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Post by lbp on Nov 30, 2018 15:44:02 GMT
We have our Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve, then have brunch and just snack on leftovers and snack the rest of the day.
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Post by shevy on Nov 30, 2018 15:53:06 GMT
My Mom's side of the family is smallish. My Grandma, Mom, Aunt, the 4 grandkids, spouses and a couple of great grandkids. We all bring 1 appetizer to share. My Grandma cooks a ham, slices it up and serves it with buns, cheese and spreads. Also one of us grandkids brings Christmas cookies. We nosh all evening while talking and then open presents.
For Christmas Day, it's my parents, sister/bil, my hubby & I and my niece/nephew in their teens. We fondue! Oil, broth & cheese, steak, shrimp, chicken, mushrooms, jalapenos, cauliflower & broccoli, bread, ravioli, onions... We eat and talk for about an hour, then open presents. It's actually fun and I look forward to it every year.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 30, 2018 15:54:12 GMT
We do a big meal Christmas day, but we do appetizers for New Year's Eve.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 30, 2018 15:54:33 GMT
We've done that for years. Our big meal is Christmas Eve. Christmas day we watch movies and graze. I have plenty of apps, plus usually leftovers.
My extended family gathers the Saturday following Christmas. It's potluck appetizers.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,183
Location: Western Illinois
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Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Nov 30, 2018 16:06:43 GMT
Christmas Eve with my husband's family is always oyster stew - and ham for those of us who don't do the oysters and those who want both.
Christmas Day with my extended family is always potluck, so it can be anything anyone wants to bring. A couple years we did soups and I liked that a lot.
I can easily make a meal out of appetizers.
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Post by tallgirl on Nov 30, 2018 16:10:42 GMT
We did this for the first time last year and we'll do it again this year. We used to do a fancy beef tenderloin dinner, but a few years ago it got complicated - BIL can't eat beef or corn, SIL can't have dairy or gluten, etc. It got too complicated to try to plan a dinner that suited everyone. In addition to a range of appetizers, I do plan to roast a turkey breast on Christmas Eve and make a fresh pan of dinner rolls on Christmas Day, and we'll have turkey sandwiches as an option for those who want them in addition to the other apps. After we switched from beef tenderloin to turkey a few years back, we realized everyone actually preferred the leftovers for sandwiches to having the proper turkey dinner.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Nov 30, 2018 16:16:07 GMT
My family does appetizers for cmas even, and a meal for cmas day. We love it. We all bring something. I tried to change this one year when we had cmas eve at our house for my Dh's family, and they had a royal fit. I was actually working that day, and had to come home and host cmas eve. I didn't have time to make a meal. So my suggestion was everyone bring a app. oooooh, they had a FIT. You would think cmas had been cancelled. It was hilarious. I actually thought the food was much better that yr, with the apps, vs the dinner my SIL makes with the chunky gravy. But everyone has different tastes.
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Post by PolarGreen12 on Nov 30, 2018 16:17:43 GMT
Christmas eve with extended family we do that. Christmas day is sometimes never out of pj's and nice Christmas breakfast and "punt" or chill rest of day. Just us. This is us also. We do an appetizer pot luck style Christmas Eve with family and good friends. Usually around 25 people. I usually do a really good honey ham, rolls, and a nice charcuterie board and a hot dip with pita chips crostini, and beverages, for my part as host. Then I just ask X amount of people attending to being an appetizer and X amount of people to bring a dessert. It all comes together. We’ve done it this way for about 5 or so years. Much less work and more relaxed.
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Post by cannmom on Nov 30, 2018 16:55:30 GMT
We do for Christmas Eve. I like it, but it's not really easier because it's just me cooking. It's only myself, DH, and DS and I make a ton of things. I'm actually thinking about mixing it up this year and doing our dinner Christmas Eve because I'm working Christmas Day 3-11. We will do a brunch of appetizers Christmas day, but probably not as much as I normally do.
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Post by mcscrapper on Nov 30, 2018 19:23:29 GMT
We do for Christmas Eve. I like it, but it's not really easier because it's just me cooking. It's only myself, DH, and DS and I make a ton of things. I'm actually thinking about mixing it up this year and doing our dinner Christmas Eve because I'm working Christmas Day 3-11. We will do a brunch of appetizers Christmas day, but probably not as much as I normally do. Me too. I'ma also doing dinner on 12/26 for dh's family this year. I'm actually off this year but DH is on his 24hr shift on 12/25. This is the first year in ten years that I've ever been off on Christmas Day and I'm so sad that DH is working. I could work for one of my co-workers but I'm certain he/she would not work for me next year so why should I? Ok, trying not to be Scroogie about it.
