Holiday menu planning

"Crispee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
| miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
| I have encountered.
|
| A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
| big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
| but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
| but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

This is so subjective. We generally trim our tree in the evening. Have a
lighter meal and then have finger foods while working. Cheese balls,
crudités, sausage rolls etc.
|
| B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
| something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
| fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

Salad? Cheese and bread is heavy, so to me something lighter is in order.
You have taken care of the protein and starch with the fondue.
|
| C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
| will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
| I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
| enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
| (saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
| morning....
|

You answered it yoruself by saying that you didn't want anything heavy.
Continental is fine. You can add fruit cups without making it too heavy a
meal. You can dress it up with Champagne Punch.

Debbie
Who thinks it is never to early to think about/plan any future meal!

"Crispee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Thanks for your suggestions....

Where do you live - what part of the country. It you live in Hawaii it would be
a very different many than if you live in Minneapolis.

Dimitri

"Crispee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec):
First I thought big fat subs, then I was thinking make
your own pizza and garlic bread but neither are very
festive;

I'd think either of them could be festive, particularly if it's not
something you do all the time.

Quoted message said:

then I thought a big pancake breakfast, but tree trimming
will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

What about an old-fashioned waffle supper, with savory waffles and toppings?

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue,
but I need something *else* like a main course BUT
I don't want to do meat in a fondue. What goes with
cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

Some thinly sliced prosciutto would do nicely. Round it out with a tray of
cold, marinated vegetables or a crisp green salad.

Quoted message said:

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that
day, and we will have just had the fondue and whatever
else the night before, so I'm thinking croissants or bagels
with coffee and juice but is that enough? I just don't want
to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc. (saving the appetite).
And just bread sounds so plain for christmas morning....

Only you can answer the question of whether it's "enough." Is it your habit
to have nibbles out during the day? That could take the edge of any later
hunger pangs. My family tradition is coffee cake for Christmas morning, an
idea which might dress things up for you. Or add some yogurt and fruit,
and/or a cold meat and cheese tray.

-j

In article <[email hidden]>,

Crispee said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

Are you thinking with a meal or just generally in the afternoon? If
just generally, then why not hors d'oeuvres and christmas sweets like
cookies or homemade candies.

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

When we do cheese fondue we have steamed veggies to dip in addition to
the bread - broccoli and cauliflower flourettes, carrot coins, zucchini
slices; also a nice green salad.

Quoted message said:

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Fruit, applesauce, yogurt.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your suggestions....

marcella
mulling over dinner for 19 herself

Crispee said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year

EEEEK! I saw Christmas wrapping paper in the store today! It's only
October 6th! I swear it gets earlier every single year.

Quoted message said:

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

Afternoon tree trimming the first week of December doesn't require special
food; perhaps just some snacky stuff. Veggies, dip. If you want to provide
something more substantial, pizzas could be be considered "red & green" 🙂

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

As others have said, have some very lightly steamed veggies to dip along
with the bread. You don't have to do meat *in* the fondue to have a meat
accompaniment. Slices of ham, turkey, sausage along with assorted crudites
would work fine.

Quoted message said:

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough?

Sounds fine to me.

I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.

Quoted message said:

(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Maybe coffee cake or something like that.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your suggestions....

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Crispee wrote:

I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.

Quoted message said:

(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Maybe coffee cake or something like that.

When I was a kid, one of my dad's patients made us the same Christmas
coffee cake (stollen?) every year. It was a yeast-based thing, and she
arranged the dough in the shape of a Christmas tree. She glazed it, and
decorated it with red and green maraschino cherries. We would always
warm it up and eat it for breakfast on Christmas morning, along with
scrambled eggs, juice, cocoa and coffee.

A coffee cake or scones or bagels with a special spread would be lovely
and not too filling. Fruit served in crystal goblets would be a nice
accompaniment. Or heck, why not mimosas?

Chris

Crispee said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered. [snip]

You need to tell us more. How many people, and more importantly, how
old are they? Oldsters don't need to eat much, particularly on
Christmas morning, but kids need their regular meals and teenagers will
eat everything you can load onto a table. Also, do you live where it's
cold that time of year, or hot? -aem

On 6 Oct 2005 09:39:31 -0700, "Crispee" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

Depends on who you're catering for. Christmas eve I don't cook. I have
enough cooking ahead of me that night in preparation for the next day,
on top of a full day at work. That's when I pre-prepare a range of
desserts, usually at least four, to cater to everyone's favourites.
From the time my kids were about 8ish, or even earlier, but
Alzheimer's distracts me (joke), Christmas Eve became a traditional
meal of bought fish and chips and they were allowed to share a can of
beer. They LOVED Christmas eve meals, because we didn't have takeaways
often (I think you call them take outs?), and they loved being allowed
to have a beer. When they were about 14-15 they preferred to swap to
wine cooler (ready to drink (RTD) of wine and fruit juice, and they
were allowed one each).

