Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Every year my family has a Christmas Eve party. It includes my immediate family and also our 'extended family' - neighbors and friends that we are very close to.

My mother started the tradition in my childhood home. After she died, my sisters bought the house and continued the tradition... but my sister feels very stressed throwing the party.

THIS year.. I finally asked her if I could take the party off her hands. SHE SAID YES! This is actually my first holiday party in our house (and we've been here.. 4 years!).

I am looking to you guys to help me brainstorm and come up with a great menu and drinks.

Here's what I have come up with for the menu as it stands:
Hors D’oeuvres

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
Meat and Cheese Platter (Stilton, Camembert, Rondin, Swiss and Cheddar with Pepperoni, Genoa, Soppressata) with assorted flatbreads and fruit.
Brie en Croute
Puff’n puppies
Crab Quiche
Stuffed Mushrooms
Lollipop lambchops
Swedish Meatballs
Clam Dip on Butter Crackers
Stromboli
Vegetable Crudite

Dinner Dishes:

Baked Ziti
Mac and Cheese
Spiral Sliced Ham
Fried Turkey
Mashed Potatoes with choice of toppings (butter, fried leeks, chives, sour cream, cheddar, scallions, crumbled bacon, gravy)
Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
Giant Salad
Chicken fingers for the little ones

Desserts:

Brownies
Persimmon cookies
Fruitcake (yes, really)
Apple Pie


Drinks:

Wine
Christmas Champagne Punch (decorated with Pomegranate seeds and Green Apple Slices)
Beer


There will be about 40 adults, and 10 kids.. plus 3 very young kids (under 2).

So here are the questions:

First - critique it. What kind of vibe is coming off here? I want it to be informal - but not so casual that it doesn't seem like a special occasion. And I think I have something for all palates.. but I want fresh eyes.

Second - the drinks. I am not a fan of people getting crazy drunk at my house. Especially with the kids.. so I felt like limiting it to wine and beer would be good. Should I just say screw it and get some vodka and rum and mixers?

Third - the amounts. How much should I have? I don't want people to have so many appetizers that they don't have room for the 'main' foods.. but I also don't want to be stuck saying "I don't have anymore" if people want more? Should I make enough chicken fingers for the adults too? I was thinking just enough for the kids in case they don't want ham or turkey?

Fourth - speaking of turkey.. Do you think a lot of people will have it on Christmas day? I don't want to turkey people out but I felt like I needed a poultry option. I didn't want to be frying cutlets all day for a francaise.. but maybe it's a better option?

And the pasta! I put Ziti.. but it's really heavy - especially with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes on the menu. Do you think I should make penne with just a light marinara as an option instead? Or Pasta with Vodka sauce?

I'm almost there!!!!!!!

Message edited 12/1/2009 9:02:38 AM.

Re: So Excited!

For app, maybe a pepperoni or sausage bread? That's always a little different than usual.

Re: So Excited!

just off the top of my head: brie wrapped in a puff pastry shell. Similar to this if you're not sure what I'm talking about link

scallops wrapped in bacon, spinach dip, stuffed mushrooms and I have a really good clam dip recipe that I can't take credit for because someone on here gave to me but I'll share it with you if you're interested.

Message edited 11/28/2009 11:29:00 AM.

Re: So Excited!

a few other ideas: brushetta (my inlaws sometimes buy a brushetta pizza and cut it into small pieces, yum!)

Can also do proscuitto wrapped bread sticks, boccachini (the small mozz balls marinated in spices and oil), olives, roasted red peppers, marinated mushrooms - making like an antipasti.

An easy side dish is procuitto wrapped asparagas. Mashed potatoes are easy for a crowd. A tossed salad is nice too, especially if some people are watching what they eat.

Re: So Excited!

first off, what are puffin puppies??

it seems like your appetizers are mostly seafood - is that intentional? is there anyone who maybe doesn't like seafood? because i'm thinking you might need some other options there...

i like the melon wrapped in prosciutto idea too... or just antipasto platter - and i like the stuffed mushrooms idea...

i'm thinking some kind of dip... my aunt makes a good crab dip (but i see you already have a crab quiche). maybe a warm spinach artichoke dip?



okay well definitely a salad as a side dish... maybe a festive one with thinly sliced green apples and red grapes (for christmas colors) and you can add whatever else... candied walnuts, gorgonzola or bleu cheese, in a raspberry vinaigrette

maybe some kind of gratin side dish...

im not a big ham person... but i know most people love that - so your entrees sound good. if you wanted something different, maybe a braciole (sp)?

Message edited 11/28/2009 1:39:13 PM.

Re: So Excited!

dates wrapped in bacon.....delish!!!

cut bacon strips in half. stuff an almond inside a date. wrap the bacon around the datge and secure with toothpick (dont put through almond) sprinkle generously with brown sugar. bake 350 for 15 min

Re: So Excited!