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Post by cannmom on Nov 30, 2018 19:34:22 GMT
We do for Christmas Eve. I like it, but it's not really easier because it's just me cooking. It's only myself, DH, and DS and I make a ton of things. I'm actually thinking about mixing it up this year and doing our dinner Christmas Eve because I'm working Christmas Day 3-11. We will do a brunch of appetizers Christmas day, but probably not as much as I normally do. Me too. I'ma also doing dinner on 12/26 for dh's family this year. I'm actually off this year but DH is on his 24hr shift on 12/25. This is the first year in ten years that I've ever been off on Christmas Day and I'm so sad that DH is working. I could work for one of my co-workers but I'm certain he/she would not work for me next year so why should I? Ok, trying not to be Scroogie about it. So understand that. Absolutely would not trust anyone to work for me next year. Our dept is so small that we all work either Christmas Eve or Christmas day. We do 8 hour shifts rather than 12s, so that makes it better. I chose to do Christmas day and I'm kinda regretting it now.
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Post by mcscrapper on Nov 30, 2018 19:39:01 GMT
Me too. I'ma also doing dinner on 12/26 for dh's family this year. I'm actually off this year but DH is on his 24hr shift on 12/25. This is the first year in ten years that I've ever been off on Christmas Day and I'm so sad that DH is working. I could work for one of my co-workers but I'm certain he/she would not work for me next year so why should I? Ok, trying not to be Scroogie about it. So understand that. Absolutely would not trust anyone to work for me next year. Our dept is so small that we all work either Christmas Eve or Christmas day. We do 8 hour shifts rather than 12s, so that makes it better. I chose to do Christmas day and I'm kinda regretting it now. We are a small group too and luckily got to chose our big holiday to work. I chose Thanksgiving because DH also worked that day and that Friday was dd's b'day so I wanted that day off since she was only going to be home for a few days and I worked that weekend too. It is always a crap-shoot. I do love the idea of just doing appetizers and finger foods vs a big huge meal. It is always a lot of work for one or two people and it is so exhausting! I love to cook but don't want to spend my whole day doing it on a big holiday!
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josie
Full Member
Posts: 217
Jul 29, 2014 20:47:33 GMT
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Post by josie on Nov 30, 2018 19:42:10 GMT
We always do this! Best idea ever....
Menu from last year
Sweet & sour meatballs Sliders Taquitos Cheese & cracker tray Buffalo dip Spinach artichoke dip Nuggets for kids Veggie tray Taco dip Caprese skewers Bruschetta
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Dec 1, 2018 3:24:04 GMT
This has been the tradition with my mother's family for at least the last 25 years. Are you looking for ideas to include, christine58 , or do you just want to be able to tell your family that everyone does it? I’d love ideas. Crockpot stuff. Etc Our menus have evolved over the years, but I know we've had the following at one time or another: -crockpot meatballs with chili sauce/grape jelly -cocktail weenies (not my fave but others like them) -ribs (purchased from some place that makes good ones and kept in a chafing tray) -BLT dip: mix 1 c. mayo and 1 c. sour cream; add a bunch of diced cooked bacon and diced tomatoes (seeds removed). Serve with toast (yes, it will be cold toast, it's fine). -spinach artichoke dip -buffalo chicken dip -cucumber sandwiches (open face) -cheese/sausage/crackers tray -a gazillion kinds cookies and other sweet treats (rice krispie treats, pretzel rolos, etc.) -tacquitos -chips and guac and salsa and other salsa -small tray of deli meats/cheese for sandwiches -cocktail shrimp tray -fruit tray -veggie tray -ham and pickle roll ups -gum and mint tray, provided one year by a broke college kid, now a family joke. The nice thing about this is that there's room for people who want to make stuff to do that, and people who want to buy stuff to do that. If you get some freak snowstorm and that one set of relatives can't drive in from Minneapolis, you're just missing one appetizer, not a key component of dinner. And no one has to do all the food prep. And you can bring that one dish you know your picky 12 year old will eat. I am doing the cheese tray this year. I'm going to go to the regular cheese section in the grocery store and get some packs of presliced cheese and quarter it before putting it on the tray. Super easy and not thirty bucks from the deli. (I know for sure I want to get a roasted red pepper cheese...) I get my trays or plates from the dollar tree and tell my hostess to do with it as she pleases.
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tanya2
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Post by tanya2 on Dec 1, 2018 5:45:57 GMT
We do appetizers for Christmas Eve dinner not Christmas day dinner. I don't know if it is easier than the traditional turkey dinner or not. Lots of prep for veggies and different dips and making all the different appetizers, that are usually fussy to make, then you need about 3 ovens and you have a ton of pans and plates to clean up. Personally I would like to order pizza Christmas even and have turkey Christmas Day We do this on Christmas eve also, and much as I would love to stop this tradition my family insists on it! It is fun, but rather a pain in the butt since all those frozen appetizers seem to require different cooking times & temperatures, and you need a ton of oven space to cook them. We follow it up with a chocolate fondue & fruit for dessert. Then a traditional dinner with my family on Christmas day (that I don't have to cook thankfully!) and another one with dh's family on Boxing Day (that I do have to cook )
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Dec 1, 2018 7:52:07 GMT
We do it for New Years Eve, and DH takes great pride in coming up with his ‘menu’ each year. We space it out through the evening, so we are serving the last set - dessert nibbles or cheese - at about 11:30, ready to head out for fireworks just before 12.
