What do you guys have for Christmas/Christmas Eve Dinner?

nesser1981

nesser1981

Sweet Shoppe SugarBabe
Growing up we always had basically the same thing we had for Thanksgiving, only we had Ham instead of Turkey. I use to do that, but it was just too much food.

A couple years ago I started doing like steak and fried shrimp. I'm thinking about doing that this year with twice baked potatoes and I always make our dinner on Christmas eve.

So what do you do?
 
Christmas Eve, on my mom's side of the family, has traditionally been Tex-Mex..focusing on tamales :) It's one I continue with my family, and we'll be finally having it this year after a few years away at Russ' family gatherings (where it's not generally available to do). I'm so excited and inviting all of my family over to celebrate as we'll be doing an 'us' only day for Christmas.

We also had all the same fixings for Christmas Day as we did T'day..including Turkey because my Grandfather always smoked 'em. Once he passed, and we began celebrating some here, ham was added to the roster.

This year, we're doing a day of finger-foods, treats and such. Lots of grazing the whole day as we watch movies in our jammies, play games, and have a Jesus birthday party for just us, so no big meal.
 
We don't really have a tradition for dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. We just usually fix a nice meal.
 
With my parents we did tamales on Christmas Eve after church, with queso and chili. Then Christmas was light snacky things that didn't require a lot of prep or clean up.

Now my husband likes doing fondue on Christmas Eve and we do a sit down Christmas lunch much like Thanksgiving.

I need to find a way to get tamales back in the picture!
 
Christmas Eve on my family's side is a big deal. We get together at a family friends house and do a huge italian 7 fish dinner. There are usually close to 30 people there, and we sing Christmas songs, eat delicious food, and enjoy each other's company long into the night. We've been doing it since I was in High School, and it's probably the thing I miss the most when we spend Christmas with my husband's side of the family.

Christmas day for my family is pretty much thanksgiving all over again, with the addition of a ham if my brother requests it.

Jordan's family doesn't do anything special for Christmas eve, and Christmas depends. We usually go to Pittsburgh where the meal is similar to Thanksgiving. I think this year they are going to the other side of the family, but Granny doesn't cook. So they might end up eating pizza and fried shrimp, lol.
 
Christmas Eve we go to my grandmas house to open gifts and just do finger foods.
Christmas Day we go back to her house for a big family dinner that's similar to Thanksgiving but with ham instead.
 
I can't remember what we usually do for food! lol I do remember that our big meal is on Christmas Eve and that on Christmas Day we normally have a really yummy breakfast. I don't think we do a big Christmas Day meal. But I could be wrong! lol
 
our big dinner is usually christmas eve - we change the menu up some - for a while it was always mexican in a restaurant, then we switched to tenderloin, potatoes, etc, then we switched to a fancy pasta dinner my dad made .. not sure about this year :)

then, we have a big brunch on christmas morning - egg casserole, biscuits, fruit salad, mimosas, etc ...

then, we'll have tamales and other mexican goodies during the day :)

we eat way too much ! LOL!
 
We did finger foods last year on Christmas day. I'm think I'll do that again. We had dinner at my inlaws last year on Christmas day, at like 5pm. I made white chili and that was nice, because I just threw it all in the crockpot.
 
dana said:
our big dinner is usually christmas eve - we change the menu up some - for a while it was always mexican in a restaurant, then we switched to tenderloin, potatoes, etc, then we switched to a fancy pasta dinner my dad made .. not sure about this year :)

then, we have a big brunch on christmas morning - egg casserole, biscuits, fruit salad, mimosas, etc ...

then, we'll have tamales and other mexican goodies during the day :)

we eat way too much ! LOL!
Click to expand...

LOL!.

We have Gingerbread Waffles and Sausage usually for Breakfast on Christmas day. While Sean gets the kids toys out of their packages, I cook.
 
christmas eve we go to Darik's parents house and open gifts with them. we usually have pasta and turkey along with corn, mashed potatoes, broccoli/cheese casserole, my famous cheesy veggies and his grandma makes some sort of delicious pie (and cookies for the kids)

christmas day is spent at my parents house and that's the day we eat like pigs. LOL
we usually have turkey and ham...but this year we're having prime rib. We're also having ranch mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, cranberry sauce, greenbean casserole, more cheesy veggies, italian lemondrop cookies, oreo mint cheesecake, pumpkin pecan cheesecake, coconut cream pie, ooey gooey chocolate cake and the sugar cookies that the kids decorate. (can you tell we like sweets there?)
 
