Does anyone have a better idea for Christmas Eve dinner?

For the past few years I have made a stuffed Crown Pork Roast for Christmas Eve dinner. Before that I have made Prime Rib, Turkey, Ham, or a combination thereof. My side dishes have varied from year to year, and have included creamed corn, Parmesan mashed potatoes, roasted rosemary potatoes, green salad, carrots, and asparagus.



This year I want to come up with something new. My husband likes to serve something a little more elegant at Christmas Eve while we have the family sitting together. There are usually about a dozen of us all together. Any suggestions (and recipes!) would be greatly appreciated.



I know it may seem early to be making this decision, but I like to get my plan together early.



Thanks!
Does anyone have a better idea for Christmas Eve dinner?
Just a few ideas..



Appys and/or starters:



(Shrimp) ceviche, served in martini glasses

Crab stuffed mushrooms

http://www.burhops.com/desktopmodules/ne...

Roasted Butternut squash soup

Salad (Here's one from Lawry's, along w their creamed spinach, creamed corn, trifle etc)

http://www.lawrysonline.com/theprimerib_...



Beef Wellington

http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recip...



Salmon Wellington - Emeril(?) made a fancy dish with the puffed pastry shaped like fish scales. Serve with a dill sauce %26amp; haricot verts. OR any salmon dish of choice - there are so many ways to prepare it. Serve with rice pilaf and green beans.



Scallops w Balsamic Syrup

http://www.recipezaar.com/65023



More scallops:

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?stor...



Stuffed Cornish Games Hens:(I have a recipe for Amaretti stuffed hens)



Duck a l'orange, w mandarin oranges, rice pilaf, green beans



Rack of Lamb



Greek Christmas menu

http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekchris...



Beef Braciole with noodles

(There's a good recipe from cooking Light on their site)



Edited to add:

Paella

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/reci...



Here are some herb-roasted potatoes that make a nice presentation:

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site...



Happy Holidays in advance.













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Reply:i know you said you like elegant but a tradition in my family is quite different. we like to have the kids or the youngest members of the family prepare the meal since parents and grandparents are usually quite stressed out from last minute shopping, gift wrapping and holiday baking. though the meal tends to be quite simple (expect pizza, tacos or nachos, or the standby breakfast for dinner) but i know its a welcome relief to my parents to have some of the stress taken off of the adults even if it is one minor thing. and the younger ones are usually quite proud of what they come up with and are quite happy to be part of a tradition. sometimes instead weve also had fondue which is fun for the family. we had this standing rule that is your food falls off your spear while in the fondue, you had to kiss the cheek or the person on your right.
Reply:Beef Wellington. O'Brian potatoes w/ browned flour gravy. Kale or collards cooked w/ turnip root slices, a splash of vinegar, a generous sprinkle of cracked black pepper and baked ham leftovers. Succotash. Hot, sweet pickled beets. Homemade yeast rolls. Fresh lemonade and iced tea. And for dessert %26gt; Blueberry pie w/ real Devonshire cream and hot coffee or hot English blend tea.



We served this combo in 1982 while visiting the folks, true southerners, for Christmas. There were about 30 folks including the youngsters. There was some leftover kraut that had been cooked with sage sausage that went on the table also as I recall.
Reply:Christmas Eve dinner is my favorite meal of the year (at my house anyway).



Here's what we have:

Cocktail shrimp to start

Linguine with red clam or red tuna sauce (if any of this sounds good to you and you want recipes, email me!)

Baked stuffed shrimp

Grilled swordfish and steaks

Baked potatoes

Broccoli

Rolls



The sides are very boring. I usually just eat the good stuff. The stuffed shrimp are killer!



I am a fan of roasted asparagus, potatoes assunta, peas and pancetta, and roasted potatoes for sides.

Good luck!
Reply:I would suggest trying a buffet style dinner. This would give you the chance to show case some pretty interesting dishes and if entertaining a large group of people it is a great way to move around and socialize. The other advantage is you could prepare most dishes earlier in the day giving you a chance to relax and take part in the evening rather then worry about the timing of the courses.
Reply:Have you thought of a turdukin
Reply:maybe you should try broccoli, and cheese rice, some stuffed squash, and maybe some chicken.
Reply:This sounds silly, but it is true. There is something called a "Turducken". It is a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken. It is so succulent! It's awesome! I live in Iowa and I think there is only one place here where you can buy them, but maybe if you Google it you can locate it elsewhere. I know it sounds like a joke, but believe me it is delicious!
Reply:I like the idea someone mentioned about choosing a particular ethnicity and doing Christmas eve their way.



