Around the holidays last year there were a couple of threads (I think started by Hoot) on what everyone was having for Christmas dinner, or if we were all dining together, what would you be bringing to the table? It was one of my favorites, so I'll go ahead and start by inviting you all to our table and we'll provide the main dish: roast leg of lamb, beef roast and a mushroom stuffed venison tenderloin. Found a recipe for a creamy mashed potato baked casserole with cheddar cheese, sour cream and french fried onions on it (hope it turns out as good as it sounds and looks in the picture!). And, if I get time, I'll bake some homemade dinner rolls.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), December 24, 2001

Answers

We will be having roast turkey, with herbs( Basil, Thyme and alittle Rosemary) and butter placed under the skin. I'm going to baste it with orange juice. It's stuffed with apples, this is to help keep it moist. I cooked up a ham a couple days ago, to have it with cheese and crackers(a kind of finger food) The usual whipped potatoes, gravy, green beans, a relish and fruit plate and the family favorite pistashio salad(jello/pudding) We will also have plates of cookies, candies and a pumpkin roll up cake. Sending you all glad tidings of JOY and PEACE this Christmas and throughout 2002.

-- Kelle in MT (kvent1729@aol.com), December 24, 2001.

We're having smoked turkey, grilled steak, bbq'd shrimp and king crab legs. Don't know what the sides will be, I don't have to make them this year. Happy holidays to everyone!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001.

We're having a traditional stuffed turkey, rolls, green beans, peas with pearl onions, mashed taters with a sprinkle of paprika on top so they look pretty in the serving dish, giblet gravy, jello, cranberry sauce jellied, squash, dill pickles, black olives, custard and pumpkin pies with a little whipped topping, cookies of assorted types,and a heaping helping of thankfulness we're all here to celebrate. God Bless and Peace.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), December 24, 2001.

Christmas dinner? What and lose the other two meals of the day? Breakfast is mine, after I've fed every animal on the place I'll feed the ones in the house. Bacon, from our pigs, eggs from a friends farm. (we swapped bacon for eggs) fried boiled and scrambled to suit, Bratwurst sausage (again from our pigs)pancakes, toast (our bread comes from a bakery using Ontarios last wood fired oven, it is sooooooooooooo good) and English muffins, fried potatoes with onions, fried mushrooms in a wine and garlic sauce, coffee, and I'll probably have a glass of cider. Lunch will likely be chocolate topped with more chocolate, more cider or beer maybe some wine spritzers. Dinner, Turkey from another neighbor, with two kinds of stuffing, roast potatoes (we don't really need anything else kinda good) whipped potaoes for sure and no doubt twenty kinds of side dishes depending on what my wife feels like cooking. I've a nice sweet blended Ontario rose wine to go with it. Not that Ontario wine is better just I couldn't resist the name, Sawmill Creek! Dessert? probably cheese cake in some corinary clogging delight, I didn't peek.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 24, 2001.

We are going non-traditional this year. Christmas eve dinner is homemade Manudo, elk enchuladas, sopa (a tomato sauce mexican pasta), beans, tortillas.

Christmas day will be almost all finger, cocktail, & snack foods. Meatballs in marinara, barBQ sausage (bite sized), veggie tray, fruit tray, cheeses & crackers, various bite sized deserts, etc.

Just didn't feel like cooking the huge turkey and all the fixings. My father has to work both Christmas eve & day, and my sister has to work christmas day so it's a bit different around here this year.

-- ellie (elnorams@aol.com), December 24, 2001.

Home grown turkey! Roast Beast on New years day. Does it get any better than this? Also add homegrown potatoes, winter squash, onions, garlic, and other veggies, and Uncle Brad's Best Beer and the "poor folks" with lots of money would drool, if they didn't think it didn't fit their image! They got money - we got fun! Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 24, 2001.

A huge bowl of oyster stew! It's really special in this house and we only have it once a year. That followed by plum pudding and cookies and pie. Keeps it simple instead of a big repeat of Thanksgiving dinner, and is a lot less work. :)

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 24, 2001.

But but but Jennnnnnnn !!!!!!!! that's what makes T Giving all the better, all the Christmas stuff without the shopping!!!

