We follow my husband’s family tradition and make a big pot of posole.
@sabaray Here it is:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/seafood-risotto-5656
Above is the recipe I use–I alter it by substituting fish stock for half of the clam juice. My H is a serious fisherman and avid cook. Every summer he makes his own fish stock (and freezes it) from the bones, heads, etc. of the fish he catches. His fish stock is really flavorful and adds so much to this dish. I also substitute lobster meat for shrimp. Even the meat eaters want to try this.
We usually start with a clear, wild-mushroom soup followed by standing rib, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and creamed spinach. Along the way, we gave up making a fancy dessert as the main meal is so rich.
Last year, our son asked if he could make the main course and amazed us with a perfectly-prepared beef Wellington. He’s asked to surprise us again this year. We could hardly say no, so I’m not sure what we’re having.
(I don’t think he looks at CC anymore, so I will say that we got him chef’s togs [jacket/pants/clogs] and the classic Wusthof 8" chef knife for Christmas this year, so he’ll look the part.)
I realize this isn’t in keeping with the wonderful menus described in this thread, but we’ll be having Chinese takeout (we’re Jewish), but sometime between 12/26 and 12/30 we’ll be redoing Thanksgiving. Since they live across the country from family, S1 and DIL chose to be on vacation out of the country on Thanksgiving this year. It’s depressing for them to celebrate alone. So I decided we’d have another Thanksgiving when they visit, except instead of mashed potatoes, we’ll have latkes.
@Nrdsb4 …that bacon wrapped chicken sounds great. Can I have the recipe, pretty please?
My heavy appetizers for Xmas eve consist of ( I’m also asking 3 families to bring something, too)
Mini beef tenderloin sandwiches
Shrimp platter
Cheesy potato casserole…okay not an appetizer but I’m making it anyway,
Buffalo dip in crockpot
Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce
Cheese and cracker platter
Verge and fruit
Assorted desserts.
I’d like 2 more appetizers…or maybe that’s plenty since the other families will bring something.
@conmama: I have a hot crab dip that is super easy and always a hit. Can be scooped with crackers, chips, or veggies. I serve it warm in one of those tiny crock pots.
@conmama, here is the recipe for sweet chicken bacon bites:
http://www.jocooks.com/main-courses/poultry-main-courses/sweet-chicken-bacon-bites/
@ChoatieMom, give up that crab dip recipe, if you please. 
I’ve been looking for a good one.
Thanks Choatiemom…I have a recipe for that…just forgot about it. Great idea!
@Nrdsb4 …heaven…those look like heaven! Yum! Thanks.
@conmama, and if there are any left over, they are good at breakfast.
D2 made a boat load of them for a cocktails/appetizer party she threw for her grad school cohorts at her cute apartment, and they went fast. She was sorry she didn’t put away a few of them for breakfast.
Maybe the mods could correct the typo in post #47 so we don’t all lose our appetites 
@notelling, I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. MY APOLOGIES!!!
I actually corrected it a little reluctantly, but as a nurse, I have to do no harm. Lol.
Missed it, darn
Our extended family holiday get together is Xmas Eve, about 40 of us including some close friends. My sister has graciously hosted the event for many, many years since Mom decided to pass it down. We always do sirloin strips on the grill, twice baked potatoes, asparagus and rolls. Sometimes my brother does a pan of scampi’d shrimp for surf-n-turf. Lots of wine, crackers and cheese prior and then we exchange secret santa gifts (we choose names at Thanksgiving). We usually give my parents a group gift that night and all godparents/godchildren exchange as well.
I do a full breakfast Xmas morning for my husband, parents and my kids and we all exchange gifts together. My kids have always left the house after breakfast to spend the day with their father(s), my parents go to each siblings house, one brother’s home for light lunch appetizers, and the next brother’s house for a prime rib dinner. My husband leaves to spend time with his grown kids before they head to their mom’s house.
If we have any energy mid-afternoon, we head out for chinese and scorpion bowls Last year I just didn’t feel it and we had leftover breakfast for dinner lol. Husband wasn’t too happy so I guess I better pony up this year.
@westcoastmomof2 “Our large Irish/Japanese family’s traditional Christmas meal is Mexican food”
– and this is why I love America!
We often do rack of lamb because it’s younger son’s favorite. Julia Child’s The Way to Cook has a nice recipe with a mustard sauce. I’m having a hankering for prime rib this year though. Usually apple and pecan pie for dessert, but I have some sour cherries frozen from the summer. Younger son loves cherry pie, and he was away when we had pie last summer.
I made the best appetizer today. Take a standard recipe for saag (spinach) paneer - about 10 oz or so of spinach worth. There’s a million recipes on line. Then add about 1/2 cup of grated cheese (I used a “Mexican” cheese mix.) Added about half an egg - used the rest for a wash. Anyway take a piece of puff pastry spread the spinach on it and then roll it up. Slice into about 1/2" rounds and bake at 400" for 15 minutes or so.
@ChoatieMom I’m so jealous! I’d love to have someone cook for me. I love to cook, but I’m sick of it right now.
@Bromfield2 everything is better with lobster. That risotto sounds delicious.
I’m sure I can guess what #47 said! LOL
Fun topic. We do beef tenderloin for main course, fried oysters for first course, spinach salad, brussel sprouts with fried sage, fried parsnips in duck fat, potatoes, and lemon meringue pie for dessert. Xmas eve we do takeouts.