# What Are You Cooking For Christmastime?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 8, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250 "2007-12-08T03:12:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/21 "2007-12-22T20:31:04Z")

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Oh, man, [look what I found](http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/2007/06/bread_pudding_f.html). I’m making this for Christmas dinner dessert.

I’m also going to make a side dish, but don’t know what yet. Does anybody have a fantabulous side dish recipe that is different and great?

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/22 "2007-12-22T22:47:21Z")

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[QUOTE=want2know]  
Is anyone eating anything besides dessert? 😛

My Xmas menu (actually Xmas eve; we go to my stepdaughter’s on Xmas) will be a rib roast. For the last 5 years, I’ve made it according to Alton Brown’s recipe–start low and slow, finish high. Also on the menu: Yorkshire pudding, fresh sauteed spinach with garlic, possibly mashed sweet potatoes.  
[/QUOTE]

We’re trying that for the first time this year. We’re nervous - we’ve never had a rib roast before. Usually we do tenderloin.

ETA - do you do the whole flowerpot thing? I have a clean oven, don’t think it’s necessary.

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**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/23 "2007-12-23T00:28:41Z")

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Sunday - xmas with gaming friends: Cider beef w/white cheddar mashed potatoes

xmas eve dinner - brown sugar spiral ham, scalloped potatoes, honey glazed carrots, dinner rolls

xmas morn - breakfast casserol, fresh fruit, and I dont know if there is anything else.

xmas evening - leftovers, of course!

as far as baking… unfortunately I just havent felt like it this year.

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**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/24 "2007-12-23T00:39:52Z")

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Family starts arriving tomorrow so today I’m baking a milk chocolate pound cake to go along with the assorted sugar cookies already awaiting. Pies, pumpkin & Dutch Apple Crumb, to follow

I’m doing a rib roast on the Weber grill Christmas Eve and then heating a spiral sliced ham while we’re off at the movies Christmas Day. Should supply us with plenty of munch/sandwich fixin’s until the turkey goes on the Weber on New Years Day.

To fill in the gaps there will probably be an Italian Sausage, Peppers & Pasta baked dish and a fish fry using some of the frozen white bass caught on Lake Sommerville earlier this year.

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**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/25 "2007-12-23T01:12:28Z")

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Lasagna. Or Lasagne as my mom preference. From scratch (not the noodles of course). Oh and meatballs. This shit is going to take me all day.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/26 "2007-12-23T01:17:34Z")

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[QUOTE=WomanofScorn]  
(not the noodles of course)  
[/QUOTE]

Why not?

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**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/27 "2007-12-23T01:23:55Z")

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[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]  
Why not?  
[/QUOTE]

Seriously? I don’t have a pasta maker, nor would I want to spend time churning out my own noodles. Noodles in a box suits me just fine. The meatballs alone are enough of a pain.

Do you make your own noodles?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/28 "2007-12-23T01:27:55Z")

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[QUOTE=WomanofScorn]  
Do you make your own noodles?  
[/QUOTE]

I’ve been making raviolis. I don’t have a pasta maker or a ravioli maker. I just mix up the dough, roll it out with a rolling pin, and use a pierogi maker I found in a drawer.

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**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/29 "2007-12-23T01:36:52Z")

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[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]  
I’ve been making raviolis. I don’t have a pasta maker or a ravioli maker. I just mix up the dough, roll it out with a rolling pin, and use a pierogi maker I found in a drawer.  
[/QUOTE]

I made ravioli once using wonton wrappers. I know that’s cheating but it was surprisingly easy, and tasted really good.

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/30 "2007-12-23T05:26:48Z")

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We are having Christmas dinner for 12 at my sisters. I am doing the turkey on the grill, and also baking some pumpkin pies before we go up there tomorrow.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/31 "2007-12-23T12:02:31Z")

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**Mrs. Piper** and I are in Paris over Christmas, so we’re going to make a _canard à l’orange_ in the little micro-grille-combiné in our pied à terre. We reserved our canette yesterday at the charcuterie - but we’ll ask them to take the head off of it when we pick it up. :eek:

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**Author:** ![Abraca\_Deborah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e495f1/32.png) [@Abraca\_Deborah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abraca_Deborah)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/32 "2007-12-23T14:46:19Z")

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We are going Greek! I am on a Greek kick due to my recent reading of “Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter”.

Lemon-Oregano-Olive Oil rubbed Chicken  
Greek Lemon Potatoes  
Greek Salad (lots of olives, red onion, and feta!)  
Baklava for dessert  
Greek wine

It should be fun- hubster will even help cook, so it will be entertaining, I am sure!  
(last year we made an East Indian Meal!)

Vive la difference!