In my family we always have a meatless Christmas Eve, but that doesn't mean we don't eat! We have all kinds of fish...herring with tomato and onion sauce, shrimp with cocktail sauce, several different hot fish dishes ... varies year to year, and the side dishes are pretty ethnic also...forest mushroom pierogies, tri-bean beet salad, potato kugel with sour cream and/or mushroom gravy, and various desserts including an apricot butter cream napoleon (my favorite). There's more but I just can't think of it now. But I would be willing to try other nationalities if I could read their menus first. To get my taste buds ready.



If you were interested, I would email you all the different recipes for each dish. Plus any other info necessary to describe the customs, etc.



Of course, Christmas DAY we have a whole different meal....and it ain't leftovers!!!
Reply:Duck is a good idea-also a whole large fish,salmon or bass. Another idea is Cornish game hens. Crown roast of lamb is elegant if you like lamb.
Reply:We usually do clam chowder and french bread w/ assorted appetizers. This can be as formal or as casual as you make it. The kids like to have pot stickers and assorted dim sum for appetizers or sushi. The adults like hummus and veggies and bruschetta.
Reply:Our family has a tradition of a full on breakfast for Christmas Eve. It started because everyone loved breakfast but no one wanted to mess with it Christmas morning so we decided to have it the night before. However, since you want elegant I'm sure that won't work for you.



I think I have a couple of side dish options that you might like.



Corn Souffle



1 can corn

4 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp sugar

3 eggs

? cp milk



Stir the corn, flour and sugar together. Beat the eggs with a mixer on high speed for 3 minutes. Add the milk and the corn mixture. Stir just until blended. Spray a small oven proof dish with cooking spray. Pour in the egg/corn mixture. Bake in a 325* oven for 45 minutes. When you take it from the oven it may be a bit jiggly in the middle but it will set up as it cools a bit.



If you double the recipe use a shallow baking dish rather than a bowl. If it’s to thick it won’t cook in the middle before it burns on the bottom.



The original recipe called for a lot of butter. I made it exactly by the recipe the first time and when it was done there was this layer of butter floating on top. Yuk! So I cut the butter by half the next time, it still separated right to the top. The layer of butter was thinner but still gross. Next time I didn’t put any butter in it at all and it was great!



Mushroom Rice



1 cp Minute Brown Rice

1 cp chicken broth

1 ? cps mushrooms, sliced

? cp onion, diced

1 tsp basil

? tsp oregano

1/8 tsp pepper



Spray med frying pan w/cooking spray. Stir fry mushrooms over med heat. A little liquid will cook out of the mushrooms, when it is absorbed back into them, they are done.



Add the broth, rice and herbs to the pan and bring to a boil. Simmer until the rice is done. Stir lightly and serve.



Using the brown Minute Rice really compliments the mushrooms.
Reply:ever tried duck? its really good! maybe try a duck recipe.
Reply:challenge yourself - do the 7 fishes like my family does... :) it's an italian tradition...but it tastes great!~ and it's super healthy (as long as you're not frying anything or soaking it in butter)



everyone will feel great when they're done eating too...not guilty or as if they need to start running on a treadmill for days...
Reply:maybe do up a whole salmon.

lil dill, lemon and pepper... bake that up.

can be served with tons of sides....



or duck or goose.



garlic mashed taters

or a rice or cous cous

scallops wrapped in bacon



FETTUCCINE WITH SHELLFISH, TOMATOES, OLIVES



6 tbsp. olive oil

2 lbs. ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped

3 tbsp. drained capers

2 tbsp. chopped anchovies

1 tbsp. chopped garlic

3/4 lb. med. shrimp, peeled

1/2 lb. sea scallops, halved

2 tbsp. chopped, pitted Kalamato olives

1 lb. fettuccine

Light red wine like a bezujolias or Garbaresco



Heat 4 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add tomatoes, capers, anchovies and garlic and cook until tomatoes release their juices and mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Add shrimp and scallops and saute until cooked through about 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot, until al dente drain and transfer pasta to bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons oil. Add pasta to seafood mixture and toss to heat through. Serve.



