What is your traditional Christmas Eve or Day Dinner?

[baxjul]

I'm looking for ideas for Christmas Day. Christmas Eve I make a polish dinner, with all the fixins!

[pqb57]

We have the kids and grandchildren most of the day so we have coldcuts and salads, so everyone can eat whatever they want whenever they want.

[Katybird]

We usually do the whole shebang...turkey, ham, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, hominy casserole, green bean casserole, cherry salad, relish tray, then lots of yummy pies and desserts. It will provide leftovers for the masses for days on end .

[suzysaver]

I have a christmas eve party every year and we have meat and cheese tray, veggie tray with ranch dressing, Shrimp and cocktail sauce, potato salad, deviled eggs, chips, pickles, nuts and anything else that shows up.

[monkeywrangler71]

We have quiche for brunch on Christmas, and turkey for supper with potatoes, stuffing, vegetables & parsnip fritters. The fritters are a family tradition that we're only "supposed" to have on Christmas, but I cheat and make them almost every time we have turkey (don't tell my parents )

I might make some fancy snacks on Christmas Eve, maybe a dip or something.

[northernmom2boys]

We have meatballs,meat pies,finger foods,spinach dip,lots of foods that go to your hips lol

[dmvezina]

We have Christmas Eve at my mom's house and then they come to my house for Christmas Day.

I usually will make a spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, corn, green beans, and I can't remember what else! LOL
I decide on the dessert about a week before, if my mom isn't bringing it, which she usually does.

[FrugalWitch]

Christmas Eve is a traditional ham dinner. Ham , green beans, sweet taters, coleslaw, big salad the usual.

Christmas day is quiche brunch (made with the leftover ham), and of course later in the day that fabuosity of the ham sammidge. I think Momma and DH would be willing to skip the big holiday dinners and get straight to the turkey and ham sammidges.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

For Christmas Eve we go out for dinner. Always have always will along with all the family members who can make it. Usually upwards of 20 to 25 people sit down to eat together. It was my grandparents who started this tradition back when my mother was a little girl and has grown and moved to Florida with them. For years when I was a child my grandfather paid for the dinner which was always in a nice resturant with reservation made monthes in advance. Then when we girls were older my father took over paying for the meal. Now my husband has taken over paying for the meal. Its a matter of pride among the men in our family. DS is already talking about the day he takes over the job. Then after the dinner we go to my parents home where gifts are opened. Here our family has many more strange traditions like the front door must be left open or at least adjar so that anyone passing by can come in. Neighbors have learned they are welcome and often do come over to share in the opening. Several large jars (the type from school) are always under the tree full of homemade cookies for those who stop by. As are a few bottles of wine. No one goes home emtpy handed. Presents are often simple things and needed items. One person is selected Santa and dons the elf hat. This person takes one gift out from under the tree and hands it out. All watch as the gift is opened ohs and ahs done and thanks given. Then the next person. It takes hours! Stops are made so drinks can be passed out, pictures taken and items modeled. The sign of a real trooper is the wearing of ones new undies on there head. (Gotta be there) Since my folks had 3 daughters boyfriends are put to the test this evening. Ones with comments like thats too long or thats stupid don't usually return. We've got 3 good ones now. The whole time the gifts are being handed out the lights are on, the christmas music is on and the love flows.
Christmas Morning is our Polish Breakfast Sunnyside up eggs, rye toast, cinnamon coffee cake, fried potaoes and onions in bacon grease and polish sauasge.
Then its off to church.When we come home the Men take over the kitchen and Pigs in the Blanket are made. This is a piece of good roast cut into thin strips, on this strip aslice of thick bacon is laid, then a quarter of onion, this is than rolled up and tied with butchers string. These then go into the pressure cooker and are cooked for about an hour. About 50 of these meat bundles are made. The older men do the cutting and the younger ones roll and tie. This is male bonding time. Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Sons-in-law and younger boys are all included. This meat is served with mashed potaotes and great gravy off the meat, green beans in cream sauce, and whats loving called "dirty knee salad." actually regualr salad with hot bacon dressing. Long story. Also served are carry in items like corn salad, deviled eggs, relishes and rolls. Again the family gathers along with any orphans or lone friends. My mom has an old pingpong table that is opened on the back porch and used as the dinner table. You'd be amazed how many folks you can get around a table that size. For table ware its my moms collection of Blue Willow ware. Over the past 50 years her collection has grown. Anyone family or not who comes across a piece at a yard sale or flea market brings it home. We had to move the collection out of the upper cabinets because the weight started to pull them off the wall. It works out great because if a piece gets broken its usaually replaced along the way. All sit grace is said and the feeding begins. Its been said that a meal at the Wilkowski house is an experince. Everyone talks at once and the forks fly. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Laurie in Bradenton (sorry this is so long)

