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Post by bluepoprocks on Dec 19, 2014 3:33:19 GMT
We usually do the 7 fishes for Christmas eve but this year I decided to do something smaller. We are having Shrimp Chowder and rolls.
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Post by slicksister on Dec 19, 2014 4:24:42 GMT
We have done the PF Changs Lettuce Wraps for the past few years. Haven't decided if we will do that again.
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garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,734
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
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Post by garcia5050 on Dec 19, 2014 4:34:44 GMT
Like most mexican-Americans, I will be eating tamales. Green chile with chicken and cheese are my favorite, but I'll also have red chile with shredded beef, sweet ones with pineapple and coconut, with beans, mexican rice, and loads of other stuff. The Christmas eve is our big celebration. Christmas day is for recuperating.
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Post by justkat on Dec 19, 2014 4:50:04 GMT
Christmas Eve is always Feast of the Seven Fishes. This year it's going to be Feast of the Seven ( or more) Fishes App-Style. lol Our menu (so far):
jumbo shrimp with spicy cocktail sauce mini lobster rolls fish tacos clam chowder shooters crab puffs petite potato pancakes with gravlax and dill shrimp potstickers twice cooked mini potatoes with tri colour caviar spicy tuna tartare mini beer battered fish sandwiches with lemon tartar sauce baked oysters Finnan-Haddie canapés scallop and avocado tostadas shrimp spring rolls with ginger dipping sauce
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Post by monicad on Dec 19, 2014 4:57:37 GMT
Like most mexican-Americans, I will be eating tamales. Green chile with chicken and cheese are my favorite, but I'll also have red chile with shredded beef, sweet ones with pineapple and coconut, with beans, mexican rice, and loads of other stuff. The Christmas eve is our big celebration. Christmas day is for recuperating. I'll be coming to your house!
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
Jun 27, 2014 0:21:07 GMT
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Post by Grom Pea on Dec 19, 2014 7:40:42 GMT
This is the time I wish I were Italian :-) We don't have any traditional meals, one year dh and I took ds to an Italian place with a friend and tried to order 7 fishes but I think we maxed out at 3 or 4. Unfortunately I had this idea late and only one friend could join us, but if more people had come we would have made it to 7! This year I'll be lucky if I can heat up a frozen meal, my back and dh's back has been awful and its hard taking a toddler to a restaurant!
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Post by katiejane on Dec 19, 2014 7:42:02 GMT
We always have ham, baked potatoes, green beans, carrots and cheese sauce for a family dinner, which means cold ham and pickle sandwiches for tea
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Dec 19, 2014 12:51:00 GMT
Chinese food. Always. Since I was a kid. This year we are going to have Hakka / Thai instead But we will go get it. Relax. watch movies enjoy our tree. Fill the stockings and wait for Christmas morning.
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Post by mtscrapper on Dec 19, 2014 13:35:53 GMT
Ever since we started not going anywhere for Christmas (since my kids were very small, so many years, probably over 20), I decided that I don't want to ever be stressed on Christmas since it was supposed to be a day to relax and enjoy, so I make a big meal on Christmas Eve and then we just have leftovers on Christmas Day. I usually have ham, maybe potato casserole (funeral potatoes), and mostly appetizer-type stuff, rolls maybe - I guess just whatever I feel like making. It is just my immediate family in this area (closest siblings and parents are 2 hours away) and no one usually comes and visits.
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Post by straggler on Dec 19, 2014 14:26:04 GMT
nicoli...can I come to your house for Christmas Eve? It sounds so simple, sweet and comfy! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,566
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Dec 19, 2014 14:42:59 GMT
Growing up, we always had a traditional, formal meal of turkey or ham with my dad's side of the family. My DH's family had a tradition of having only appetizers and that was one tradition I was very glad to adopt for our family. It's often just four of us, but we'll have an assortment of hot and cold appetizers. Often they're the frozen, TGI Friday's in a box varieties. Sometimes I'll make a homemade hot dip. The whole concept makes for a very casual, relaxing evening. Very little prep and paper plates make for very little cleanup.
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Post by agengr2004 on Dec 19, 2014 14:54:25 GMT
We're taking my FIL out for a nice steak dinner before we go look at Christmas lights.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,854
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Dec 19, 2014 14:57:49 GMT
We always go to my parents for the holidays so I have never cooked Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Christmas eve depends on which service we go to. This year we are going to National Pres. church in DC and their first service is at 8 so we will probably go out for dinner since we are all dressed up When we go to my church (which is less formal) we would go at 6:30 which messes up dinner for us because it is too early to eat before and too late to eat afterwards.
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Post by melanieg on Dec 19, 2014 15:03:22 GMT
We have the Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner on the 24th. We cant all get back to celebrate it on January 6.
