Need ideas for Christmas dinner (appetizers, mushrooms, shrimp, Cheesecake)

[kelly237]

Every year we sorta repeat the Thanksgiving menu
for Christmas Eve dinner, then we cook a big
breakfast Christmas morning.

I am trying to come up with something I do every year
on Christmas Eve that is totally different and
a bit easier.

We are not worried about what is traditional.

Any ideas??

[antiquesmountainapache]

A lot of my friends are doing boiled or steamed shrimp and other hors d'oeuvres for Christmas Eve. I also know some who now do beef tenderloin. Let me know if you want some hors d'oeuvres recipes. I love sharing them and many can be prepared ahead of time or at least prepped ahead of time.

[dmwlakewylie]

I assume your Thanksgiving has been turkey only. If so, how about a ham for Christmas eve? I am going to try a bone-in rib roast this year. This will be served with crab legs, pierogis, veggies, devilled eggs, bread, jello salad and a dessert such as cheesecake. Other ideas would be to make lasagna ahead of time and then pop it into the oven, serve with a salad or 7 layer salad, bread and dessert. I have also done heavy appetizers and desserts on Christmas eve and that goes over very well since there can be a lot of people, present swapping, etc. Finally, you can do a meat tray (roast beef, turkey, ham, cheese, etc. , bread, pre-made or bought side dishes and if it is cold, a soup in the crockpot. Hope these help.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by antiquesmountainapache

A lot of my friends are doing boiled or steamed shrimp and other hors d'oeuvres for Christmas Eve. I also know some who now do beef tenderloin. Let me know if you want some hors d'oeuvres recipes. I love sharing them and many can be prepared ahead of time or at least prepped ahead of time.

That gave me an idea about a crab boil with lots of seafood,sausage,veggies.
My hubby can't do spice so that would not be fair to him...

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by dmwlakewylie

I assume your Thanksgiving has been turkey only. If so, how about a ham for Christmas eve? I am going to try a bone-in rib roast this year. This will be served with crab legs, pierogis, veggies, devilled eggs, bread, jello salad and a dessert such as cheesecake. Other ideas would be to make lasagna ahead of time and then pop it into the oven, serve with a salad or 7 layer salad, bread and dessert. I have also done heavy appetizers and desserts on Christmas eve and that goes over very well since there can be a lot of people, present swapping, etc. Finally, you can do a meat tray (roast beef, turkey, ham, cheese, etc. , bread, pre-made or bought side dishes and if it is cold, a soup in the crockpot. Hope these help.

We do a ham and a turkey at Thanksgiving.. This year I also tried my first duck!!

[PA2UK]

Maybe get some ideas from traditional Christmas dinner's in other countries: Christmas dinner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[LaceyEx]

Christmas dinner here has always been a crown roast of pork with apple/onion/sausage/celery stuffing. asparagus, glazed carrots and fingerling potatoes roasted in Dijon/mustard/garlic and olive oil. Cheesecake for dessert and Amaretti cookies with after dinner drinks.

Christmas Eve it will just be two of us and I am making mushrooms stuffed with crab, shrimp cocktail and seared jumbo scallops.

[Mooseketeer]

We usually have a Swiss Cheese Fondue. Really easy, delicious and fun and convivial. You can also have a meat fondue with different sauces ( using fillet steak) and chocolate fondue for dessert with fresh fruits to dip in.... Having a fondue means you can spend your time with guests rather than in the kitchen. Each person who drops a piece of bread in the cheese has to do a forfeit which is also quite fun...

[Beretta]

You might be able to get some ideas in this Christmas dinner thread: What's On Your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Menu?

[SXMGirl]

Last year was beef stroganoff. This year I'm thinking maybe filets with twice-baked and fresh asparagus.