After a big Thanksgiving dinner at daughter's house, we pare back for Xmas. I roast a large chicken and we have sandwiches on sourdough bread. Son brings wine and creme brulee and we eat casually anywhere we want.

No idea....my cousin's son prepared a delish tgiving dinner and I jokingly said, he's just going to have to come to my house to cook for xmas. He said ok. I thought he was joking...he wasn't! So I need to talk to him and set the menu and get the ingredients etc. I figure I'll do the roast pork loin like usual, make dessert and turn the rest over to him. So excited!

Lucky you Annie!

Nothing. I'm working that day and only have the 22nd off before we have to drive to Texas to see my son graduate from basic training. I don't want to cook on the only day I have off before the trip. We're probably just going to a little cafe in the next town that we like on my day off. Lauren will have a normal Christmas dinner with her father and another with her boyfriend's family, so I don't feel too bad.

I didn't want Turkey or Ham this time, I wanted lasanga but it looks like the plan changed and its back to the normal. I just hate all this cooking for both holidays. I've cut back also, way too much food and waste. I even bought the frozen Edwards pie. The turtle pie is so good we had the pumpkin creme for Thanksgiving it was excellent. Going to make a banana pudding (scratch kind) my son loves it.

Here's my plan, which may or may not be accepted by the rest of the family: home-made pastry for breakfast here. Drive 2 hours to Dad's retirement community home. Chinese take-out and home-made cookies and pecan pie there. Drive home in evening, enjoy leftovers in frig for evening snack.

Can we live without cooking a traditional holiday dinner? we'll see....

My kids like a traditional meal: turkey in the oven (with a coat of bacon on it), ham with pineapple, mashed potatoes, carrots and stuffing.

We are going to go back to strict Ketogenics after Christmas, so this will be our last traditional meal. Well, I'll still cook it for the non-keto eaters, but will have keto sides for those of us who are keto eaters for our next Christmas.

Christmas day is also my husband's birthday. His favorite meal is spinach lasagna, so that is what we have. Except I make it on the 24th for him & Christmas day we eat with friends & she always fixes prime rib-yum!

Lucystart - would you please share your sweet potato casserole? It sounds yummy.

Since this is the year I have our Christmas on a "off day " , I am having one of my family's favorites...chicken and noodles and of course mashed potatoes.

I'm making hash brown casserole and some type of vegetable(haven't decided that yet. I always buy a Sadler smoked beef brisket at Sam's club. My sons really like it. The youngest asked if we could have a deep fried turkey so we are also having that. I bought a 10# turkey. We have all the equipment to make it and my sons will take care of frying it.

steak oscar and a special recipe for baked sweet potato

I've decided to make two versions of stuffed pasta....cannelloni with Italian sausage, spinach, and ricotta in a traditional tomato sauce and stuffed shells with shrimp, crab, and ricotta in a creamy white sauce. Someone is bringing a green salad and crunchy garlic bread.

I'm planning on having an assortment of cookies and other holiday goodies I've been baking, no reason to make anything else.

This gathering is on the 24th, with our neighbors and a couple of friends from S. Carolina who will be staying for a few days.

We're having the usual as our Thanksgiving is a little bit earlier than yours.

Turkey mashed potatoes, some type of sweet potato casserole that has nothing to do with marshmallows, a million gallons of Brussel sprouts and stuffing and gravy. We must have the gravy and the stuffing oh I guess and all of it actually. Sometimes we have leftovers.

With that we will have a large assortment of cheeses and crackers, oysters in a sauce and pickled red cabbage, and olives. Our dessert is a sugar free pie of some type usually pumpkin pecan or something like that. We use dates as our sweetener. Nobody Knows the difference and they all eat tons of it and want some for home so we make extra pie.

Fun2behere I find music that helps me to ignore traveling on the road and cooking when I don't want to. Are you able to stick some headphones on and listen to podcasts, music, talk to a friend, binge on a favorite movie series or something TV/netflix related. Something to make the time yours again. I'm sorry you don't have an enjoyable time doing it. I know somebody who hired a helper every year to help with everything. Made a huge difference to how they felt about everything. I would help you if I were there:-).

Can you tell I'm always trying to think of ways where everyone can be happy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it makes me crazy or look crazy :-)

Annie are you lending your cousin's son to fun 2 be here? That sounds wonderful you've hit the jackpot. And he's in the family!

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples

Recipe created by Ina Garten

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples

We are eating at my in-laws, and will be having the same thing for Christmas dinner that they served for Thanksgiving last month. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, over cooked canned green beans, stuffing, and Hawaiian rolls. MIL insists on making everything herself. I used to take a veggie or salad at the very least, because I like to cook and am quite good at it, but no one but my husband will eat what I make - unless it’s dessert - so after 13 years, I have quit taking items for dinner. I will take a dessert because i don’t care for the only two other desserts ever offered there, pumpkin pie and chocolate pie, and because I hate to go empty handed. Will probably take a platter of assorted Christmas cookies.

