It’s my year to host my side of the family for Christmas. We are meeting the weekend before Christmas. I just realized that I don’t have much time!
So I’m going to get a ham, no vegetarians, they all like ham. Ham is easy. I usually do a rib roast but in the interest of doing less, I am going to buy the ham.
But sides? Give me your easy to make, easy to plan sides. Please!
Cheesy potatoes in the crockpot. Or scalloped potatoes. Or a scalloped potato with a mix of white and sweet potatoes.
Hot Pineapple casserole ( a dump and stir dish - really good with ham!)
Old school '70s family recipe
SINGLE RECIPE
½ stick butter- melt it
4 T flour- stir in, over heat for a bit (30 seconds) to cook away floury taste
remove from heat
3 eggs, stir in one at a time
1# cottage cheese- mix in
10 oz spinach drained thoroughly (if frozen, thaw and drain) (if fresh, blanch and squeeze out excess water)- mix in
½ # sharp cheddar- stir in
this makes 1 8”x 8” or 1.5 quart dish
350 F for about 45-60 minutes
let set for about 10 minutes before serving
A double recipe makes a 9” x 13”
You can even do a triple if you have a pan big enough
Roast vegetables - carrots, squash, brussel sprouts all roast really well. Good olive oil, maybe an interesting spice mixture and you are done.
This is a great make ahead mashed potato recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13608/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes/
If you have a lot of kids, maybe mac & cheese.
Agree with @mathmom’s roasted veg idea (asparagus is nice with ham too). Or you could do a quick boil of haricot verts ahead of time and refrigerate. Then saute with some olive oil or butter and toasted almonds at the very end. Easy to do the same with carrots or beets, then you just have to reheat and embellish a little at the end. Add maybe a salad.
I was going to suggest that old stand-by green bean casserole. I only make it twice a year but it reminds me of holidays when I was a kid.
I have never heard of hot pineapple casserole but after a quick search, I am going to try it out! Thanks, @abasket!
I have served this risotto (with sweet potatoes) as a side dish for baked ham. People loved it.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/creamy-sweet-potato-risotto-with-pecans-3060203
Make sure you get a spiral ham…so much easier than having to cut it.
I’d do a medley of different salads. A green salad, that broccoli salad for example. And maybe crock pot scalloped potatoes…or Mac and cheese in the crockpot. All can pretty much be made the day before or early in the day.
Get a tray of cookies and brownies from Costco.
Appetizers are your friend. Put out a bunch…and folks will enjoy those first.
These are great ideas! I plan on trying several of them, I just have to decide!
Thanks
This is not low cal but oh sooo good.
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spinach-gratin-recipe-1940406
My Thanksgiving guests almost ate the dish in which the gratin was served with the gratin. 
Ham needs scalloped or cheesy potatoes IMO.
A spinach or mixed greens salad of some type - I like mine with strawberries or dried cranberries or apple (pear works well but I don’t like pears much) and toasted or candied pecans or walnuts, thinly sliced onions or green onions, blue cheese optional, raspberry vinaigrette.
Rolls or biscuits
Green beans or asparagus
Roasted vegetables – parsnips and carrots would go well with ham.
Just have your protein, a few roasted vegetables, ONE starch (really, it’s all you need – I made the NYT Crushed Sour Cream Potatoes for Thanksgiving. A huge hit and easier than mashed), and maybe a salad.
My go to recipe for roasted vegetables:
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/recipe-roasted-roots-with-fennel-and-apple/
Apple gives this recipe a bit of sweetness. Should go great with ham. I have made it without celery root and with various root veggies that were available, as long as fennel and apples are in, the rest can be any combo of carrots, orange beets, turnips, etc.
how about sautéed apples? that’s a family favorite here.
@deb922 Do you have a crock pot or an insta pot?
Both instant pot and multiple crock pots. I have a large and small. And 3 small ones in one, they were great when I had a taco bar party
Like this but I found it somewhere for $20. https://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-1-5-Quart-Settings/dp/B07QGC8VL8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=RXLIDESR90SA&keywords=crock+pot+3+in+1&qid=1575585706&sprefix=Crock+pot+3%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-4
@deb922 There are lots of good crock pot/insta pot recipes out there…and they’d really make it easy too!
That sweet potato risotto looks terrific. I have left over sweeties from T-day. I’m trying that recipe this weekend!
Lots of other terrific ideas. We love roasted veggies (some are in the oven right now). I forgot to include fennel for the recent feast, thanks for the reminder. Love it as something different for winter and fall! Please don’t date me with a 70’s label for the spinach and cheese - another favorite I’d forgotten about. That one is also coming up soon. We love scalloped potatoes - that one does, indeed, go great with ham. (I remember one year when DS couldn’t get back to college as planned due to weather - he thought that was fine, as long as I made more cheesy scalloped potatoes and a roast for him!)
Thanks to everyone!
I suggest throwing some artichoke hearts in the recipe @BunsenBurner posted above. It sounds really good, and I may alter my existing similar recipe somewhat based on hers.
I am collecting useful recipes from the thread. Does butternut squash go with ham? I just had a roasted butternut squash. It was simple and good. Cut them up skin intact, to small pieces, parboil 10-15 min, season with salt, butter and generous amount of parmesan cheese then bake at 350 about 15-20 minute. I topped it with walnut pieces half way through.