Your Christmas meal plans

[shootingstar]

Will get refined over the next 12 hrs. :) So far, we're having on Christmas Eve :
elk with saskatoon berries in wine sauce
sauteed butternut squash in orange juice and pistachios
fennel slaw with honey and lemon
celery root mash OR couscous with mint/citrus...I dunno.

some sort of mini gourmet cake slice, not yet determined
red wine or blackberry wine


Christmas Day:
He wants to make a savoury crepes with asparagus filling or something

But no turkey, we're not turkey folks. :o:p

[Chile Pepper]

Fennel slaw sounds fabulous! I'll have to experiment with that idea.

Christmas eve:
Cioppino (maybe seven fishes, but that's not a requirement)
Salad
Dessert: homemade made chocolate-mint ice cream with After Eights mixed in

Christmas morning:
My son has offered to make pancakes and bacon

Christmas day:
It's summer here, so we're grilling steaks and veggies. Christmas goodies for dessert.

[Catrin]

Yummy! I am having Christmas dinner at my pastor's house, and I am taking the "fresh and local beer" :) I do not intend to be on a "diet" for that meal. Will likely eat everything, but try to stay with small/moderate portions and as few seconds as possible.

What does Elk taste like? I've had venison, but so many years ago that I've forgotten.

[indysteel]

Dinner will be at my parents on Christmas. Years ago, we talked my mom into reducing the Christmas madness by foregoing a full turkey dinner (which I don't particularly care for anyway). Instead, she opted to to make a ham for sandwiches on good rye bread, with homemade potato salad, baked beans and other fixings. Christmas isn't nearly as nutty now that we're all grown, but she's continued to make the ham. I much prefer it to turkey and stuffing.

I'm making dinner on Christmas Eve for DH and I. I'll probably grill some lamb chops with a garlic, rosemary and thyme marinade. I'm not sure yet of the sides, probably steamed green beans and maybe some roasted fingerlings or something. Creme brulee for dessert. My heart is clogging just writing that.

[Veronica]

Christmas Eve is a Saturday so we'll be doing our regular Saturday routine. Thom works out with the trainer; I go for a run. Saturday lunch is always at Panera. We're usually both fried so we snack our way through dinner. :D

Christmas breakfast is traditionally cinnamon rolls. I'm trying a new recipe this year that is quick cinnamon rolls rather than the yeasty kind.

Other than that, it will be whatever I feel like cooking.

Veronica

[skhill]

It'll be three, maybe four, for Christmas dinner, so I'm planning on roasting a duck instead of a turkey. The only side set in stone is corn pudding. Gingerbread (the cake kind, not cookies) for dessert.

I've never cooked duck before, so it'll be an adventure. And there's a frozen pizza stashed away in case of a kitchen disaster!

[channlluv]

Our little family tradition is that I make a big pot of slow cooker chili on Christmas Eve, cornbread, salad, etc. Desserts are Trader Joe's seasonal ice creams (soy cherry chocolate chip at the moment) and cookies and maybe a cake that I've baked.

My MIL insists on having the formal Christmas dinner at her house.

In the past, all of DH's sisters, their significant others, their kids (nine cousins, including DD) and their friends and SOs, his mom and dad, and the three of us gathered at our house for a really nice, casual chili dinner spread through the living room, dining room, and spilling out onto the back patio. We had a tree and a fire in the fireplace, and it was nice. By the end of the day, several people were zonked out on the living room floor in front of the fireplace while others watched Christmas movies or played video games.

This year, though, there are only seven of us who will be in town.

I grew up with big family gatherings with my great-grandmother, grandmother, mom, two aunts, three girl cousins, and me in the kitchen cooking, and everyone around the table happily sharing and catching up with family they may not have seen for months. I miss those family gatherings. And for several years I tried to have those kinds of dinners here, but those kinds of dinners are MIL's domain and she felt threatened by my trying to roast a turkey here (she actually sabotaged my Thanksgiving dinner once...long story), especially when her own daughters defected and wanted to have dinner at my house. It got a little ugly, so I decided to just make the least-Christmassy thing I could make and have our gathering on Christmas Eve when everyone was in town, but not so head up about the Big Day itself.

I was actually going to host the first Thanksgiving at our house in ages this year, but I was in the hospital, so DH sent the turkey I'd bought over to his mom's house and she cooked for him, DD, and two of his sisters.

This year, though, no one is coming home for Christmas. She's got two daughters who live with her (and one of their adult sons, who will likely go over to his father's house for Christmas day), one daughter who lives a few minutes north of us, and us, so we'll have seven for the formal dinner at her house.

All the grandkids are off doing other things with with their own/other families. Three newly-wed nieces are spending the holidays with their husbands' families (one in Philly, one in West Virginia, and the other about an hour north of here in Temecula). One Marine nephew is in Afghanistan. One of his sisters is with their father's family in Samoa...so my darling daughter is going to be representing for the whole lot of them.

