What's on the Menu for Christmas Dinner?

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their plans for Christmas dinner, including various dishes and family traditions. Many express their excitement and the diversity of meals they will prepare or enjoy with family and friends.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, plans to serve roast duck, au gratin potatoes, garlicky green beans, Parker House rolls, and tiramisu, emphasizing preparation to avoid spending all day in the kitchen.
  • Another participant shares their uncertainty about Christmas dinner plans due to family not being able to attend, considering inviting others over instead.
  • Several users mention attending multiple family gatherings, with varied menus including turkey, ham, catfish chowder, and Mexican food.
  • One participant describes their chaotic Christmas Eve party featuring an array of appetizers and drinks, with lasagna planned for Christmas dinner.
  • Another participant discusses the tradition of a "Jewish Christmas" with movies and Chinese food.
  • One participant expresses plans for an Italian dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by lasagna and eggplant parmesan on Christmas Day.
  • Another participant mentions feeling unmotivated for holiday preparations and considering a picnic dinner at the beach instead of a traditional meal.
  • Several participants express a lack of concrete plans for Christmas Day, with some open to hosting others or joining friends for meals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ significantly regarding Christmas dinner plans, with no clear consensus on specific dishes or traditions. Participants share a variety of experiences and preferences.

Contextual Notes

Participants come from diverse backgrounds and family traditions, leading to a wide range of meal choices and holiday experiences. Some are adapting their plans due to family circumstances or personal preferences.

Who May Find This Useful

Members of the consultant community looking for inspiration or ideas for their own Christmas dinner plans may find the shared experiences and menus helpful.

raebates
Staff member
Messages
18,217
We're planning:

Roast Duck
Au Gratin Potatoes
Garlicky Green Beans with Pine Nuts
Parker House Rolls
Tiramisu

I'll steam the duck the day before, the put in on the rotisserie. Most of the rest can be done ahead of time, so I won't be spending all day in the kitchen.

What do you have planned?
 
I don't know.

I had a big dinner planned, but now with my family not able to make it for Christmas, it may just be the three of us for Christmas dinner. I asked DH last night what he wanted and he hasn't given me an answer yet.

Unless we can find some other people who have nothing to do for Christmas...then we could have them over! Maybe I should suggest that to DH - that would be fun!
 
hmmm...which one? Ha, we have 4 to go to; none at our house this year.
Today at grandmas' we're having turkey-ham-etc, Xmas eve at my parents is always catfish chowder---which we're missing to go to dh's dad's where we're having Mexican, don't know what we're doing Xmas day, or next week at dh's mom's...
 
We've got a lot to do as well.... lol

Today we're going to my cousin's for my extended family Christmas party. I'm so happy that we are all still so close. It's all of my mom's brothers & sisters & their families. I love it! We're having turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, cool veggie pizza & black forest trifle. I know there's more, but I can't think of the rest.

Tuesday, we're getting together with friends for some pizza & to exchange gifts.

Christmas Eve is with my IL's. We'll do something traditional there, but I'm never sure what. Probably German potato salad :yuck:

Christmas morning I'll make a big breakfast for my family, including my mom & brother. We'll open gifts here, then go to DH's cousin's house for lunch. We'll come back home & then veg out while the kids play with their gifts.

Phew.

My oldest DD is going to her dad's Christmas morning at 10 so I'll be missing her. :(
 
DS and I are doing the "Jewish Christmas" - movie and Chinese food!
 
Christmas Eve is Mexican food at our best friends house. Her inlaws are visiting and this is our turn to go there for Christmas eve
then Christmas day they will all come here we are having
texas caviar and tortilla chips, stuffed jalepenos grilled,
cheeseball
a tray of pepperocinis, pickled okra & dill pickles
brisket, smoked sausage, potato salad, yeast rolls, mac & cheese, pinto beans, coleslaw, creamed corn, hash brown casserole
and for dessert a lemon cake with raspberry coulis, fudge jumbles and homemade cookies and candy
 
raebates said:
We're planning:

Roast Duck
Au Gratin Potatoes
Garlicky Green Beans with Pine Nuts
Parker House Rolls
Tiramisu

I'll steam the duck the day before, the put in on the rotisserie. Most of the rest can be done ahead of time, so I won't be spending all day in the kitchen.

