What do you eat for Christmas Eve dinner?

[Anonymous]

We do the French-Canadian tradition I had growing up, meat pies, lentil soup of some kind, and champagne.

[Anonymous]

Good german sausage, Potato salad, great bread, and Fondue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently, we started following the old French-Canadian tradition of tourtiere (basically pork and potato pie with as many variations as there are families in Quebec). We can make this ahead so it is easy on that night. We also have Christmas cookies and hot cocoa in front of the fire after dinner, something my now pre-teen kids still love to do and look forward to.

Potato optional, of course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lapsed Catholic here but we do variations of the traditional Seven Fishes. It's actually really easy...ready to eat crab meat, shrimp or seafood salad with a little pasta and oil.

I like this thread too! Thanks OP!

Yes, we do a version of the seven fishes with homemade stuff, including different pastas, plus some take out Long John Silvers thrown in there for fun! Yum.

[Anonymous]

We have fondue. I make the cheese with 2 parts Swiss to one part cheddar, a couple of minced garlic cloves and a bottle of beer. We dip chunks of French bread (each piece should be cut with some crust on it so that it's strong enough for dipping into cheese), apple pieces, and parboiled broccoli florets. We usually add a salad and something like shrimp cocktail.

This was my family tradition, and now I do it with my family. I love it because it's delicious, but also because there is a wonderful intimacy when everyone is leaning toward the center of table, craning to see into the fondue pot. Because you dip each bite, the meal proceeds slowly so there is lots of time to enjoy the food and time together.

[Anonymous]

We've tried a few different things, but I think for a while we have settled on a butternut squash soup recipe we found, served with fresh bread.

We do brunch the next morning (a small one for just the four of us) and later have family over for an early Christmas dinner. So it's nice to have sort of a lighter Christmas Eve dinner.

[Anonymous]

We do soup, rolls and cookies. We also do church on Christmas Eve so simple is better. Kids are teens and it's a tradition they demand.

[Anonymous]

Usually chicken and dumplings, though vegetarianized.

[Anonymous]

No particular tradition. If people are coming over we might do a ham if we're doing turkey the next day. But usually, if it's just us, pizza.

I like the ideas of breakfast food or Mexican and margaritas!

[Anonymous]

P.S. why isn't this in the food forum?

[Anonymous]

We go out to eat at Peking Gourmet Inn for duck. Always booked way in advance so we must not be the only ones and some people do carry out.

[Anonymous]

Cioppino

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up, we usually had people over on Christmas Eve and basically had a bunch of hors d'ouerves for dinner, which was awesome since every other night of the year we had sit down meals. Grown ups would drink cocktails, we would have a fire going in the fire place, Christmas music, board games for the kids, and lots of delicious food to nosh on - baked Brie with crackers and apples, a small smoked turkey, veggies and dip, ready-made bite sized quiches, maybe my mom's seven layer dip if we were lucky. It was awesome, and I think could easily be scaled down to just a relaxing family night.

This is what my family always did growing up (and still does). Veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, chicken French, mini meatballs, stuffed olives, cocktail franks (only thing my cousin will eat), a big fruit arrangement, clams casino, chips, dips, 10+ varieties of cookies, bite sized cheesecakes... SO much food, and lots and lots of whiskey sours. Activities are Christmas trivia, singing carols, Christmas crackers, etc., and my dad lines the driveway and sidewalk with luminaria made in white paper lunch bags. It was such an awesome night as a kid; my absolute favorite day of the year (more so than the presents on Christmas morning!). I'm Jewish now, but still go back to spend Christmas Eve with my family every few years since it's a very special family event to me. Eating the leftovers in my pjs on Christmas Day is still a lot of fun.

[Anonymous]

I plan on making Barefoot Contessa turkey lasagna on Christmas Eve. It is jazzed up more than typical lasagna but is still simple to prepare. Plan on serving with big salad, garlic bread, and lots of wine!

[Anonymous]

We used to eat just sandwiches with a meat and cheese tray picked up from Costco, a vegetable tray, and a random desert. But after 15 years of complaining my mom finally gave in and now makes ham. Hashbrown cheesy potatoes or as I call them " heart attack in a pan " and random desert. Then on Christmas we go to my aunts for a traditional Christmas dinner.