ronandannette]

We are hosting an early Christmas this year-family will be coming the Sunday prior. I'm looking for ideas and recipes for our menu-from appetizers to mean dishes to sides to dessert. It will be: me, DH, my MIL, BIL, SIL, 2 nieces (3 & 5) & my DD (14 months). No one is picky, but obviously not looking for anything spicy, because of the kiddos.

So far, I want to make either a brisket or a pot roast. Any mouthwatering recipes you can share?

Sides ideas that would complement the meat?

Appetizer ideas?

We are going to make some fun cookies (snowman shaped maybe?), might pick up a dessert from Costco.

Thanks!

Probably not going to be too helpful for you but never once in my life have I ever had anything other than turkey and all the fixings for Christmas dinner. I can see why you might want something different though if you just did turkey at Thanksgiving (our Thanksgiving is months earlier).

 

[aristocatz]

Probably not going to be too helpful for you but never once in my life have I ever had anything other than turkey and all the fixings for Christmas dinner. I can see why you might want something different though if you just did turkey at Thanksgiving (our Thanksgiving is months earlier).

I LOVE turkey-my DH said no way, since we just had a huge turkey for Thanksgiving

 

[Janepod]

We usually do Beef Wellington, but one of our guests this year is celiac (has celiac?) so we won't be able to do that. I am thinking a goose or a rib roast.

 

[Susiequsie60]

I usually do either prime rib or filet mignon for Christmas dinner.

I've gotten in to the habit (from my husband's family) of really going overboard on the appetizers. I do things like baked brie, cheese and crackers, cocktail meatballs, shrimp cocktail, maybe a hot dip (hot onion dip or spinach artichoke.) I make some yummy candied pecans that I have out too. The cocktail hour lasts for a couple of hours.

Being of Italian heritage myself, I like to have a pasta course with our dinner. I've done lasagna, but penne vodka is my favorite the past few years.

I'll usually have a salad course - but personally I think we can do without it.

Side dishes: Boursin potatoes (to die for), maybe a green bean casserole, some mushrooms, glazed carrots, and some type of crescent rolls or the like.

Now it's time for dessert: that's my wheelhouse!! I usually do at least 6 or 7 (no matter how many people will be there.) Some type of cheesecake (cookie dough or Bailey's or brownie bottom), always a chocolate cake, maybe cream puffs or cannoli's, a pie (pumpkin or coconut custard?,) maybe some type of trifle (Death by Chocolate?) some brownies or cupcakes, and of course - cookies!!!

So, if anything above sounds interesting, I have some really good recipes!!!

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I usually do either prime rib or filet mignon for Christmas dinner.

I've gotten in to the habit (from my husband's family) of really going overboard on the appetizers. I do things like baked brie, cheese and crackers, cocktail meatballs, shrimp cocktail, maybe a hot dip (hot onion dip or spinach artichoke.) I make some yummy candied pecans that I have out too. The cocktail hour lasts for a couple of hours.

Being of Italian heritage myself, I like to have a pasta course with our dinner. I've done lasagna, but penne vodka is my favorite the past few years.

I'll usually have a salad course - but personally I think we can do without it.

Side dishes: Boursin potatoes (to die for), maybe a green bean casserole, some mushrooms, glazed carrots, and some type of crescent rolls or the like.

Now it's time for dessert: that's my wheelhouse!! I usually do at least 6 or 7 (no matter how many people will be there.) Some type of cheesecake (cookie dough or Bailey's or brownie bottom), always a chocolate cake, maybe cream puffs or cannoli's, a pie (pumpkin or coconut custard?,) maybe some type of trifle (Death by Chocolate?) some brownies or cupcakes, and of course - cookies!!!

So, if anything above sounds interesting, I have some really good recipes!!!

That's it, we're going to Susiequsie's house for Christmas dinner!

 

[Susiequsie60]

Well, I do love to have people at my house for dinner. I love to cook and I love to entertain.

One thing I should also say though: I'm taking a moratorium on the holiday cooking all together this year. My 22-year old son is away, living in Europe for a year, so for the first time he won't be here with us for any of the holidays. :-(

I just can't bring myself to do it up like I normally do, knowing he won't be here with us to enjoy it. Skyping is just not the same. (Yeah, I know eventually he'll be married and won't be spending every holiday with us. But this first one - with him being all the way across that huge ocean - is a little hard for me.)

