<p>Thanks for the many ideas. Fondue is a brilliant idea, as I have twin seven-year-old nephews coming!!! This will be hugely entertaining for them, and zero work for me. Thanks so much, SteveMA. (They, of course, are the reason that I’m so stumped, as one pot meals are hard if the kids don’t like it.)</p>
<p>We love to fondue. I got to the Melting Pot website and look at their menus for ideas :D. You can use a crock pot for the cheese fondue–it actually works better than a fondue pot. Just make sure you get electric pots (usually on sale everywhere this time of year).</p>
<p>I have two fondue pots, but I’ve never thought of using a crockpot. I also have a fondue cookbook that has some good sauce ideas for meats. I’ll take a look at the Melting Pot website, though. Thanks again–I’m now much more enthusiastic about this visit!</p>
<p>My sides are going to be twiced baked potatoes and Roasted Brussels sprouts with Balsamic Reduction sauce and dried cranberries. A recipe from Pioneer Woman’s website. Looks beautiful and festive.
Desert will be a little platter of homemade christmas cookies and a holiday Cake arrangement that I ordered from Juniors.</p>
<p>SopMom14! Easy meals for me that are make ahead Lasagna, crockpot chili, prepare ahead french toast casserole(make night before, then bake in morning). Have cold cuts and rolls on hand. We also get rotisserie chickens from our local market.</p>
<p>Corn Casserole, a family favorite!</p>
<p>Ingredients
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8-ounce) package corn muffin mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted </p>
<p>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. </p>
<p>Mix the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter in a large bowl, then pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish and bake for 50 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.</p>
<p>^^I make the same recipe but use plain yogurt in place of the sour cream.</p>
<p>Oh, that corn casserole sounds yummy! I’m going to add that to the menu for one night over the holidays. I have four nights in a row where we’ll have between 15 and 20 at our table so I always like to find something new and different. Thanks, fishymom!</p>
<p>My current menus include ham, chili, Caribbean chicken, sirloin roast with a yummy cranberry sauce and a turkey. Not all on the same night, obviously. 
I have a mashed potato/cream cheese/sour cream recipe that everyone insists on and a roasted veggie casserole that we all enjoy. Other than that our sides will be sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, garlic rice, fresh asparagus, peas, an assortment of salads and of course, some kind of bread/dinner rolls at each meal. For dessert, we always have homemade baked goods - nutbread, cheesecake squares, fudge, no-bake squares, cookies, a crustless apple pie, and a delicious yule log cake that my D’s boyfriend makes every year with those chocolate wafers. I might also make my great-grandmother’s lemon sponge pie recipe this year if I have time.</p>
<p>Too many recipes to post but the most popular salad that I make and can be used for a crowd if necessary is :</p>
<p>Romaine
Chopped red delicious apples
Cubed monterrey jack cheese
Poppyseed dressing
Add toasted pecans or walnuts if desired.</p>
<p>I haven’t met anyone yet who doesn’t like this.</p>
<p>My husband and I were just discussing the hit our food budget will take having my daughter home for a month and my son and GF here for a week! We are going to my SIL’s for Christmas Eve and I am making dinner Christmas day, but I am going to ask the kids to make dinner a couple of the other nights. I’ll buy whatever they need, but that way they can make what they want and the work load gets shared a little. And they have fun doing it!</p>