What cooking for Christmas

After the Christmas Eve Church service the family comes to my house for hors d'oeuvre 4 or 5 are prepared.
From bacon and water chestnut, shrimp, artichoke dips, nacho cheese dip, BBQ wing etc etc..
Bring out the cookies Butter balls, Birds Nest, Sugar Cookie cut out and decorated, Lady fingers … It’s a good feast

Next morning family shows up around 9:00/9:30 for Christmas Breakfast that Belly prepare.
Christmas Casserole
Croissant
Monkey Balls
Bacon or Sausage
Coffee, Orange Juice

Opening the gifts:
We open the Stocking Stuffers…. first
Wife passes the gifts out 4 at a time (to speed things up)
Special gifts are wrapped in all red paper.. Those gifts are given last.

Daughter set the dinning room table (14 plates) with the Christmas Plates, I prepare the meal
Grandma Chicken Soup
This year Rotisserie Ham w/ molasses covering (this change from year to year depending on what I want)
Cheese Potatoes
Salad
Pickle /Cheese tray
Green Bean Casserole
Croissant
Monkey Ball
Pies Apple, Pecan
Wine, Beer and Juice Boxes

Day after Christmas

Who wants to come back for leftovers dinner is welcome.

Turkey for me in the oil less turkey fryer and ham for the rest. Not a big ham fan.

It varies. Christmas Eve we usually either have steak, or we order pizza, lol. Really just depends on the mood. We don't do a traditional Christmas dinner. We have a party every year with another family, and the menu changes. We have done prime rib, pulled pork, wings, ribs. We always have a ton of apps and snacks, though.

^^^^^
... we've done pizza on Christmas eve along with aps & then the larger meal with turkey, ham and everything else on Christmas day. I love Christmas eve just sitting around drinking and talking with family or whoever else shows up.

4cards;1770934 wrote:^^^^^
...I love Christmas eve just sitting around drinking and talking with family or whoever else shows up.

Who needs Christmas to accomplish this?

Old Rider;1770939 wrote:Who needs Christmas to accomplish this?

I have six siblings, and we live all over Ohio (Akron, Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus and Mansfield). It's tough to get everyone together, but Christmas is one of the times when it's possible.

Fab4Runner;1770941 wrote:I have six siblings, and we live all over Ohio (Akron, Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus and Mansfield). It's tough to get everyone together, but Christmas is one of the times when it's possible.

Same here...I was just referring to drinking and talking (with whoever).

Old Rider;1770945 wrote:Same here...I was just referring to drinking and talking (with whoever).

...I have friends who have no family to spend the holidays with so I have an open door for them. As far as family goes, now that my parents have both passed away, it's a good time to spend with my family that are in town from California & and NYC.

Christmas Eve: beef tenderloin/filet fondue. I cube the filet; the Mrs has already made the stock for the fondue pot, along with 4 dipping sauces for each fondue plate: bearnaise, blue cheese, soy, horseradish; two fondue forks per person; at the dining room table each person simmers their filet cubes in the stock pot for a minute or two (rare to medium rare) then dips in their favorite sauce. All accompanied by a super fine bottle(s) of dry red wine. Makes for a wonderful hour long, 'do-it-yourself' dinner with lots of laughs and shared memories.

Christmas Day: Morning --- sausage gravy n biscuits with champagne. Dinner --- usually big turkey dinner but a small crowd this year so probably ham and smoked salmon or scallops, along with smoked artichoke dip. Plenty of bevs throughout.

Roast Beast
Mashed Potatoes and gravy
Broccoli
Green beans
Brownies
Ice Cream
Various cheeses
Veggie tray

We are hosting. Having a spiral ham, turkey, broccoli cheese casserole, mash potatoes , noodles, scalloped potatoes, green beans, salad, orange jello salad and desserts

Prime rib, scallops, lobster mac and cheese.