deperssed for Christmas Dinner -- need ideas

[Anonymous]

This CHristmas it's just me, DH and 2 kids. Kids are not enthusiastic eaters which kind of cuts down my enjoyment of cooking for them. They DO eat what I make but don't seem very happy about it unless it is lasagna, spaghetti or pizza.

I have no real family traditions for Christmas dinner. I guess most years my mom has made a nice roast beef or pork roast or something. But those are such large cuts of meat and we are so small a family. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a big piece of meat that will just go bad... we are traveling the day after Christmas.

DH has suggested lamb chops -- but those just don't seem seasonal to me.

Spiral cut ham would be OK but again it is too much meat -- also seems more Easter than CHristma.

Options for a small meal for Christmas that would be festive?? I just need to get inspired.

[Anonymous]

My Italian relatives always did a nice lassagne...

[Anonymous]

Why not start your own tradition? One year we had no one but our nuclear family at Christmas and we did not do a big meal. We did a pot of chili and a bunch of fancier appetizers and dessert. It was terrific. No major undertaking for my mom so she was able to enjoy the day instead of being frantic about prepping and cooking a meal. So consequently everyone was more relaxed and enjoyed the day more. We still do this.

[Anonymous]

Ham freezes pretty well. You could also make a small prime rib or just do filet mignons for you and DH.

[Anonymous]

Order Chinese take out! Yum!

[Anonymous]

I did a lamb roast one year when it was just us. Can't say the kids ate it but I thought it was delicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ham freezes pretty well. You could also make a small prime rib or just do filet mignons for you and DH.

ah, filet mignon -- that is sounding good to me!

[Anonymous]

Our family tradition (guests or not) is Tenderloin and Xmas Eve.
If it was just hubby and I, I would do 2 pieces of Filet mignon and homemade mac n cheese for the kids.
I also make horseradish mashed potatoes but this year will do roasted veggies.

[Anonymous]

Honeybaked Ham sells ham by the sliced pound too.

We typically go to parents house and have ham, but this year we are staying home and doing steak or a roast. Yum.

[Anonymous]

I think lamb chops sounds totally seasonal, and delicious! You can serve it the traditional way with mint jelly which the kids will probably love it and the green is very Christmasy.

I do lamb chops on the grill with pepper, Lowry's season salt, and garlic powder. You can also do them in the broiler.

[Anonymous]

We are going with the easy and always wonderful filet mignon this year. Easy and great in a grill pan. I will do a small ham after Christmas so I can cook up the black eyes and collards on New Years.

[Anonymous]

We used to do cheese fondue as a family for Christmas Eve. Now we do filet mignon, which is great.

[Anonymous]

I'm 39 weeks pregnant and it's just my DH and me this year. I've debating what to do also because I want to be festive, but don't want too much food or cleanup. I decided to make a roast in the crockpot and buy some already made sides at Harris Teeter (but you could get those wherever). You could do something like that. Have the roast ready to go in the crockpot and then make something else as well that the kids may like- my mom always made a stromboli for people to eat throughout the day. I think it's nice to have food ready for whenever people get hungry, rather than preparing and serving a big meal- sounds like you don't need to be that formal with just the 4 of you. If you want to start your own tradition where you have a sit down meal and the kids might get more excited, what about a brunch meal with things like cinnamon rolls, quiche, and OJ for the kids, champagne for you and DH?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all these ideas!

I love the idea of a champagne brunch. Although as we get up at 5 am on Christmas, maybe a Champagne breakfast! The kids both like waffles -- we could have homemade waffles. Or we've never tried connamon rolls, but I imagien they'd be a hit.

I love all the dinner foods. My kids just aren't that excited about anything these days -- that's what has me depressed about cooking a nice meal -- sad when 50% of the family won't be interested. As a kid, I remember really enjoying food with the family. My kids do eat what they are served, but I can tell when they aren't into it, you know? (One child doesn't eat meat.)

Like, fondue would be great by me, but my husband and both kids won't eat fondue. I guess since three of us love lamb chops, that's as good as it gets.

[Anonymous]

How about chocolate fondue for dessert?