Our meal will be much like our Thanksgiving with little changes here and there. Turkey, ham, candied sweet potatoes, two or 3 vegetables. I will make Aunt Duddie's Big Poufy Buns, all kinds of desserts and that pretty much covers it. Desserts may include pumpkin, black raspberry, and some other pie and maybe a Hummingbird cake. I have to discuss the foods with the 3 daughters and see what they want to fix and help with.

Sue

A few years ago we had our first home cooked Prime Rib for
Christmas and all decided that is what we would have for Christmas Dinner for
years to come. The sides vary. This year, following is the current plan for
snacks and our main meal.

We normally don’t do breakfast on Christmas morning, but
this year, one of my granddaughters is planning to make a breakfast casserole.

We, also, normally do not prepare snacks, but it was a special request this year that we have snacks. I am honoring that request.

Black Olives

Green Olives
Sweet Gherkins
Grape Tomatoes
Baby Carrots
Deviled Eggs
Pickled Okra

Prime Rib

Mashed Potatoes
My Creamed Spinach
Creamed Onions in Wine

Yorkshire Salad
Homemade Hot Rolls
Chocolate Cream Pie
Chocolate Cheese Cake
Mincemeat Pie

Usually for Christmas Eve, we have some kind of Italian
food, this year it will be my meat spaghetti sauce, pasta, salad, and garlic
bread. Last year we had a wonderful lasagna.

Edited to add a statement.

I forgot to put the Yorkshire Salad on the list, so now it is there. I have not had Yorkshire Salad before so am looking forward to trying it.

Out for Chinese dinner. Celebrate Christmas on the 30th with family.

My DD has requested the full turkey dinner, which surprised me because I know she loves ham. "But I want your stuffing and gravy!". So turkey, mash, gravy, stuffing, mixed veggies for me. She also asked me to make rolls. I never thought she cared a whit about rolls or whether I made them or bought them, but there it is!

Dances.

Elmers brussel sprouts sound "really" good.

Walnutcreek is putting out a BIG spread!

I haven't purchased it yet....maybe prime rib. Pecan pie for sure. Pecans I purchased. ;0)

Mom doesn't feel well enough for dinner, and so we're unlikely to do anything. Further, while my turkey from thanksgiving was great, the sides didn't make me happy. Everyone else said it was good, but I hated it so much, I threw it away. I'll get a turkey this Friday and redo Thanksgiving, and have to be satisfied that there is no Christmas dinner. Truth be told, I'll be very glad it's done. I'm ready to settle down for a long winter's nap.

We have a huge breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, sweet bread, pop overs, homemade jam, and hash browns. Mimosas to drink. If anyone thinks they are hungry again later in the day, the makings of ham sandwiches, cookies and green tossed salad will be in the frig.

I'm working the day, as I do most years, so we will see what the potluck provides (and I have to think of something to take also). The hospital will provide a free meal, to employees and visitors alike I think, although the official employee "holiday" meal is offered on several days through the month -- it is always some kind of pasta.

My DD & I will get together next week to go see the lights at the conservatory and then have an appetizer dinner -- that's become our Christmas tradition.

Elmer, for Thanksgiving we roasted a variety of vegetables (including brussels) that had been tossed in balsamic vinegar and citrus/jalapeno olive oil. Really delicious! That flavored oil is really good -- doesn't add heat so much, just flavor, and the citrus note is really fresh tasting. I don't know where we got it, and once it is gone I'll be sad unless I find it again.

I know a number of folks that go with Chinese food on Christmas, as well as several comments here. Is there something significant/traditional about this that I am unaware of?

I love a good Chinese meal but with all the various ethnic restaurants available in my area, decent Chinese restaurants are sorely lacking. In fact ANY Chinese restaurants are sorely lacking!! If I want it, I have to make it myself :-)

Is there something significant/traditional about this that I am unaware of?

gardengal, are you not aware of Chinese Turkey?

Lol! You know, I've never seen that movie other than a few excerpts (like the tongue on the flagpole scene).........is that where all this started?

lol I have no real idea why anyone would go Chinese on Christmas, but, you must see the movie! ;)

Gardengal: I have Jewish friends whose Christmas Day tradition is to see a new release movie & then go for Chinese food. Sounds like fun.

We host a family brunch on Christmas, so dinner is just my husband & I. We like to treat ourselves to filet mignon steaks, twice baked potatoes, fresh broccoli, a special bottle of wine & a dessert from the bakery.

"I have no real idea why anyone would go Chinese on Christmas"

Really? You should know more about your fellow citizens.

