This year, I think I'm going to do beef stew. I have a recipe that we all love, and although it takes half the day to make, most of that time is in the oven so it's pretty low key.

I haven't decided what to do about dessert yet. We usually make my great-aunt's Charlotte Russe, which is easy and delicious. Ambrosia is also traditional in my family, but supreme-ing all those oranges is a nightmare. Maybe I'll make a Brooklyn blackout cake.

After the whole gift opening shebang, my daughter (sometimes my son helps here and there) and I make peirogies and we have them for dinner, sometimes with keilbasa from The Polka Deli.

If we decided not to cook, option no. 1 would be an Indian buffet or a big carry out order to approximate one at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're supposed to eat fish. I don't like fish, so a pasta dish.

Which culture has fish as the traditional Christmas meal?

East Coast Italian-Americans.

That’s Christmas Eve, not Christmas Day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will be celebrating with family on Christmas Eve this year, and for the first year in ages, we will just be our nuclear family on Christmas Day for dinner. I’m excited to be off the hook for cooking a lavish meal, but I have no idea what to do instead! I considered a snack-y charcuterie-type dinner, or a Costco take-and-bake pizza (do they even still make those?) but wondered if I could do better. What do you have for dinner?

Fries Fish (takeout from local restaurant)
Kapusta (aka sauerkraut)
Pierogi
Sautéed mushrooms
Pickled herring
Green beans
Olives/carrots/cukes
Jello with fruit

I forgot about pickled herring! I love it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're supposed to eat fish. I don't like fish, so a pasta dish.

Which culture has fish as the traditional Christmas meal?

East Coast Italian-Americans.

Peking duck is dang expensive. I did that one year for Christmas cuz I didn't want to cook. Two was like an appetizer for 6 adults, 2 kids. We ended up gorging on cheap lo mein and dumplings. Didn't feel as special.

Try the newish Chinese BBQ takeout inside Great Wall supermarket if you're near Fairfax. They have a roast duck that's just as tasty as Peking and a lot cheaper. You don't get the pancakes but it comes with a dipping jus and you can cut your own scallions for a side.

Anonymous wrote:We will be celebrating with family on Christmas Eve this year, and for the first year in ages, we will just be our nuclear family on Christmas Day for dinner. I’m excited to be off the hook for cooking a lavish meal, but I have no idea what to do instead! I considered a snack-y charcuterie-type dinner, or a Costco take-and-bake pizza (do they even still make those?) but wondered if I could do better. What do you have for dinner?

Fries Fish (takeout from local restaurant)
Kapusta (aka sauerkraut)
Pierogi
Sautéed mushrooms
Pickled herring
Green beans
Olives/carrots/cukes
Jello with fruit

Anonymous wrote:Chinese food. It’s the food of my people on Christmas.

Sounds like a lovely tradition
What do you order?
Do you need to book a table in advance?
Do you have any recommendations for a good restaurant?

We order Indian on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner usually. If we cook, usually some sort of pasta + veggies (for vegetarians) or pasta + meat.

Enchiladas or a Mediterranean lamb shank

Beef tenderloin for us.

We used to go out for Chinese on Christmas Eve. Then covid came and we got takeout Peking Duck a couple of years. Now we get pizza.
Christmas Eve fish is Italian, feast of 7 fishes etc.
Christmas this year I am doing Cornish hens. We find them festive and they are easy. Corn muffins, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, spinach souffle from Stouffers DH loves that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sushi! We have a brunch with croissants, eggs, bacon and fruit and then sushi for dinner.

You make it fresh?

No we get takeout, but that’s also a fun idea to make your own.

How old are your kids? We had a lot of fun last Chirstmas with a family "potluck." Everyone (me, husband, 3 teens) was in charge of preparing 3 things for Christmas dinner. It could be easy... one son did a clamshell of strawberries, frozen rolls, and a bagged salad. Or "elaborate"... one daughter made a chocolate cream pie, stuffed mushrooms, and melted brie with fig jam and slices of baguette. We had a sign up sheet to somewhat coordinate. I let my kids pick what they wanted to contribute and then kind of filled in with dishes as needed.