Taking suggestions for Christmas dinner.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Ok, so Carolyn's parents, after dealing with a downright debacle at Thanksgiving, have decided to cast off the Christmas dinner duties to us (ergo, ME). We're planning a dinner for eleven (me, Carolyn, her three kids, her parents, her brother, his wife and their two kids). Here's what I've got in store thus far:

1. Spiral cut ham (8-10 pounds enough?)
2. Sweet potatoes (with the marshmallow topping, as requested by step-daughter)
3. mashed potatoes/gravy
4. green bean casserole
5. cranberry sauce
6. my wife's homemade rolls
7. two bottles of Traminer Riesling
8. the M-I-L is bringing the pumpkin pie, we're buying an Italian lemon creme cheesecake as well


Anyone else have any suggestions/recipies they'd like to input. Here's my one chance to impress my in-laws with my culinary skilz and I don't wanna blow it.

TIA.

[Curly Bill]

I think you need at least one more veggie option.

[Curly Bill]

Anyone gonna want a salad?

[SoonerGirl06]

That's what I was thinking. Definitely a freshly tossed salad.

[SoonerStormchaser]

I had that in mind as well.

[OklahomaTrombone]

Old people like applesauce.

[Curly Bill]

I think you need at least one more veggie option.

Follow up: my Aunt makes a hominy casserole that I like...

...don't know how she makes it though.

[FirstandGoal]

What about carrots cooked in butter, brown sugar and parsley? One of my favorite veggie side dishes for the holidays.

Also, don't forget the deviled eggs.

[critical_phil]

i have no family within 800 miles, so i always have holiday dinner at my in-laws. i like my in-laws, but their cooking sucks goat weiners. my FIL puts apples and water chestnuts in some stove top and calls it dressing. wtf is that?

so i made the suggestion at thanksgiving that we have a hillbilly holiday with brisket and baked beans and such. i followed that up with some catering suggestions. they totally fell for it.

i win.

[GottaHavePride]

Second the carrots and salad options. I'll oppose the evilied egg suggestion, because I think they're nasty. ;)


Oh, and for 11 people I'd probably do a turkey and a smaller ham so you have some of each. You can't get both in the oven, though, so maybe baked ham and smoked turkey? Or baked turkey and deep-fried ham. ;)

With the turkey-frying craze, why has no one talked about deep-fried ham?

[proud gonzo]

yeah, one ham for 11 people doesn't sound like enough... I'd probably add a 3rd bottle of wine as well, but I like wine a lot.

If you're doing sweet potatoes w/ brown sugar and stuff, i wouldn't do carrots sweet as well, but carrots are a good suggestion.

what about some fruit salad? that way there's a lighter dessert to balance the pie and cheesecake.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

You need a relish tray.

for example...

green olives
black olives
stuffed celery (stuffed with a cheese spread)
marinated mushrooms

[olevetonahill]

With your Luck May I suggest you Make Reservations at a Nice Restaurant ?

[SicEmBaylor]

Prunes and Ovaltine.

YWIA.

[olevetonahill]

And once again SSC Is Sicem pw3nd
Good one Boy . we may make a man outta ya yet .

[soonerboomer93]

how sad are you to get bitch slapped by sicem

:D

[SoonerStormchaser]

Well, when I'm the only one on the bottom rung of the ladder for him to sling poo at, I guess it's to be expected. ;)

It's like watching the two village idiots in a slapfest.

[Tailwind]

Ginger glazed baby carrots. Yummmm.

[royalfan5]

I'd make a nice raisin sauce for the ham. I can get you a recipe if you need one.

[1stTimeCaller]

Dressing. You gotta have dressing.

[soonerinabilene]

That's what I was thinking. Definitely a freshly tossed salad.
post reported.;)

[Scott D]

in your case, find out what the early bird special is at golden corral ;)

[IB4OU2]

Remember to wear your holiday apron and fix your hair up real nice.

[soonerbrat]

That's what I was thinking. Definitely a freshly tossed salad.



not. gonna. say. it.

[soonerbrat]

what kind of potatoes do you use for your mashers? Red potatoes are much creamier and more delicious than brown or gold ones. just FYI

[TexasLidig8r]

cranberry sauce has to be hand made. Don't even THINK about the canned crapola. I usually include Grand Marnier, orange juice, orange rind with mine.

You need more wine (You NEVER want to run out of wine on Christmas).

What about appetizers to munch on while everyone is sitting around waiting for the food to finish? Artichoke heart dip is pretty easy... you may want some fresh shrimp as well... a cheese tray (and no. .velveeta is NOT a cheese)... with some grapes...

A simple sparkling wine to drink with the appetizers is a nice touch.. (Chandon from Cali runs about $18 a bottle and is drinkable.. it's not Veuve Cliquot but.. is ok by itself and you can also make Mimosas or Kir Royales with it).

[Curly Bill]

Remember to wear your holiday apron and fix your hair up real nice.

I got me an OU apron...it's teh allsome! :D

[frankensooner]

Might I suggest an English Walnut Pie and some heavy whipped cream. mmmm.

Homemade dressing is a must, if you do make the turkey. I make mine with stale white and cornbread, poultry seasoning, onions and celery carmelized in butter, boiled eggs and turkey juice, mmmmm. You can throw nuts and apples in it too, but I like mine old school.

What about the nog and wild turkey?

