good grief, hubby wants to do a turkey again and I just do not want to. I want either ham or beef tenderloin.
We go for the Italian favorites…lasagna, meatballs, salad. It works well for me as these foods can be made in advance which allows me to relax a bit and enjoy Christmas day, even with company coming over for dinner.
We always do a prime rib.
Exact same menu as Thanksgiving – turkey and all the trimmings. I’m jealous of the prime rib people.
Prime rib here and usually a large salmon fillet for those who prefer something lighter. Boursin potatoes, either green beans or brussel sprouts, either roasted squash or carrots, salad and rolls. Haven’t figured out dessert, yet.
We usually do beef tenderloin and will again this year.
Prime rib for us.
Dungeness crab, artichokes, caesar salad…
Christmas Eve, we have a seafood dinner. Crab legs, shrimp, biscuits like the ones Red Lobster sells, and some sort of different mashed potatoes (cheesy or lobster or…) are always on the menu. Other seafood varies based on our mood that year, but is usually scallops, tilapia, or mahi mahi.
Christmas Day, we get Chinese and/or sushi.
Last year, we mixed it up and switched the days for the dinners. My youngest told me a few days ago that she didn’t like that because our seafood Christmas Eve dinner is one of her favorite traditions, so we’ll stick to our traditional plan this year.
My Mom serves prime rib when we go there another day of the holiday.
We aren’t usually together on Thanksgiving (D2 and I are, but we go out). So we do a turkey and all the trimmings. Neither kid likes ham, and I just think I’d manage to ruin an expensive cut of beef.
" I just think I’d manage to ruin an expensive cut of beef"
As long as you have a meat thermometer, it’s the simplistic thing ever!
We have a big meal on Christmas Eve at my sister’s house with Santa giving gifts and everything; about 40 people attend. H smokes a turkey and there are a lot of other courses–often a ham and a prime rib. For Christmas dinner, I eat with my best friend from middle school’s family and about 50ish people. We bring mocha rice flavored with chicken broth and Chinese sausage and shitake mushrooms. They also serve ham and often a turkey and many vegetarian offerings and other dishes. There’s a lot of food and fellowship at both events.
My SIL has taken over Christmas Eve dinner from my MIL, but the tradition continues. We fondue steak and mushrooms, then wrap them in lefse and dip it a creamy garlic sauce. For those of you who don’t know what lefse is (pronounced lef’-sa), it is a Norwegian round, soft, flat bread made from potatoes. I have only seen it in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Most people eat it with butter, but some will sprinkle sugar on top before rolling it up.
My S’s birthday is near Thanksgiving, and he doesn’t care for turkey. D and H insist on turkey. So for Thanksgiving we had a small turkey and prime rib.
For Christmas, I’m doing Kansas City BBQ, mail order. Baby back ribs, burnt ends, and brisket.
There will be 35 for Christmas Eve dinner. We will have a ham, turkey and prime rib. With a bunch of side dishes and desserts.
This year we are doing heavy appetizers on Christmas Eve. Christmas day will be Cinnamon Rolls/Bacon/Eggs for breakfast, but we decided no one wanted to cook and are doing takeout Chinese for dinner that night.
Beef Tenderloin…worth the money!
@KSMom1518 …I’m doing heavy appetizers also for Xmas eve. What are you making? I’m looking for additional ideas.
We have cheeseburgers on the grill for Christmas eve (long story, but a tradition since 1987), and usually a turkey for Christmas.
Last year, it was just the 4 of us (me, H, D,S) we decided to not even have dinner, we just had breakfast then appetizers all day. Ohhhhh…I loved it but I’m not sure everyone else did. I’m guessing a turkey this year.
@conmama - Christmas eve is very casual and I don’t know what is on the menu yet. Our friends who are joining us are last minute planners who just tore apart their kitchen. I’m sure we will have things like cheese/crackers, veggies/hummus. But beyond that I have no idea. MIL just arrived last night and she will also join us so we will start talking about it soon. What are you serving so far?