perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Who's getting ready? I usually do this Christmas day, but I decided to do it today and freeze the oven-ready pan. So, what am I making?
Getting ready for Christmas dinner?
- Thread starter perc-o-prince
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perc-o-prince
Well-known member
And what are YOU making?
Chuck
Chuck
xraytech
Well-known member
I'll be serving Christmas Eve dinner for 12 immediately after I play 4:00 mass.
On the menu is:
Hors d oeuvres:
Assorted cheeses, salami and pepperoni with crackers and horseradish dip
Sourdough pretzels with raspberry mustard dip
Shrimp cocktail
Assorted pickles and olives
Kielbasa coins in hot pepper jelly
Bacon wrapped mini pierogi
Dinner:
Baked ham with croissant and biscuits
Scalloped potatoes
Pierogi casserole
Gnocchi
Meatballs
Mandarin orange salad
Green beans
Buttered corn
Dessert:
Assorted cookies and fudge
Lime gelatin dessert
Frozen fruitcake salad
The cooking starts tomorrow.
I have already had the tablecloth pressed, it is covered with vinyl to protect from stains, and the table is set with my festive winter china "Silver Pine"
On the menu is:
Hors d oeuvres:
Assorted cheeses, salami and pepperoni with crackers and horseradish dip
Sourdough pretzels with raspberry mustard dip
Shrimp cocktail
Assorted pickles and olives
Kielbasa coins in hot pepper jelly
Bacon wrapped mini pierogi
Dinner:
Baked ham with croissant and biscuits
Scalloped potatoes
Pierogi casserole
Gnocchi
Meatballs
Mandarin orange salad
Green beans
Buttered corn
Dessert:
Assorted cookies and fudge
Lime gelatin dessert
Frozen fruitcake salad
The cooking starts tomorrow.
I have already had the tablecloth pressed, it is covered with vinyl to protect from stains, and the table is set with my festive winter china "Silver Pine"
michaelman2
Well-known member
Uh, Yum! on the entire menu. The china is really beautiful too.
xraytech
Well-known member
Thanks Michael I have always loved that china. My gram bought it sometime not long after getting married in 1952
Wow, you go all out for it Rich. I dont have the family left now to even bother doing anything. I am going to my niece's house and we are going out. Supposed to rain like crazy and be 50 degrees. So much for a white Christmas.
I'm making for Christmas dinner:
French Onion Soup
Cranberry roast pork loin
broccoli corn casserole
buttery fresh green beans
rasberry pound cake truffles
As part of my sister's Christmas gift I'm also making for her
Old fashioned coffee cake
blueberry muffin bread
skillet chocolate chip cookie
spicy oven-roasted chickpeas
rasberry pound cake truffles (since it's making such a large batch, I decided to have that as my Christmas dinner desert in addition to making the balance for her)
[this post was last edited: 12/22/2014-00:20]
French Onion Soup
Cranberry roast pork loin
broccoli corn casserole
buttery fresh green beans
rasberry pound cake truffles
As part of my sister's Christmas gift I'm also making for her
Old fashioned coffee cake
blueberry muffin bread
skillet chocolate chip cookie
spicy oven-roasted chickpeas
rasberry pound cake truffles (since it's making such a large batch, I decided to have that as my Christmas dinner desert in addition to making the balance for her)
[this post was last edited: 12/22/2014-00:20]
michaelman2
Well-known member
Okay, I am not sure which menu sounds better? I am literally like Pavlov's dog at this point...salivating. Each entree, side and dessert on both menus I would devour. I miss cooking for the holidays.....been a long time.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Hey Rick- Chuck here.
Braciole it is! I decided to make it and fry it off last night so that all I have to do is bake it Thursday. Rich's parents will bring down homemade ravioli for the same meal. The ravioli have been a tradition for decades, formerly with meatballs, and I added the braciole better than 10 years ago since it was one of Rich's faves. Here they are all rolled and ready for the frying pan.
Christmas Eve used to be cold cuts et al for a casual knosh while we opened presents for hours. After Rich's parents moved, and don't come down for Thanksgiving, we do a 2nd Thanksgiving with them here on the eve.
For sweets, Rich is making a flourless chocolate cake and panetone bread pudding. I'll make stolen. Plenty of cuccidati, biscotti and anise cookies left!