Of course, it's the same with my family. I'm not home, either. My cousins are spread to the wind, too, and I'm really missing getting to know my young second cousins -- one cousin has a newborn with some health issues. My grandfather passed away just shy of two years ago. My grandmother is in a nursing facility. My mom and her sisters get along okay, but they don't get together often at all. One lives on the other side of their state.

So I'll content myself with making a pot of chili with cornbread.

Honestly, I think I'd enjoy going someplace totally different more, like Hawaii or something.

Roxy

[GLC1968]

Christmas eve we'll probably pick out a new recipe from one of our cookbooks.

For Christmas morning, we'll do our typical weekend breakfast of bacon, and eggs with veggies. I may try a blueberry almond meal muffin recipe if I'm feeling adventurous.

Christmas dinner will be a whole chicken on the chicken roaster with roasted veggies and a salad. This is becoming a tradition for us!

http://www.notesonaparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cocorico_roaster-e1312166612499.jpg

[shootingstar]

Within the next 10 hrs. or so, Chile Pepper I'll give you the link for slaw recipe that we will use. Different versions on the 'Net, but ours won't have mayonnaise in it.

I miss big Christmas family gatherings since I've lived in a different province over the last 10 yrs. A full family gathering would be over 20 people --just sibs and their spouses/kids, plus my parents.

I'm just content to spend it with dearie.

Catrin: I haven't eaten enough venison to distinguish difference with elk. And vice versa. I've eaten alot of different stuff and after awhile, I get mixed up. But elk does not take long to cook or otherwise it gets tough.

Edit: Chilepepper-- This recipe is super simple. http://chefmichaelsmith.com/Recipe/lemon-fennel-slaw/ Even marinating for half an hr. or so will enhance flavour.
We plan to add crushed anise seeds to deepen that licorice flavour.

[indysteel]

Christmas eve we'll probably pick out a new recipe from one of our cookbooks.

For Christmas morning, we'll do our typical weekend breakfast of bacon, and eggs with veggies. I may try a blueberry almond meal muffin recipe if I'm feeling adventurous.

Christmas dinner will be a whole chicken on the chicken roaster with roasted veggies and a salad. This is becoming a tradition for us!

http://www.notesonaparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cocorico_roaster-e1312166612499.jpg

Yummy. DH proposed to me the first time I made roast chicken (Cook's Illustrated's recipe fir crispy skin chicken) I'm not sure which/who he loves more: me or the chicken.

[limewave]

Normally I work Christmas Eve and it's a mad frenzy to finish up at the office and then rush home, get the kids, blah, blah, blah get to Christmas Eve service. We have no tradition. In fact, I have absolutely no idea what we've done in the past, would not be surprised if I brought home pizza.

I'm debating what to do, honestly, I'd be happy with a bowl of veggie soup. The kids are SUPER picky eaters right now and nothing will please them but chicken nuggets or pb&j. That's not what I feed them most nights: I usually have to listen to hours of screaming and crying and fit throwing when I present them with a legitimate meal. But I don't want to go through that on Christmas Eve, it's exhausting enough already!

I was thinking about making pork chops with apple chutney . . . but not sure if its really worth the effort (or having to listen to complaining all night).

For breakfast I make an egg and sausage casserole that I can make ahead. Then I have fresh fruit pieces and yogurt. And, of course, the bottomless pot of coffee :D

[Veronica]

There's nothing wrong with PB and J! It's what I've been eating for lunch all week and tonight will be the second night in a row of my homemade chicken strips. :D

Veronica

[VeganBikeChick]

I'm working Christmas Eve and night, so no prepared meals, but we will be having a omni potluck at work, although one of the coworkers is being super nice and making a vegan/veg soup. I'll bring my own dinner, consisting of stuffed cabbage rolls and a veg, and for the potluck I'm making a Spinach Artichoke dip that fools everyone by being vegan, and some homemade cookies.

[azfiddle]

I wish I knew what to expect! It's mostly Chanukah at our house but my DH's family celebrates Christmas. His family is unconventional and unpredictable. I am guessing we will be at his brother's apartment because that is closer to the care home where his mom lives.

All I know is we are making a 2 hour drive to Phoenix sometime after noon.... otherwise I am completely out of the loop. Guess I will try to get my DH to call his brother and sister so I know what the plan is, and what we need to contribute.

[limewave]

Yay! Thought of something festive, simple and that every one will enjoy. Fondue! Got me some chocolate and cheeses and all the dippins.

[ultraviolet]

Surveying the contents of my refrigerator, I'll probably be making a short rib stew on Christmas Eve. Christmas day will include a movie and lunch at a Chinese restaurant with a couple of friends. Dinner will probably be a roasted chicken, but that's just because I like to roast chickens on Sunday so I can make stock for soup later in the week.

