Plz Post Your Christmas Dinner Ideas

[purple 10]

I can't decide on what to have for Christmas dinner.

So far:

pickled beets (gotta have those!)

cherry cream cheese pie (traditional)

cranberry jello salad (loved it on Thanksgiving)

spinach salad with berries

Ham or turkey or lasagna or tacos or roast beef or pizza....?

What's on your menu?????

And what's for snacking and what's for Christmas Eve?????

Does anyone have a favorite spinach salad/dressing recipe, fruity type?

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!!!

[tarnalberry 314]

Not sure yet. We often do a large piece of salmon, various greens, always a salad. Probably something simple for dessert.

[wildwood 4]

Christmas Eve we have:

crudites

shrimp cocktail

spanokopita (last year I made this with rice paper, this year I attempted gluten free phyllo dough. More like pastry, but still good.

chicken wrapped in bacon. These are appetizer size. I cut boneless chicken breast into the size of a scallop and wrap with 1/2 a piece of bacon. I bake until the bacon is done. You could also do this with scallops and that is actually where I got the idea, but dd and I are allergic to scallops.

gluten free jalapeno poppers

Various other appetizers

Christmas Day Dinner:

Roast Leg of Lamb with mint jelly

mashed potatoes and gravy

sweet potatoes

broccoli

Not sure what dessert will be yet. Probably cheesecake and a blueberry pie.

[Roda 186]

I'm going to have a prime rib roast. I have no idea what I am going to have with it yet. Sometimes when I try to do different things the boys won't eat it. One time I took cauliflower and tossed it with olive oil and herbs, then roasted it. It was so good. My oldest son said "you burned the cauliflower." They won't eat it unless it is just steamed with just a little salt/pepper. Go figure.

[jerseyangel 412]

Due to traveling on Thanksgiving and a snafu with a brand new portable fridge I ended up having pot roast for dinner....so for Christmas I'm making turkey, dressing made with GFP french bread cubes, sausage and apple, gravy, mashed potatoes, baked fresh butternut squash with maple syrup, homemade cranberry-orange relish and cooked cranberry sauce, olives, celery sticks, and pumpkin pie. I wouldn't rule out a spice cake with buttercream frosting, too.

For Christmas Eve dinner, we're going to PF Changs

[purple 10]

Due to traveling on Thanksgiving and a snafu with a brand new portable fridge I ended up having pot roast for dinner....so for Christmas I'm making turkey, dressing made with GFP french bread cubes, sausage and apple, gravy, mashed potatoes, baked fresh butternut squash with maple syrup, homemade cranberry-orange relish and cooked cranberry sauce, olives, celery sticks, and pumpkin pie. I wouldn't rule out a spice cake with buttercream frosting, too.

For Christmas Eve dinner, we're going to PF Changs

I have decided to invite myself over to your house!

So how do you make cranberry-orange relish...sounds great! I am learning to try new recipes and find out what I have been missing (always was a picky eater)

[jerseyangel 412]

I have decided to invite myself over to your house!

So how do you make cranberry-orange relish...sounds great! I am learning to try new recipes and find out what I have been missing (always was a picky eater)

Come on over--I think we'd have a ball cooking and eating!

For the relish, take a bag of fresh cranberries, wash, and chop in food processor. I just pulse a few times so as not to over do it. Put the chopped cranberries in a big bowl, and put a large, washed, quartered orange (rind and all) through the processor with about 3/4 cup of sugar (you can add more to taste--we don't like it too sweet). Add this to the bowl of chopped cranberries and stir well to combine. Best if made a day or so ahead to let the flavors develop. Very simple, but good.

[Jestgar 716]

meatballs with chili sweet sauce

empanadas using brazillian cheese bread as pastry part

cheese/sausage mix on little slices of bread and baked

shrimp cocktail

chips and veggies with assorted dips

chile con queso

chocolate coconut fudge

peanut butter fudge

seviche

[jerseyangel 412]

cheese/sausage mix on little slices of bread and baked

Ooh! Those sound good. How do you do that?

[Jestgar 716]

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,171,145183-254197,00.html

We make them early and freeze them. You can use any kind of bread, if they are normal size slices cut them into quarters. The idea is little bites.

[jerseyangel 412]

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,171,145183-254197,00.html

We make them early and freeze them. You can use any kind of bread, if they are normal size slices cut them into quarters. The idea is little bites.

