pasta is definitely special. why don't you upgrade and get fresh pasta from an Italian market and treat yourself to some nice burrata and a couple of cannoli or other Italian dessert.

I don't think special has to equal a lot of work, unless you and your mom like to cook together.

I might do a pasta with scallops - I love scallops, but they are expensive so I don't get them often.

Anonymous wrote:How about stuffed raviolis? For some reason I forget you can buy those at store and only order at restaurant so feels fancy to me. Key to me is fancy is actually less the good and more the table setting, so use some pretty glasses and plates/bowls and eat whatever!

Sorry for typos- should say “key to me *for* fancy is actually less the *food* and more the table setting, so use some pretty glasses…”

How about stuffed raviolis? For some reason I forget you can buy those at store and only order at restaurant so feels fancy to me. Key to me is fancy is actually less the good and more the table setting, so use some pretty glasses and plates/bowls and eat whatever!

On Christmas Eve we do a Chinese takeout feast!! We love it and then anything leftover gets added to the big heavy appetizer Christmas Day lunch spread

I usually get my favorite Chinese takeout dishes. My Mom used to get her favorite hotdogs. I think you’re over-thinking it. “special enough” is whatever you both would really enjoy. How about good tortellini? I’d probably do tortellini, a nice piece of salmon, crab cakes — possibly with a salad, and green beans or Brussels sprouts with a bit of bacon. For dessert lemon sorbet or blood oranges.

Similar to you bc my mom always hosted and cooked a fabulous Christmas menu. After she passed we’ve done versions iterations and anything similar seemed like a weak attempt at her fabulous cooking. Last year we switched to a fondue meal. Did a nice salad and then cheese fondue for the main and chocolate fondue with a large spread of fruit for the dessert. It was easy and different and delicious. I was just looking up salad recipes. Am thinking of something w/ blood oranges and pomegranate seeds just for the look.

I threw my plan out in the grocery store because the cauliflower looked good. So we're having cauliflower korma, lamb keema, roast butternut squash, rice, maybe some dish with paneer if I have time and ambition, and frozen samosas (because that's where I draw the line at cooking from scratch). I.e. my favorites, not a "holiday meal" per se.

We always had quiche on Xmas eve.

Lasagna.

Fondue, appetizers, and pasta sounds great.

My special but easy meal has generally been smoked salmon, fancy cheeses, fancy crackers and/or really good bread, fruit, etc.

Do some kind of seafood pasta as a nod to the Italian feast of the seven fishes.

Last year we did raclette for the first time and it was fun and festive and good for a small menu

Lobster

The title pretty much says it all:

It’ll just be my mother and I this year, so large format items like turkeys are out.

For years I hosted Christmas Eve, and either did appetizers or Mexican. My parents always hosted Christmas Day, which was just the immediate family, and they did surf and turf (steak and crab, Caesar salad, etc). My dad passed away in June, so we’re trying to celebrate but not replicate. For Christmas Day we’re following a Southern Living holiday menu, with a beef tenderloin roast with Madeira sauce and blue cheese yorkies, butternut squash mash, and a baby romaine and blood orange salad.

I just can’t decide for Christmas Eve. I’m sure I’m overthinking it. I considered fondue, and appetizers, and pasta (we both love it) but are those special enough? Welcome suggestions.