Simple Christmas Eve dinner ideas?

[Anonymous]

We are doing our first Christmas "by ourselves" at our home for the most part - meaning we aren't going to do the big celebration at my parent's, because we have a newborn and a 3 year old. Christmas dinner is pretty much taken care of - my family is coming over in the afternoon and my parents will handle most of it - we are having crab cakes and some sort of beef (london broil maybe) and we've picked a few favorite side dishes and a great salad. My husband and I and the kids are doing a brunch Christmas morning - I'm making pumpkin bread the day before, and a simple egg casserole that can be made ahead and cooked that morning and a few other things.

I would like for us to do a simple Christmas Eve dinner but I have no idea what we can make. It can be on the lighter side since Christmas will be filled with food. Thoughts? I was thinking possibly a few simple appetizers, maybe even some we could purchase from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, or somewhere else. Or, we could use the crock pot...a yummy simple stew or something? Or simple soup?

I'm not the greatest cook in the world, though DH will be helping and he is pretty good. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Is this just for you, your DH and your kids? If so, I would keep it REALLY simple. Come up wth a fun tradition that your family can do for years. Think "Christmas Eve Chili Bar" or "Christmas Eve Breakfast-for-Dinner" I really think that situation is abotu making it fun for your kids.

If I misunderstand and you are having "guests" I think you ought to go for a nice roast chicken with roast potatoes and roast broccoli.

[Anonymous]

We always did cheese fondue on Christmas eve. Lots of bread, fruit, etc. And we (the kids/teens) even got a little taste of champagne.

[Anonymous]

I think fondue is a fun tradition. Pasta might be nice if you are looking for simple. It is kid friendly and you can make it more sophisticated over time.

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of cheese fondue, especially if it's just the two of you and a 3-yr old who will be eating! That sounds perfect - kinda fun & festive, and also very easy.

[Anonymous]

Christmas Eve is the big deal meal for my family, but if it weren't I'd be tempted to do one of these:

* lasagna, salad, simple dessert. And I am quite fond of Stouffers.

* some sort of seafood. Linguine with clam sauce? Shrimp scampi? Roasted salmon? My Italian BIL does some sort of shrimp & spaghetti.

Do you have any regional or ethnic/national roots with yummy (yet simple) foods you'd like to incorporate? As a big part of the holidays is family traditions and roots, I think including meaningful foods is really cool.

[Anonymous]

soup
make a winter squash soup from scratch

[Anonymous]

We did a pulled pork recipe for sandwiches for the big group... salads, relish trays, everyone brings cookies..

For just us this year? Grilled salmon for me, grilled chicken breast for him. Fetticcini alfreado and salad.

Im on call (RN) xmas eve and xmas day so ETOH free egg nog or warm cider.

[Anonymous]

Stouffers lasagna on Christmas eve, and honey baked ham and fixings on Christmas! Did it last year with a 2 week old. Best Christmas meal ever.

[Anonymous]

Make pizza! WIth a nice bottle of wine for you and DH.

[Anonymous]

OP, what salad are you planning to make?

[Anonymous]

Buy some nice seafood chowder. Baguette, cheese, mini-quiches. Christmas cookies for dessert.

[Anonymous]

We also did fondue growing up. Now we save the fondue for NYE and have a spread of finger foods on Xmas eve. Bagels/lox, crudités, cheese and sliced baguette, charcuterie, fruit, etc. the variety depends on the group present. Xmas dinner is usually heavy and formal, so we keep it simpler on Xmas eve.

[Anonymous]

Love the fondue idea. Another option would be mussels - easy, cheap, can have with crusty bread and champagne to drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what salad are you planning to make?

The OP was from 2 years ago so either she's made and eaten her salad, or she was just planning way way ahead.