Growing up... Christmas Eve was at my grandparents on my dad's side and they always had goulash... then Christmas Day was at my great aunt's on my mom's side and it was a huge dinner with either ham or goose.

Now... Christmas Eve is spent with my folks... and in the past it was we all chose our favorite salad/dish... and Mom made scalloped potatoes and ham to go with it. Then Christmas Day is usually spent with my hubby's side of the family (hosted by us) and I do finger foods... shredded beef sandwiches and appetizers.
 
This year we're doing a seafood Christmas.

Appetizers will be shrimp skewers and proscuitto wrapped Scallops. Dinner is Lobster tail with angel hair pasta/some kind of sauce and asparagus.

Not sure about dessert yet.

Do you all make your tamales? I'd love to do them for Christmas Eve but I don't think I could take all that work?
 
When we go to mom's family dinner, it's usually Tex-Mex. This year we're doing seafood...salmon and shrimp. Not sure what side dishes yet.
 
On Christmas Eve we do Christmas w/ my MIL.. so ham, mac & cheese, corn, potatoes, etc. She SOMETIMES makes a small turkey breast for me.. as I hate ham.. but if not, I just eat sides :D
 
Christmas Day is always traditional sit-down turkey dinner {with either my parents or DH's}

Christmas Eve we do Chinese take-out and watch The Grinch :)
 
nesser1981 said:
LOL!.

We have Gingerbread Waffles and Sausage usually for Breakfast on Christmas day. While Sean gets the kids toys out of their packages, I cook.
Click to expand...

oh YUM - gingerbread waffles and sausage sounds yummy! is there a recipe for the waffles that you use? i should add it to our menu :) i'm already going to add the pioneer woman's cinnamon rolls i think :)
 
We usually go to several big traditional dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas (my step-grandparents, my Dad & Stepmom's and then to the in-laws) but after 10+ years of doing this and most of those holidays with 3 kids in tow we stayed home on Thanksgiving and did our own dinner and we all loved it! It was so nice not having to rush around and try not to eat too much at one place since we'd be eating again at the next place and then at the last place lol. Rob got to watch football all day long, the kids played and watched the parade and I got to relax and read a book after we ate and cleaned up.

So we haven't 100% decided yet but we are leaning towards staying home for Christmas too and doing our own meal again. I think Rob is expecting another big meal - turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, potato casserole and all the other goodies but I told him if we stay home for Christmas I will likely cut back on the extra sides because all that cooking is a lot of work! I tried to talk him into something simpler that I could make ahead of time and just put in the oven (like a lasagna or a casserole) but he wasn't too thrilled with that idea though he did mention just going out for Chinese food like in A Christmas Story lol!! I told him I wasn't sure if our favorite Chinese restaurant would be open but I would check :D
 
Growing up was different from what we do now. We used to have the traditional ham and turkey on Christmas day and appetizers the night before.

But having my own family now, we do a variety of things on Christmas Eve, sometimes Italian, sometimes we go out. We always watch "It's a Wonderful Life." Last year on Christmas day we grilled steaks and had shrimp, crab, and a few other things. We do whatever the boys like, which is usually not very traditional, but makes for a happy day!
 
We are going to attend a childrens Christmas service with my sister and her husband. Since my sister's DH is Chinese...their tradition is to eat tons of Chinese food after the kids service! They have a special restaurant they always get things from. Easy peasy!
 
Since we don't do Thanksgiving (UK) Christmas Day is our equivalent of that in terms of food!

We have a turkey (crown) and joint of pork
Mashed potatoes
Roast potatoes
Mixed roast vegetables (usually squash, red onions and parsnips)
Carrots
Peas
Broccolli
Brussel Sprouts
Bread Sauce
Cranberry Sauce
Apple Sauce
Stuffing
Yorkshire puddings
Gravy

Followed by traditional Christmas pudding with either rum sauce or custard or cream,
OR chocolate pud (for the kids)
OR trifle (for me)

That's usually around 1.30-2.00 pm then for supper, say 7.00pm we will have simple buffet style food with savoury snacks, cold meats (from dinner plus roast ham), chutneys etc, with Christmas cakes, trifle and mince pies to follow.