Sam-Bob- sounds yummy!!
Chuck
Braciole it is! I decided to make it and fry it off last night so that all I have to do is bake it Thursday. Rich's parents will bring down homemade ravioli for the same meal. The ravioli have been a tradition for decades, formerly with meatballs, and I added the braciole better than 10 years ago since it was one of Rich's faves. Here they are all rolled and ready for the frying pan.
Christmas Eve used to be cold cuts et al for a casual knosh while we opened presents for hours. After Rich's parents moved, and don't come down for Thanksgiving, we do a 2nd Thanksgiving with them here on the eve.
For sweets, Rich is making a flourless chocolate cake and panetone bread pudding. I'll make stolen. Plenty of cuccidati, biscotti and anise cookies left!
Sam-Bob- sounds yummy!!
Chuck
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Wow! I am so impressed with everyone
The people who have invited me over for Christmas dinner finally called and told me what they would like me to bring...that dead-common green bean casserole thing. I have been looking online for a more "gourmet" recipe rather than a can of soup and a couple of cans of string beans.
My "world's oldest flight attendant" friend was recently here and told me a story about having Martha Stewart of a flight last month (she had to board the plane before everyone else, the pilot came out to introduce himself, her assistant brought her breakfast in...no airline food for Martha...and she slept most of the way.) My friend made big points when he told her he recently had a Martha Stewart kitchen installed in his home. He found a magazine in the aircraft and she graciously signed one of her ads. She also presented him with a piece of fruitcake that she had baked the night before...her mother's recipe. He told me he carried the piece of cake down the aisle like it was the Queen's Coronation crown on a velvet pillow.
Anyway, I did find her recipe for green bean casserole but is is crazy-involved. You need to make the soup part with fresh mushrooms and make the onion rings for the topping. Forget it! Can opener here I come.
The people who have invited me over for Christmas dinner finally called and told me what they would like me to bring...that dead-common green bean casserole thing. I have been looking online for a more "gourmet" recipe rather than a can of soup and a couple of cans of string beans.
My "world's oldest flight attendant" friend was recently here and told me a story about having Martha Stewart of a flight last month (she had to board the plane before everyone else, the pilot came out to introduce himself, her assistant brought her breakfast in...no airline food for Martha...and she slept most of the way.) My friend made big points when he told her he recently had a Martha Stewart kitchen installed in his home. He found a magazine in the aircraft and she graciously signed one of her ads. She also presented him with a piece of fruitcake that she had baked the night before...her mother's recipe. He told me he carried the piece of cake down the aisle like it was the Queen's Coronation crown on a velvet pillow.
Anyway, I did find her recipe for green bean casserole but is is crazy-involved. You need to make the soup part with fresh mushrooms and make the onion rings for the topping. Forget it! Can opener here I come.
angus
Well-known member
I still haven't gotten over the fact that since my mother died, my sister and I can't get what;s left of the family together for Christmas - strange thing was that was HER holiday and no one ever missed it. Now all the cousins have a story of why they can't come between teenage children;s activities, in laws, etc...
But I digress. So we have Christmas eve and Christmas day with friends we have known for over 45 years and since our parents were best friends, it is kind of the same as family. So our meal for Christmas day will be:
Grill roasted beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, a very rich mashed potato casserole (named Party Potatoes Beverly after the originator of the recipe), corn pudding and spinach gratin (courtesy of Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa recipes), bacon wrapped green beans, sauteed broccoli rabe and a large simple salad of mixed greens, herbs, radishes and thinly sliced fennel. I am always amazed at what all people put in salads, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, etc.. What people don't remember is that salad at the end of a heavy meal should be simple and refresh your palate. So the dressing is usually just extra virgin olive oil and either lemon juice of red wine vinegar with perhaps just a drop of balsamic as a condiment. Of course I am providing the potatoes, broccoli rabe, corn pudding, salad and the spinach gratin as well as the bread - just some plain baguettes from the local French bakery. AFter all, if someone does something better than I do like make fantastic bread, why shouldn't I take advantage?? I also found beautiful beets in both orange and traditional red - not sure what I will do with them yet but couldn't pass them up.