[crdurham]

We go to my mom and dads for Christmas Eve...we always have a big meal with turkey and the fixings and we also have shrimp/ostyers... when I was growing up we were money poor but also had a big meal with seafood on the holidays after dad sold tobacco....now we all help pay for the meal and even though me, my sis, and brother all get together alot at mom and dads the holidays are always so special. It started with the 5 of us and now we all have a child a piece, its like the traditions are starting all over again...

After my parents, we come back to dh's moms house and have cold cuts. On Christmas we have dinner at dh's moms. We used to get together at my grannys but she has passed away so I don't guess we will be doing that this year....

[Neeley]

Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house. She, my mom, aunt and cousin do a salmon appetizer with a cream cheese dip and crackers, a big bread thing made with chicken and cream of chicken soup in the middle of it, cowboy caviar, chili, pork tenderloin, mayo-less coleslaw, spinach artichoke dip, fresh veggies to dip with, just a big spread of various items to snack on throughout the evening. Plus they all love a little drink with the food so mimosas are a plenty as is the wine. (DH and I do not drink AT ALL so we avoid this party of the gathering).
Christmas day all three families (my dad's side, my mom's side and the in-laws) do a whole turkey, ham, dressing etc... set up.

[dmvezina]

I thought I posted to this one.
Well, anyway, we have dinner at my mom and dad's for Christmas Eve. Every year it's something different. We never have the same food, or "routine" of how things will be done. LOL But that's my mom!

Christmas day is at my house., just my parents come.
I make a spiral cut ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, maybe a broccoli salad, dinner rolls, I decide on dessert about a week before unless mom is bringing it.

[kymom]

WOW!! I feel a road trip!! lol lol Christmas eve we are having cold cuts ,cheese and veggie trays with salad stuff . For Christmas I am making two turkeys, ham, mashed potatos, yeast rolls, gravy,green beans, corn on the cob,brussel sprouts,stuffing, macaroni and cheese and what ever else I throw in.lol Dessert is tons of cookies, candies,pumpkin pie, pecan pie, bananna pudding, chocolate cream pie, bananna bread and blackberry cake.

[jinx]

My family is italian, so we do the tradtional seafood dinner on xmas eve. The tradition actually is to serve 7 differnt fish cooked 7 different ways. We have done that in the past, but now the cost of seafood, makes it expensive and it takes too much time. We ususally have some shrimp cocktail,or scampi a scallop dish usually baked with crumbs, Cherrystones or oysters served on the halfshell, Last year dh did a wonderful grilled salmon, and cant forget bacala salad. A salad made with dried salt cod. We also try to have some sort of meat, if anyone doesnt feel like all that fish. I have a good size roast beef frozen I will make. Then there are the sides, not too many. Also, for dersert, Strufoli,(little balls of dough fried and drizzeled with honey.) cannoli, and pie.

Christmas day is a no cook day for me. We have brunch about 11:30 at my parents house, my father does the cooking, bacon, eggs, etc. Then off to the inlaws where there will be a ham or turkey with all the sides, and lasagns, meatballs, sausages, and always a big ricotta cheese pie.
I gain about 10 lbs those 2 days

[DorothyBeverly]

Christmas Eve, we usually go to DH's stepsisters house and they have a regular dinner (turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, ect)...Christmas day is spent at my Parents house....we have:

Turkey & Ham
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Deviled Eggs
Chicken n' Dumplings
Baked sweet potatoes
Dinner Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Corn Casserole

Cakes, pie, cookies