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 24, 2001.

I'm going to ellie's house! LOL! That's the kind of eating I'd do on Christmas if it were my choice. But hubby wants a big ol' turkey. *sigh* So I'll stuff it with dressing that's got sauteed onions and celery, chopped parsley, about 5 shredded apples mixed in, and drizzled with a cup or two of orange juice to make it nice and moist. Will probably have mashed potatoes and a turnip (yuck). Dessert...well, we've got some Christmas cake and brownies, will likely be too stuffed with turkey and dressing to enjoy dessert. Guess I'll start early so we can eat an early midafternoon meal and then snack away the evening. (Can just feel the "expansion factor" stretching away at my bluejeans already!)

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), December 24, 2001.

Fried chicken, mashed potato's and the fixens. Our son is home from college and wants mama's home cooken. jim

-- Jim Raymond (jimr@terraworld.net), December 24, 2001.

We take a trip each year---without ever leaving the farm. Every year for many years now we have had a different countries foods for Christmas. We have had Chinese, Brazil, German, Irish, and Greece, just to name a few. This year we chose American Indian, and will be having game hens, elk meat pie, wild rice stuffing, fish, and the part Im looking forward to the most, Navajo Fry Bread!! Its a lot of fun!!

-- Phyllis (tmblweed@wtrt.net), December 24, 2001.

We are having a made it ourselves meal. Home grown and butchered turkey. Homegrown and mashed taters..garden grown veggies....homemade rolls...pickles ...pie... the only thinkg not done at home are the olives ...icecream...and plates...My mother is totaly into everythng homemade because of all the chemicals in store bought food and meat... well happy holidays

-- SharRon (Turnaquete@aol.com), December 24, 2001.

Bigos,golabki,and pierogies with Jewish rye bread,pumpkin pie

-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), December 24, 2001.

We're having the same thing as always..roast turkey, apple/raisin cornbread stuffing, baby peas, carrots, mashed potatos, maple syrup- molasses candied yams, butternut squash, broccoli, green beans, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and Mrs. Smith's pumpkin custard pie. lol, never did learn how to bake.

-- Linda in NYC (lcesario@post.com), December 24, 2001.

Hi R M W well we had a big thanksgivung spread so for x mas were having what the guys wanted. Cat fish.hush puppies fried tators and butter beans maybe a green salad and beer merry christmas and happ new year everone. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), December 24, 2001.

Hubby's sister's family is coming over for dinner ... it's gonna be ham, whipped potatoes, gravy, home-grown corn, salad, and cherry cream cheese dessert. Tonight, Christmas Eve, is chicken casserole. Anything to make it easier for me this evening... after all, it's MY holiday too!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), December 24, 2001.

Hungry Man dinner,, not sure,, chicken or turkey,, maybe since its christmas,, Ill have both

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), December 24, 2001.

Well, we will have a fried turkey, candied sweet potatoes, collards, cornbread dressing,potatoe salad, greenbeans, and just about every dessert known to mankind! Homemade yeast rolls. Oh, and sweet tea.... Merry Christmas and happy Holidays to everyone!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), December 24, 2001.

Rabbit

Stan, come on over for dinner....hate the thought that you are eating a TV dinner! ewwwww!

We are having Baked rabbits, mashed potatoes and gravy, spiced cranberry sauce, vegetables (string beans, corn on the cob, baked sweet potatoes), salad, pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie, ice cream, beer and wine.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), December 24, 2001.

I dont ussually do much Christmas(not a Christian) but this year my Dad died and Mum moved in. So to keep her in good spirits we are going all the way. Roast turkey, tortiere(French Canadian meat pie), Sockeye salmon that I just finished smoking, all the ussual sides, steamed cranberry pudding with rum sauce, egg nog with ginger ale and rum in it. Try it, you'll like it. But with family commitments it wont be till boxing day. We just had a Christmas eve fondu. A hot broth one, a cheese one, and a chocolate one for dessert. Something different. Great wishes to all and have a safe holliday season. k

-- karen grandmaison (karengrandmaison@hotmail.com), December 25, 2001.

