Christmas Dinner...what is it to you? Big, small.. About This Page:

[graygables]

I used to do the whole Thanksgiving redux for Christmas, but after the 2nd year, DH suggested we try it his way. So, I got a Honeybaked ham, made up some meat and cheese trays a few days in advance, and roll out sauerkraut balls the night before. After we're done opening gifts (we do it one at a time, so it takes all morning!), DH and I go fire up the deep-fryer and assembly-line the sauerkraut balls. While they are cooking, we set out the ham, party trays, veggies, dips, etc. When all the balls are done, it's time to dig in! We just graze all afternoon. The in-laws live next door, so the come over later in the afternoon and graze, too. It's so relaxing, I don't know why I never thought of it before I met DH!!!

So, what's your Christmas dinner like?

[CRCrazy]

We do a Big dinner thing at Christmas time, but just with the five of us - we don't have any family that live locally - and John usually has to work.

Christmas Eve - John's tradition says must be lasagna (They are French - not Italian??), we have this with a huge tossed garden salad, and garlic bread before 8 pm Mass. We do sometimes have friends in for dinner on Christmas Eve, but the menu never varies. After Mass, we come home, and drink eggnog & hot cocoa (for Jennie - my fussy eater!), and sing carols around the tree. Each girl gets to open one gift from Daddy & I - it is always new jammies, then they pick out the cookies/cheese to leave Santa, and head up to Jennie's room for a sleepover - they like to be together on Christmas Eve!

Christmas Day - I make Cinnamon Bunny Bread in the shape of Christmas Trees to eat while we open gifts - my girls LOVE these!

Finally - mid afternoon, we are ready for a real meal - and it, too, is a tradition. I make a rib roast with all the fixings, including a Durkee Onion Ring Green Bean Casserole for John. There are appetizers hanging around the fridge for snacking all day, and for dessert - it's chocolate cream pie, and pumpkin pie for my girls - they are addicted to the pumpkin!

Turkey is for Thanksgiving, Rib Roast for Christmas, and Ham for Easter - and we can't mess with tradition! Of course, we don't raise sheep, but John always did growing up, so they had leg of lamb for Easter - EWWWWWW! I like lamb, but I couldn't eat my own!

[Nick and Ryans Mom]

We wake up and watch the boys open their gifts. Then MIL and FIL come over for rolls/bagels/pastry breakfast. We go to my dad's for a turkey/ham/shrimp meal. Hang around for a few hours grazing then head over to MIL's for pie. We eat a meal at MIL's when BIL#1's wife can fit us into their schedule and BIL#2 & family can be in town.

[luvnwdwgal]

We have to do double meals on Christmas, and the whole day is just CRAZY!! I'm always so relieved to get back home!
First we go to my in-laws who live right around the corner, where it's pretty much a repeat of Thanksgiving, only with ham also. THEN, I come back home and prepare 2 or 3 side dishes that get packed up and we head to my parents, about 15 minutes away, where we have another dinner with ham. It's my Mom's birthday on Christmas, so my sister and I make all the sides, Mom does the ham, and my brother's girlfriend brings dessert. It makes for a looooong day.

[Big Baloo]

I'm coming to one of your houses for dinner!!! We go to my SIL's house for dinner. She's an awful cook and the menu NEVER varies. It's rib roast (VERY bloody, almost cold), soggy green bean casserole, galumpki's (sp?), frozen peas, lasagna, and scorched cookies. Other stuff, too. Pathetic. I've always asked if I couldn't please bring something, but all she ever wants is soda. But once we get home, I've always got something good in the refrigerator for us to eat! This year it's going to be beef stew in the crockpot, homemde noodles to soak up the gravy, a crispy green salad, and I haven't decided if the pie will be apple or pecan. Probably both. And then the next day it's off to the mtns. to ski and have a belated celebration with my parents and a "proper" dinner at their house--plus more presents ! She always serves turkey with all the trimmings, and I never go home hungry!

[dejavu]

Hey, are you married to my brother?? I have everyone at my house for Christmas every year and I PRAY they aren't secretly thinking that about my cooking! I knew it wasn't me, though, when I read the word PEAS. I have never, ever had peas in my house (except the ones in the pods in Chinese food). We usually have ham, green bean casserole, hash brown casserole, salad, corn, bread, deviled eggs and whatever else anyone requests at the last minute. We open gifts with the kids as early as they wake up (usually by 7am), then clean up the mess and start getting ready for the whole gang that arrives at 2pm. We have 17-24 people so it's always loud and fun.

[MELLAMOUSE]

We go to MIL for Christmas breakfast and presents there with DH' whole family. Then its late lunch at my parents with a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner. Presents are opened after lunch. Then its desert and grazing the rest of the day. Of course we then have to try to rush around and see everybody since we now live 450 miles away from home.

[KathyL]

We usually do a Christmas Breakfast at either our house or go to one of my brothers. Then, in the afternoon it is off to my brother in laws house for Christmas Dinner. It is always fun to see everyone and open presents, but way too much food.

KathyL

[DopeyGirl]

I would prefer to do very small, BUT . . . since we'll be at the in-laws this year, we have no choice but to have a BIG lunch/dinner for Christmas. (FIL has 3 sisters and 2 brothers, PLUS their kids and spouses and THEIR kids . . . )

If we were with my family for the holidays, it is relatively small . . . 25 at the MOST, and some of those invited don't even show!!!

[loobyoxlip]

Christmas Eve we go over to my aunt's for a big, formal dinner. We have prime rib, our family yummy potatoes, and lots of great side dishes, along with lots of champagne and wine. After dinner, my aunt brings out her lavish dessert and we have that with coffee & Kahlua. Then we open the gifts from extended family.

Christmas Day dinner is at my grandma's. It's much more casual. It's turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, carrots, etc. My gma makes the best turkey

[debsta922]

We have Christmas Eve over my in-laws. It's usually a buffet with cold cuts, meatballs, and asst. salads. Then,Christmas morning we have eggnog and muffins before we head back over to the in-laws. Dh and all his siblings will then proceed to eat all the left overs from the night before... yuck! meatballs and macaroni salad is not my idea of Christmas breakfast... after we open the extended family gifts, we head over to DH's grandmothers for a ham dinner. I have to admit to being picky but I just don't like ham (with a strawberry raisin sauce), peas, and although I like mash potatoes, I refuse to eat margarine, so I have to eat mine dry... I think this year I may have to steal that "crock pot" idea so I have something to look forward too. It's such a crazy day.

[Bert & Sully]

Wow some great ideas on this thread!