Entertaining Ideas
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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
Hello All,
My FI and I are about to close on our first home and graciously offered to have Christmas dinner at our home this year. Well with that being said, I have NEVER cooked a big meal like that for anybody and I need help. Do any of you ladies have advice on Wines, snacks, main dishes, and desserts?? I considered making a Honey Baked Ham, but lets be honest, I dont know if I can.
HELP.
Re: Christmas Dinner
lol, you're cute
Of course you can do it with planning 
I just had a dinner party for 50 people - I hadn't ever done that before.
How many people are we talking? How many is the most you've served before? If we're talking 12 and you've served 8, that's not that big of a stretch. If we're talking 35...well, there's a reason my MIL starts hitting the champagne every Christmas morning at 8 LOL
Tip 1: Folks will offer to bring things, so decide what you're willing to give up control of. Would you prefer not to fuss with desserts or does an aunt make great mashed potatoes? Let people help. Do this in an orderly fashion or you'll end up with 3 sweet potato casseroles (happened to DH's aunt one year).
Tip 2: Make EVERYTHING possible in advance. I've learned this the hard way. Recipes that seem simple to "whip up right before the meal starts" will not be simple or quick or easy. You'll have a million things to finish up, so starting more recipes while the ham is drying out isn't good. Choose recipes that can be prepared in advance or served at room temp/cold. Don't be ashamed to use a microwaved seasoned veggie to save yourself work (Green Giant Corn Niblets in Butter Sauce have appeared on every holiday table I can remember lol).
Check the fall dinner party tab in my bio - it might have some hints or spark some questions for you.
Oh, and hams are easy peasy. Buy a pre-cooked (marked "ready to eat") spiral sliced ham. You'll need to just warm it in the oven (it's not raw, so you're just heating it) and add your own glaze. I did one this weekend for a casual GTG of 20 ppl. It needed 5 mins of prep so I could focus on other things. You'll need 1/4 to 1/3 lb per person and cook 10 mins per lb.
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Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
great advice tar- I also have to totally agree on the making ahead and I'll add to never experiment with a new recipe on christmas eve!!! I learned that the hard way. I made filet mignons with a bearnaise sauce last yr. The meat came great but the bearnaise sauce didn't because i messed up a step so i had to whip up a quick sour cream sauce for the meat and while it was delic, it wasn't what I planned. Stressful!!
This year I am doing most of it ahead- check out the individual beef wellingtons that can be made up to a day in advance http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/beef_wellington_mushroom_blue_cheese.aspx
this was really hepful too
http://www.finecooking.com/pdf/makeaheadholiday.pdf
Yepper-I agree! Don't stress yourself out- you and your hubs are enjoying your first Christmas in your home! This should be fun!
Definitely things in advance. Buying a nice ham is fairly straightforward and ez to do. Put a glaze on it - and put it in the oven and you're good to go. Turkeys, roasted chickens..whatever you like.
"Company" potatos are often done - where you make real mashed potatos with the night before (with milk, butter, cracked pepper, sour cream and sometimes cheese) which on Xmas morning, you simply pop in the oven - or even roasted rosemary olive oil baby reds in the oven - very easy to do.
Here is another suggestion-there's a great fresh green bean recipe out there that is a nice twist to the usuals - it's green beans with a thin teriyaki/garlic glaze with cashews, red peppers, onions and bacon. It's pretty, really tasty and so ez. Let me know if you want the recipe!
For an app -cheese plates are always nice - 3 seem to do the trick - a nice blue, a sharp cheddar and a gouda or something-paired with some store bought caramelized walnuts, some sliced granny smith apples, and some almonds. If you don't want to go that far-make a dip that you DO know how to put together - even a do ahead in the crockpot - so it's doing its own thing when you're getting your meal together -then serve it in a nice serving tray..
As for wines-I love both red and white. There is great Italian red called Nero D'Avola and Monte Antico-both under $15. They're not as heavy as a cab and go well with anything. As for whites, Chateau St. Michelle makes really great pinot grigios - also under $15.
Good luck!