We do it up right here. Have two single brothers(can't seem to hang on to their women for long) that were here last night. I made venison chili and had sandwiches. My children will be here this morning with the grandchildren and we will have french toast and biscuits and gravy and some other homemade breakfast treats. I try to fix everyone's favorites as part of their Christmas gifts. Later today we will go to my mother-in-laws for a carry in. My plans are to take a big salad and make baked beans and a tollhouse pie. That is alot of cooking in a short time but I love to cook.

-- dee (tedanddee@msn.com), December 25, 2001.

Nothing. I've had it. It's past 9PM on the night of Christmas day, and just cooling off from a hot summer's day. We just had a cold meal. Fruit punch (non alcoholic). Ham, turkey, roast chicken, tabouli, cold boiled small potatoes with mint sauce, potato salad, garden salad with your choice of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, celery, cucumber; followed by fruit salad, icecream. Sweets and nuts for anyone who still had room.

Just pickings for the evening meal.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

-- Don Armstrong (in Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), December 25, 2001.

I'm surprised at how many people actually DO have a traditional Christmas Dinner. My mother never made a big meal on Christmas. I guess that's probably why it's no tradition at my house now. The last thing I want to do after the huge mess in my own home and after making the rounds of visiting is come home and cook! So guess what we're having for dinner......Chinese take-out! The family took a trip to our favorite chinese restaurant yesterday and we each picked out our Christmas dinner. All we gotta do is heat 'er up! Egg Foo Young, Fried Rice and an Egg Roll for me! YUM!!!

Another thing I'm surprised at is the fact that it's 6:30am on Christmas morning and my 2 children haven't gotten up yet! They're getting older and less wired about Christmas each year, but I really did expect them to be up before me, going through their stockings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), December 25, 2001.

How fortunate to you all who have a family with whom to share Christmas Dinner. I am a 65 year old widow living alone... with a tiny Maltese Dog.... so since neither of us eat doggie food, we share a T.V. Dinner and small salad.... oh yes, she eats salad also, We have no family since I have outlived the siblings and parents.... Yes, we are alone but we both have lots of love.... there is no greater or more loyal friend or family to be found... Thank God for little dogs and all pets.... without them people like me and many others would have no reason to live. Also must mention that I dis give life to 4 daughters... all still going strong.... with no time for their mother.... unless I have a big check in my hand ... they are part of the "give me" generation! So... to those of you with "loving" families.... Merry Xmas and may you have many more... never forget to be thankful for those who love you.

Specialangel@gohip.com

-- Bette Marshal (specialangel@gohip.com), December 25, 2001.

How fortunate to you all who have a family with whom to share Christmas Dinner. I am a 65 year old widow living alone... with a tiny Maltese Dog.... so since neither of us eat doggie food, we share a T.V. Dinner and small salad.... oh yes, she eats salad also, We have no family since I have outlived the siblings and parents.... Yes, we are alone but we both have lots of love.... there is no greater or more loyal friend or family to be found... Thank God for little dogs and all pets.... without them people like me and many others would have no reason to live. Also must mention that I did give life to 4 daughters... all still going strong.... with no time for their mother.... unless I have a big check in my hand ... they are part of the "give me" generation! So... to those of you with "loving" families.... Merry Xmas and may you have many more... never forget to be thankful for those who love you.

Specialangel@gohip.com

-- Bette Marshal (specialangel@gohip.com), December 25, 2001.

Last year I didn't feel like slaving away for "just" my dh and children on a meal that we'd sit down to for maybe 30 min and then have to clean up. So I didn't cook and we went out to eat at the only place we could find open...An all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. It was pretty good.

This year, I cooked: Baked Ham with pineapple and cherries, greenbean casserole, steamed carotts with ginger, watergate salad, dirty mashed potatoes, fresh homemade rolls, and pumpkin pie.

Today was the first time I'd ever baked ham (I usually cop-out and boil it) like that and I was rather pleased with the result.

-- LBD (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), December 25, 2001.

Every year we have a traditional English Christmas meal. Roast prime rib, brussel sprouts, glazed carrots, yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, and plum pudding. We even do the English cracker thing. I'm not sure how it got started with our family.

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), December 26, 2001.