Bothell mentions two good reasons. Another reason is that many people don't observe religious holidays of any kind.

Our family members are some distance away and none will be in the area this year and it'll be just the two of us too. We're done and have moved on without nostalgia for what we each grew up with as kids (which was mostly secular and not religious anyway). We don't practice any religion now so it's just another day for us. We have our own secular family traditions during the season but any day plus or minus a month or two works for us, depending on schedules. We've done some travelling and will do more to see some of them before year end.

Chinese food for Christmas is popular with many. Why? They're open. Few Chinese are practicing Christians (though many Koreans are) and for them, it's just another day too. Also, historically many Chinese restaurants were owned and run by immigrants, working hard and taking few days off. Some are open 7 days a week.

Elmer, thanks for the lesson.

It was you, not me, who said you had "no real idea why anyone would go Chinese on Christmas". I found that bordering on shocking, to be honest, but I don't know you or your views and so I was happy to share some thoughts without saying what my reaction was. If you overstated the case, then I did as a result too.

I am thinking also about going for Chinese food on Christmas, especially if the weather is good.

I've gone out several times to a delicious Chinese food Christmas dinner at an upscale, fine dining Chinese restaurant. Our good friend's mother in Seattle used to treat a large group of us and it was wonderful. For the holiday (not their usual style service) they had a buffet, with a lovely variety of their most popular dishes and also included a roasted turkey (but I don't think the traditional sides). It's been many years ago now, but I think dessert was served at the table, if I remember correctly.

It was a really fun way to enjoy Christmas dinner. Too far for me to travel now, and I'm not sure the restaurant still exists, but I'd do it again if the opportunity arose.

Honey/soy salmon, sauteed string beans with garlic, grilled fingerling potatoes, honey crisp apple pie.

It was you, not me, who said you had "no real idea why anyone would go Chinese on Christmas". I found that bordering on shocking, to be honest, but I don't know you or your views and so I was happy to share some thoughts without saying what my reaction was. If you overstated the case, then I did as a result too.

Yes, I responded to someone else, who asked me a question. I simply responded with a candid response. Maybe because I really don't care for Chinese and projected that onto the population at large. Maybe because I can't read minds. I don't know. But I can't believe that statement shocked you. Really? As you're the one who said, "Really? You should know more about your fellow citizens." So you should know there are people like me (gasp) at large in the world. ;)

p.s. Thanks for spoiling a perfectly fun post.

One year, I had to eat beef four times for the Christmas holiday. We left home on Christmas Eve day to visit our families which was a 4 - 5 hour drive. One the way we stopped for breakfast and steak and eggs was the special that morning. I'm not a big fan of eggs, but I like that combination so I ordered it.

When we arrived at MIL's for Christmas Eve, she announced that instead of her usual lasagna, she'd decided to serve rib steaks. That was fine, she was a good cook and the steaks were delicious.

Christmas Day we headed over to FIL's for what was usually a Christmas dinner of turkey and all the trimmings served at around 1:00. We get there and find out that he's decided to take the entire family out to a local restaurant for prime rib. By now, starting to get a little tired of beef.

Still stuffed from the prime rib, we got in the car and drove over to my parent's house for our second Christmas dinner of the day. Knowing that we always spent the early part of the day with my FIL, my mother planned the dinner we shared with them for around 7:00.

Also knowing that FIL always served turkey, my mom always made ham along with scalloped potatoes. Not this time. This time, she tells me that she's tired of making ham and has decided to bbq NY strips!

Hubby took me aside and says that he cannot possibly eat any more beef to which I reply that he has to - she's been planning this, bought expensive steaks and thought we'd appreciate something different.

Let me tell you, after that it was a very, very long time before either one of us could eat beef of any kind!

We usually go to my stepdad's. I think he's making prime rib and salmon. I have no idea what I'll be able to eat on my keto diet, so I better figure out something to bring. I'm planning out 3 cheat meals each year and Christmas isn't one of them.

Dances, how old is your daughter now? I keep picturing her as the cute 5 year old, which is about how old I think she was last time I saw pictures!

Lots of delicious meals! My MIL makes prime rib, with baked potatoes. Someone brings rolls, another brings green bean casserole; I make scalloped potatoes (for the child who likes that dish)...sometimes there are candied carrots and salad. Chocolate cake, probably pecan pie, and a cookie tray (5-8 kinds). Debating cheesecake ( plain polka dotted with chocolate). Xmas eve we do at least seven fishes.

"But I can't believe that statement shocked you. Really? "

Yes. And no mind reading is required to have some insight into knowing that which was apparently news to you.

Christmas eve, I'm going to my parents house. I am going to make a simple roast beef,roast chicken, mashed potatoes, some kind of veggie,and rolls. Ill go with them to Mass and then with my sister and her family to look at Christmas lights.

