Come critique my Christmas Eve menu!

[Bernadine]

Apps-

Crab dip
Onion and pepper relish with cream cheese

Dinner-

Pork and venison tenderloin
Mashed potatoes?  Maybe?  Anyone have a starch suggestion?
Brussel sprouts with bacon
Green bean casserole
Sauerkraut
Rolls

I feel like the mashed potatoes are maybe too bland?  I would do scalloped potatoes, but I can never get them to cook all the way through.

I feel like I need more color on the plates.

[mellymel]

How many people are coming for dinner?

[Bernadine]

Dec 14, 2014 11:05:33 GMT -5 mellymel said:

How many people are coming for dinner?

16

[pagas]

I would make rosemary roast potatoes, but I am not sure of your oven space. Or maybe roast garlic mashed potatoes.

[verycontrary247]

Some kind of fruit salad? Cinnamon applesauce?

[Bernadine]

Dec 14, 2014 11:11:31 GMT -5 @stpete said:

Is sauerkraut a tradition in your family? I grew up with it but I don't generally see it as a crowd pleaser. And if it is then you need the mashed potato because the two together is the perfect bite.

MIL is making it, I don't eat it, lol.

[Bernadine]

Dec 14, 2014 11:12:35 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

What about roasted red potatoes? You can roast in olive oil, garlic, and parm cheese.

For more color butternut squash is also very good. My mom made it at Thanksgiving with lots of cinnamon and a tiny bit of maple syrup. I swear it was amazing.

I feel like that might be harder to do for 16 people?

[indianchica]

Are you seriously asking for a starch suggestion in the land of grandma nugget's mac and cheese?

[pagas]

And I would add a green salad, maybe one with dried cranberries.

[tacokick]

Everyone eats sauerkraut on Christmas and thanksgiving in Md. It is expected. I would do mashed potatoes.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

Sauerkraut says New Years Day to me!

[mrsdoe]

I would add crudités or another veggie app.

I love mashed potatoes. Red bliss with the skin on and lots of garlic cream and butter is fab.

[sjh722]

Mashed potatoes are a lot easier than roasted if you're short on oven space.

I like to make them with red skinned potatoes. Peel a bunch of garlic cloves and throw them in with the potatoes while they cook. Mash with butter and cream or half and half.

How are you making the Brussels sprouts? 16 people is a lot if you only have one oven - I try to write out how I'm going to time it (do you have roast resting while you cook green bean casserole? Is there room in the oven for both at once? Are you sauteeing or roasting the Brussels sprouts?)

[shopgirl07]

Everyone loves mashed potatoes and they're easy to make so I'd do that. I use the pioneer woman's recipe and they are delish.