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[Chrissi]

Thank goodness Thanksgiving is not my holiday to host! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dizzy.gif[/img]

I don't usually host family gatherings at home. This year, my DH will be home on Christmas Eve for the first time in several years. So I'm thinking about having a small family party that evening. I have never fed more than three people unless an outdoor grill was involved or I could get away with picnic fare.

Bare in mind that I am not a very good cook. The simpler, the better and shortcuts are appreciated. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Any ideas for simple meals? Doesn't have to be formal. In fact, informal would be great!

We're probably going to have a Super Bowl party, too. I was thinking brats and kraut in the slow cooker, boneless Buffalo wings, a veggie tray, and maybe an assortment of chips and such for the big game.

[Scribatha]

We do a potluck for Christmas Eve. There are 40 of us, and everyone signs up for either a salad, main dish, appetizer, or desert. Plus we bring whatever else we like too. We always end up with way too much food.

[*Pixie*Dust*]

Italian would be good, a pan of baked ziti, a crock pot full of meatballs and sauce. Salad, bread, dessert and your set.
Or you can take a cue from some friends of mine, they order in Chinese every Christmas Eve [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Happymommy]

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Italian would be good, a pan of baked ziti, a crock pot full of meatballs and sauce. Salad, bread, dessert and your set.
Or you can take a cue from some friends of mine, they order in Chinese every Christmas Eve [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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That sounds good!!! I'd go with the ziti and meatballs. Unless you are actually Italian. We have to have fish on Christmas Eve (7 of them to be exact)-- don't ask me why.

[Chrissi]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Italian would be good, a pan of baked ziti, a crock pot full of meatballs and sauce. Salad, bread, dessert and your set.
Or you can take a cue from some friends of mine, they order in Chinese every Christmas Eve [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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That sounds good!!! I'd go with the ziti and meatballs. Unless you are actually Italian. We have to have fish on Christmas Eve (7 of them to be exact)-- don't ask me why.

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Yuppers - I'm italian. We grew up eating fish for Christmas Eve, too. 13 dishes or something like that. I think it represents the number of apostles or something. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] I do know some families who do the feast of the seven fishes, but I forget what the seven fishes represent. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Huntermom]

Another Italian here. fish is always the center of the Christmas Eve meal. We also had a tradition of having spaghetti with anchovy sauce after midnight Mass.

How about a simple baked fish?

Diane

[crystalloubear]

We usually set ours up buffet style. We've had all sorts of stuff. A ham dinner is super simple.

[boosmom96]

My dad's family is German so we always did bockwurst on rye with potato salad for Christmas Eve. DH and I have merged our family tradition's (and Holidays) so now we do bockwurst with latkes and apple sauce.
If you want to eat with everyone, latkes are not something I recommend for a large group!

[CRCrazy]

Growing up - we used to bring treats to our friend's open house - but now - we are usually at home, with John often having to work - so my kids' tradition is lasagna, with homemade garlic bread and a big tossed salad that cooks while we are at church. Of course, Jennie doesn't like it, but she loves the salad and garlic bread, and I usually make some plain pasta for her.

[RobinKay6573]

Thanksgiving and Christmas for one this year...I will probably have a TV dinner. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Happymommy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Italian would be good, a pan of baked ziti, a crock pot full of meatballs and sauce. Salad, bread, dessert and your set.
Or you can take a cue from some friends of mine, they order in Chinese every Christmas Eve [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds good!!! I'd go with the ziti and meatballs. Unless you are actually Italian. We have to have fish on Christmas Eve (7 of them to be exact)-- don't ask me why.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yuppers - I'm italian. We grew up eating fish for Christmas Eve, too. 13 dishes or something like that. I think it represents the number of apostles or something. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img] I do know some families who do the feast of the seven fishes, but I forget what the seven fishes represent. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

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I'll have to ask my mom-- she knows why there are seven. My husband usually just sticks with the fried shrimp.

[LisaJ]

There will be no good holiday or meal this year for me....I just found out today that my daughter will be out of the country (with her college) for the entire two weeks. My first ever Christmas without her. I already miss her. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/pout.gif[/img]

I'm not sure what I'll cook.

[Belle*]

I've only hosted one holiday meal (Christmas Eve) but I did Prime Rib with Mashed Potato Casserole, Glazed Carrots, Broccoli, Rolls and Cheesecake for Dessert. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

[Tink and co.]

For ease, Prime Rib, Ham or Turkey are easy. You just put them in the oven (well, a little bit more than that!). We always ordered pizza on Christmas Eve when I was a kid because cold pizza was my favorite Christmas breakfast, and that way no one had to cook Christmas morning! DHs family always did oyster stew (blech), and now he makes it, but only Zoie, my grandma and he will eat it. We've done an appetizer fest before, too.

[Chrissi]

I took a general consensus from the family and they surprised me! They'd rather have cocktails and an appetizers/tapas buffet. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I wonder if they're still afraid of my cooking. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]

I have no problem serving cocktails and tapas. I guess I could come up with some kind of theme and make appies, cocktails, and mocktails based on the theme. Hmm...[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/questionicon.gif[/img]