While I am not the host, I don't mind bringing most of the sides. This time of year, I find working in the kitchen comforting and reminiscent of the years where we would be madly preparing for the 25 people who would descend on us Christmas Day.
I do miss making strufoli, those fried Italian dough balls coated with honey, candied fruit and colored sprinkles but that is easily a two person job and a lot of work and this year, just not enough time. I also miss my mother's cherry cookies - sort of a linzer tart looking cookie filled with ground dried tart cherries that have been soaked in amaretto. Kind of like adult Fig Newtons. Maybe next year...
But I digress. So we have Christmas eve and Christmas day with friends we have known for over 45 years and since our parents were best friends, it is kind of the same as family. So our meal for Christmas day will be:
Grill roasted beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, a very rich mashed potato casserole (named Party Potatoes Beverly after the originator of the recipe), corn pudding and spinach gratin (courtesy of Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa recipes), bacon wrapped green beans, sauteed broccoli rabe and a large simple salad of mixed greens, herbs, radishes and thinly sliced fennel. I am always amazed at what all people put in salads, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, etc.. What people don't remember is that salad at the end of a heavy meal should be simple and refresh your palate. So the dressing is usually just extra virgin olive oil and either lemon juice of red wine vinegar with perhaps just a drop of balsamic as a condiment. Of course I am providing the potatoes, broccoli rabe, corn pudding, salad and the spinach gratin as well as the bread - just some plain baguettes from the local French bakery. AFter all, if someone does something better than I do like make fantastic bread, why shouldn't I take advantage?? I also found beautiful beets in both orange and traditional red - not sure what I will do with them yet but couldn't pass them up.
While I am not the host, I don't mind bringing most of the sides. This time of year, I find working in the kitchen comforting and reminiscent of the years where we would be madly preparing for the 25 people who would descend on us Christmas Day.
I do miss making strufoli, those fried Italian dough balls coated with honey, candied fruit and colored sprinkles but that is easily a two person job and a lot of work and this year, just not enough time. I also miss my mother's cherry cookies - sort of a linzer tart looking cookie filled with ground dried tart cherries that have been soaked in amaretto. Kind of like adult Fig Newtons. Maybe next year...
I've been asked to make Loaded Mashed Potatoes . . .
. . . for Christmas Dinner at Cathy's cousin's house, so here goes:
Cook 1 lb. of bacon to desired crispness and let cool. If you cook the bacon in the oven, you can proceed with other steps at the same time.
Scrub and quarter 5 pounds of unpeeled red potatoes, combine in pressure cooker pot with the peeled and halved cloves of 1 bulb of elephant garlic or 2 bulbs of regular garlic and 2 cups of water. Lock on the lid, bring to pressure, hold for 5 minutes, release the pressure immediately.*
Drain and return to pot. Add 1 pint of sour cream (though I'll be substituting a pint of nonfat Greek yogurt [equally decadent but less likely to trigger lactose intolerance symptoms]), a pound of shredded cheddar (sharp preferred), 1 bunch of sliced green onions (green stems and white bulbs), the crumbled bacon from above, 2 teaspoons salt or seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper.
Mash or whip to desired consistency. Shovel into a pre-heated slow cooker with a keep-warm setting for transport to the party.
"What, no butter?" Nah. The sour cream (or its substitute) and cheddar are enough dairy.
*Traditional method: cover diced spuds and halved garlic cloves with cold water in stock pot or Dutch oven, put on lid, bring to boil, reduce to simmer, fork-test after 20 minutes, drain and proceed.
. . . for Christmas Dinner at Cathy's cousin's house, so here goes:
Cook 1 lb. of bacon to desired crispness and let cool. If you cook the bacon in the oven, you can proceed with other steps at the same time.
Scrub and quarter 5 pounds of unpeeled red potatoes, combine in pressure cooker pot with the peeled and halved cloves of 1 bulb of elephant garlic or 2 bulbs of regular garlic and 2 cups of water. Lock on the lid, bring to pressure, hold for 5 minutes, release the pressure immediately.*
Drain and return to pot. Add 1 pint of sour cream (though I'll be substituting a pint of nonfat Greek yogurt [equally decadent but less likely to trigger lactose intolerance symptoms]), a pound of shredded cheddar (sharp preferred), 1 bunch of sliced green onions (green stems and white bulbs), the crumbled bacon from above, 2 teaspoons salt or seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper.
