[Funnington]

We have a full day at home this year pure bliss, no rushing out after lunch.

I will be hosting my parents-in-law for lunch and close friends for dinner. Christmas food planning (and cooking) is my favourite aspect of the day.

At this stage, I plan to cook a standing rib eye roast and bake a free-range ham. Sides - I'm not entirely sure yet. But, I think it will be a hot lunch, so baked vegetables and maybe french beans, glazed dutch carrots. Dinner will be leftover ham, homemade coleslaw and hassleback potatoes. Easy.

Dessert, no idea whatsoever.

Given the small numbers, I want to keep meat to a minimum. No-one eats the leftover meat. The dog has a lovely few days post-Christmas

So, what are you planning? Hot, cold food? Traditional, BBQ, smorgasboard?

[Pearson]

Cold meats, chicken ham etc, maybe some prawns
Salads, rolls
Don't know for dessert either.

[knittingkitten]

We always have a seafood Christmas, lots of prawns, oysters and crabs, sometimes lobster. Last year we had the seafood with a roast carrot/haloumi salad and a waldorf salad.
Dessert is always pudding. We had one from the farmer's market near us- it was a traditional one but with chocolate and orange too. Delicious!

We rarely vary from this type of lunch. My FIL is an easygoing man but don't mess with his Christmas lunch!

Christmas breakfast is scrambled eggs and hot smoked ocean trout.
Dinner is normally ham and salad if anyone can fit it in.
I like to do a roast pork with crackling for Christmas Eve dinner too.
We are really into our food!

This post has been edited by knittingkitten: 01/12/2012, 02:54 PM

[MrsBouquet]

Trifle for dessert?

[lisacat]

Nibbles
Chips
choc nuts and sultanas
Mixed nuts
Poco sticks
Pretzels
Salmon dip
Cheese platter

Main
Ham
Chicken
Prawns
Lamb
Green salad
Potato salad
Coleslaw
Pasta salad

Dessert
Pudding
Trifle
Cold rock cake
Home made ferrero rocher

[BearBait]

KnittingKitten Yum. That sounds fantastic.

We're in the Northern Hemisphere so it's snowing outside & we have roast turkey & duck with cranberry sauce, English plum pudding is set alight at the table and served with brandy white sauce.

[Funnington]

I like to do a roast pork with crackling for Christmas Eve dinner too.

For a couple of years we had ham and coleslaw for Christmas Eve dinner. It was by default though, I'd bake the ham the night before and it just seemed the logical thing to do! (I have a bigger oven now and can bake the ham on Christmas day).

Everyone's Christmas fare sounds delicious. I've been scanning Taste for ideas. I found a gorgeous recipe for standing rib eye with truffle aoili It's now put a different spin on our lunch. I think beef with aoili would be more suited to having side salads rather than hot vegetables.

Anyway care to suggest what they would have with a baked ham and a standing rib eye? I'm perhaps being rather cautious having hot vegetables. When I think about it, I could save time by having salads.

This post has been edited by Funnington: 01/12/2012, 04:29 PM

[Finch]

I'm a fan of a hot Christmas lunch. I'd stick with veggies OP

[naturalgoodness]

We love hot Xmas lunch! We have turkey, boneless stuffed pork roast with all the warm vegetables and gravy. We also have a seafood platter & ham on the bone. Dessert is Xmas pudding, sticky date pudding and small pastries.

I also buy a cooked chicken & salad for boxing day as we have more people over for lunch.

We then enjoy leftovers for a little while!

Xmas breakfast is always ham and cheese croissants, dinner is left overs from lunch (if you have room!)

[gina70]

We start the day with buttermilk hotcakes with lots of toppings and then we are heading to my niece's for hot lunch. I make pavlovas for dessert. Dinner will be cold meats and salads.