Christmas Eve food traditions?

**SwirlyThing** · 12-15-2011, 08:54 AM

We do Christmas Eve dinner so that nobody has to cook on Christmas Day itself (leftovers). Typically I'll do a turkey dinner, similar to Thanksgiving but not as extravagant. Neither DD or I particularly love turkey, but DD would be very disappointed if she didn't have turkey noodle soup to eat all week long after Christmas.

DD and I have a tradition of making cut-out sugar cookies on Christmas Eve morning... to leave for Santa that night. She's 14 now, but is still excited about making the cookies.

**227melissa** · 12-15-2011, 09:00 AM

Pizza on Christmas eve, too busy to cook for that night already cooking for Christmas day.

**valerian** · 12-15-2011, 09:23 AM

Our Christmas Eve's have evolved into too much food so we've scaled back some. My parents cook a big dinner and then we usually have a little party with appetisers that night, but for the last few years, we've been going next door to our neighbor's house for an oyster roast and tons of food so we aren't doing the appetisers at my parents' house anymore. We still have dinner there though. My kids really like the oyster roast and it's just a few feet from our house...so we go! One year Santa Claus appeared out of nowhere and passed out candy canes. All of the adults got together out of earshot of the kids and none of us had set it up! Don't know where Santa came from, but it added a lot of excitement to the party.

**pat in east texas** · 12-16-2011, 10:25 AM

Tamales and fixin's on Christmas Eve. I do like to cook on Christmas day, so probably a roasted stuffed chicken and fixin's.

**AP102209** · 12-16-2011, 11:31 AM

Prime rib at my Grandmas house!

**frugalfranny** · 12-16-2011, 03:25 PM

Nothing special now but when I was at home every
Xmas eve was ALWAYS.......grilled cheese (toasted actually) sandwich, REAL homemade cocoa, and tomato soup.

It was easy for mom to do, pretty quick, and she would be
cooking the next day, so easier on her.

**Palooka** · 12-16-2011, 10:59 PM

We go to MIL house on Christmas Eve. Her tradition is lasagna, garlic bread, salad, and some type of vegetarian pasta for me.

Also spinach dip with a veggie tray and crackers, some type of potatoes and tons of desserts.

**forHISglory** · 12-17-2011, 12:34 AM

Lutefisk!!!!! That one word says it all!

**vm9799** · 12-19-2011, 04:45 PM

we host christmas eve every year with my mom & my sister and her family.

we do buffet style appetizers, cocktails & sweets. on this years menu we're having:

meatballs
warm crab dip served on rye & pumpernickel cocktail breads
cheese & cracker tray (w/a variety of both)
veggie tray
hawaiian bread w/spinach dip
bacon wrapped water chestnuts
cheeseball w/crackers
chex party mix

homemade peppermint bark
homemade dark chocolate truffles
homemade buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate)
homemade flourless double chocolate nut butter cookies
homemade decorated sugar cookies
homemade boot tracks chocolate cookies
homemade ginger cookies

i was recently diagnosed w/pre-diabetes, and am on a rather strict low carb diet (have lost 15lbs in less than 2 months), so most of this stuff i won't be eating.....all the bread stuff. however, i will have to indulge in a bit of the chex party mix. it's one of my favorites! i will also indulge in a few of the different cookies (all will be made w/whole wheat flour to help w/my insulin).

we'll continue w/some of this same menu for christmas day......we don't go anywhere and just stay in our pjs all day watching christmas movies in front of a roaring fire. this year, however, i think i may make a pot of chili and whip up a salad for something a tad more substantial to eat.

**gottadance** · 12-19-2011, 06:09 PM

This is SO interesting to see what everyone has for Xmas Eve! Isn't it amazing how many different traditions there are! That's why I love this country.

For the last 20 years, we've gone to my aunt and uncle's house and they've had ham and pineapple, cheesy potatoes, potato chips n dip, veggies, M&Ms, peanuts and then tons of desserts. I love ham n pineapple and cheesy potatoes - so good. I usually just bring some wine.

This year, I'm going to my bf's and they're having ham, potato salad, tamales and some other side dishes and I'm making pumpkin and apple pies. The idea of tamales on Xmas Eve is very foreign to me, but his family is Latino. I've only had tamales once, but I did love them. I also love ham and love his mom's potato salad, so that will be good. It's weird going to a bf's Xmas celebration for the first time where I'll be the newbie and I'm used to my family's traditions. But my aunt and uncle don't have their Xmas Eve party anymore anyway, so glad we have something to do with his fam.

**bookwormpeg** · 12-20-2011, 06:35 PM

I never had tamales until I moved to TX and the cleaning lady where I worked gave me some for Christmas. They are so good! Have 3 doz. coming for Christmas day when we have snacks all day and then homemade soup n sandwiches at 5 PM.
yum

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-20-2011, 10:35 PM

This is a fun thread.
We just have cold plate. Sliced cheeses and cold luchmeats,chip and dips,mixed nuts,coke, just us so whatever the 4 of us feel like.
We toast w/sparkling cider to the year. We do worst and best.
Sometimes we open 1 gift but occasionally we do them all and sleep in christmas. The kids are young adults.

**Booklover** · 12-20-2011, 10:38 PM

vm9799-your Christmas Eve sounds wonderful!

I have never heard of boot tracks chocolate cookies. Could I have the recipe, pretty please?

**vm9799** · 12-24-2011, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Booklover

vm9799-your Christmas Eve sounds wonderful!

I have never heard of boot tracks chocolate cookies. Could I have the recipe, pretty please?

thanks! it was wonderful.....this year we had to celebrate on christmas eve-eve (yesterday) so tonight we're just doing more of the same, but with just the 4 of us.

here's a link to that recipe. it is SO good!
Boot Tracks | Eating Well

**peanut** · 12-25-2011, 09:03 PM

When the kids were here we'd have tortiere, salad, and peas. And then rice pudding for dessert.

This year, with only 15 minutes between when DH got home from work and we had to pick someone up for church, we opted to skip dinner. I made some tabbouleh (quinoa salad) in the afternoon and we snacked on it and goodies during the afternoon and evening.

Going to church Christmas Eve really cramps our Christmas style. Given my druthers I'd rather open gifts Christmas Eve.