Thursday, December 20, 2018

My Christmas Dinner Menu

Only a few days until Christmas, my sweet friends - do you all have your Christmas menu planned out?

I do....I planned the whole week's worth of menus last weekend so I could do my grocery shopping early! 

Look at me being ahead of the game....and I only forgot one thing! Good thing my younger daughter passes the market on her way home!

There's a good reason I plan my menus out early...bear with me, I'm going to tell you a story. 

I have always hosted Christmas dinner, from the time my first daughter was born, 28 years ago. 


Back when I was a very young working mom, with two very small children, I had a super busy life. I used to drop my kids off an hour away in my mother in law's house, drive back an hour to work, and then back an hour to pick them up, and an hour back home. It seemed I spent my whole week in the car. 

One Christmas, in all the craziness, I left it until Christmas Eve to pick up the meat for Christmas dinner. I was getting out of work early that day, and figured I would hit the market on the way home. I got all the way back home to my market and IT WAS CLOSED. Panic set in. 

I called my parents, and fortunately my dad was able to pick up some split chicken breasts in a market near them that was still open. Whew, Christmas dinner was saved!


I never forgot that Christmas, and I never again left it until the last minute to pick up what I need. 

Aren't you glad you stuck around for that story? I hadn't intended to write that, it just came pouring out!

So what's on my menu for Christmas dinner? 

I'm starting with a spiral ham. I haven't made one for Christmas in a while, and it was calling my name when I saw this recipe by Paula Deen. 

Holiday Baked Ham by Paula Deen
The only difference I will make is to heat it via Sous Vide prior to glazing it and finishing it off in the oven. I can't stand when a spiral ham gets dried out while heating in the oven, and my Sous Vide solves that problem perfectly!  I absolutely love my Sous Vide, it's one of the best kitchen gadgets I have ever bought. No more overcooked meat EVER!  And it's seriously so easy to use. 

Anyway, I digress. 

My ham will be served with some of my favorite side dishes. 

Nigella Lawson's Mashed Potatoes
In my opinion, you cannot serve Christmas dinner without a huge bowl of creamy mashed potatoes. Nigella Lawson's technique is my favorite, and I haven't varied from it since the very first time I saw it on her show, many years ago. Don't you just love Nigella?

In order to get these absolutely perfect creamy, buttery potatoes you need a potato ricer....this is the one I have, and I have had it for at least 10 years or more.  If you are like me and you hate peeling potatoes but love mashed potatoes this is the gadget for you!

Along with perfect mashed potatoes, I'll serve glazed baby carrots, and peas with pearl onions. 

Lil Luna's Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
I was browsing around to see if I could find a recipe that makes them the way I do, and then came across Lil Luna's recipe....and might just have to give this method a try this year! Generally I just boil them until they are tender, drain, and toss with butter and brown sugar and put the lid back on the pot until I'm ready for them. I put the pot at the rear of the stove-top, and the heat from the oven keeps them warm. Has anyone tried Lil Luna's version yet? I'm curious if they were tender enough. 

My all time favorite sauce to serve with a Christmas ham is an Irish Parsley Sauce. 

Traditional Irish Parsley Sauce from Serious Eats
I learned to make Parsley sauce in Ireland many years ago, and I still follow the same guidelines today.

Melt a half stick of butter in a saucepan, and throw in a small minced onion. Make sure it's minced fine....I toss mine in my handy dandy mini chopper. This thing's a workhorse!! 

Simmer for a couple of minutes until the onion gets translucent, and then add about 1/3 cup flour. Stir it all together, simmer for another few minutes to 'cook the flour taste out' and then start stirring in 3 cups milk. Let come to a boil, add 1/3 cup dried parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 5 minutes, and it should be thickened by now. If too thick, add more milk. If too thin, whisk a little flour with a small amount of cold milk and whisk into the sauce. Taste and season as needed. Remember the ham is salty so go easy on the salt. 


I'm also going to serve the ham with some of my pineapple mango chutney. It will complement the ham perfectly!