12 meatless dishes - wheat (its in a honey sauce), borscht, perogies (potato, sauerkraut, mushroom), fish (2 varieties), cabbage rolls (sweet and sour), lots of veggie dishes (peas, beans, etc) and then dessert.
We always set a table setting for someone in the family (or a friend) who we lost during the year. We always leave the candles burning until they are almost nothing as a light in the window for lost travelers. Mom always says the blessing in Ukrainian and cries (she has lost a lot of family over the past few years). Keeping a few of her traditions around.
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,519
Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Dec 19, 2014 16:10:06 GMT
We have friends over for dinner. I do a full Christmas decorated table. Dh cooks homemade pasta with shrimp, I make a couple of winter salads. Someone brings appetizers and someone else dessert.
Christmas day for us is very low key - each year we go out for Chinese food
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Post by Meri-Lyn on Dec 19, 2014 16:35:39 GMT
We do Christmas Eve with Step-MIL's family, and it's mostly Hispanic-style foods. Chicken and yellow rice, black beans, roast pork, plantains.
When DH's grandparents were living, we did the big Italian meal. Lasagna (two kinds), stuffed shells, ziti, cannolis, the whole nine yards. I miss that.
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Post by emelle64 on Dec 19, 2014 18:00:08 GMT
When our eldest was two, we decided to start our own Christmas eve traditions. We always have wraps that can be made ahead of time. Over the years, they've adapted as we've changed....they originally had a mixture of ham and/or roast beef, cheese, grated carrot, onions, lettuce, swiss cheese and sourcream/dijon mustard. When we stopped eating meat, we just added more cheese and veggies and kept eating them. We also have baby Jesus' birthday cake for desert. Except for the Christmases we've been out of the country, we've eaten the same thing every year. Last year we had my whole family over and I just made a lot more wraps! This year we're going to my sister's in the afternoon but the kids both said "But, we'll come home and have the wraps for supper, right?" and we will!
It's fun to see the different traditions and what other people do to celebrate.
Emelle
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Post by maryland on Dec 19, 2014 18:21:42 GMT
I found the Christmas dinner one but I was wondering if a Christmas Eve one was floating around and I just couldn't find it. We have a VERY low key Christmas Eve with just the kids. We watch Christmas movies all day and have hot cocoa and cookies not too long before the kids go to bed. This year, I have to make some cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve so I can have them ready for Christmas morning. But I'm looking for something super easy for Christmas Eve dinner. The last few years, we've done either calzones or ham & cheese baked in crescent rolls. I'm looking for something different this year. Any ideas? We do Chinese food for New Year's so that's out. And I'd really rather cook something...just something easy/simple. I love how you spend Christmas Eve! I love the watching Christmas movies (we never have time as we go on three big trips to visit family over the holidays) so we end up watching them in Jan.! Watching them all day sounds so relaxing. I don't have any ideas, but wanted to say how much I love how you spend Christmas Eve!
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Dec 19, 2014 18:38:48 GMT
I found the Christmas dinner one but I was wondering if a Christmas Eve one was floating around and I just couldn't find it. We have a VERY low key Christmas Eve with just the kids. We watch Christmas movies all day and have hot cocoa and cookies not too long before the kids go to bed. This year, I have to make some cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve so I can have them ready for Christmas morning. But I'm looking for something super easy for Christmas Eve dinner. The last few years, we've done either calzones or ham & cheese baked in crescent rolls. I'm looking for something different this year. Any ideas? We do Chinese food for New Year's so that's out. And I'd really rather cook something...just something easy/simple. I love how you spend Christmas Eve! I love the watching Christmas movies (we never have time as we go on three big trips to visit family over the holidays) so we end up watching them in Jan.! Watching them all day sounds so relaxing. I don't have any ideas, but wanted to say how much I love how you spend Christmas Eve! Thank you! My dh and I started doing this even before the kids were born. Then once we had the kids, we just kept it up. They look forward to Christmas Eve almost as much as Christmas. It's a pretty much unplugged kind of day - dh and I stay away from the computer, phones, etc. It happens so infrequently that it's just nice to stay away for a bit.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,976
Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Dec 19, 2014 19:56:33 GMT
I make homemade pizza on Christmas eve. I've done this for over 20 years. Then after dinner, we all play a board game (I get a new one every year)
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josie
Full Member
Posts: 217
Jul 29, 2014 20:47:33 GMT
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Post by josie on Dec 19, 2014 20:07:46 GMT
DH has to work until 6 so we are keeping it easy. The little ones and I will be watching movies and having snacks. Have to make reindeer food that day, and decorate cookies for santa.