Maybe next year Mrs. Malone!

 

[aristocatz]

I usually do either prime rib or filet mignon for Christmas dinner.

I've gotten in to the habit (from my husband's family) of really going overboard on the appetizers. I do things like baked brie, cheese and crackers, cocktail meatballs, shrimp cocktail, maybe a hot dip (hot onion dip or spinach artichoke.) I make some yummy candied pecans that I have out too. The cocktail hour lasts for a couple of hours.

Being of Italian heritage myself, I like to have a pasta course with our dinner. I've done lasagna, but penne vodka is my favorite the past few years.

I'll usually have a salad course - but personally I think we can do without it.

Side dishes: Boursin potatoes (to die for), maybe a green bean casserole, some mushrooms, glazed carrots, and some type of crescent rolls or the like.

Now it's time for dessert: that's my wheelhouse!! I usually do at least 6 or 7 (no matter how many people will be there.) Some type of cheesecake (cookie dough or Bailey's or brownie bottom), always a chocolate cake, maybe cream puffs or cannoli's, a pie (pumpkin or coconut custard?,) maybe some type of trifle (Death by Chocolate?) some brownies or cupcakes, and of course - cookies!!!

So, if anything above sounds interesting, I have some really good recipes!!!

Recipe for the boursin potatoes, please!!

 

[minkydog]

Two years ago my older kids asked if they could change the menu for Christmas. I let them give it a shot and they came up with a very laid back plan:
Shrimp cocktail
Meat &cheese tray
Fruit
Rolls
Lettuce, tomato, peppers
Chips
Pie
We lay it out on the table around noon and everyone gets what the want, buffet style. My big kids are. 20 & 27, so they leave after lunch to be with their friends. No hours spent cooking and cleaning! We love it. I doubt I'll ever go back to making the holiday groaning board.

 

[Susiequsie60]

These are so darn delicious, and really pretty simple.

Boursin Potatoes

3 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled
salt & pepper
1 pint heavy cream
1 (5 oz) package of boursin cheese
Fresh chives or parsley, chopped

Slice potatoes into quarter inch rounds and toss with S & P
Slowly heat heavy cream and cheese until melted
In a buttered dish layer half of potatoes
Pour over 1/2 of cream mixture
Repeat
Cover and back at 350 degrees for an hour
Sprinkle the top with chives or parsley

(If you really want to make it easy, I've used the pre-sliced fresh potatoes in the bag - usually in the refrigerator aisle. I think they're called "Simply Potatoes" and they taste quite good!!)

 

[lizabu]

I'm making a prime rib with roasted garlic mashed potatoes. I'll make a Demi glacé and Yorkshire pudding. I will probably have green beans or some other vegetable. For dessert I want to make apple Brown Betty.

Christmas Eve is when I'm having people over. I'm going to do all different types of hors d'oeuvres.

 

[aristocatz]

These are so darn delicious, and really pretty simple.

Boursin Potatoes

3 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled
salt & pepper
1 pint heavy cream
1 (5 oz) package of boursin cheese
Fresh chives or parsley, chopped

Slice potatoes into quarter inch rounds and toss with S & P
Slowly heat heavy cream and cheese until melted
In a buttered dish layer half of potatoes
Pour over 1/2 of cream mixture
Repeat
Cover and back at 350 degrees for an hour
Sprinkle the top with chives or parsley

(If you really want to make it easy, I've used the pre-sliced fresh potatoes in the bag - usually in the refrigerator aisle. I think they're called "Simply Potatoes" and they taste quite good!!)

Thank you!! So, these are sort of a scalloped potato dish, right? Yum!

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

Growing up we didn't have an actual big meal, but we did have a special tradition for Christmas eve. Basically we got whatever we wanted! About a month or so before Christmas mom would put a list on the wall, and we would each write what we wanted to have, and she would make it. One year I asked for ham steak, broccoli and potatoes, another year I asked for gummi bears! One sister usually had crab legs, and one liked shrimp. It was a lot of fun and felt very special to us to get to choose anything we wanted. One of sisters is continuing the tradition with her kids.