Christmas day,my sister wants me to come to her house to cook Christmas lunch. She is a good cook,but with 6 kids, that day is rather hectic. I don't know what she wants me to make. She knows most of my recipes and I usually just show up and make what's on the list she gives me. To be honest,I really just want to hole up at home with SO and the dogs. But I'll make an appearance at my sister's to cook and take a plate home. SO will probably stop at his mother's and just bring himself a plate home as well and we can enjoy the evening together. This year is the first in many that I have actually been off Christmas day.

My mom's official Christmas party will be on the 30th. My dad will smoke a ham,my brother will deep dry a turkey,and right now she asked me to make:

Family chip dip

spinach artichoke dip

Fresh salsa

Devilled eggs

Roasted shrimp

Broccolli casserole

cauliflower casserole

Potato salad

Mac and cheese

Homemade cranberry sauce

Rolls

My mom is not a great cook and doesn't enjoy it at all,even though she loves and is good at baking. I certainty don't mind helping her. But im just not on the spirit this year,with the other stuff I have going on with my furbaby, I'm just ready to get this stupid year over with. At least I know I will eat well.

You would have no doubt about where the Chinese restaurant tradition began if you lived in an area where there was a substantial population of Jews. The two cultures were thrown together in the early days of immigration, two non-Christian cultures.

I lived in what was called 'the Borscht Belt' for a couple of years and was able to experience a Jewish Christmas first hand. But the tradition has become mainstreamed since those early days and it's one that is great fun for everybody, no matter who you are or what you believe.

If you do have a good Chinese buffet in your area, you might be very surprised to see how busy it is on Christmas. They will typically go all out for the event, with a larger choice of special food. We will be visiting a Chinese buffet if I have anything to do about it!

HERE'S an interesting article about the tradition.

Rhizo, thanks for that link and explanation! Guess I have not been as exposed to as much cultural diversity as I thought :-) All of my Jewish friends appeared to be as 'westernized' as I was and seemed to celebrate the holidays in much a similar manner but maybe I just wasn't as aware of the differences as I should have been. We did have close family friends that were Russian and they celebrated differently -Eastern Orthodox religion follows a different calender and so we could always expect a 'second' Christmas, several weeks later. And with some really good food!

We have now welcomed a Greek contingent to the extended family and they too bring another set of cultural holiday practices to the mix. And boy, are they ever a lively bunch!! Opa!!

Maybe one Christmas soon I will enjoy a Chinese dinner........if we ever get a decent Chinese restaurant in my area. I wouldn't like to have to drive into the city on Christmas day to seek one out...........

"All of my Jewish friends appeared to be as 'westernized' as I was.. "

Haha. I think I know what you were thinking, gardengal, but keep in mind that (I believe) a very high percentage of Jews have European ancestry and backgrounds and if you do too, that would be a similarity. I suspect you may have meant to say "as assimilated to American culture". Which would make sense, since the biggest wave of Jewish immigration to the US ended long ago, having taken place in the 19th century and first few decades of the 20th century.

Jews were in the colonies as early as the 1600s and the arrival of the early and later-on ones predate the arrival in the US of the ancestors of most present day Americans. (Yeah, I'm a history buff, among other things).

Elmer, that's exactly what I meant.........just didn't explain myself well :-)

I bought a small prime rib for the 2 of us. I've never cooked one, so I found a couple of recipes that sound promising.

I'm also making Tourtierre for us for Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, I prepare and serve a marathon of seafood dishes and spaghetti. It is an event that begins in the early afternoon and concludes with the kids opening several presents and then home to bed by about 9. My kids, grandkids, and husband look forward to it. Everyone helps with the clean up.

This year i expect Christmas Day to be along these lines- DH and I will have dinner with MIL at her assisted living residence at noon. She is 101 years old and has recently moved from out of state to be near us. The daughters and their family will visit her if the timing is right. Then we will all head over to eldest daughter's home. She wants to serve prime rib; she will have to figure out how to swing that if she is visiting with MIL. As long as I am not responsible for food on Christmas Day, I am happy. I can support her in any way.

I love all your menus.

happy2b, bless you two for having dinner with mom. 101, wow!

I am tired of making a big meal for Christmas, so I've decided not to. I pre-ordered ready-to-bake yeast rolls made by the local senior center (they are really, really good!) and planned around them: Lasagna! Because I like it and I want it. Salad, maybe deviled eggs, pickled beets or okra, stuffed olives, etc. Not sure what kind of dessert yet.

I haven't told my (grown) kids yet. They'll be surprised. Oh well. I'm cooking for ME. If they don't like it, next year THEY can cook.

I love your attitude, littlebug!