Preparing a Christmas Meal

[Julie-Ann]

Are you having guests over for a meal over Christmas? We are having a few relatives over. So I have to prepare a meal for them. Although DH has promised to cook the meal. Which really means we will cook it together - but that is better than having to do it all by myself.

What is your Christmas Menu? I would love to hear what you plan to have for the meal. I like to be prepared and start buying things as early as possible.

So far this is what I have decided on:
Nibbles - Macadamias, Need more for here.
Main Course: - Nut crusted turkey breast and roast potatoes. Maybe a mix of beans, peas and broccolini with almonds that Donna Hay had in the Sunday Times. I'm still open on this one but DH wants vegetables not salads.
Dessert - Christmas pudding and ice cream. I will buy a Christmas Pudding so if you have any that you prefer let me know.

Love to hear your suggestions

[Darkbyte]

That sounds like a lovely menu... what is your address :P

No idea which pudding brands taste good. Its sacraligous in my family to have anything other than home made (or to use butter instead of suet). To be honest brought is probably the cheaper way to go. Ive spent a smidge over $30 on ingredients for mine so far and that doesn't include the brandy. I did buy brandy last year, I hope there is enough left for the year!

My sister's hubby usually hosts christmas. He does a help yourself buffet of roast pork or chicken; potato gems; boiled frozen cauli/brocolli mix, peas and carrot; and, steamed pumpkin and red onion.

Desert is usually maggie beer icecream the burnt something or other flavour or vienetta if someone (ie me) has not been assigned the task of making the christmas pudding

[Julie-Ann]

Home made pudding is yummy. My brother is making one for our family meal. But I won't bother for DH's family. The only person who really wants to eat pudding is DH and he would have already had some. Mean aren't I???

I hope your pudding tastes great Darkbyte

[homesweethome]

Sounds like you both have yummy menus... maybe you should do a practice run first! I will volunteer my services to help you out!

We will have turkey (cooked in the oven), ham and also a roast pork done on the webber bbq. In addition to the normal roast veg we'll also have some steamed vegies with the traditional gravy, apple sauce and cranberry sauces on offer.

For nibbles and to have with coffee we have choc truffles, christmas kiss biscuits and chocolate almonds or peanuts. For desert we don't have or like christmas pud (unless we are having christmas with the olds lol) otherwise we usually have a golden syrup or sticky date pudding with cream or custard, a pav with fresh fruit and a good old choc ripple cake lol that way everyone is covered. An yes, we have food coming out of our ears for days and days and days!

[rosierose]

Sounds great J-A.....

We always do Christmas eve with Mr RR Sister, hubby and two kids...

This year I am doing an entree of baked ricotta and grapes and chorizo and scallops...

Main is going to be my famous pasta and meatballs ....and a garden salad...


Dessert is going to be a fresh mango sorbet made in my vitamix served with fresh berries...


This is a very easy stress free menu........

[clp]

ooh I was thinking of doing a baked ricotta for our christmas party as well - like the idea of the grapes with it.

[Julie-Ann]

You are all going to so much trouble, especially with the nibbles. I had better lift my game. I love baked ricotta but I know the others don't like soft cheese.
Any suggestions for nibbles before lunch? There are only 5 of us so I don't want too much.

[rosierose]

When you say nibbles do you mean entree or hor dourves or do you mean chips and dip ..
Chips and dip always nice especially if you have gourmet dips....

Or you can do guacamole on corn chips.....actually lay out the good quality dipping corn chips in rows on platter.....Add a spoon of dip on each and sprinkle with finely diced tomato ......

Or what about cutting rounds of a french stick and laying out on platter. Spread with cream cheese softened with milk and top with slice of smoked salmon and dill.

A cheaper version of this is to use a prawn and crab dip and mix with chopped smoked salmon and this extends the expensive salmon... Top with thin slice lemon or sprinkle parsley...

I wouldn't go macadamias for nibbles and then nut crust the turkey might make the guests a little "nutty"

If you can be more specific about likes and dislikes of guests I can give you more suggestions....

[Julie-Ann]

Oh the likes and dislikes and allergies of the 5 of us is such an embarrassing long list. But I can work with your concept of doing the individual toasts.
I was actually looking for hor dourves. I have to buy the Macadamias as these are DH's favourite. And don't worry this family is nutty already. There is no hope of saving them now.

[rosierose]

ROFL......

You can also do proscuito wrapped blanched asparagus.... Blanch asparagus in morning and later wrap the proscuito around the asparagus and crisp/ heat in oven for 10 mins.. Easy


Vol u vents......... buy shells and mix about 200gms of filling of choice (i.e chicken, shrimp, corn, tuna what suits) and mix with 3 tbsps sour cream, 100gms cheese, a little mustard and bake moderate oven for 10 minutes.......