Yum, Thanks

[Ahorsesoul 54]

We have Prime Rib for Christmas eve which is when we celebrate. Prime rib was on sale a week ago so I have it in the freezer. We relax on Christmas day with leftovers.

Prime Rib with Spiced Coffee Rub (done on the grill or in the smoker if weather permitting, for some reason when it's 10 below the grill or smoker just doesn't seem to work well)

Caramelized onions

Fried mushrooms or stuffed mushrooms (probably stuffed, have them in the freezer waiting)

Baked potatoes (I really like the fingerling type, more like a finger food and much more flavor, will make them if the store has fingerlings)

Fresh green beans or roasted asparagus (depends on what look good at the store)

what is a fingerling potato?

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/fingerlingpotatoes.htm

Chocolate covered cherries

Cranberry Bread

Banana Bread (in freezer)

Assorted cookies (depends on how bake-y I feel, usually chocolate chips, krumkaker, pistachio macaroons)

I'm very set on what I make for the Holidays. Easter has to be Ham, Thanksgiving has to be Turkey, Christmas is Prime Rib and New Year's is Seafood. I could bend a little and make Lamb for Easter.

While growing up my mom made pizza for Christmas Eve because when the kids were asked that's what they wanted. Easy to fix, easy to serve and clean up was a breeze.

[Salax 34]

Full blooded Italian here....Ironic with Celiac disease I know... LOL.

We have:

All day meat sause with Sausage, Ribs and Meatballs. With either Stuffed Shells, or Penne (Perhaps Baked Ziti, we use Penne) All Gluten Free!! *dances*

Ok drooling now....LOL..

BTW - Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all.

[jerseyangel 412]

BTW - Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all.

Same to you, Salax

I grew up in an Italian household, and remember the Christmas Eve meal of fish. Smelts, salt cod (baccala), squid in red sauce, clams, shrimp, pasta w/ olive oil and garlic, pasta with beans. I'm not much of a seafood lover, but somehow always looked forward to that night. Our Christmas dinner was the "traditional" turkey, but began with lasagna and stuffed artichokes and ended with every kind of pie imaginable.

Would be a tough one to navigate now with all that gluten

[hannahp57 3]

ham or roasted chicken

mashed potato casserole (made with butter, sour cream, cream cheese and cheddar shredded on top and salt pepper and hint of garilc. yummy!)

green beans cooked with bacon

dessert is up in the air at this point, possibly namaste spice cake or GFP gingerbread

[purple 10]

Come on over--I think we'd have a ball cooking and eating!

For the relish, take a bag of fresh cranberries, wash, and chop in food processor. I just pulse a few times so as not to over do it. Put the chopped cranberries in a big bowl, and put a large, washed, quartered orange (rind and all) through the processor with about 3/4 cup of sugar (you can add more to taste--we don't like it too sweet). Add this to the bowl of chopped cranberries and stir well to combine. Best if made a day or so ahead to let the flavors develop. Very simple, but good.

That sounds great and easy...thanks for the recipe!

[2Boys4Me 4]

Our Christmas dinner is usually pretty much a repeat of Thanksgiving.

We'll have roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, veg of some description (probably broccoli and carrots), stuffing, and probably Tradition. Tradition is a "salad" made of whipping cream, custard, marshmallows, pineapples and grapes . Not my style at all but it's the in-laws tradition to have it at big family dinners (usually placed on the table with a flourish and a proclaimation "Tradition!"). I am going to have gluten-free French bread rather than buns, I think. For dessert - maybe a no-bake cherry cheesecake and pie of some description.

I am terrible at making pastry so I'll probably try to con my husband or MIL to make the gluten-free pie (whatever flavour Ty wants) and she'll probably bring a gluten pumpkin pie and if I'm lucky an apple pie also.

Christmas Eve we are having Chinese food at my MIL's house. She borrowed my Chinese Triumph dining card so I hope that that will help us get Ty a decent gluten-free selection (he's the only one of 17 people at dinner who needs to eat gluten-free).

[purple 10]

meatballs with chili sweet sauce

empanadas using brazillian cheese bread as pastry part

cheese/sausage mix on little slices of bread and baked

shrimp cocktail

chips and veggies with assorted dips

chile con queso

chocolate coconut fudge

peanut butter fudge

seviche

That is all the kinda stuff I like except what is seviche?

I was thinking of Italian...yum! I love chips and dip but never buy it and that choc coconut fudge sounds great, mmm meatballs...I love meatball pizza!

Do you buy or make your chili sweet sauce?

