Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Christmas Dinner Opinion
I am looking for some honest opinions here and think nesties will be the best to offer it....
In past years xmas is spent at my MIL's house. She is currently married to her 3rd husband and does not get along with any of his family. We however love his family. Normally xmas is no fun for anyone since she is such a wench to everyone, except H and I. My family would then celebrate our xmas a few days later. We have been doing this for about 10 years so that my siblings wouldn't all have to try to figure out whose house for xmas every year.
Well in xmas of '07, while my father was on his death bed, my SIL refused to allow my brother or nephew (dad's only grandkid) celebrate with the rest of our family. So last year H and I decided to have everyone at our house. (of course my bro's family did not show).
It was a change for mom (since it was the first xmas w/o dad) and neutral territory for MIL and her ILs. The MIL's ILs kept thanking H and I about how wonderful, relaxed and welcome they felt. It was obvious this was a new thing for then all.
That was the first holiday we hosted and we perhaps went a little over the top with the menu. H and I were so busy in the kitchen we could not visit with everyone before dinner, so this year I wanted to try something a little different. At first I was thinking about doing a "Feliz Navidad" and having a mexican themed meal... serving margarita's, jarritos, negro modela, etc. for drinks. Well, we are starting to think that my be too "out there". So now we are thinking about doing "Buon Natale!" and serving Italian . We figure there are so many more "make ahead" options with Italian that people might not be as put off with it not being more traditional.
The plan so far is anitpasto, meatballs, manicotti, mushroom risotto, tiramisu and cheesecake for dessert.
Thoughts?
Re: Christmas Dinner Opinion
BFP #1: 01/16/11. EDD 09/27/11. Molar pregnancy discovered at 11w2d. D&C on 03/11/11 at 11w3d. Confirmed complete molar pregnancy 03/28/11. GTN diagnosed 04/11. Started Act-D 05/06/11. FINALLY a negative beta 06/01/11!!! Cleared by oncologist to TTC in mid-October.
BFP #2: 12/30/11. EDD 09/11/12. MC 01/04/12. I love you always.
Separated 04/12.
yeah, I am torn on the risotto as well. Really the anipasto would be served as hors d'oeuvres, so it would just be meatballs and manicotti at dinner. I think we need something else... but I am not sold on what.
What about having a salad or some type of veggie?
I am toying with some kind of eggplant or zucchini. We have an incredible grilled zucc recipe, but its a PITA to cook it and probably not good for xmas. I think I need to start testing some recipes....
I've never been around this board, my first post here. But, your idea sounds great and it reminded me of my old voice teacher's family. I was really close to her and every Christmas Eve we always had to perform at the church where were paid soloists. So I was inevitably invited to her families Christmas Eve celebration, between services, at her sister's house where she made home made ravioli and sauce. It was delicious and it came about from a silly story that began a tradition with their deceased mother who was Irish, not Italian. I felt special to be joining them in their "unique" tradition.
Maybe you'll make a tradition?
That sounds awesome! I'm totally going to do that if I have an army to feed for a holiday.
Ditto not doing risotto and adding a salad of some kind.
As an Italian girl from Jersey, I agree that we only eat fish on Christmas Eve. I understand how expensive that can be and a ton of work since my aunt and my father do it every year. My suggestion is to skip the risotto and add eggplant parmigiana. It can be made in large batches somewhat ahead of time.