I haven't decided whether to host or whether my mum should host. She has a dishwasher, I don't (kitchen is being redone next year) but I like being home!
Anyway, either way our menu is a fairly traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner. There's only 6 of us so always good leftovers.
Rice and peas Potato Salad Green Salad Ham Roast Chicken Fried Plantain Mac n cheese
We’re going to my aunt’s house this year - so we’ll actually get a good meal and have fun, lol.
She asked me to bring a dates appetizer I made for a family gathering a few weeks ago - stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon.
I’m also looking for a nice platter I can give as a hostess gift and I’ll fill it with small assorted desserts - brownies, cookies, fresh berries, storebought chocolates, etc.
Post by georgeglass on Oct 25, 2019 12:12:54 GMT -5
I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.
We're going to my parents' for T-giving. I help my mom cook and we usually do:
Turkey with butter under the skin Cornbread dressing Real cranberry sauce Potato salad (haterz to the left) Creamed spinach Some other potato, probably either mashed or au gratin Carrots (probably cinnamon roasted) White rolls Pumpkin pie Ice cream
I do Christmas and I'm pretty happy with what I've come up with in the past few years. I think this will be the tradition for us.
Christmas Eve: Lasagna Green salad Garlic bread
Christmas Day: Homemade cinnamon rolls (Pioneer Woman but with egg nog) and fruit for breakfast
Prime rib Au Gratin potatoes Green beans
There's always plenty of sweets around so I don't make desserts at Christmas
Post by eponinepontmercy on Oct 25, 2019 12:41:55 GMT -5
We're going to my parents for Thanksgiving. I usually make cranberry sauce, and then I'll help once we get there. I might find a fun dessert recipe.
My sister's boss (she's a sous chef) put her name in for a chance to have the head chef of the company (they own and operate a bunch of different restaurants) cook Thanksgiving dinner for your family. If that happens, I have no idea what we'll eat, except we'll still make my mom's stuffing recipe the next day.
Thanksgiving is usually pretty boring, but it's always delicious: Turkey Stuffing glazed carrots glazed sweet potatoes cranberry sauce - fresh and canned
I host Christmas and my family comes down to us. Prime rib roasted potatoes (that cook with the prime rib and I'm drooling just thinking about them) roasted maple carrots creamed spinach (my sister makes this) Every year I look for a lighter, fresh vegetable recipe to cut the roastedness, but nothing ever works. DH laughed for days when I suggested making a salad. Some kind of dessert. I made a Rainbow Cookie Cake last year that I might have to make again.
Christmas Eve is at my ILs with a strange collection of food. At least DH's aunt usually brings an awesome cookie tray, and they started asking me to bring pierogies a few years ago.
I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.
This is my husband too. We'll watch them make something super complicated and he'll be like, "We should make that!"
Sure, it'll only take us 10 hours and turn out to be some monstrosity that Paul Hollywood would NOT approve of. Lol.
We're going to my parents for Thanksgiving. I usually make cranberry sauce, and then I'll help once we get there. I might find a fun dessert recipe.
My sister's boss (she's a sous chef) put her name in for a chance to have the head chef of the company (they own and operate a bunch of different restaurants) cook Thanksgiving dinner for your family. If that happens, I have no idea what we'll eat, except we'll still make my mom's stuffing recipe the next day.
Thanksgiving is usually pretty boring, but it's always delicious: Turkey Stuffing glazed carrots glazed sweet potatoes cranberry sauce - fresh and canned
I host Christmas and my family comes down to us. Prime rib roasted potatoes (that cook with the prime rib and I'm drooling just thinking about them) roasted maple carrots creamed spinach (my sister makes this) Every year I look for a lighter, fresh vegetable recipe to cut the roastedness, but nothing ever works. DH laughed for days when I suggested making a salad. Some kind of dessert. I made a Rainbow Cookie Cake last year that I might have to make again.
Christmas Eve is at my ILs with a strange collection of food. At least DH's aunt usually brings an awesome cookie tray, and they started asking me to bring pierogies a few years ago.
Would you share the recipe you used for the rainbow cookie cake? I love those cookies and cake form might be a perfect christmas dessert this year
I am lazy and do the world's easiest apple tart but we have been watching the British Baking Show and now H wants to try something complicated, which is fine, except now I have to come up with some other thing to contribute.
This is my husband too. We'll watch them make something super complicated and he'll be like, "We should make that!"
Sure, it'll only take us 10 hours and turn out to be some monstrosity that Paul Hollywood would NOT approve of. Lol.
When we were first dating we spent about $40 and several hours making a ton of artichoke spinach dip. It was fine but we immediately agreed that it was not worth it, lol
I don't know if MIL is coming for xmas or if we're going to her house Either way, I need a good ham recipe.
My go-to for ham is 2.25 c brown Sugar, spiral cut ham, 20 oz crushed pineapple, and 1/2 c honey.
Pat 1.5 c brown sugar in the bottom of large crock pot (or whatever you're baking it in, if you're baking). Put ham cut side down on top of brown sugar and slightly pull apart the layers. Pour pineapple over, sprinkle remaining brown sugar and drizzle with honey. Cover and cook for 3.5 hours.
Post by turnipthebeet on Oct 25, 2019 13:57:37 GMT -5
I have most of my meal planned. My in-laws and parents, and several of our siblings are coming over, we'll have around 18. I'm taking care of the mains and farming out apps and deserts.
Post by litebright on Oct 25, 2019 14:08:37 GMT -5
lemoncupcake, I made that last year. It was very pretty. I'm glad I tried it, but it did make me realize that I'm more of a sweet-dessert fan than something tart or citrusy.
My favorite pie the past two years has been pumpkin praline, and I think that one is set to become a new must-have. It's basically pumpkin pie on the bottom with a pecan pie layer on the top. So incredibly good. It's a Cooks Illustrated recipe originally.
I also ordered a fresh turkey from a local farm that I will pick up the weekend before Thanksgiving. I've always wanted to do that, so I'm looking forward to the turkey more than usual.
I want to try a pavlova, but I think I might do that for Christmas instead of T-Day.
Post by cattledogkisses on Oct 25, 2019 14:19:21 GMT -5
We're doing Thanksgiving with the ILs on Thursday and then traveling to my family for the weekend and doing our Thanksgiving with them on Saturday.
ILs will be traditional Thanksgiving fare. H and I brought the appetizers last year, so we'll probably do it again this year. We put together a charcuterie spread for people to nibble on throughout the day while things were cooking.
My mom says she figures we'll be all turkey-d out since us kids will be coming fresh off of Thanksgiving with all of our in-laws, so she's trying to figure out what the main course should be. I'm trying to talk her into Beef Wellington, but my sister is pulling for a ham (battle of the siblings!).
lemoncupcake I've had that same cranberry tart pinned for ages too, and I might have to try to make it this year.
We are going to my ILs for Thanksgiving like we do every year, and they put me in charge of green bean casserole (don’t @ me - I love it)
We are hosting Christmas with my parents (maybe ILs? Who knows). We have cheese fondue with ham, bread, tortellini, broccoli, apples, etc every Christmas Eve. My absolute favorite meal. I love prepping it with my mom. Memories I will cherish forever, for sure.
For Christmas Day, I kind of want to do a turkey. Other than that, I have no idea and will be watching this thread. I’m not sold on doing the turkey (yet).