Success, or Oops, stories?

My Christmas Eve dinner was for the most part a success.

Some of my clams didn't open, but I took them out, chucked them, and nobody noticed. Timing was a little difficult. THe salad was done, and the dinner wasnt 100% ready, but for the most part it all went over well.

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

i'm going to say that christmas eve was a success.

the black beans were the best i've ever mad... i love my pressure cooker.

breakfast:
everyone loved the breakfast casserole. next time, i'll make the potatoes differently. i didn't care for the taste

dinner:
SO's little girl didn't care for cuban black beans, but that's cool because she loves my home-made bread. everyone had seconds of everything else.

desserts:
i made TOO MUCH lol
the hits were the flan, the oreo truffles (covered in powder sugar instead of chocolate), the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

things i will do again:
breakfast casserole
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies


now, on to christmas day lol

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

It went well! I didn't have many people to cook for. Timing was a bit difficult, but it worked out well. I cooked at my parents, so not knowing where everything was and it not being my own kitchen was trying for me.

I made shrimp scampi and chicken piccata with pasta. Served with a tomato, mozzerella and basil salad. Nothing fancy, but it was delish.

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

I did my baking on Wednesday night. I took out all the ingredients and started mixing the cookie mix. There was something about it that was strange. I realized I didn't buy butter- I had gotten vegetable oil spread instead of butter! (Which now I have 6 sticks of)

DH was a trooper and went out and got me butter though!

All my cookies came out great- especially my red velvet cookies. Everyone raved about them!

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

Too much. TOOOO much food! I had some last minute drop outs (total of 9 adults and 4 kids) - but it still would have been too much.

Successes -
Lamb chops. They FLEW off the trays. People were eating them like it was the last thing they'd ever get. My bff's dad kept saying "I could die happy after eating those!"

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail - Better than usual. 4lbs of shrimp gone in no time.

Sliders. They were a huge hit. I used Wonder Dinner Rolls and made my own mini sliders. People went bonkers for them. They were cute too.. I speared each one with a pickle chip like I'd seen in Everday magazine.

Oops:
People were SOOO stuffed.. and I was sooo tired.. that I just skipped making the ham altogether!! I still have it so I will likely invite some friends over next week and make it. I did make a giant ziti.. but again.. we were all sooo stuffed that I never put it in the oven. I sent it to my BFF's house so she could freeze it for NYE! I made potatoes.. but because there was no ham they just kind of didn't get touched. I have a fridge full of them. I'll be making Shepherd's Pie this week!

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

Everyone loved the Kit Kat cake!! I did the hershey's chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting!!

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

I did a very simple dinner for just us and the inlaws. Stuffed shells, meatballs, garlic bread, tossed baby field greens with creamy balsamic dressing and a platter of fresh mozzerella, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers.

It was so easy to prepare this meal since it was just 4 adults and DS. I'm so used to being so overwhelmed, this was super easy and good.

Made a big pot of sauce last night- my usual recipe, yummy

Made Maroni recipe meatballs today- baked in the oven and added to sauce. Came out good

Salad was good but not to much was eaten

Fresh mozz, etc. great as always and no work!

Garlic bread bread- good but crust came out a little too hard (used day old bread from the bakery brushed with butter, garlic powder and parsley)

Stuffed shells- perfect! Bought frozen ones from Salpino's, addded my own sauce, topped with mozzerella and baked. So good and NO stress!

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

Everything was a huge success here - the pasta, meatballs, braciole, roast beef, potatoes, green beans.......everything. The only oops was WAY to much food. I've got so many leftovers.

Message edited 12/26/2010 9:24:59 AM.

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

i did all the baking sooo, i was successful with the 2 cheesecakes, 2 loaves of banana nut bread, gluten free brownies, peanut butter cookies and carrot cake.

i failed at the gluten free gingerbread cookies. they came out way too dry and crumbly. i guess i have to experiment with that a little bit more...

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

My only oops was that I threw out the paper with my corn casserole recipe so I way underestimated how long it would take so I didn't serve it...oh well more for us to eat this week!

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

Everything turned out great. I was planning to make Osso Buco with veal but I couldn't find veal shank! I didn't know it would be so hard to get! I got beef shank instead. I was disappointed but everyone else raved about it.

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

Message edited 8/31/2012 2:59:06 PM.

Re: Success, or Oops, stories?

I hosted Christmas Eve:

Turkey breast, stuffing, sweet potato casserole were the hit of the meal.

I made a breakfast quiche and a breakfast french toast casserole for Christmas breakfast-delicious.

I brought a few things for Christmas dinner but the reese's pieces pie was the best-I love this thing.

For Christmas eve I also made potatoes supreme-I love them, but only a couple of other people like them.

I brought a corn souffle for Christmas, I did the recipe from my head-came out terrible

Message edited 12/27/2010 1:16:16 PM.