Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need a recipe for scalloped potatoes, I am obsessed (OBSESSED) with this- it is my go-to potato recipe, so delicious, and so hard to screw up. Everyone loves it: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-parmesan-scalloped-potatoes-10000001673167/

This is another great hors d'oeuvre that is a crowd pleaser, easy, and can be made ahead of time: http://www.bobevans.com/Recipe/19/Sausage-Cups
(note: I use phyllo cups instead of wonton wrappers, and I also chop up a sweet red pepper to add to the mix just to give some color)

Great, thanks! For the Sausage Cups, what do you prepare ahead of time? Anything that can be done the night before? I'm getting close with my menu, but I'd love ideas of stuff I can prep the night before.

I basically do the whole thing except for baking them in the oven. So I cook the sausage, assemble all of the cups, etc. Then I freeze them and when I am ready to use, I bake! DON'T defrost them before baking though or the shells will come out soggy. I usually add an extra 10 min to baking time if I am baking them frozen.

What do you cover them with to freeze them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need a recipe for scalloped potatoes, I am obsessed (OBSESSED) with this- it is my go-to potato recipe, so delicious, and so hard to screw up. Everyone loves it: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-parmesan-scalloped-potatoes-10000001673167/

This is another great hors d'oeuvre that is a crowd pleaser, easy, and can be made ahead of time: http://www.bobevans.com/Recipe/19/Sausage-Cups
(note: I use phyllo cups instead of wonton wrappers, and I also chop up a sweet red pepper to add to the mix just to give some color)

Great, thanks! For the Sausage Cups, what do you prepare ahead of time? Anything that can be done the night before? I'm getting close with my menu, but I'd love ideas of stuff I can prep the night before.

I basically do the whole thing except for baking them in the oven. So I cook the sausage, assemble all of the cups, etc. Then I freeze them and when I am ready to use, I bake! DON'T defrost them before baking though or the shells will come out soggy. I usually add an extra 10 min to baking time if I am baking them frozen.

I've done this before for family. I sure hope some of your guests are bringing food too. Have them bring desserts and appetizers - then you can concentrate on the dinner.

Spiral sliced ham is a great idea. You could also throw a turkey breast in the oven if there are people who don't like ham. Parker house rolls are good too - some people and kids like to make little sandwiches with them. I'd do green beans instead of broccoli - I've discovered that lots of people don't like broccoli. You could also put out a big bowl of greens for salad. If you want a little different salad, these recipes are good:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mixed-Green-Salad-with-Oranges-Dried-Cranberries-and-Pecans-15661
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Southwestern-Christmas-Salad-2818
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Arugula-Salad-With-Oranges-Pomegranate-Seeds-and-Goat-Cheese-107262

Fruit salad or platter is a good idea too - some kids don't eat vegies but will gobble up the fruit and it adds color to the buffet table.

I make this sweet potato recipe for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but my dad's from the South and loves his sweet potatoes
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Whipped-Sweet-Potatoes-with-Brown-Sugar-Pecan-Topping-4668

Drink ideas? Wine/beer for the grownups and sparkling cider for the kids?

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

After many years of talking about it, we have just ordered a turducken for Christmas. Can't wait!

For biscuits, get the frozen pillsbury ones if you're not going to make them from scratch. They're sooooo much better than the canned biscuits.

Check out these photos of 23 Christmas dinner appetizer ideas!!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/christmas_appetizer_recipes?slide=1#leaderboardad

For easy appetizers, I do a nice cheese plate and an antipasto platter. Nothing really to prepare, just set it out. We all love olives and salamis and such so they are a huge hit.

It would also be easy to buy some of the frozen hors d'oevers from a place like Trader Joes -- spanikopita, mushroom cups, etc that you could just heat and serve.

Anonymous wrote:If you need a recipe for scalloped potatoes, I am obsessed (OBSESSED) with this- it is my go-to potato recipe, so delicious, and so hard to screw up. Everyone loves it: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-parmesan-scalloped-potatoes-10000001673167/

This is another great hors d'oeuvre that is a crowd pleaser, easy, and can be made ahead of time: http://www.bobevans.com/Recipe/19/Sausage-Cups
(note: I use phyllo cups instead of wonton wrappers, and I also chop up a sweet red pepper to add to the mix just to give some color)

Great, thanks! For the Sausage Cups, what do you prepare ahead of time? Anything that can be done the night before? I'm getting close with my menu, but I'd love ideas of stuff I can prep the night before.

If you need a recipe for scalloped potatoes, I am obsessed (OBSESSED) with this- it is my go-to potato recipe, so delicious, and so hard to screw up. Everyone loves it: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-parmesan-scalloped-potatoes-10000001673167/

This is another great hors d'oeuvre that is a crowd pleaser, easy, and can be made ahead of time: http://www.bobevans.com/Recipe/19/Sausage-Cups
(note: I use phyllo cups instead of wonton wrappers, and I also chop up a sweet red pepper to add to the mix just to give some color)

Great ideas, thank you! Leaning towards the honey-baked ham, and that would go great with scalloped potatoes and a side like the broccoli or green beans, and definitely biscuits (homemade or from a "can"?).

Maybe applesauce in the crockpot to make things easier?

Veggies and ranch dip for appetizer is great. I'm guessing we need something else though?

We always do a standing rib roast (from Costco). I have no idea how to cook it since my brother does it, but it comes out wonderful and he seems to just pop it in the oven. We also do a scalloped potatoe dish (also from Cotsco) in the refrigerated section that is wonderful! Other than that, since it's such a rich meal, we keep it simple and fresh, like steamed asparagus or green beans. Or some nice fresh broccoli and a salad.
We also always do warm applesauce with cinnamon, we say it's for the kids but we all love it.
We keep dessert simple like vanilla ice cream and fresh berries (again from Costco) their blackberries are wonderful right now.
We dont drink-or at least DH and my brother can't-so we serve sparkling pink lemonade in fancy wine glasses and we do chinese firecrackers, just anything to make it fun and festive

Also with a lot of kids at a party, I make a crudite platter with just basic veggies and ranch dip.

Do you like to cook?

For that many people I'd order a spiral cut ham and serve with biscuits, mustard etc.
Scallopped potato casserole
Simple sides like green beans that the kids might eat

Some fancier, make ahead sides

More ideas here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/347739

We are hosting Christmas dinner at our house this year- about 10 adults and 10 kids total. I'm thinking informal buffet-style? Ideas, websites to check out, suggestions? Drink ideas? Anyone good at this? I'm at a total loss and don't even know where to start.