Ok now part 2 of the holiday ?...What do you have for Christmas dinner?

[sueshe]

We used to do the turkey or the pig, but now, and for the past few years have had beef tenderlion. I buy a rather large one, and it cooks up just beautiful and so tasty. I love to make loaded mashed potatoes, and my kids may cheesecakes. A meal everyone enjoys.

[Cat-Lady]

Ham is traditional for me for Christmas, and Pork for New Years. That's what my mother always served, and I follow that.

[beekeeper]

We have Turkey and Ham. My family always did Turkey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the hubs family did Ham for Christmas ... so now we do both to appease everyone. LOTS of left overs!

[sam king cat]

We have the big Italian XMAS feast celebrated on Dec. 24th (Eve) No meat allowed. All fish. Pasta with squid, baked cod, shrimps & scampi, crab cakes. The next day could be Lasagne or a Turkey ( I usually make a "white" lasagne which is made with Turkey) MIL says I cheat because I should be using a "Hen" .....

[Linda Lou]

Roast beef, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, rolls, and probably apple and pumpkin pie.

[beekeeper]

Both of our families rarely stray from the regulars (mashed potatoes, yams, corn, rolls, olives, etc). I always try to stir things up with a new side dish (stuffed mushrooms, brussel sprouts with bacon, etc) ... but it never goes over very well. You'd think I'd learn, but I watch all the cooking shows and everything looks so good ... I gotta try something different!

[amber]

well typically my family doesnt have one together, but when we did it's typically, ham, mashed potatoes, ams, corn, rolls, etc

the usual

[Hershey]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
beekeeper:
Both of our families rarely stray from the regulars (mashed potatoes, yams, corn, rolls, olives, etc). I always try to stir things up with a new side dish (stuffed mushrooms, brussel sprouts with bacon, etc) ... but it never goes over very well. You'd think I'd learn, but I watch all the cooking shows and everything looks so good ... I gotta try something different!
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1581507
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOL Bee. Are you all vegetarians? What is your main dish? LOL

[beekeeper]

Hershey, my first post said that we eat both Turkey and Ham.

[Hershey]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
beekeeper:
Hershey, my first post said that we eat both Turkey and Ham.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1581529
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry, Bee. Somehow I missed that post!

[pandagirl]

We go for the classics, too. Both turkey and ham and all the traditional fixings and side dishes.

As for me, I usually consume massive amounts of mashed potatoes. I LOVE mashed potates and just about the only time I get to eat them is on holidays.

[kitten4762]

Okay...now I'm freakin starved.

Menu's always the same for us every year.

Christmas Eve at my moms...Va baked ham, dressing, cranberries, potato salad, crab salad, green beans, bbq weenies, rolls

Christmas day at my house...turkey, dressing, VA baked ham, cranberries, mac and cheese, broccoli casserole, deviled eggs, green beans and potatoes, rolls, whatever desert someone brings.

Day after Christmas at my brother's...fried cajun turkey, cranberries, layered salad, squash casserole, hash brown casserole, rolls, birthday cake (for baby Jesus)

OMG I have to go eat something now.

[Garnet333]

Christmas Eve is the traditional Italian feast. We have baked eel, stuffed squid, spaghetti with anchovies, potato salad, lettuce salad. No meat.

Christmas Day -Beef tenderloin, salad, rolls, homemade ravioli (made by hand by my mother), green bean casserole, candied yams. Oh and the desserts, cant forget that. Cheesecake, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie.

Believe me, its 48 hours of an oink fest.

[Curvigirl]

Oink fest--I LOVE IT! That pretty much sums up our menu too! LOL

[Acura]

We have something different every year. We end up having a traditional dinner when we visit my parents for T'giving and by the time Christmas comes I want something different. I think we are having seafood this year.

[Vivvie]

Xmas Eve is always snacks and appetizers ... we open our gifts while pigging out!

Xmas Day is the traditional turkey w/all the other goodies ... just like Turkey Day.

[Rebel_Mom]

Traditionally a rib roast, but husband wants something called a country ham this year, so that will be different. I don't really do anything for Christmas Eve, but growing up in an Italian family, Christmas Eve was always the more elaborate meal. Now we just have an assortment of cocktail party type food and sort of graze all night.

[kitten4762]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebel_Mom:
Traditionally a rib roast, but husband wants something called a country ham this year, so that will be different. I don't really do anything for Christmas Eve, but growing up in an Italian family, Christmas Eve was always the more elaborate meal. Now we just have an assortment of cocktail party type food and sort of graze all night.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582132
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you eaten country ham before Rebel_Mom? We usually put it in a biscuit and eat it that way here...it's too salty on it's own.

[KaliChris]

We usually do the turkey dinner all over again because that's what my parents did when I was growing up.

But I also like a nice roast or prime rib with Yorkshire pudding for Christmas. I'm not sure which one I will do this year.