[SoonerStormchaser]

Brat: I ALWAYS use red potatoes for mashing. Idaho can kiss my *** when it comes to using their regular Russet/Burbanks for mashing.

Lid: Anyone who uses that $hit from a can should be shot. Of course I'm making my sauce from real berries. And I really think two bottles are gonna be enough...her family isn't the Sicilian/vino-drinking family my side is.

Bill: Can I borrow your apron?

Frank: I would make that pie, but the wife is allergic to tree nuts...and melons (luckily, not HER melons)...and bananas...and shellfish. I married me a bio-hazard! And I was planning on skipping the dressing because we're not having a turkey...just a ham.

[Boarder]

Slovacek Jalapeno Sausages from Sam's

And as it is now, you'll have a buttload left over. You might spring for some corn or something but you're cool as it is. You already have two potatoes, a green vegetable (not to mention the salad), bread, meat, dessert, drink. That's plenty.

[Preservation Parcels]

Something with apples will make the ham more digestible. They just go together.

Peel and core apples ahead of time and store in water with lemon juice to prevent oxidation. When you're ready to cook them, chop or slice them and put them into a hot frying pan with just a bit of butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little cider, apple juice, calvados, or brandy. You can even serve it flaming if you'd like some drama. Add some brown sugar and raisins for more sweetness, if you'd like. Golden Delicious apples work well for this.

Easy - applesauce

Corn is an easy second vegetable, too, and it goes well with ham and mashed potatoes.


The amount of ham you need depends on the amount of bone in it.

http://www.heb.com/mealtime/CT-hamHeatGlaze.jsp


Good for you for inviting everyone and making them welcome. Have a great Christmas!

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

Prune Cake

[Mjcpr]

Frank: I would make that pie, but the wife is allergic to tree nuts...and melons (luckily, not HER melons)...and bananas...and shellfish. I married me a bio-hazard! And I was planning on skipping the dressing because we're not having a turkey...just a ham.

Is PG your stepdaughter?

[SoonerStormchaser]

No...and thanks for the apple suggestion Parcels.

[proud gonzo]

I would make that pie, but the wife is allergic to tree nuts...and melons (luckily, not HER melons)...and bananas...and shellfish. I married me a bio-hazard! And I was planning on skipping the dressing because we're not having a turkey...just a ham.but the other 10 people aren't allergic, right?

[proud gonzo]

and what kind of thanksgiving debacle are we talking here? I mean, do you mean a meal gone horribly awry or something?

I guess I've never understood how that happens.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Debacle: the sister in law volunteered to cook the dinner, then bailed on my M-I-L, leaving her to try to cover the meal. Then she has the audacity to try to claim credit for the meal. My M-I-L swore off Christmas dinner after that point.

[JohnnyMack]

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_22156,00.html

I know it says Easter ham, but whatever, it rules.

[Harry Beanbag]

This is the best ham in the history of ham. Mrs. Beanbag makes it every year now.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_32585,00.html

[sanantoniosooner]

This is the best ham in the history of ham. Mrs. Beanbag makes it every year now.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_32585,00.html
You have to excel at pork with a name like "Mrs Beanbag"

[Harry Beanbag]

You have to excel at pork with a name like "Mrs Beanbag"


Beanbag is better than my/her real last name. :O

[olevetonahill]

Beanbag is better than my/her real last name. :O
Fartsak ?

[TexasLidig8r]

what kind of potatoes do you use for your mashers? Red potatoes are much creamier and more delicious than brown or gold ones. just FYI

Better than Yukon golds???? Blasphemy I say!!!!

[soonerboomer93]

Well, when I'm the only one on the bottom rung of the ladder for him to sling poo at, I guess it's to be expected. ;)

It's like watching the two village idiots in a slapfest.

:les:CRIPPLE FIGHT!!!!

[SoonerStormchaser]

TIMMAY!!!

[LoyalFan]

Chaser,

At least one more bottle o' wine, given the number of adult/potential drinkers.
Sweet potatos...almost a must with ham.
Mebbe add two pounds to the ham estimate. Someone's gonna wanna mooch a doggie bag.
Give Black-eyed or Purple Hull peas a look. A great compliment to ham and yams, and you may be pleasantly surprised. If not that, then butter beans.
A really good cornbread would be great.

Have a safe and loving Christmas (and dinner.) We old loners envy you.

LF

[SoonerStormchaser]

Never thought of the black-eyed peas...being from South Carolina, they're a must for me...

I guess I'll get another bottle of traminer when I go to the class six at Tinker this weekend.

[olevetonahill]

:D
:les:CRIPPLE FIGHT!!!!
Oh my God . Sicem Killed Timmy :D

[SicEmBaylor]

:D
Oh my God . Sicem Killed Timmy :D
That bastard!

[olevetonahill]

That bastard!
;)

[Ash]

roast beast

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Never thought of the black-eyed peas...being from South Carolina, they're a must for me...

.

Save the black-eyed peas for new years eve. everybody knows that.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Bah...I never got that one. Oklahoma and northern Tejas are about the only areas I know of that really do that tradition.

[sanantoniosooner]

After 12 years of marriage my wife finally gave up trying to get me to eat black eyed peas at New Years.

[SoonerStormchaser]

When I worked the frozen food section at the west side Albertsons in Norman, I had to order fifteen cases of that crap for New Years...and I still ran out by December 29th.