When DH comes home, my parents will come over and we will just have appetizers/more snack foods and homemade white castle sliders for dinner. I'm thinking of making twice baked potatos to go with them. We always end the day with "dreamsicle" punch, my dad's family has been making it since they were kids.
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Post by Linda on Dec 19, 2014 21:05:38 GMT
We always have pizza. It's our tradition. Sometimes it's delivered, sometimes we make our own. Christmas is easy at our house. We always have pizza also - growing up it was always hamburgers - probably for the same reason (easy). This year however we're hosting the extended IL family during the day for an open house so we'll have a buffet going all afternoon (noon to ??) so we may end up skipping the pizza as it's likely no one will be hungry. Menu for the buffet: - pulled pork
- lunch meat/cheese
- rolls
- fruit tray
- quiche
- potato salad
- smashed potato salad
- coleslaw
- veggie tray
- pumpkin gingerbread
- cranberry bread
- Texas sheet cake
my niece and I are splitting the food preparation as this is really her event but it's being held at our house since we're local to most of the family (she's 3 hours away). Looks like we'll have about 25-30 people
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Post by anonrefugee on Dec 19, 2014 21:25:46 GMT
justkat, my DH talks about eating Finnan-Haddie when he was growing up. Maybe I'm sheltered- I've never seen it. His mom used to order it, along with other foods. Do you know of any place to order online?
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Post by kandie on Dec 19, 2014 21:30:32 GMT
we are having DH's family over on Christmas eve,
we are doing appetizers, everyone will bring 1 or 2 then we will pick all day!
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Post by tallgirl on Dec 19, 2014 23:31:42 GMT
In about 1984 my dad gave my mom Chinese cooking lessons for her November birthday. That year she made us chicken chow mein and chop suey for Christmas Eve dinner, and we've done it ever since. She cooked it for a number of years and then moved to takeout,and now we do takeout with our kids before going to church.
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scraptag
Full Member
Posts: 243
Location: Pacific Northwest
Jun 28, 2014 23:03:10 GMT
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Post by scraptag on Dec 20, 2014 0:33:33 GMT
We are making clam chowder and a giant pot of chili. Keeping it simple, since dinner will be prime rib.
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scraptag
Full Member
Posts: 243
Location: Pacific Northwest
Jun 28, 2014 23:03:10 GMT
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Post by scraptag on Dec 20, 2014 0:44:42 GMT
We have the Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner on the 24th. We cant all get back to celebrate it on January 6. 12 meatless dishes - wheat (its in a honey sauce), borscht, perogies (potato, sauerkraut, mushroom), fish (2 varieties), cabbage rolls (sweet and sour), lots of veggie dishes (peas, beans, etc) and then dessert. We always set a table setting for someone in the family (or a friend) who we lost during the year. We always leave the candles burning until they are almost nothing as a light in the window for lost travelers. Mom always says the blessing in Ukrainian and cries (she has lost a lot of family over the past few years). Keeping a few of her traditions around. I love to read this. such a great way to honor those who have gone before and to keep traditions and memories alive.
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Post by catmom on Dec 20, 2014 0:48:37 GMT
In our family, Christmas Eve IS Christmas. Depending on which family, it's either traditional Turkey dinner or seafood casserole. Then church later that night (depending on the church, midnight). Christmas Day is actually super low key for us and our 'big meal' is breakfast.
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Post by tania7424 on Dec 20, 2014 0:53:36 GMT
We have Chinese food after church.
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Post by justkat on Dec 20, 2014 5:27:14 GMT
justkat, my DH talks about eating Finnan-Haddie when he was growing up. Maybe I'm sheltered- I've never seen it. His mom used to order it, along with other foods. Do you know of any place to order online? I'm sorry I don't. If I google it a bunch of places come up but I don't have any experience with them. I wish I could help. :-(
We make ours. Here's the recipe if you want to try making it.....
1/4 pound smoked haddock or salt cod 4 cups milk 1 clove garlic, peeled 6 sprigs fresh thyme 1 small potato, peeled and quartered 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 3 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish, or to taste 1 baguette, sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil
Place the smoked haddock in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak fish 4 hours, changing water every 30 minutes. If using salt cod, soak the fish 12 hours. Remove haddock from water; discard any bones. Transfer to saucepan. Add milk, garlic, thyme and potato. Set over medium-low heat; simmer until haddock is very soft, about 1 hour. Pour mixture through a sieve set over bowl; discard thyme and milk. Transfer solids to a large bowl. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a fork, gently mash the haddock, potato, and garlic together, adding enough cream to make a thick paste. Add the salt and pepper, and stir in the horseradish. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet, and toast until golden. Brush toast with olive oil, and spread fish paste on top. Garnish servings with the fresh thyme.
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