What do you have planned?

The garlic infused canola oil is awesome with greenbeans!!!!!

We are doing an appetizer spread.
Greek Cheese Torta
Bread Bowl Artichoke dip
Buffalo Chicken dip
to name a few
plus different chips, crackers & baquette

And a Tiramisu too!
 
Christmas dinner... what ever DH and I feel like making. We actually aren't doing anything for Christmas day. Christmas Eve is chili and appetizers at my inlaws. We have one next weekend thats all soups and one New Years Day that will be the full turkey dinner.
 
Chhristmas Eve is my annual chaotic party. All appetizers and drinks.
bacon wrapped scallops, sausage and peppers, cranberry meatballs, pizza dip, cheese crackers, pepper pecan brie. VERY YUMMY! That counts as dinner for us also and then cinnamon buns ala pillsbury christmas morning and I am making lasagna tommorrow night for Christmas Dinner. Very easy and all I have to do is stick it in the oven. We used to do Surf and Turf, but I think we are moving that to New years.
I love Christmas week :)
 
Well, I have 2 to do.

The extended family Christmas is at my house and me doing all of it because I had pneumonia during Thanksgiving so it had to be at sister-in-laws with her basically doing all of it. That dinner will be on Jan. 3 because of different people being out of town.
I am thinking a regular lasagna and a seafood lasagna, salad, bread, dessert.

Then on Christmas day, it will be hubby, son, father-in-law and I.
I have all the stuff on hand for a chicken dinner at home but in the back of my mind I am considering a picnic dinner at the beach since it is forecast to be 82 degrees.
But I have had no energy or enthusiasm for decorating, buying, or such. I think I am getting sick again or maybe a relapse for not resting well enough.
And it seems as though the rule is, if Momma doesn't do it, it doesn't get done - just complained about.
 
susanr613 said:
DS and I are doing the "Jewish Christmas" - movie and Chinese food!
DH and I have participated in that tradition with friends of ours for the past couple of years. :)
 
Christmas Eve we go to my IL's for the Italian dinner "feast of the 7 (or is it 12..) fishes". We have 5 different dishes with fish in it. My DH makes squid in a tomato sause that smells up my whole house:yuck:, he is making it today. I do like fish but I don't care for the squid the way he makes it. Then on Christmas Day we have lasagana and eggplant parm with my family. My mom has been doing that since I was a kid we are as Irish as they come but it's an easy dinner that can be made ahead of time and just cooked and served without a lot of work. We will have some appitizers and for dessert I am making pinnapple upside down cake, brownies and cookies.
 
DH is working Christmas this year :( so DS and I are going to the neighbor's house. Not sure what I'm taking - he said whatever you want to bring is fine....I need to call her for the official plans - LOL
 
pamperedlinda said:
DH is working Christmas this year :( so DS and I are going to the neighbor's house. Not sure what I'm taking - he said whatever you want to bring is fine....I need to call her for the official plans - LOL

HA! Good to hear your neighbors have a normal marriage relationship!
 
Christmas Eve is the dreaded 8 hour drive to Las Vegas and Christmas day will be spent at our hotel...This is the hardest Christmas...My best friend is getting married on the 27th. Luckily my boyfriends mom and my mom are also coming to the wedding so the days will be spent with family...no cooking :( but... no clean up :)
 
ChefBeckyD said:
I don't know.

Unless we can find some other people who have nothing to do for Christmas...then we could have them over! Maybe I should suggest that to DH - that would be fun!

That's what we try to do - we are pretty much NEVER with family for Christmas. I always want to do a big traditional english Christmas dinner anyway, so it is fun to have someone to share it with, especially if it is someone who would otherwise be on their own.

I am off to the store to get my groceries now!
 
