Christmas/eve dinner menus anyone?

[spankswife]

Has anyone started thinking about their Christmas menu? I usually either do an Italian theme, or traditional ham and sides.

Just brainstorming...

Also - any good breakfast ideas?

[magdala9]

We host an open house every year for people to drop in after 2 pm. The menu includes specific staples that my friends and family have informed me must return each year. These are

Spicy Wings www.favoritebrandrecipes.com/Recipes/365/3480001365.htm
My Macaroni and Cheese
Padma's short ribs www.oprah.com/food/Padma-Lakshmis-BBQ-Korean-Short-Ribs

I am looking to round out the menu with more appetizers and sides. I have been looking at a variety of things: Caprese bites, fruit skewers, stromboli, maybe a salad or a crudite plate.

There will also be a cookie bar and hot chocolate bar. Friends generally will bring their specialty and a friend or two.

Brunch is Mom's responsibility. With our party going until the wee hours, I rarely make to brunch before noon.

[ally]

Our plan for Christmas Eve is fondue - hot oil to cook steak & shrimp and a cheese option. Plus any cookies/fudge I've made. The rest of the family will bring apps and (more) sweets. I will make sangria or another alcoholic punch.

My mom will have our traditional Christmas dinner: garlic prime rib, cheesey potatos, corn pudding, dinner rolls. Dessert is Christmas cookies.

DH and I make breakfast together every year to enjoy with mimosas. We have not chosen a recipe yet.

** I have noted the lack of vegetables in any of these meals. **

[msmerymac]

We are doing our own dinner the Saturday before Christmas, and since we have a vegetarian house, it's, well, vegetarian. A vegetarian roast (good, I promise) and sides like mashed winter root vegetables, some kind of potato, some other kind of veggie.

My family always has french onion soup on Christmas eve, and lasagna, plus a salad or some veggies. Christmas is either ham or roast beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans/green bean casserole, sometimes candied yams, plus dessert. We also always have a cheese ball for a snack in the afternoon. Christmas breakfast is the usual - scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage, plus the trashy pillsbury orange cinnamon rolls! Coffee and orange juice.

[5thofjuly]

I'm making beef bourguignon, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with panchetta, roasted carrots, rosemary bread, and chocolate cake. Yum!

[livinitup]

Since Christmas Eve falls on a (workday) Monday, I am doing cold apps and cheese to start; beef filet, with scallopped potatoes and steamed green beans for dinner. Christmas cookies for dessert.

For Christmas morning, I doing ham and cheese croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit and hard boiled eggs.

[jcbarbee]

On Christmas Eve, we usually either go to the IL's and invite my family or go to a local Mexican Restaurant after church.

Christmas day we have a big brunch with mimosas around lunch-time. For dinner, we have beef tenderloin, rosemary potato au gratin with pie crust, sauteed mushrooms, salad, rolls, etc.

I love the fondue idea!

[winnied]

Boy, have I!

Christmas Eve: Shrimp etouffee, white rice, corn bread for the rice haters, and Christmas cookies

Christmas Morning: Spinach Strata, Cranberry/Orange scones, bacon, sausage, mimosas, coffee, fruit salad

Christmas Dinner:

Appetizers: baked brie with apple compote, spiced nuts

Main Meal: Roast lamb, parmesan baked potatoes, vegetable tian (maybe) or brussel sprouts in some form with chocolate cream tart with a shortbread pecan crust

[eliseb0323]

I do the same Christmas Day Dinner every year.

Salad with Oranges and Sugared Pecans
Sour Dough Rolls (courtesy of my SIL in San Francisco)
Herb-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with a Brandy Cream Sauce
Potatoes Gratin
Green Beans with Herb Butter
Mini Chocolate Mousse Cups and Cheesecake Bites

[candreco]

I usually host Christmas Eve dinner for my parents between the kids' service at church and the later ones (my mom works at the church, so it's a busy day for her), and we open presents then since we all fly to FL on Christmas day.

This year I think I'm going to suggest lunch w/ finger foods so that it's a little more relaxing. On the list right now are-

-mini beef tenderloin sandwiches w/ horseradish-mustard sauce
-crispy-baked potato rounds with a dollop of salmon spread
-a couple of cheeses with crackers
-endive salad "boats"
-cranberry shortbread for dessert

[brit]

Every Christmas eve we have lobster bisque and roasted crab (buon natale).