Christmas Eve we do snack foods, like Hickory Farms and stuff.

[KaliChris]

beekeeper:
Both of our families rarely stray from the regulars (mashed potatoes, yams, corn, rolls, olives, etc). I always try to stir things up with a new side dish (stuffed mushrooms, brussel sprouts with bacon, etc) ... but it never goes over very well. You'd think I'd learn, but I watch all the cooking shows and everything looks so good ... I gotta try something different!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same here. I serve all our traditional dishes but always try one new dish and it almost always flops. I've been wanting to try a cream of chestnut soup. We had that at a really nice restaurant where my family had Thanksgiving one year. Anybody ever make it? I keep saying I'm going to make it but haven't.

[sam king cat]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
KaliChris:
beekeeper:
Both of our families rarely stray from the regulars (mashed potatoes, yams, corn, rolls, olives, etc). I always try to stir things up with a new side dish (stuffed mushrooms, brussel sprouts with bacon, etc) ... but it never goes over very well. You'd think I'd learn, but I watch all the cooking shows and everything looks so good ... I gotta try something different!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same here. I serve all our traditional dishes but always try one new dish and it almost always flops. I've been wanting to try a cream of chestnut soup. We had that at a really nice restaurant where my family had Thanksgiving one year. Anybody ever make it? I keep saying I'm going to make it but haven't.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582416
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
We roast chestnuts but never actually make anything out of them.

[KaliChris]

Now see, I've never had roast chestnuts either. But that cream of chestnut soup was absolutely delicious.

[kitten4762]

Cream of chestnut soup...never heard of it..sounds interesting. I'm thinking of making some butternut squash soup. David Venable emailed me his recipe.

[sam king cat]

You've never done the chestnuts roasting on an open fire ?.....well we just put them in the oven.

[KaliChris]

Never, but I've always wanted to taste them. I see them in the store at Christmas time but haven't tried them.

Kitten, that butternut squash soup does sound good.

[kitten4762]

We just pick them up and eat them off the ground here...lol

[sam king cat]

They are hard suckers to open ...

[kitten4762]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
KaliChris:
Never, but I've always wanted to taste them. I see them in the store at Christmas time but haven't tried them.

Kitten, that butternut squash soup does sound good.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582431
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hate to eat squash but I love it made into soup...lol. If anybody's ever anywhere near Billings, MT...they need to eat at the Feedlot Steakhouse in Shepherd...best soup ever.

[sam king cat]

yummy, I love it as well. Thanks for the tip Kitten.

[KaliChris]

That's true about soups, Kitten. I once had a chilled peach mint soup at a really nice restaurant. Sounds just awful, I know, but it was fabulous!

I'll remember that place if I ever go to Billings. So far, I haven't even been to Montana.

[kitten4762]

Peach mint soup...sounds very Scarlett O'Hara.

[Rebel_Mom]

Thanks for the warning Kitten, I am not sure what he means by a country ham, but I will read the wrapping carefully to see if it needs to be soaked before cooking. I do love biscuits, so any excuse to make some works.

[Dollypop]

I'm Italian, so on Christmas Eve, we have the Feast of the 7 Fishes and I start soaking the baccala a week ahead of time.

It looks as though Christmas dinner will be at my home this year, and I'm planning to serve smoked pheasant as the main course. I served it last year when it was only me and a friend and it was excellent. With a whole crowd coming this year, I may also have a spiral ham on hand for the less adventurous.

[Novalee]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
sam king cat:
You've never done the chestnuts roasting on an open fire ?.....well we just put them in the oven.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582428
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sammy, us, too. My Dad loved those. He would cut little crosses into the top with a sharp knife before putting them on the roasting pan and into the oven. When they were ready, it was easy to peel them because the little cross would open up. What a nice memory, thanks. I think we'll have them this year.

[sam king cat]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novalee:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
sam king cat:
You've never done the chestnuts roasting on an open fire ?.....well we just put them in the oven.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582428
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sammy, us, too. My Dad loved those. He would cut little crosses into the top with a sharp knife before putting them on the roasting pan and into the oven. When they were ready, it was easy to peel them because the little cross would open up. What a nice memory, thanks. I think we'll have them this year.
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1582942
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think if they weren't "scored" ...they would prolly explode ....(don't like those nuts, btw ...then the whole family farts....after gorging on them)

[beekeeper]

I've never had a chestnut, one of those things my family never had the guts to try. I see martha do them every year ... I will have to try them this year.

Your soup sounds great KC ... let us know if you make it and how it turns out!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
KaliChris: I've been wanting to try a cream of chestnut soup. We had that at a really nice restaurant where my family had Thanksgiving one year. Anybody ever make it? I keep saying I'm going to make it but haven't.

[KaliChris]

I will. I see recipes for it on the web, but don't know which one to try. I should check Martha's site and see if she has a recipe for it.

[beekeeper]

Try foodnetwork.com too! They have gazillions of great recipes!