SUNNY CAULIFLOWER BROCCOLI TOSS



--SALAD:--



2 c. cauliflower florets

2 c. cut up fresh broccoli

1/2 c. raisins

1/4 c. sliced green onions

1/4 c. shelled sunflower seeds or toasted salted pine nuts

3 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled



--DRESSING:--



1/2 c. mayonnaise or salad dressing

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. cider vinegar



In a small bowl using wire whisk, blend all dressing ingredients. In large bowl, combine all salad ingredients; toss lightly. Pour dressing over salad mixture; toss lightly to coat. Sprinkle with additional sunflower seeds, if desired. Makes 8 (1/2 cup) servings.
Reply:Wow, I want to come to your house on Christmas Eve!
Reply:i suggest you choose a country and stick with that theme for the whole course. you can so an asian country, or an 'english' christmas or one with an italian twist.

as for the elegance part, i believe that as long as the table is set nicely, and the dish is plated nicely, everything will be perfect!
Reply:One of my favorite christmas dinners was once when my mom made an OUTSTANDING lasagne, with mushrooms, pepperoni, italian sausage and meat sauce layered with I think five kinds of cheese. She went all out! IT was the best lasagne I have ever had. I would give you the recipe but she passed away a couple of years ago, plus I think she just winged it!! She served it with a tossed green salad, fried zucchini and garlic sourdough bread. That was some good eatin, I tell ya!
Reply:Hi Proud

First I'm not much of a cook so I don't quite know what to suggest. Personally even though I'm not a vegetarian I think that I would want to emphasize non meat dishes more.



One answerer who I guess is Jewish (like me) suggested some foods that are traditional for Chanukah (in a joking manner). It made me think why not try a dish or two that was extant during the times of Jesus. Why not try something with pomegranetes, figs,, grapes and perhaps lamb. Perhaps a modern Arabic or Israeli dish that incorporates foods that Jesus might have consumed during his life.



It might remind the guests of the meaning of Christmas as they enjoy their dinner.

Chow and good luck!!
Reply:scalloped potatoes,with broccoli,(recipe can be found on most websites eg.wikipedia)

accompanied with tangeletelle pasta (its to die for) in a white wine sauce and lots of chicken breast on top!!!

seriously its to die for
Reply:I don't know if this is elegant enough for you, but it went over big with my family...I made it up myself, and got RAVES.



Lasagna with lemon basil pesto, portobella mushrooms, spinach, garlicky parmesany white beschamel sauce and chicken breast:



Go to the farmer's market now if you don't grow lemon basil yourself, and buy a whole bunch, and make the pesto with it from any standard pesto recipe. It freezes well, BUT make sure there is NO AIR allowed to touch the pesto, or it will darken unappetizingly. A thin layer of olive oil on top before sealing the jar helps with this...leave an inch of space, and leave the top off until it is frozen so your jar doesn't burst when it expands.



Cook up a standard beschamel or white alfredo sauce, rich and garlicky with parmesan. Layer your cooked lasagna noodles with sauce, then sauteed mushrooms, then noodle-sauce-ricotta, then noodle-sauce-chopped thawed drained frozen spinach, then noodle-sauce-chopped sauteed chicken breast and lemon basil pesto combined, with a layer of mozzarella, topped by a final layer of noodles...you can do these in any order, but you get the idea. Cover with remaining sauce, and more mozzarella, and bake per usual lasagna method.



Serve with a good salad and bread and wine...delightful and filling and warming. Dessert is up to you!
Reply:pizza %26amp; beer is diffrent



%26amp; fast get it all delivered
Reply:How about Lamb and Latkes? Oh wait, sorry that's Chanukkah. Well, I guess they are still awesome if you're into Jewish cuisine.
Reply:Mmm.. what you explained in the first paragraph is what my mom used to make.. well before all that stuff got super expensive! Yup yup Duck is good! I had Duck la' Orange last Christmas, wow what a big hit! best thing is it makes you tired! so the kiddies get some sleep lol! As for sides, we had Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes (2) I love A.B. :) Creamed corn, Candied Sweet Potatoes, and Green Bean Casserole! mmmm now I'm hungry....



I hope you have a merry christmas!
Reply:Two main dish favorites of my family are:



Alaskan King Crab Legs or Cornish Hens w/raisin sauce!



Have you ever made corn pudding? That goes well with both. How about au gratin potatoes? Green bean casserole or sweet potato casserole? Another veggie dish my mom makes is broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus with cheese sauce %26amp; then she puts corn flakes on the top %26amp; bakes it in the oven. Seven layer salad is always a hit, and it's convenient because it's best if you make it the day before %26amp; let it sit overnight....one less thing to mess with while you're fixing dinner. Just pull it out of the fridge %26amp; serve!