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Post by Zee on Dec 1, 2018 8:32:00 GMT
No, I order Giordano's pizza frozen and it's FedExed to me from Chicago. We used to eat at a local pizza place but had to change that when we moved.
On NYE we do just snacks/appetizers.
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Post by compeateropeator on Dec 1, 2018 12:46:13 GMT
Me too. I'ma also doing dinner on 12/26 for dh's family this year. I'm actually off this year but DH is on his 24hr shift on 12/25. This is the first year in ten years that I've ever been off on Christmas Day and I'm so sad that DH is working. I could work for one of my co-workers but I'm certain he/she would not work for me next year so why should I? Ok, trying not to be Scroogie about it. So understand that. Absolutely would not trust anyone to work for me next year. Our dept is so small that we all work either Christmas Eve or Christmas day. We do 8 hour shifts rather than 12s, so that makes it better. I chose to do Christmas day and I'm kinda regretting it now. Sorry for the regrets, I hope your Christmas shift passes quickly and uneventfully. There are only two of us on my shift so I also have to work either Christmas Eve or Christmas every year. Since my big extended family gathering is Christmas Eve and it is also my birthday, that is the one I choose to take off. That means I work every Christmas and I am sure my coworker is happy that I always pick that one. Anyway, my parents usually make a ham dinner for Christmas Eve lunch. We then do a pot luck for Christmas Eve night at my grandmother’s (maternal). We use to have a wonderful meal at noon on Christmas Day with my Dad’s side, but everyone is now located out of state except for our family. So now I have nothing special and hope for some leftovers from my parents ham dinner to bring to work for dinner. It is not an easy day to just stop and pick something up so I really hope for leftovers.
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Post by christine58 on Dec 1, 2018 13:12:44 GMT
We go to my cousins' house for the Feast of 7 Fishes...MMMM My two brothers celebrate with their inlaws on Christmas Eve so a smaller meal on Christmas Day is going to work..everyone is IN
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 1, 2018 13:17:21 GMT
We usually do apps on Christmas Eve. It’s just easier and less time consuming. Christmas Eve is such a busy day and we just don’t have the time to cook something amazing, as we are getting ready for church, taking pictures, going to church, coming home to change, and going to my in laws for gifts and celebration.
If you feel strange about it, maybe just tell everyone that you’re having Tapas! 😁
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Post by christine58 on Dec 2, 2018 17:19:48 GMT
DAMN...youngest brother (who is hosting) nixed my idea...LOL So we're going to do Beef on weck....
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Post by littlemama on Dec 2, 2018 19:08:05 GMT
I would love to to Christmas Eve appetizers, but MIL doesnt understand that. Two years ago we finally got her to just order Chinese food and it was so much better. (Brief overview- she would always plan a large meal, would fall behind on wrapping gifts and I would end up cooking the meal. Add to that the fact that BILs kids dont eat anything and his family doesnt help with anything and it was a huge pain- for me.)
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Post by auntkelly on Dec 2, 2018 19:08:27 GMT
No, I order Giordano's pizza frozen and it's FedExed to me from Chicago. We used to eat at a local pizza place but had to change that when we moved. On NYE we do just snacks/appetizers. We do the same for one of our Christmas gatherings, except we order Lou Manalti's pizza. Everyone always looks forward to that gathering. The pizza is almost as good as it is in the restaurant!
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psiluvu
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Posts: 3,217
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:26 GMT
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Post by psiluvu on Dec 2, 2018 22:34:30 GMT
DAMN...youngest brother (who is hosting) nixed my idea...LOL So we're going to do Beef on weck.... YUMMMM That is a fabulous idea. I love beef on weck but haven't had the "real" version in years since my MIL died and we stopped going to this little pub in Buffalo for lunch. Now I am craving it.
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Post by christine58 on Dec 2, 2018 22:50:15 GMT
DAMN...youngest brother (who is hosting) nixed my idea...LOL So we're going to do Beef on weck.... YUMMMM That is a fabulous idea. I love beef on weck but haven't had the "real" version in years since my MIL died and we stopped going to this little pub in Buffalo for lunch. Now I am craving it. I do love it!! I am east of Buffalo
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Post by birdgate on Dec 2, 2018 23:15:33 GMT
I’ve been eyeing the giant red and green Xmas nacho tray made by Temp-tatations on QVC. Can’t decide if I want the nutcracker or gingerbread man. Both cute. The red and green food coloring can’t be good for you.
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