 

[Susiequsie60]

I guess it is pretty much a scalloped potato dish! All I know is that a woman I work with gave me the recipe years ago, and it's become a huge family favorite!!

 

[Mrs.Malone]

Well, I do love to have people at my house for dinner. I love to cook and I love to entertain.

One thing I should also say though: I'm taking a moratorium on the holiday cooking all together this year. My 22-year old son is away, living in Europe for a year, so for the first time he won't be here with us for any of the holidays. :-(

I just can't bring myself to do it up like I normally do, knowing he won't be here with us to enjoy it. Skyping is just not the same. (Yeah, I know eventually he'll be married and won't be spending every holiday with us. But this first one - with him being all the way across that huge ocean - is a little hard for me.)

Maybe next year Mrs. Malone!

 

[Mousemom234]

Not sure what we're having yet, I'm still rolling menus past my brain

So far, I'm looking at:
1) ham, pineapple dressing, stuffed baked potatoes, glazed carrots, peas, and something for dessert. DH & Dad both love tapioca pudding, so probably that - with the BIG tapioca, and something chocolate for me, maybe fudgy pecan tassies (if I can find where I put the recipe)

2) cured pork roast (from Boma), a starch - maybe Boatwright's scalloped potatoes, or something pasta-ish, same veggies as 1, and tiramisu or raspberry trifle.

3) roast beef, sweet potato gratin (Artist Point), green beans with caramelized onions, mushrooms and red pepper bits; and peas. Dessert - something light, maybe a creme brulee or key lime pie.

Homemade rolls with butter (plain & flavored), and a few types of cookies for after-dinner munching with all menus.

There's only 3 of us this year, so I'm saving the appetizers for New Years Eve with friends. I'm working that morning, so I'm starting to study my cookbooks for make-aheads, or else something bought.

 

[pixiewings71]

I think probably ham, some kind of potatoes (those boursin (sp) potatoes sound good), green bean casserole, and that's all I know right now....lol

 

[maslex]

Christmas Eve we usually go to my brother's house. We like to keep it simple. Maybe an appetizer or two and then we order a bunch of pizza and we each bring some dessert.

Then for Christmas Day we usually go to my SIL's house. She'll have another turkey dinner. I prefer having ham for Christmas because that's what I grew up having but I love the turkey dinner too so I won't complain.

For apps, we like.....
spinach dip (with cut up french bread to dip)
sun dried tomato/roasted red pepper cheese dip (TO DIE FOR)
cheese/pepperoni/crackers
pigs in a blanket
SIL always makes these crescent rolls with cinnamon chips in the middle
veggie/fruit tray
usually a bowl of nuts

For dessert, this year I'm making up a bunch of stuff and dividing it all up to bring to both houses.
crockpot candy
buckeye bark
chocolate covered peppermint sticks (the soft kind)
snowman cupcakes
peanut butter blossoms
7 layer bars
fantasy fudge

 

[PizzieDuster]

Christmas Eve we usually go to my brother's house. We like to keep it simple. Maybe an appetizer or two and then we order a bunch of pizza and we each bring some dessert.

Then for Christmas Day we usually go to my SIL's house. She'll have another turkey dinner. I prefer having ham for Christmas because that's what I grew up having but I love the turkey dinner too so I won't complain.

For apps, we like.....
spinach dip (with cut up french bread to dip)
sun dried tomato/roasted red pepper cheese dip (TO DIE FOR)
cheese/pepperoni/crackers
pigs in a blanket
SIL always makes these crescent rolls with cinnamon chips in the middle
veggie/fruit tray
usually a bowl of nuts

For dessert, this year I'm making up a bunch of stuff and dividing it all up to bring to both houses.
crockpot candy
buckeye bark
chocolate covered peppermint sticks (the soft kind)
snowman cupcakes
peanut butter blossoms
7 layer bars
fantasy fudge

Need the sun dried tomato dip recipe! That sounds so good!

Also, I'm curious about your SIL's cin. crescent roll thing. My son loves cinnamon.

I still can't figure out what we are having. We had prime rib once but this time I'm serving more than 8. Do I do two?

 

[dyna]

Rolled oysters with homemade catsup. Pecan pie.