Homemade pigs in blankets. Use the crescent rolls.

swedish meatballs
baked clams
veggie potstickers

Re: So Excited!

Re: So Excited!

Posted by rojerono

Posted by maybeamommy

first off, what are puffin puppies??

i

Puffin Puppies are just pigs in a blanket. I'm on a mission to make it the accepted phrase .

Thanks Everyone! Keep the suggestions coming! They are all GREAT.

Re: So Excited!

Jess - can you share your clam dip recipe?

Susan - how do you do your swedish meatballs?

Re: So Excited!

Re: So Excited!

maybe you could do a quiche

Re: So Excited!

I have a great hot crab meat dip recipe

If you want something different and a little ethnic, I have an easy recipe for the Armenian version of Greek cheese pie. It uses different cheeses and filo dough or puffed pastry. It's a nice finger food.

My suggestion for drinks:

SANGRIA

1 bottle of red wine
4 cups of soda (I've used pomegranate 7up or Shwepps raspberry or cranberry gingerale)
1 sliced lemon
1 sliced orange
1 sliced red apple
1 sliced green apple
sliced strawberries

If you have an old school jello mold ring...fill it with the soda and fruit and freeze. Place this in the top of your punch bowl....it's pretty and won't water down your sangria

GL and enjoy....let me know if you want recipes

Re: So Excited!

Rachael Ray makes a spiced hot olive dish that sounds really good -
olives, spices warmed in tin foil - no dishes...perfect.

Maybe go retro - look back at old christmas pics from when you were a kid and see what mom used to make

a cheese ball, chex mix....

Try to find a signature dish that you only make this time of year - it will make your holiday special.

Re: So Excited!

I used Alton Brown's recipe for a superbowl party.

I made 3 lbs and then were gone!

You can use beef and pork or all beef. I think either would be fine.

Swedish meatballs

Re: So Excited!

My family is Italian so Christmas Eve to me is always FISH, FISH , FISH...perhaps a fried calamari dish?

Also to add to your cheese and dry sausage I would get more salami, soppresata, etc..that is always a hit.

eggplant rollatini is a good dish bc it somewhere bc appetizer and meal

piggies in a blanket for the kiddies..we had them at thanksgiving and they were the first thing gone!

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Bump for update and A LOT more questions!

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

can i come over?? sounds fab!!

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

First - LOVE IT! I think it's a good mix. You have some more formal things - I always think of roasted shrimp cocktail, lollipop lamchops, brie & cheese platters as more formal... and the puffin puppies, chicken fingers, mashed potato bar make it a little more casual and fun.

Second - I think those are absolutely fine. Are you going to have sodas too?

Third - I stink at amounts! You do have a TON of appetizers... I think there's some sort of caterer's formula that you can look up... As far as the chicken fingers, I'd stick with them just for the kids and make it very obvious that they're for the kids - KWIM? Like put them on a funky kid platter instead of your fine china...

Fourth - I'm not sure about turkey. We always have turkey on Christmas eve AND christmas day (one is spent with my ILs and one with my fam).. and we don't mind! I think the baked ziti is still a good idea... I always go for that at parties!

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

everything sounds yummy but I think you have TOO MANY apps.

maybe pare down the variety and just make more of what you are going to make.

if you are making all this stuff, it will kill you. believe me. I always end up cutting dishes at the last minute b/c I just don't have the time.

I would not do baked ziti and mac and cheese. make whichever one is easier for you, then make a simple pasta primavera or maybe a penne arrabiata. I think even vodka sauce may be too heavy.

if you don't want to fry a turkey, you could try my awesome method of lazy chicken parm....I marinate the cutlets in garlic, olive oil and white wine and bake them off for a few minutes before topping with sauce and cheese. no breading, no frying.

and, I'm coming over.

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Your menu is fabulous! I want to come by you house this year!!!!

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Room for one more

Looks great.

It looks like there will be PLENTY of food.

I would do perhaps instead of ziti AND mac and cheese, is maybe a cold pasta, like a pasta salad. My mom makes a great ziti with cold chopped tomato that is good, something lighter but still pasta.

Message edited 12/1/2009 2:41:15 PM.

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Okay.. so maybe there are too many apps.. so what should I cut?

I know I DEFINITELY want:
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
Lollipop lambchops
and Puff n' Pups..

The meat and cheese and veggie crudite require no real work so tehy can stay. And my MIL is making the Crab Quiche so that can stay too...

Leaving me with:

Brie en Croute
Stuffed Mushrooms
Swedish Meatballs
Clam Dip on Butter Crackers
Stromboli

Keep 2 or 3? Which ones?

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.

Re: Updated with (almost) Final Menu.