Gourmet Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas?

Question

Hello, I have been cooking Christmas Eve Dinner for my Family for the past 4 years, I started to do so after my MOM lost her job (after 30 + Years). That year she was only going to do sandwiches due to lack of funds... Anyway That was the year I took over!! AT Mom's,Every Year was the same old Christmas Eve dinner, Ham, Mash Potatoes, corn...etc "Boring". So for the past years I have been introducing New...Yet Different foods to our Christmas Eve Dinner Table. Foods such as: A Seasoned Ribeye Roast, Asian Lamb Chops, Filet Beef, Wellington and various pasta dishes.... Anyway, I am trying to think of what I can make this year for the main coarse.. something different... but pleasing to all !! Gourmet Style!!
Something Flavorful and remembering!!
Anyone have any thoughts?

Answer 1

Try a standing rib roast. The butcher will tie it up for you. Great looking and tastes great!

Answer 2

I made this version of Peking Duck, and it's delicious. It's less work and takes less time than the traditional way of making Peking Duck, but it is great. I don't have a steamer big enough, so I used a turkey roasting pan, set it on the stove over 2 burners and put the duck in the roasting rack, covered with foil.

From allrecipes.com:

INGREDIENTS
1 (4 pound) whole duck, dressed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 orange, sliced in rounds
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
5 green onions

1/2 cup plum jam
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup finely chopped chutney
DIRECTIONS
Rinse the duck inside and out, and pat dry. Cut off tail and discard. In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper and cloves. Sprinkle one teaspoon of the mixture into the cavity of the duck. Stir one tablespoon of the soy sauce into the remaining spice mixture and rub evenly over the entire outside of the bird. Cut one of the green onions in half and tuck inside the cavity. Cover and refrigerate the bird for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
Place duck breast side up on a rack in a big enough wok or pot and steam for an hour adding a little more water, if necessary, as it evaporates. Lift duck with two large spoons, and drain juices and green onion.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place duck breast side up in a roasting pan and prick skin all over using a fork.
Roast for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. While the duck is roasting, mix together the remaining 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and honey. After 30 minutes, brush the honey mixture onto the duck and return it to the oven. Turn the heat up to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Roast for 5 minutes, or until the skin is richly browned. Do not allow the skin to char.
Prepare the duck sauce by mixing the plum jam with the sugar, vinegar and chutney in a small serving bowl. Chop remaining green onions and place them into a separate bowl. Place whole duck onto a serving platter and garnish with orange slices and fresh parsley. Use plum sauce and onions for dipping.

Wine Tip

Try with a California Zinfandel .

Answer 3

30 is a lot for dinner! I agree with the lasagne or pasta suggestion. Roasts are also easy for a crowd, but can be costly. Pork roasts can be reasonable, though. Maybe a few nice, stuffed pork loin roasts (or just nicely seasoned with no stuffing). Serve with a wild rice salad and green beans with almonds. Christmas is a hectic time. If you want to make it easier, get a big honey baked ham and just worry about the sides. A big batch of cheesy scalloped potatoes, green salad, maybe peas sauteed with shallots and mushrooms.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Try Roast duck with Stir fry veggies with plenty of color & flavor (broccoli, red yellow & green peppers, zuccini, sweet onions, carrot strips, water chesnuts, mushrooms) baked sweet potatoes, Wild Rice,"duck" sauce, sourdough yeast rolls, mince meat pie

RECIPE:
Roast Duck with Apple Dressing

PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 1 Hr 20 Min (Longer if more than 1 bird)
READY IN 1 Hr 30 Min
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 4 servings( You may need 2-3 ducks , depending on the crowd. They can all be baked at once

INGREDIENTS
1- 3 (4 pound) whole duck(s)
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons chopped onion
5 stalks celery, chopped
3 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple
3 cups cornbread crumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil
(Double or triple recipe, depending on # of birds)

DIRECTIONS
Rinse duck(s) and pat dry; rub with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning.

Stuffing (per bird)
Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and celery in butter until tender. In a medium bowl, combine with apple and cornbread crumbs. Mix together to make dressing (if necessary, add a little water to moisten).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Fill the duck's cavity with dressing, and sew shut with kitchen twine. Rub outside of bird lightly with olive oil, and place in a shallow roasting pan or 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 80 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C.)

Answer 6

Have you ever made Goose? Goose is a very traditional Christmas dish in Europe. Pork Loin can be prepared many ways. Stuffed pork loin with dried fruit for instant. Rolled veal roast etc. They make great presentations. I also like to take lean bacon and onion make a slits in the pork lion stuff the onion and bacon in it. Then I spice with salt,pepper, garlic, Worcester sauce and rub it in with a stone ground mustard. Serve with a cream sauce.

One of my other favorites can be done with pork chops or chicken breast. You take your meat of choice brown it on each site to seal in the juices. Then you take goat cheese and some butter. Melt it spice it with some pepper. I spread the goat cheese mix on the meat put a piece of fresh rosemary on top and return the whole thing in the oven for about 20-30 minutes.

Answer 7

What about Bejing chicken(thighs and small legs or wings)Recipe--soys sauce, ginger,onion,garlic,ketchup,honey for marinade.can do the day ahead, Put chicken in bag with marinade in refrigerator (turn over every 2 hours)till time to cook.Put in oven at 350 for 1 hour.Meat balls in sweet and sour sauce in microwave or slow cooker (no work)
Imitation crab meat salad.(either cabbage or lettuce)celery,
light mayonaisse dressing.Polynesian Rice--3 cups of Minute Rice, 3 cups of water,frozen peas,schrimp ring from store,
2 cups of celery,2 cups of green onions--.Dressing.--1 cup of salad oil,2 tsp. of celery seeds or celery salt.,4 tsp of curry,1 tsp of accent,2 tsp. of soya sauce,6 tsp of vinegar, 1 tsp sugar.This can be made at the last minute to serve hot or made the day ahead if you want to serve cold.Boil rice per instructions(You can make more if you have big gang.Add dressing and cooked frozen peas.Fresh buns with herbed or garlic butter.
Fresh green beans (add almonds if desired for crunch)Jello salad (make the day before)(red or green, pineapple and lime is good with above food)Dessert can be whatever you desire,Hope this helps, I have had many a party were I used this combination and always had compliments.NOTE--WORD NOT COMING OUT IS HONEY

Answer 8

The roast chicken is REALLY good:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/holidayrecipesandmenus/a/holidaymenus.htm

The prime rib is good, but really rare:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/ChristmasDinner.htm

The duck is my favorite (could also substitute for goose):
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jsp?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/FoodAndEntertaining_ChristmasMenus.xml

Good all around; large meal recipes:
http://christmas.betterrecipes.com/christmasdinnerrecipes.html

Answer 9

Try Beef Bourginon. or beef burgandy it's really delicious and everyone will like it. It's the French version of beef stew.

Answer 10

Happy Meals all around.