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Holiday Menu?

bcgal00

bcgal00

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Pollywog
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Nov 18, 2010
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For the first time ever, I am cooking our turkey dinner for Xmas Eve. We're always had a buffet dinner Xmas Eve but wanted to do something different. Dinner is turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, corn, carrots, cranberry sauce and cheesecake and caramel squares for dessert and will open up a bottle of wine with dinner.

Then on Xmas Day we can have turkey leftovers, will bake a ham and add another veggie dish.I will make tons of dressing so we have lots for both meals (that is everyone's fave). Not sure what dessert I will get yet, make a cake.

I'm really looking forward to switching things up this year!
 
I have not made a holiday meal in years! We always celebrated with my family weeks before T-giving and Christmas and always did a potluck kind of meal and we've always gone to my in-laws for both holidays.
Hubs has a large family - lots of brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews - 35 of us when everyone shows up! His Dad and Mom have always gone all out. Everyone has offered to bring something so it's not such a chore for them, but they always refuse - they are in their upper 70's now, so it takes them DAYS to get ready! I know they treasure the time spent together though. One year my MIL told me it made her heart happy to look out into their driveway (they live in the country, so it's really like a big parking lot) and see all so many cars on the holidays.
 
This will be the first year that I haven't cooked Christmas dinner for years! Since our daughter got married in September and her husband's family is in town too, we've decided to have Christmas dinner all together with his family and alternate hosting each year! It will make it so much easier for them and us too. We're hosting a Christmas Eve dinner with them at our place this year. We always have a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve, something a bit lighter before the big turkey dinner the next day. On the menu this year is salmon with garlic shrimp, roasted vegetables with couscous and spinach salad, then squares and Christmas cake for dessert.
 
@JillW How wonderful that your in-laws host a big family dinner! Such a large family! I haven't had to cook Xmas dinner in many years, having always gone to my hub's family or my daughter's. But ths year it just seemed right, that it be my turn again. It's just us, my youngest daughter, her hubs and my GD.

@janedee That sounds yummy. I love shrimp and salmon. I'm the only one that like Xmas cake though. Do you make a sauce for it?
 
I have cooked a big meal for the last several years, but this year I've decided that I am going to cook a small turkey breast but then I am just going to have a bunch of finger foods...buffalo chicken dip, crab stuffed mushrooms, jalapeno poppers, meatballs, deviled eggs, shrimp, etc. My older kids have to visit their dad and the families of SOs, so they tend to be in and out a lot. I figured this kind of thing would be much easier to just have on hand when they are here.
 
Christmas Eve is our big celebration time. Who ever in the family is in town get together for dinner and we play the gift exchange game. Traditions. This year it's just one son and his family and the three of us here at our house. My daughter has learned how to make crepes with a cream cheese/whip cream filling and then strawberries on top that is really good. We will be having that with bacon, sausage and eggs. Plus whatever goodies we come up with. Christmas day will just be quiet for us. I guess I need to come up with something for our dinner, don't I? I haven't even thought about that yet! LOL Hey! But I'm all ready for Christmas!!! Except for THAT! I hate to cook!!!
 
We always do a potluck for Christmas dinner and my sister hosts since she has the largest place to hold everyone. I usually bring perogies and a broccoli-mushroom casserole. My younger sister makes kutya (a traditional Ukrainian wheat/poppyseed and honey dish that is sweet) plus najinka (another traditional Ukrainian disk made with cornmeal and bacon). My older sister does the turkey and dressing, plus we all help make the side veggies (potatoes and peas usually). My mom brings a pickles/olives tray and the dessert. We all end up having so many leftovers and we divide it all up so everyone has something to take home.
 
Christmas Eve is not going to be special this year as my daughter and I will be working the wrapping station until 7pm and then there is clean-up. However, we are having my parents over for Christmas dinner. I have a spiral ham to cook, my mom is bringing green bean casserole, and I am going to make the baked mac & cheese that Julie posted in another thread. Not sure what dessert will be yet. I might make it easy and get a pie from Costco. Their pumpkin is delicious and cheap.
 
We always go out for dinner on Christmas Eve. Where we go depends on where we live. We're going to a hibachi place (like Benihana) this year, as with the last 3. Christmas day I will make the same menu as I make on Thanksgiving: turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and stuffing.
 
We are doing a Ham and Cheesy Potatoes and everyone that is coming is bring a side dish.
 
My parents (mom) always hosts Christmas. This year, dinner (which actually takes place at lunchtime) is ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, broccoli-cheese casserole, mac 'n' cheese, rolls, green salad or veg, & apps for between when we open gifts (10 am) and when we eat (noon) like homemade cheese ball & crackers, veggie tray, homemade cookies, & homemade Chex Mix. I think my mom mentioned she is making some kind of cake for dessert, and I'm hoping my sister is bringing apple pie. I am bringing GF chocolate chip muffins/cake for my husband to eat. My mom makes the protein, potatoes, apps, & dessert & everyone else is 'assigned' a dish.

WE EAT A LOT! :drool :giggle :love
 
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