Last edited:
Turkey
Ham roll-ups
Mashed potatoes
Brussels sprouts
Corn
Stuffing
cranberry sauce
roasted cauliflower
pumpkin cream cheese cake
shortbread
 
DH's family does Christmas Eve. I'm making mashed potatoes and the Cherry Cordial Torte from the holiday cookbook. I have no idea what else we're having.And we have ZERO plans for Christmas Day. If any other Cheffers want to descend on my house, you're more than welcome to! Just let me know so I can head to the grocery store so that we can cook up a storm as a group. :)
 
I am not sure what I am going to cook yet. For the past 2 years, my father, his wife, and my brother and sister have been here, but my sister has to work this year, so we will be all alone. I am thinking about treating us to prime rib. If not, it may be a steak and salmon dinner. I am not feeling all that ambitious these days.
 
We ordered a Honey-Baked Ham today to pick up on Christmas Eve. We'll have that on Christmas Day. Not sure all the fixin's with it since we aren't sure yet. I know there will be Crescent Rolls because they are our favorite! Hmmm...since I have a new Trifle Bowl, I may have to pick something really exciting for that!
 
Christmas Eve I have to go to the dentist for 2 hours to have a tooth finished up for a cap (I broke it a few weeks ago).Then I work 10-2 (only took 1/2 day off).Then Childrens' Program at church - kids have to do it for both services - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
They are serving dinner for us in between I guess (yeah!) - no cooking.For Christmas Day, my mom had bought us a frozen turkey at Thanksgiving and sent it up with us. I just moved it from freezer to fridge this afternoon.We'll have that...stuffing, corn, cranberry, mashed potatoes/gravy, rolls...and probably chocolate cake for dessert to please the boys.Very simple and traditional and a quiet day just to ourselves.
 
chefann said:
DH's family does Christmas Eve. I'm making mashed potatoes and the Cherry Cordial Torte from the holiday cookbook. I have no idea what else we're having.

And we have ZERO plans for Christmas Day. If any other Cheffers want to descend on my house, you're more than welcome to! Just let me know so I can head to the grocery store so that we can cook up a storm as a group. :)

I'm so tempted Ann! It's just a little further than I want to drive. I do love you though :D See you in Denver?
 
We are doing a spiral ham that was given to us by my BFs mother, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, someone will bring a salad, and dessert will be everyones goodies they've made this year!
 
Prime Rib
Au Gratin Potatoes
Salad
Homemade sourdough bread
Carrots
Berry Pie
Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
 
The girls are coming home for Christmas, and no inlaws so we are having pizza for Christmas Eve, and ham & the fixings for Christmas dinner. Inlaws are coming New Years Day instead, and I am not fixing big meal twice, so it is Italian Beef and chips for them.
 
Our Christmas Eve dinner tradition is Tomato Gravy and biscuits with bacon on the side and blackberry gravy on biscuits for desserts. Can you tell I was raised in the south? :) On Christmas Day, we do my husband's family tradition of fondue. We'll do an oil fondue and a chocolate fondue.
 
Tomato Gravy and Blackberry Gravy? I've never had or heard of either!
 
Traditional turkey dinner for us.
 
Turkey for us too!

With stuffing,
gravy,
roast potatoes,
mashed potatoes,
roast parsnips (YUM!),
carrots,
brussels sprouts
and mini sausages wrapped in bacon that get cooked around the turkey.

That's my family's traditional Christmas Dinner!

Except we won't have any Christmas pudding as I have had NO time to make one :(. Last year my mum sent me a tiny one :).

I am going to make the cranberry dessery with the pound cake and all the creamy stuff from the holiday desserts book though, I have been wanting to try that one out!

I just hope my turkey is thawed out in time :).
 
This year it's just me, hubby, and his dad. I'm making . . .

Ham (does anyone have a homemade glaze recipe?)
Ranch Dressing Potatoes (hubby loves this - it's sort of like a cheesy potato salad baked in the oven)
Squash Casserole
Succotash (baby green lima's w/ corn & bacon!)
Homemade Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Spinach Dip, cheese, sausage, crackers, pickles, and olives for snacking
Heath Brownie Dessert (hubby also loves this!)

We're doing absolutely nothing on Christmas day! This will actually be the first year in a LONG time where we stayed home all day. I'm really looking forward to it. Cooking and cleaning up together, reflecting on the true meaning of CHRISTmas . . . just being together!
 

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