I cater on Christmas Day and my parents come over (bringing the meats already cooked) and the inlaws come over (with vegetables prepped ready for cooking).

On Christmas Eve we have friends over (we used to take it in turns but seeing as they are both usually working this day and I'm a SAHM it made more sense for me to cater this day and they reciprocate another day over the holiday). It's generally something filling and simple, such as curry or chilli, with a starter and desert.
 
Christmas eve we have homemade pizza! It's a big tradition for us!

Christmas morning we have cinnamon rolls! Yum :)

And Christmas day dinner we have ham and all that good stuff!
 
We celebrate with the in-laws on the 23rd and we have a fondue.

On the 24th, we don't have dinner, we have finger food all night long and a cold buffet at midnight. I host this each year. In French, it's called a réveillon (waiting for Christmas). :)

On the 25th, on DH's side, we have the traditional Christmas meal (turkey, meat pie, meat ball stew (ragoût), mashed potatoes) with a ton of handmade deserts - they love their sweets. :)
 
DH's family usually does a big pot of Chili or a Ham with german potato salad, three bean salad, and a jello mold on Christmas Eve. If we are with my family, my mom will do Chicken Tortilla Soup or something similar.

Christmas morning I always make a breakfast casserole of some type that cooks while we are opening gifts.

We will be at DH's Aunt's house this year Christmas Eve and I have checked to see what the plans are yet.

Christmas Day is usually at our house or my parents and we usually have Prime Rib, Ham and all of the turkey day fixins to go along with it. We'll be having this at my mom's this year because we don't want to deal with the mess. LOL
 
We have Chinese food on Christmas Eve (egg fried rice, sweet and sour chicken balls, stir-fried veggies, egg rolls,...) and on Christmas Day we have Christmas Pasta ala Rachael Ray.
 
Christmas Eve, it's just a typical dinner. Nothing fancy. I usually work during the day (working retail) so I'm not up for much more than that.

For Christmas breakfast, I usually have banana bread and pumpkin bread and a small breakfast casserole. But I haven't found a breakfast casserole that it worth making again. Anyone have a good one? I need something with eggs and sausage in it.

On Christmas night, we pretty much have what we have on Thanksgiving- turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, pies, fruit salads, etc.
 
Christmas Eve is always just our own family. We usually have Ham, Turkey Breast, Scalloped potatoes, Broccoli with Garlic Butter and Cashews, Baked Corn Pudding, Pumpkin Pie and Dutch Apple Pie.

Then Christmas Morning I usually make some type of Egg casserole and Paula Deen's Monkey (some times it's called Gorilla) Bread. This year though I might make this recipe I found for Cinnamon Rolls (the best thing i've ever baked).

Christmas Day is whatever our parents make....usually Turkey/Ham and thanksgiving type food But this year we are staying home for Christmas so I think we will do finger type food or maybe I can talk DH into doing Lasagna Roll Ups!!
 
Great thread. I have been wondering what to do this year. Last year I cooked a huge meal for my family (and some extended family) on Christmas Day and I was exhausted. I felt that I spent the entire day in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning and I didn't actually get to enjoy the day playing with my kids or watching them enjoy their new toys. I'm torn on what to do this year. A part of me just wants to go a completly different route than I did last year but I just can't decide. Sort of not in the mood for Ham and all the fixings again. I'm leaning towards Mexican or Italian foods though its untraditional for my family. I wish someone would just choose for me! Haha
 
Julie Billingsley said:
Christmas Eve, it's just a typical dinner. Nothing fancy. I usually work during the day (working retail) so I'm not up for much more than that.

For Christmas breakfast, I usually have banana bread and pumpkin bread and a small breakfast casserole. But I haven't found a breakfast casserole that it worth making again. Anyone have a good one? I need something with eggs and sausage in it.

On Christmas night, we pretty much have what we have on Thanksgiving- turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, pies, fruit salads, etc.
Click to expand...

I've been wanting to try this breakfast casserole Julie
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/savory-breakfast-puddingecipe/index.html
 
Christmas eve is the traditional holiday nachos.

Christmas day we have pancakes or egg casserole for breakfast & for dinner I make a rib roast & roasted veggies with salad & pumpkin pie. Sometimes I make stuffing if others are joining us. I'm the only stuffing eater in my immediate family
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top