[purple 10]

Our Christmas dinner is usually pretty much a repeat of Thanksgiving.

We'll have roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, veg of some description (probably broccoli and carrots), stuffing, and probably Tradition. Tradition is a "salad" made of whipping cream, custard, marshmallows, pineapples and grapes . Not my style at all but it's the in-laws tradition to have it at big family dinners (usually placed on the table with a flourish and a proclaimation "Tradition!"). I am going to have gluten-free French bread rather than buns, I think. For dessert - maybe a no-bake cherry cheesecake and pie of some description.

I am terrible at making pastry so I'll probably try to con my husband or MIL to make the gluten-free pie (whatever flavour Ty wants) and she'll probably bring a gluten pumpkin pie and if I'm lucky an apple pie also.

Christmas Eve we are having Chinese food at my MIL's house. She borrowed my Chinese Triumph dining card so I hope that that will help us get Ty a decent gluten-free selection (he's the only one of 17 people at dinner who needs to eat gluten-free).

We have always repeated Thanksgiving b/c its our fave, but I want something different this year. I make the no bake cherry cheese cake too...its so good! Maybe turkey for New Years. There is just 2 of us this year and then I will pack up food to take to my 2 dd's (the gluten-free ones) they both have to work and live over an hour away. Chinese sounds great...I am leaning towards Italian right now.

[purple 10]

These ideas sound fantastic...plz keep posting! I am thinking outside the box this year. We normally repeat Thanksgiving but with different pies. Great ideas to have for New Years too! I would make sweet and sour chicken and rice for NY's but hubby doesn't like it.

[Jestgar 716]

That is all the kinda stuff I like except what is seviche?

I was thinking of Italian...yum! I love chips and dip but never buy it and that choc coconut fudge sounds great, mmm meatballs...I love meatball pizza!

Do you buy or make your chili sweet sauce?

The sauce is basically chili sauce and grape jelly, something like this.

http://www.ochef.com/294.htm

Seviche de Corvina

1 lb. boneless corvina (any fresh white fish will do)

1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

1 1/3 cups fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 hot pepper finely minced (optional) (or dried pepper flakes)

Cut fish into bite-size pieces and place in a glass bowl, at least 2 inches high. Add all the other ingredients, mix, lemon juice should cover the fish. Cover with plastic wrap, put in refrigerator. Allow one day for fish to cook in the lemon juice. Garnish with onions, serve with crackers or saltines.

[amybeth 1]

Christmas Eve is usually a pot of chili that simmers on the stove all afternoon b/c it is quick and easy.

Dinner this year is pot roast cooked w/ potato, carrot, and onion -- salad -- christmas cookies for dessert --

[purple 10]

Christmas Eve we have:

crudites

shrimp cocktail

spanokopita (last year I made this with rice paper, this year I attempted gluten free phyllo dough. More like pastry, but still good.

chicken wrapped in bacon. These are appetizer size. I cut boneless chicken breast into the size of a scallop and wrap with 1/2 a piece of bacon. I bake until the bacon is done. You could also do this with scallops and that is actually where I got the idea, but dd and I are allergic to scallops.

gluten free jalapeno poppers

Various other appetizers

Christmas Day Dinner:

Roast Leg of Lamb with mint jelly

mashed potatoes and gravy

sweet potatoes

broccoli

Not sure what dessert will be yet. Probably cheesecake and a blueberry pie.

Chicken wrapped in bacon sounds great. I make that with water chestnuts and after the bacon gets done I pour sauce all over and bake until bubbly. I think I will try the chicken!

[purple 10]

The sauce is basically chili sauce and grape jelly, something like this.

http://www.ochef.com/294.htm

Seviche de Corvina

1 lb. boneless corvina (any fresh white fish will do)

1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

1 1/3 cups fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 hot pepper finely minced (optional) (or dried pepper flakes)

Cut fish into bite-size pieces and place in a glass bowl, at least 2 inches high. Add all the other ingredients, mix, lemon juice should cover the fish. Cover with plastic wrap, put in refrigerator. Allow one day for fish to cook in the lemon juice. Garnish with onions, serve with crackers or saltines.

My dh would love seviche. Thanks for the recipes.

[Chrissyb 0]

We are doing something different for us this year.

Tacos

Enchaliads

Refried Black Beans

Chips and Salas

Guacamola

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Dairy free Tres Leche Cake I got this recipe from www.godairyfree.org

And all the topping that go and the Tacos and Ench.