What are you making for Christmas Eve Dinner?

[Graciesmom77]

So many great ideas and traditions.... but I still don't have an idea for my family. Here are the challenges.... we (DH, myself, two kids) never developed our own Christmas Eve tradition because DH works in management for "big brown" and when the kids were younger Christmas eve would find him sound asleep (if he was even home) on the sofa in his smelly brown uniform (virtually EVERYONE moves packages at Christmas time if you work for brown). THe kids and I would have a "normal" dinner and eat some cookies and egg nog as we left them out for Santa. That was about the full extent of our tradition. We also live 2+ hours away from any family and always wanted the kids to be able to wake up at home on Christmas morning, so we didn't visit family. When DH's job changed up a few years we were able to start some of our own Christmas Eve traditions. We started inviting my parents to come stay over with us, for one thing. And we started having our "big" Christmas meal on Christmas eve. But we have only done this for about 3 years now, so we haven't really settled into a specific dinner routine. Here are the food limitations..... no seafood (DD has schooled us in how significantly over-fishing is affecting the oceans). no poultry (DS is allergic) so no chicken, turkey, duck, or goose. no lamb or veal (for ethical reasons). DH eats very low carb, but is willing to "splurge" this year... but spaghetti seems so hum-drum and the kids don't like lasagna. My Dad wouldn't think of it as a "real meal" if we did just apps and snacks and cocktails, so it has to be a sit-down type of meal. I've done a ham, I've done prime rib (it was delicious but I was really afraid I would ruin a VERY expensive cut of meat), and I can't even remember what else we did. In 2010 DH was just out of the hospital recovering from a very bad accident, so I think my Mom brought dinner with her that year. We have no specific cultural traditions... DH is Swedish, I am Scotch/English. ANY SUGGESTIONS???? (Keeping in mind I am not a great cook!).........P

What about homemade fettuccini Alfredo. The sauce isn't hard and it's a bit fancier than spaghetti. Serve it with a bagged salad jazzed up with candied pecans and apples and garlic bread. Yummy!

 

[lovesmurfs]

It's the best...fast, yummy and a special treat. Nice red color is festive too, lol.
I already bought the stash, filled my bottom basket in the freezer. Christmas Eve I usually go to the mall and just do random nice things, open doors, help someone to their car, start up a conversation while sitting taking a break, whatever~ I don't shop, just take in the chaos and fun people are having. .then I get DH and the "kids" (19 and 23) head out to donate to random Salvation Army buckets. It's fun, each gets a turn to yell random directions and the first bell ringer we see is our spot to give. Then home to make the crab After we have made gluttons of ourselves we drove around and look at holiday lights and then watch A Christmas Story (we know we will catch it since it runs 24 hours )
Go get some crab...our market had it for $6 a pound - nice big clusters! Maybe it's on sale by you too!

I've been shopping for it! It's $10.99/lb here in Chicagoland. I think I may still go for it! Thanks!

 

[pjlla]

What about homemade fettuccini Alfredo. The sauce isn't hard and it's a bit fancier than spaghetti. Serve it with a bagged salad jazzed up with candied pecans and apples and garlic bread. Yummy!

Nice suggestion! Thanks..................P

 

[colormegreen]

We always have pozole and tamales with bunuelos for dessert. We always celebrate on the 24th stay up until midnight open all the presents and then go to bed. We don't do anything on the 25th but rest and eat leftovers.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I know. I should just tell him it is a "munchies" night... but by about 6 pm he'd be in the kitchen, rifling through my fridge, making himself a sandwich and grumbling (just a bit). And I don't make a big meal the next day, so this is my big concession to Christmas cooking ( I don't bake cookies, I don't make pie.... I HATE cooking and DESPISE baking!).

Thanks for the suggestions!............P

Do you have a crockpot? You can do pork in the crock, get some flour/corn tortillas, make some rice and beans. That is an really easy meal and very yummy! Don't forget the pico de galo and guacamole!

I still thinks appetizers is a good idea. Do you belong to Costco buy chance? Because along with apps you can buy a tray of sandwiches (they do them on croissants and they are good and filling). So then if he get hungry later in the day he can go to the fridge and grab a sandwich

 

[Alexle2007]

Looks like we have a change in plans since my sister has decided to do something at her house since my nephew is going to FL on Christmas Day to see my brother. Still means no cooking for me though

 

[jcemom]

We will have a cheese ball, ham, cheesy potatoes, a vegetable of some sort, and cake. On Christmas Eve we open the gifts to our kids from us, and to us from the kids, and watch tv. It's nice to relax after all the weeks of hustle and bustle.

On Christmas morning I will make breakfast and we'll open Santa gifts. We go to my mom's for lunch and stay through the evening. The next day we'll go to my MIL's for a late lunch and stay through the evening. I'll normally take an appetizer and a few desserts to each of the parents' houses. This year I'm thinking buffalo chicken dip, cookie trays, and cake balls.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We do appetizers and small sandwiches on Christmas Eve normally.