But then again, in NZ we're probably more relaxed about alcohol than
those in the US. My kids were brought up to accept wine with special
meals from a young age, and they were allowed to drink it, in
moderation.

"Crispee" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

A late brunch with finger sandwiches, cheese tray etc. would be nice. Don't
forget some wine 😉

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

Just about anything. You don't say for how many people and are you sitting
down for dinner? I'd say fondue, a festive salad and a nice hearty soup.

Quoted message said:

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Thanks for your suggestions....

Throw in some cranberry muffins and/or other muffins. Croissants, muffins
and a fruit tray with juice, coffee and bloody marys.

Michael

--
Send email to dog30 at charter dot net

Hi, original poster here. Sorry, I should have included these details
from the get-go: 4 adults, no dietary restrictions, we live in a warm
climate (southeast) where it will only be sweater weather on Christmas
day. Thanks so much for your ideas so far, I will post what the final
menu is....

jmcquown said:

EEEEK! I saw Christmas wrapping paper in the store today! It's only
October 6th! I swear it gets earlier every single year.

You haven't been to the local megamart have you? Mine has had their holiday
stuff out since AUGUST! I kid not. The beach stuff gets shuffled, the garden
center cleared out and in comes the holiday stuff.

I am a firm believer there should be a LAW that this stuff should not be allowed
on shelves till DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. Unfortunately the stuff has been on a
boat from China for the last two months or so and most stores now days have
little or no "stock room" so on the shelves it goes.

I am also in favor of the school year not starting till after Labor day, and the
new TV shows starting then too.
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Quoted message said:

I am a firm believer there should be a LAW that this stuff should not be allowed
on shelves till DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.

YES!!! Bring back the holiday season, don't let it take up the entire
fall season too. I enjoyed living in Germany where the commercial aspect
was much shorter.

Quoted message said:

I am also in favor of the school year not starting till after Labor day, and the
new TV shows starting then too.

YES AGAIN! What is with schools in Georgia starting in the hottest month
of August?? It is insane.

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 22:50:32 -0400, [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I am also in favor of the school year not starting till after Labor day,

I got used to school beginning before Labor Day, so it's fine now...
what I want is for school to END by June 1st. My brain doesn't go in
to work with my body after that date.

and the

Quoted message said:

new TV shows starting then too.

Yeah, me too. I like it when they try out new shows during the
summer, though. It's like a whole new season.

"Crispee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

Quoted message said:

A) tree-trimming day (probably first week of Dec): First I thought
big fat subs, then I was thinking make your own pizza and garlic bread
but neither are very festive; then I thought a big pancake breakfast,
but tree trimming will most likely be in the afternoon. ???

It's more fun to OD at a Local good quality Italian Deli.. put out a spread and
let people build their own. Add some side salads or tomatoes and mozzarella or
an onion/tomato salad with some evoo - fresh basil - and some balsamic - don't
forget the fresh cracked pepper.

Quoted message said:

B) christmas eve: bread chunks with cheese fondue, but I need
something *else* like a main course BUT I don't want to do meat in a
fondue. What goes with cheese fondue to make it a complete meal?

The fondue is about all the protein you need - I would add a nice hearty tossed
salad.

Quoted message said:

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

Lox, Bagels, cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, cheese (Swiss) - for the
un-initiated butter & preserves.

Dimitri

Quoted message said:

jmcquown said:

EEEEK! I saw Christmas wrapping paper in the store today! It's only
October 6th! I swear it gets earlier every single year.

You haven't been to the local megamart have you? Mine has had their holiday
stuff out since AUGUST! I kid not.

At Ikea, it was the last day or two of September. I was aghast. I hear
the bad muzak turns to bad xmas muzak on the day after Thanksgiving. I
may have to quit on Thanksgiving.

serene

In article <[email hidden]>,

Crispee said:

Hi... I am planning my holiday menus early this year (miracle of
miracles ha ha) and was hoping to get some of your opinions on 3 snafus
I have encountered.

C) christmas breakfast: having a heavy dinner later that day, and we
will have just had the fondue and whatever else the night before, so
I'm thinking croissants or bagels with coffee and juice but is that
enough? I just don't want to get into the heavy stuff like eggs, etc.
(saving the appetite). And just bread sounds so plain for christmas
morning....

It will be fine if you serve it with some nice jam and a fruit salad ... a
wee shot of something in the coffee might get people in the holiday spirit
... although if you had the bagels and the budget ran to smoked salmon it
would be quite festive indeed.

We have home-baked biscuits (American style - scone-like) and fruit salad
for our Christmas breakfast. Butter, jam, coffee, juice. Coffee cake or
other breakfast breads are also possibilities.

Charlotte

--