(I guess I don't really celebrate Christmas these days. I sent a few items out to friends in need, but for the most part, it's like any other day for me.)

[channlluv]

http://www.notesonaparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/cocorico_roaster-e1312166612499.jpg

GLC, do you roast your chicken on that ceramic cone-shaped dish with the veggies underneath to soak up the drippings, or is the sombrero-looking thing purely for presentation?

Roxy

[Owlie]

We're doing turkey, as always. I don't know what we're doing for Christmas Eve, since that always changes.

[Anelia]

Our tradition is to have pork for Christmas. So we're going to have steaks :)

[salsabike]

Our usual--fresh Dungeness crabs, steamed clams, mashed potatoes, salad, dessert. Paper plates. That's it!

[spazzdog]

It's the 1st family Christmas I've had in too many years to remember, but the tradition here is Mulligan Stew (a family recipe passed down father to son through several generations). Its basically a beef stew with a bunch of veggies in it.

All the step-sisters, spouses, nephew, nieces & spouses & children will come over here (my dad & s-moms) at noon - we eat then open presents and everyone watches football.

There will be 22... well, maybe only 21 as my dad has been in the hospital since Tuesday nite and they aren't sounding like they will discharge him for Christmas yet.

spazz

[azfiddle]

Update: my sister-in-law & her boyfriend ordered a pre-made turkey dinner. We're going to reheat and eat at the adult care home where my mother-in-law is... hope my mother-in-law remembers who I am.

[shootingstar]

Azfiddle: Sounds like a good family turkey dinner to share there at the adult care home with your MIL.

Some changes since original posting at beginning of thread:
butternut squash moved to Christmas Day. He also wants to prepare a brunch of dessert crepes which will have blueberries and saskatoon berries.

Then on Christmas Day dinner we will have savoury crepes.

I'm sure we'll eat a slice of either bakery bought linzertorte which is a German/Austrian tarte with thin hazelnut crust and raspberry jam-almond filling.

We've even figured out vaguely for New Year's Eve....a cheese fondue.

[limewave]

Shootingstar, can I come to your house for dinner?

[Grits]

Everyone (11 total, so not that big a group) is coming to my house after we attend our church service on Sunday. Since I won't be home all morning to cook, I'm putting on a couple of crock pots of potato soup and a pot of chicken and rice soup that morning. It will be soup, sandwiches with a lot of good bread options, and people are bringing salad, homemade rolls, and several kinds of pie. They are used to the traditional big Christmas day meal with a roast or turkey and all the fixings, but hey, they could have had it at their house!

[Veronica]

I think I'm going to make a pot roast with root vegetables.

Veronica

[Chile Pepper]

Shootingstar--coincidentally, the first fennel of summer was in the farmers' market today. Fennel slaw with pork chops tonight!

[shootingstar]

Tell us how your fennel dish turns out --whatever you choose to do with it.

One of the local grocery chain stores, inexplicably has lovely fennel bulb with its feathery fronds at a great price year round. I've never seen it so cheap elsewhere.

We bought some anise seeds also to crush and enhance the slaw flavour.

Of course, limewave others are welcome...maybe for now, imagining by photo later.

[Crankin]

Awaiting my guests for our Chanukah party. It's a pot luck and I volunteered to host this year. Usually we do a simple dairy dinner, no main dish, except maybe tuna fish or salmon salad, but it's gotten out of hand.
DH made latkes all morning and is now reheating them. When I got home from seeing clients, my house smelled like oil! I asked one person to make a salmon salad and I just read on Facebook she made poached salmon and verte sauce... sigh, guess which friend this is?
Then my friend who is making a really good kugel (noodle pudding) volunteered to bring sliced roast chicken that she happened to have in the freezer. We are rounding out the meal with bagels, cream cheese, salad, and of course, the latkes with applesauce and sour cream.
I made sour cream chocolate chip cake and brownies, as well as buying an apple crumble pie at Idylwilde Farms, and ice cream.

[GLC1968]

GLC, do you roast your chicken on that ceramic cone-shaped dish with the veggies underneath to soak up the drippings, or is the sombrero-looking thing purely for presentation?

Roxy

Roxy - yes, we roast it on that thing. I have a metal version as our ceramic one kept cracking even though we treated it well. It does a fantastic job on both the chicken and the veggies! It works particularly well with free-range birds which tend to be a little less fatty than regular grocery store birds.

In fact, I've never served it that way because the dish gets way too hot and I always overload the veggies (so it can be messy). It's pretty impressive looking for company that might be hanging out in the kitchen as you cook, though!

[solobiker]

I have to work so DH is in charge of cooking. We will be having smoked turkey. It takes about 5 hours to cook on our smoke and I love the way it tastes and there is minimal cleaning involved which is even better:D