So, what do you typically eat for your Christmas dinner?

[lepapillon]

Poll time:

Poll Christmas foodThis poll is based on what I've had for various Christmas meals at various times in my life but I'm curious as to what other people eat since unlike Thanksgiving, I don't think Christmas has a standard "menu

Comments

[janetmaca]

my family usually eats the big thing\s (like turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. and some weird things: mini pizzas, potato puffs, egg rolls) as for dessert: nanaimo bars, butter tarts, cherry loaf, yule log and so on.

[lepapillon]

What are nanaimo bars?

And sounds like a yummy meal! I think Christmas is as good a time as any for mini pizzas.

And now that you mention it, I think I've had egg rolls one Christmas too. Thanks for sharing!

[miss_sarac]

What are nanaimo bars?

http://www.joyofbaking.com/NanaimoBars.html

I'm thinking about making these this year myself..they sound yummy!

[lepapillon]

Thank you for that link! And wow, they do sound yummy. I may have to attempt these bars.

[mandee_jayne]

my dad's side is any variety of things, usually ham. But my mom's side is a tradition that hasn't changed as long as I've been alive, and it's Hungarian Goulash, my great grandma's recipe. Rice with the paprika-y meat, and peas on top, but I still always forgo the peas or put them on the side, I think it's weird. As kids, we usually disliked it a lot, but everyone grows up to like it more, I guess. Oh and the standard side with that (besides rolls and potatoes and whatnot) is a marshmallow fruit salad, the kind with the coconut. Kind of a weird family tradition, but it's been that way for years and years.

[lepapillon]

I suppose after eating it year after year you learn to love it.

I think we've had marshmallow fruit salad too though not with coconut in it. I don't really like marshmallows so I always avoid that.

[mandee_jayne]

it's not bad, just a weird combo for kids. I still prefer to have the pieces not on top of each other.

Yeah with the little colored mini marshmallows. I like marshmallows, but it's the coconut part I'm not too fond of. It's pretty good though.

[handlet]

My family's actually taken to going out to dinner on Christmas the last few years -- we always go to the same restaurant, and I usually get their smoked salmon salad. Which isn't all that Christmassy, but is amazing. But before we started going out, my mom would always make a pot roast.

[lepapillon]

My family considered doing that this year because my mom really does not want to cook but I convinced her to make stuffed shells. It's just going to be me, my mom and my brother and we can all pitch in so hopefully it won't be too bad.

The smoked salmon salad sounds very tasty though!

[marishna]

We're usually a chicken and steak sort of family. I ALWAYS have chicken and usually (or it WAS usually when my grandparents were alive) everyone else would have steak. Now it's mainly just chicken because second choice is ham but I don't eat it. I guess it depends on who's cooking and how many people are coming. It's easier to have ham and do a chicken breast for me sometimes. Um. That was much more detailed than it needed to be

[lepapillon]

Ham is gross. I'm with you there.

Thanks for sharing though! Every family is so different with their Christmas meals I think so it's interesting to note what you usually do. My mom considered just going out to a restaurant this Christmas because she didn't want to fuss with a big meal but I convinced her to make stuffed shells. She was of the opinion that she didn't want to have to waste her day cooking too.

[marishna]

My favourite part of Christmas day has always been the breakfast. When we'd do one with more than just me and my mom (like my aunt and uncle and grandparents) we'd have eggs, bacon, toast, etc and then sit around the table scratching lotto tickets while we ate! LOL That's always been the best part for me. Screw the dinner and getting stressed out because the carrots won't be ready when the squash is and then dealing with all the dishes and not having room for pie because you've gorged on candy and sweets all day! Not to mention that usually breakfast wasn't until 11 or 12 and we'd like to eat dinner at about 5 or 6pm so no one was EVER hungry enough to eat a lot. IMO, easy is great. Do everything the day before and nuke it all Christmas day. Or have a big meal Christmas eve and then have leftovers on Christmas. The flavours settle into the food more on the second day, anyway.

So much hassle for what? Sitting around the table for 20 minutes?

[lepapillon]

We are actually thinking of doing that, having our big meal on Christmas eve and then Christmas day just taking it easy with leftovers. You've made this sound very tantalizing actually, a much more relaxing day.

Though a Christmas breakfast sounds DELICIOUS! Breakfast is always my favorite meal of the day.

[ritinha]

Here in Portugal we do have a traditional dish: codfish.
Portuguese people love codfish. Oh and octopus rice. Which sounds yucky in English but I assure you it's amazingly good.

Plus we have a traditional cake made of dried fruits. Called bolo rei, which usually looks like this. I'm not a big fan, though x)

[lepapillon]

Thank you for sharing!! See, I would have never have known this if I hadn't asked. Codfish and octopus rice huh? Definitely different than my Christmas meals. If I ever get to Portugal around Christmas I am so trying the octopus rice cause now you've got me interested. :D

[ritinha]

It's nothing fancy or exotic, since pretty much everyone eats it. But it sure is good ;) I'll remember to take some pictures on Christmas and post them on my LJ. Share the Christmas food with everyone. haha.