Mine is still in the works, but my family has low expectations of me so it will be hard to screw up. Everyone seems to be concerned that I'm going to try to have a "healthy" Christmas meal and they've made it clear that they don't want that
This is what I've planned so far...
Appetizer: Raspberry almond brie
Main Course: Prime rib Rosemary garlic mashed potatoes Roasted Brussels sprouts (Need to add a few more things here)
Dessert: Everyone else is bringing this so I don't have to worry about it
We host an open house on Christmas Eve so we have an all day buffet thing. People will bring their specialties as well
Appetizers Deviled eggs Goat cheese empanadas with salsa bobos Spicy chicken wings Crudite with ranch dressing Tortilla chips with tomato salsa Potato chips with caramelized onion dip
Main course Orange spiced pot roast Five cheese macaroni and cheese with caramelized shallots Roasted root vegetables Spinach apple salad Garlic roasted cauliflower
Desserts Chocolate chip cookies Russian teacakes Ice cream bombe
We host Christmas Eve. This year we are expecting 24 adults and 10 kids. We will do a sit-down dinner after all the kids eats; this works well every year.
We do a play on the Italian seven fishes. My grandmother modified year one year after she got sick of cooking a million fish dishes and we've kept it up ever since.
Apps: Clams casino Roasted shrimp cocktail Hot artichoke dip Sharp provolone, pepperoni, sopresatta Cherry peppers stuffed with sharp provolone and prosciutto Stuffed mushrooms Some chips for the kids
Dinner: Cioppino (basically seafood and spaghetti gravy that cooks all day long- shrimp, clams, mussels, crab, monkfish) Pasta Breaded and pan fried tilapia Garlic bread
Dessert (we keep it simple since too much tends to go to waste) Brownies Assorted cookies Iced Italian cookies Mini cheesecakes Choc covered strawberries Mini cannolis
We host an open house on Christmas Eve so we have an all day buffet thing. People will bring their specialties as well
Appetizers Deviled eggs Goat cheese empanadas with salsa bobos Spicy chicken wings Crudite with ranch dressing Tortilla chips with tomato salsa Potato chips with caramelized onion dip
Main course Orange spiced pot roast Five cheese macaroni and cheese with caramelized shallots Roasted root vegetables Spinach apple salad Garlic roasted cauliflower
Desserts Chocolate chip cookies Russian teacakes Ice cream bombe
Christmas Eve- Deviled Eggs, Caesar Salad, Orecchiette Pasta with Bolognese sauce from Mr. P's tomatoes this year. Garlic and Rosemary Breadsticks. Bluebell Peppermint Ice Cream after our golf cart light tours around the neighborhood.
Christmas Day- Breakfast-Campers Toast and Bacon with Fruit Salad for breakfast Christmas Dinner- Sundried Tomato and Pesto Feta Torte, served with chopped roasted red peppers and flatbreads. Layer Salad Honeybaked Ham, Tamales, Sausage Stuffing with Dried Cherries Roasted Garlic Brussel Sprouts Rolls with Lavender Honey Kentucky Derby Pie-tradition for family.
Christmas Eve: Italian sub Sausage & peppers Pasta with tomatoes & spinach Cheese and crackers Caprese salad Assorted cured meat Veggie tray Shrimp Assorted cookies, candy & fudge Mini honey-ricotta cheesecakes Beer, wine, etc Plus whatever food & drink people show up with.
Christmas Day Antipasto Home made manicotti Chicken Marsala Risotto Mixed veggies Ciabatta rolls Cheesecake Assorted cookies Whitman sampler Wine, beer etc.
I am cooking for Christmas Eve and we do "heavy apps" vs a sit down dinner.
Garden Salad Spinach Balls Crudite Antipasti Tray (roasted peppers, mozzarella, salami, prosciutto, olives, etc.) Baguettes with a topping of some sort Chips and Salsa and Goldfish for the kids Some sort of pasta dish
You guys, I love the food part of Christmas! Food is my H's love language, and you should SEE the lists he has on the Cozi app for this week And it's only us and my parents, so... too much food for too few people.
Christmas Eve:
Appetizers (starts at 3pm): goat-cheese stuffed mushrooms, veggies/ ranch dip, deviled eggs (I'm giving H one of his presents tonight- a deviled egg tray!), pork with hot mustard and sesame seeds, home-made chex mix
break to open presents
Cocktails: Old Fashioneds, wine, beer, whiskey and 7
Supper (about 7:30pm, after DD goes to bed): crab feast, baked potatoes, sauteed peas, salad, garlic bread
Dessert: Christmas cookies, mini-blackberry cheesecakes (with blackberries from our lake place!)
Christmas Day:
DD gets up to open presents from Santa Claus
Brunch: Christmas coffee, French toast with French Bread, sausage, egg bake, orange slices
Leftover appetizers as snacks
Supper: Home made pizzas/ calzones (my H is amaaaaazing at these!), caesar salad, leftover cookies.