Help me with Christmas eve dinner

sara_c

I'm feeling uninspired, but I know I feel better when I can mark this chore off the holiday to-do list.

MIL is bringing a honeybaked ham.  And I know we'll have smoked salmon and crackers for an appetizer.  That's all I've got.  I'm thinking of asking SIL to bring some sort of scalloped potatoes. 

I need a green veggie and a dessert for sure.  Anything else?  There will be a total of 6 adults, 2 kiddos.  Rolls maybe?

You get double points for easy, but elegent!  And GO!

RoxBride

I'd go with asparagus or green beans, maybe? You could dress up green beans with almonds and bacon pieces.

Rolls for sure, as I think some people like rolls with ham.

Scalloped potatoes travel well, so I say assign those to SIL.

I think you are on the right track.

LittleMissGreenEyes

May be overkill if you have scalloped potatoes but a really yummy veg side is cream corn - 1 box cream cheese, 1 stick butter, 1 big bag of frozen corn melted in a crock pot for a few hours. Heavenly and rich.

Pesky

Penzey's Roasted Green Beans

1.5 lbs whole french green beans, ends trimmed, rinsed and dried (I used regular green beans and it was fine) 

2 tbspn olive oil

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

optional -- 2 tsp mural of flavor (penzey blend -- I used it and it was good but you could easily omit)

preheat oven to 425.  in a bowl, combine ingredients and toss to coat.  spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, stirring lightly halfway through until crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.   

ETA:  dessert option that everyone kept eating.  DS in particular was a huge fan of this.

Sweet potato Mixture:3 cup mashed sweet potatoes -- this is KEY.  Sweet potatoes, not garnet yams.  Real deal.  Also, recommend baking in the oven -- better flavor1 cup sugar -- I shortened it by a tbspn or 2 and it was PLENTY sweet, so I think you can safely cut this back some.1/2 tspn - salt1 tspn vanilla2 eggs, well beaten1 stick (1/2) butter (I melted it and that worked well and also cut this by 1-2 tbspn and it was fine -- depends on how rich you want it)
topping:1 cup brown sugar1/3 cup flour1 cup chopped pecans (or other nuts)1/3 stick butter (melted)
1.  Combine crust/topping mixture and put to the side.  2.  Combine sweet potato mixture in order listed and mix thoroughly.3.  Pour sweet potato mixture into buttered baking dish.4.  Sprinkle top of mixture with topping mixture.5.  bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Swear this tastes like pecan pie! 

blissfullyignorant

It's not necessarily elegant but this is absolutely the bestest broccoli ever. Every time I've made it everyone has gobbled it up like crazy - even the people who claim they hate broccoli. It's great if there are kids because they'll get some veggies in them.

Oven roasted asparagus is also delicious and a little more elegant.

I'm not sure about dessert. I like pumpkin pie. Creme brule is my favorite though and very elegant. You can get a kit to make it that's not too expensive (depending on how many people you need to make it for) and is actually really easy if you don't do it from scratch (but still delicious!).

 I'd definitely do rolls or some sort of bread.

ziggy23213

The spinach in this recipe is freaking amazing:

http://www.marthastewart.com/316859/broiled-salmon-with-spinach-and-feta-sau?czone=food/fish-and-shellfish/fish-and-shellfish-favorites  (sorry not clicky)

I made it last week for the first time and DH and I are both obsessed now.  It's so incredibly easy, too!  I added a little garlic, which isn't in the recipe.  

Kmac-06

Ditto on the roasted asparagus it is super easy and elegant, I think. Roasted with some EVOO and dress it up by topping with sliced almonds and orange or lemon zest after cooking.

I would do rolls too, my go-to recipe is these potato rolls. The recipe would be enough for your crowd, but I always double the recipe and freeze some because it is just as easy to make more and they are great to pull out later with soups.

AugustBrideCO

I agree with that Pioneer Woman recipe for sweet potatoes. I made it for Thanksgiving and it was EXCELLENT. However, I only used half a cup of sugar and it was plenty, and I used garnet yams and it was still delicious. 

Homemade rolls are always a hit. I like the recipe roxbride posted on Pinterest.  Here's the link:

http://www.mommyskitchen.net/2010/12/quick-fluffy-dinner-rolls-potluck.html

PW's roasted carrots are also delicious, and I think you can make roasted asparagus the same way.  It's easy and yummy!

 I don't really do "fancy" food so I don't have any recommendations there. I'd rather do simple and delicious.

KeepingItLowKey

I was going to suggest asparagus, but only because my kids LOVE asparagus. And maybe a green salad?

WonderRed

We go to Village Inn every Christmas Eve.   Simple and Klassy!