Some warm snowflake rolls, a nice wine, and great conversation and laughter will round out the meal.  I suggest a nice Shiraz, Merlot, or a Rose. Yummm!!

What's on your Christmas menu?


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38 comments:

  1. This sounds soooooo good. I will be over for dinner.

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  2. Your menu sounds wonderful! My first course will be cream of mushroom soup, followed by beef tenderloin served with two sauces. One a gorgonzola cream sauce (Ina Garten recipe) and the other sauce a red wine sauce. Twice baked potatoes. Green beans with toasted sliced almonds. Dessert is a gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting decorated with sugared cranberries and a cranberry coulis. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Ok never mind, I'm going to your house, Penny!! That sounds fabulous! I've made beef the past few years, either roast tenderloin or Prime Rib....I'm changing it up this year! I must look up that gorgonzola sauce - that sounds heavenly! Sweetie brought back a couple of huge ribeyes from a local butcher recently, they'd go very well with that sauce!

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    2. Here is the link to Ina's sauce. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/gorgonzola-sauce-recipe-1940600?soc=sharepin

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  3. We don't have Christmas dinner in our family. Instead, we all get together on Christmas Eve (once in a blue moon, we'll get together on Christmas day instead) and have an overload of appetizers, snacks and desserts. I am hosting Christmas Eve this year and between all the food I have and am making and the other things people are bringing, we'll all be needing to go on diets after that, for sure! Your dinner sounds delicious. What a great comfort meal! I've never heard of or had a sauce for ham. We've only had ham with glaze (homemade). I'm thinking of getting a ricer for mashed potatoes...is it really that much better instead of using a handheld masher?

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    1. Oh yes, the ricer is a Godsend, Melanie! The only time I use my masher now is if I want to make 'country mashed' with the skins - Sweetie likes them that way, so sometimes he gets his way ha ha. Other than that, I always, always use my ricer!

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  4. No matter what you have on the menu, it will be delicious! I have no idea what I'm eating.
    Brenda

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    1. Yours will be a peaceful Christmas Brenda - I wonder what Santa will bring Charlie and Ivy? :)

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  5. I will be having dinner with friends, and she like to fix everything, so, I don't have to bring anything. She is fixing prime rib and lots more.

    Have a wonderful Christmas ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Ooooh prime rib, yummmm! We are having that out tonight, as one of our local restaurants makes it regularly and it's fantastic!! Merry Christmas Lorraine!

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  6. You dinner sounds so delish Deb. Have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy gathering around your pretty table.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thank you Kris! It will be a crowded table with 12 at the table and 3 at the counter - lots of love and laughter!! xo

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  7. Well, it sound absolutely wonderful! I hope you have the most fabulous Christmas dinner my friend. Xoxox

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  8. Ohhh Dinner sounds delightful! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
    Lisa

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  9. Oh my, Debbie, your story was great! I know you will miss you dad so very much this year {hugs} Your menu sounds incredibly amazing! I am making a turkey dinner, our family has to have that traditional dinner, but I am really looking forward to the turkey soup I will make afterwards :) I will also make creamy mashed potatoes, steamed cheesy broccoli, corn, bacon fried green beans, gravy (of course), and stuffing. I'll be making at least 5 pies - a cherry, apple, pecan, and 2 pumpkin, and if I have time, maybe a lemon meriangue. You definitely have me checking my grocery list twice to make sure I haven't missed anything, ha! We will shop this weekend for the last-minute things, but most I already have on hand. Potatoes, broccoli and green beans will be out of my garden :) Hugs to you sweet friend, hope you get to try out the roll recipe :)

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    1. Wow, Marilyn, you are one heck of a cook!!! And 5 pies??? Never mind my dinner, I want to go to your house!!! Merry Christmas sweet friend!!

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  10. Everything will be so nice! You do a great job at entertaining! Enjoy your family and the Christmas Season! Nancy

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    1. My daughter and her boyfriend are arriving today, along with her boyfriend’s father....I have special meals planned for every night, so yesterday I spent the day in the kitchen prepping for all those meals. Anything to make life a little easier when the gang’s all here! Merry Christmas Nancy!