[sam king cat]

This recipe was given to me by a very good chef ( I have not tasted or tried it)

Chestnut Veloute Soup
(makes 10 very small servings, this chef serves the soup in small martini or wine glasses in his restaurant)

ingredients:
1 leek, trimmed and finely chopped
quarter cup of butter
6 oz whole chestnuts cooked & peeled (or use canned or vacuum packed)
2 & half cups chicken broth or bouillon
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
15 anise seeds
half cup of 35% milk fat cream
salt/pepper fresh ground & cayenne powder
-----------------------------------------------

In a saucepan, cook the leek in 1 tbsp. of butter on low heat for 5 min. Add chestnuts, chicken broth, thyme & anise.

Bring to a boil & cook on low heat for 15min. Remove from stove and let it stand for 15 min. Transfer to to blender & puree. Add half of the cream and the rest of butter.

Season with salt & pepper. Let cool. Divide among the small glasses. Whip the remaining cream and add a dollop to each serving. Sprinke lightly with cayenne pepper and serve.

(can be served cool or warm)

[kitten4762]

I bet that's good. The only nut soup I've ever heard of before this is peanut soup..it's a specialty in nicer restaurants here.
If anyone wants that recipe for squash soup from David Venable (actually Boob Bowersox's recipe), pm me.

[sam king cat]

Peanut soup ....sounds too nutty for me.

[Zippy]

Thanks Sam

I cant imagine soup from nuts

I dont even like runny peanut butter lol

Since I am here

I usually like to make Roast beef for Xmas dinner...but we will be having guests who WANT turkey. SO turkey it is...with all the trimmings. Just think Thanksgiving...Yawn Zzzzzzzzzz

[sam king cat]

...just stuff the bird with red meat.

[Linda Lou]

SKC, do you have a nifty recipe for stuffing??

One that doesn't involve peanuts, apples, or chestnuts, thank you very much. I usually have the kind made with pork sausage, but am looking for one a bit healthier.

[sam king cat]

You know how many variations exist ... ? ...bread & herb stuffing might be what you are interested in...not as tasty as the others....

[Linda Lou]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
sam king cat:
You know how many variations exist ... ? ...bread & herb stuffing might be what you are interested in...not as tasty as the others....
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1586192
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yep, you're right. What's the tastiest is usually the worst for you.

[kitten4762]

I always use Pepperidge Farm herbed bread stuffing that's been dampened with chicken broth and add a can of cream of celery soup along with a few dashes of poultry seasoning and then stuff in the turkey.
If I need to make some extra dressing but not actual stuff into the turkey, I prepare it the same way except instead of chicken broth, I use the drippings from the turkey to dampen the stuffing along with little pieces of turkey torn up...mix in a can of cream of celery soup and sprinkle with poultry seasoning then bake it in the oven. Really delicious stuffing.

[KaliChris]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
beekeeper:
Try foodnetwork.com too! They have gazillions of great recipes!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just discovered that site recently; I love it!

[KaliChris]

sam king cat:
This recipe was given to me by a very good chef ( I have not tasted or tried it)

Chestnut Veloute Soup
(makes 10 very small servings, this chef serves the soup in small martini or wine glasses in his restaurant)

ingredients:
1 leek, trimmed and finely chopped
quarter cup of butter
6 oz whole chestnuts cooked & peeled (or use canned or vacuum packed)
2 & half cups chicken broth or bouillon
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
15 anise seeds
half cup of 35% milk fat cream
salt/pepper fresh ground & cayenne powder
-----------------------------------------------

In a saucepan, cook the leek in 1 tbsp. of butter on low heat for 5 min. Add chestnuts, chicken broth, thyme & anise.

Bring to a boil & cook on low heat for 15min. Remove from stove and let it stand for 15 min. Transfer to to blender & puree. Add half of the cream and the rest of butter.

Season with salt & pepper. Let cool. Divide among the small glasses. Whip the remaining cream and add a dollop to each serving. Sprinke lightly with cayenne pepper and serve.

(can be served cool or warm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Sam. Sounds really good. Anise seeds though??

[KaliChris]

I've heard of people making chestnut stuffing too. I've always wanted to try that.

[Boy]

I have not thought much about xmas yet, still thinking about thanksgiving
(though both are about the same, lol)

trying some new things this year.

I have this yummy recipe for mashed tatoes with brie cheese and thyme fresh..

Try this pumpkin cake bar,.. so easy and good.

MIX
One can (15oz) pumpkin
one can evap milk
3 eggs
one cup sugar
some pumpkin pie spice

pour into a retangle pan

sprinkle on top ONE yellow cake mix (mix only)
Drizzle with 3/4 C butter
top with 1 cup chopped walnuts

bake at 350 for about an hour.

let cool for an hour and cut, serve with whipped cream or icecream

[kitten4762]

Mmmm...sounds yummy.............