Mash or whip to desired consistency. Shovel into a pre-heated slow cooker with a keep-warm setting for transport to the party.
"What, no butter?" Nah. The sour cream (or its substitute) and cheddar are enough dairy.
*Traditional method: cover diced spuds and halved garlic cloves with cold water in stock pot or Dutch oven, put on lid, bring to boil, reduce to simmer, fork-test after 20 minutes, drain and proceed.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
Turkey's been in the oven for a bit, bread and French stuffing are in, Rich is making the sweet potatoes and Andy will be doing the pearl onions and green beans when he gets home. Sauce for tomorrow is on the stove. Fires are ready to go with the strike of a match. Wine and cranberry are chilling, and so am I!
Happy Christmas Eve to all!
Chuck
Happy Christmas Eve to all!
Chuck
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Christmas Eve at our house
I make/made a big pot of Chicken and homemade noodles. 18 qts, then family dropps by as they want and the pot is kept warm on the stove all evening. Fresh rolls, green beans, mashed potatoes and carrot cake.
This works well for those that won't come if that one is going to be there, and I won't come if so and so are there. So they can drive by if the car is there drive on and come later.
This way Mom sees all the kids, and no nuclear war erupts. Ok we go to Defcon 5, but no launch codes are issued.
Christmas Day. Just a small meal with us, if others drop by they can do so.
I make/made a big pot of Chicken and homemade noodles. 18 qts, then family dropps by as they want and the pot is kept warm on the stove all evening. Fresh rolls, green beans, mashed potatoes and carrot cake.
This works well for those that won't come if that one is going to be there, and I won't come if so and so are there. So they can drive by if the car is there drive on and come later.
This way Mom sees all the kids, and no nuclear war erupts. Ok we go to Defcon 5, but no launch codes are issued.
Christmas Day. Just a small meal with us, if others drop by they can do so.
We've got an entirely different way of celebrating than I grew up with. Growing up, we'd usually just have a normal dinner, then go out to look at lights. Christmas morning was opening the presents, then prime rib for dinner. Brian's family turns that on it's head; with the big event on Christmas eve (together with a gift exchange, potluck, etc) then essentially nothing on Christmas day. So I've been making roasted vegetables all afternoon (varies depending on what's in the store...this time it was heavy on carrots and sweet potatoes and leeks, with purple potatoes, white potatoes, sweet onions, cauliflower and peeled garlic). 3 big traysful in the Thermador convection. It is allowed that I bring this (lol).
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
First Christmas in my new place....
I've only been here for a week and have spent most of that working. I'm surrounded by boxes and likely will be for the next several weeks. No Christmas here, not even a pretence, lol. But there is a feeling of peace I haven't had in YEARS!! It's almost zen-like...
This evening I'm continuing to unpack and will shortly hook up my new printer and use it to print out gift certificates to the nieces and nephews.
Tomorrow Eric and I'll visit his mom briefly and have dinner at his brother's house. The 26th we'll pick up my daughter and head up to my parents in cranberry country, Mass. to spend a few days. Then I'll be back here and will work my ass off to finish the unpacking because once schools resume on January 5th I doubt I'll have more than an hour a day to devote to that, lol.
Maybe next year I'll be able to do something. I'd love to try out some of the Polish and Italian recipes I have in my head.... collected from various elderly ladies over the years;-)
Jim
I've only been here for a week and have spent most of that working. I'm surrounded by boxes and likely will be for the next several weeks. No Christmas here, not even a pretence, lol. But there is a feeling of peace I haven't had in YEARS!! It's almost zen-like...
This evening I'm continuing to unpack and will shortly hook up my new printer and use it to print out gift certificates to the nieces and nephews.
Tomorrow Eric and I'll visit his mom briefly and have dinner at his brother's house. The 26th we'll pick up my daughter and head up to my parents in cranberry country, Mass. to spend a few days. Then I'll be back here and will work my ass off to finish the unpacking because once schools resume on January 5th I doubt I'll have more than an hour a day to devote to that, lol.
Maybe next year I'll be able to do something. I'd love to try out some of the Polish and Italian recipes I have in my head.... collected from various elderly ladies over the years;-)
Jim