I will probably do that for the family but I'm going to need a soup for me because I'm getting a permanent crown on a cracked tooth that afternoon so I'm not going to want to eat much.

I'll probably still be sore on Christmas day too so I don't know what I'm going to do then. I really don't want to cook much anyway. Probably an already cooked ham that just needs reheating but don't know what else I'll serve - probably mashed potatoes since they'll be soft and I will eat those. LOL

 

[Disney Springs]

I have absolutely no idea. After going back and forth in my mind, I'm thinking about doing breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve. It's one of those things, where it feels like Christmas Eve no matter what you eat! I could eat cereal, and it would be Christmas Eve cereal to me!

We're having pancakes and bacon on Christmas morning, so I want my Christmas Eve (dinner/breakfast) to be completely different. I'm making the following recipe, but haven't decided what to serve with it:

http://www.cafemom.com/group/16853/forums/read/684830/Hashbrown_Casserole

My MIL made this last year, and it is so yummy!! I could probably throw some ham in it, and make it a one pot dish. Serve with mimosas and we're rock'n on Christmas Eve!

 

[garnetandblack]

We always have prime rib with sweet potato souffle and asparagus. DS3 will get shrimp since we like our prime rib rare

 

[pjlla]

Do you have a crockpot? You can do pork in the crock, get some flour/corn tortillas, make some rice and beans. That is an really easy meal and very yummy! Don't forget the pico de galo and guacamole!

I still thinks appetizers is a good idea. Do you belong to Costco buy chance? Because along with apps you can buy a tray of sandwiches (they do them on croissants and they are good and filling). So then if he get hungry later in the day he can go to the fridge and grab a sandwich

Thanks for the suggestions. We have pulled pork on pretty regular basis here though, so it wouldn't really feel special. Costco is an hour each way (although we do belong) so I probably wouldn't make the trip on the 24th.

I think we have decided to go with prime rib (expensive, but relatively easy), twice baked potatoes (I can do those in advance), a green vegetable (probably something like roasted broccoli or roasted green beans) homemade bread, and a green salad. Top it off with a nice wine, cider, and some Christmas treats (cookies and such) for dessert. I don't usually bake, but DD is coming home tomorrow and is looking forward to doing some holiday baking, so I will let her!

Christmas day we are deciding between MYO pizza or homemade broccoli cheddar soup in bread bowls. I can make BOTH the pizza crust and the bread bowls in advance, so that wouldn't be too hard. I can also make the soup 2 days in advance.... it keeps well. For dessert we will have leftover cookies and maybe MYO sundaes??

Thanks again for all of the ideas and suggestions!..............P

 

[ReneeA]

We've always done pizza, salad, bread, and cake with DH's family. We have children's mass at church until 7, so we do something quick & easy so everyone isn't up all night. This year, I'm ordering 4 pizzas from Costco & picking them up just before they close. We'll throw them in the oven when we get home from church.

 

[lucyem]

Rib roast, yorkshire pudding, potatoes, geen beans etc.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

If we go to my parents house,we do Italian,7 fishes. If we go to my In-laws,we do Cuban, Roasted Pig. I love the food on both sides!

 

[LindaBabe]

If we go to my parents house,we do Italian,7 fishes. If we go to my In-laws,we do Cuban, Roasted Pig. I love the food on both sides!

Need a LIKE button! YUM!

 

[Priorityonecb]

We just sat down and worked on our menu's.

Christmas Eve-
Roasted chicken
Spiral ham
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Roasted broccoli and asparagus

Christmas day-
Hawaiian sweet rolls
Ham slices
Chicken salad
Cole Slaw/potato salad/fruit salad
Several kinds of chips
Lots of Christmas cookies and goodies

 

[LindaBabe]

We always used to have Keeler's lobster Newburg for Christmas eve. It was my family of origin's tradition . . . until my spouse & I admitted we didn't like the taste of sherry much. After that, we've gone out for Chinese on Christmas Eve!

 

[kajs22]

Italian tradition ~~ 7 fishes!

Us too!

 

[Mom_Rides]

My family's tradition is sloppy Joe sandwiches w/ Ballreich potato chips. I don't live near home anymore so I have to order the potato chips. They were shipped yesterday! The are also my Dad's favorite chips so we buy him a bag at Christmas every year.

The sloppy Joe comes from going to church for midnight mass on Christmas eve. After church everyone would go to my aunt's house. She always had sloppy Joe in a crock pot for everyone to eat. I think I am the only one left that still does this in my family. But it is tradition and traditions are important to me.

Mmmmmmm Ballreich chips! I LOVE them, they're my favorite! And I love them with sloppy joes. I put two on my sandwich, soooo good!

 

[dawnhaze]

Kosher Chinese take-out, delivered to my door, with enough leftovers to eat the next day for lunch.

(we're not Jewish, it's just what's open in my neighborhood on holidays, lol)