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  11. It sounds perfectly delicious! This is the second time I've read about your Sous Vide - I may have to get one! Have a wonderful holiday, and enjoy dinner with your loved ones!

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    1. You would love it, Amy - I use mine at least once a week.

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    2. You would love it, Amy - I use mine at least once a week! Happy Holidays to you as well!

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  12. Hi Debbie! Oh, your dinner sounds very yummy! I love that your words are always so cheerful and upbeat. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Aww thanks Shelia!! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!

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  13. Sounds great....a traditional Christmas ham dinner. I am making the same thing! My daughter has a recipe for a spicy glaze and I am making scalloped potatoes to go with it. Some homemade rolls by younger daughter and a veggie side, we have a plan! We have given up on dessert here....everyone is too full so I will put a few cookies out and my famous salted caramel pretzel bark and peppermint bark. Can we have dessert first?! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Sounds like a great plan, AnnMarie! I asked my sisters to take care of dessert....one less thing for me to do! I did make a blueberry pie for tonight’s dinner though!

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  14. Your menu sounds wonderful! We normally do appetizers when we get together on Christmas Eve and have glazed ham with a variety of veggies (they change every year) for Christmas Day...but, cornbread dressing is always involved! :-) I hope you and your family have a most wonderfully blessed Christmas! Love and hugs!

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    1. That sounds wonderful Benita! I planned out a whole week’s worth of meals since my daughter and her boyfriend will be here. They arrive today, along with his dad....tonight I’m roasting a turkey breast, tomorrow is stuffed shells (I made the marinara and the stuffing yesterday!) Tuesday is ham, Wednesday is split pea soup and homemade bread....I’ve got a plan!! :)

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  15. I’m having a Christmas Eve Day brunch that I am packing up and carting to my dad’s to be met by other family members for a holiday gathering. As usual, I think I have gone a bit overboard, but we’ll see. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours, Debbie!

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    1. We brought Christmas dinner to Mom and Dad’s house last year as Dad was unable to travel to my house....as it was, he could barely make it to the table, and didn’t eat anything. He will be so missed this year, but I have to remind myself he’s not suffering any longer. Enjoy your time with your dad, Pattie - I know you’re so good to him and he loves your cooking! Merry Christmas sweet friend!

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  16. Sounds heavenly, but I’m not surprised! I still have memories of that amazing quiche lol.

    I’m going to have to check out that sous vide. Never really heard of it until I read about it here a while back. If you enjoy it that much I’m sure it’s amazing!

    Have a very Merry Christmas!

    xxx

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    1. I think you'd love the sous vide, Doreen - I'm completely hooked on mine. It was perfect for heating up the ham without drying it out - the last half hour it went into the oven with glaze, cloves, and pineapple - it was the best ham I've had in eons!! Hope you had a very merry Christmas!

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  17. Debbie, that sounds like a wonderful winter meal! I haven't had my ricer out of the drawer in a while--I usually only use it when I'm making a great quantity of mashed potatoes. Otherwise, I just use the hand masher. So sorry about your dad. Mine died years ago and I still miss him every day, especially when I cook his favorite foods. We are blessed to have had fathers who inspire such fond memories.

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    1. We truly are blessed, Jean, no doubt. We missed him terribly, but also remember last Christmas when he could barely make it to the dinner table, and didn't eat so much as a bite of food. I would not want him to suffer like that any longer....but he is dearly missed for sure.

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  18. I always love to read about your dinners! Our Christmas meals never vary - Italian Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve and homemade manicotti for Christmas Day. Both require fairly extensive preplanning - the only time of the year I can actually pull menu planning off!

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    1. We were just discussing the Italian Seven Fishes dinner over my own dinner table on Christmas Eve - as an Irish girl we never had anything like that, our main meal was always on Christmas Day, as it remains. Christmas Eve I made homemade stuffed shells....just had some for lunch today and they are still amazing!

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