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**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/33 "2007-12-23T15:40:20Z")

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I’m having ham, and I’m trying two new side dish recipes for Christmas. Yes, I’m brave! I’m making a sweet potato casserole, and a corn souffle. The corn recipe is simple, and doesn’t sound like it can be screwed up. The other is easy also, but I don’t know if my guests will like it.

The menu:

Appetizers:  
BBQ meatballs  
Cheese crisps ( **Swampbear** ’s recipe)  
Shrimp ring

Dinner:  
Ham  
Pineapple rings with cherries in the middle 😉  
Steamed asparagus  
Sweet potato casserole  
Corn souffle  
Tossed salad  
Crescent rolls

Dessert:  
Fudge  
Lemon cheese pie with whipped cream

If anybody wants recipes, I’ll be glad to provide them. No family secrets, just allrecipes and the Food Network!

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**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/34 "2007-12-23T15:48:25Z")

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I’m doing a ham. How does an apricot-bourbon glaze sound? Maybe with a little dry mustard and some shallots? I’m winging it here.

Also, roast Brussels Sprouts, roast potatoes, and Gramma’s bringing her famous creamed corn.

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**Author:** ![AngryIrishLass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@AngryIrishLass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngryIrishLass)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/35 "2007-12-23T17:40:02Z")

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[QUOTE=Alice The Goon]  
Just now I found [these pecan pie cookies](http://yumsugar.com/806378). They’re not cut cookies, but holy crap, they look good. I’ve just added to my list.  
[/QUOTE]

You’ve made my husband’s Christmas with these cookies.

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**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/36 "2007-12-23T18:30:56Z")

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I’m making the below for Christmas Day:

Prime Rib Roast  
Mashed Potatoes  
Gravy made with meat drippings, chanterelle mushrooms, red wine (a huge favorite at my house)  
Caesar Salad  
Croissant rolls  
Some sort of steamed vegetable (maybe asparagus)

To nosh on before the feast:

Cheese, meat and cracker tray  
Chips with various dips  
Veggie Platter  
Various German style cookies such as Lebkuchen, Dominosteine, etc.

Dessert:

Pies and ice cream  
Tiramisu

For Christmas Eve at MIL:

I’ve been instructed to bring the sweet potato casserole I made for Thanksgiving.

She’s making turkey and all the trimmings.

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**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/37 "2007-12-23T23:18:45Z")

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[QUOTE=Northern Piper]  
**Mrs. Piper** and I are in Paris over Christmas, so we’re going to make a _canard à l’orange_ in the little micro-grille-combiné in our pied à terre. We reserved our canette yesterday at the charcuterie - but we’ll ask them to take the head off of it when we pick it up. :eek:  
[/QUOTE]

[jealous] Paris is my most favorite city in the world. I’ve been twice and am not done with it yet. Just thinking of you celebrating Christmas there makes me ooze with squishy French warmth. [/jealous]

My Christmas specialty is a regional item–if you’ve spent any time in Maine, you know what Needhams are. I’ve been making them since I was a girl and did them with my mother. Now I make them every year with my daughter. If you don’t know what a Needham is, imagine a Mounds bar only less sticky on the inside. We make the filling of coconut, melted butter, confectioners sugar, etc., then dip them in a darker-than-dark chocolate concoction. This year, I found some pretty boxes to pack them in for all my friends (several of whom clamor for their yearly fix.) Will gladly post the recipe, if anyone is interested.

Another family tradition is Scotch Cakes–a buttery shortbread cookie that I’ve eaten in imitation, but never duplication. The phrase “melt-in-your-mouth” doesn’t begin to describe them. Butter, confectioners sugar and flour are the only ingredients.

Christmas dinner here will be turkey and the fixings. Next year, I want to do a standing rib roast to break tradition and will, no doubt, be asking for Doper advice.

Enjoy your food, your families–whatever makes you happy this holiday season.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/38 "2007-12-24T00:22:01Z")

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I made mulled wine for the folks in the office the other day - I made up a syrup from about 200g of brown sugar and a few splashes of orange juice, then I poured this into an empty jar and put the spices (cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, whole allspice, coriander seeds, nutmeg and shredded root ginger) in the syrup overnight to infuse. The next day it was just a case of mixing it with two bottles of red wine and some sliced lemons and clementines and warming over my little camping stove (we don’t have a cooker at work).

There were a couple of cupfuls of the mixture left, so I poured this back into the jar the syrup had been in, along with all the remaining spices and bits from the bottom of the pan and took it home. The next day I strained and poured it over some chicken pieces and baked them in the oven - it was bloomin’ lovely. Mulled wine chicken.

Christmas dinner this year is going to be barbecue ribs - requested by my kids. We don’t have a turkey at all this year.

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**Author:** ![Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olive_The_Other_Reindeer)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/39 "2007-12-24T01:32:16Z")

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OK - we got a menu for xmas - except, I got roped into working, so we’re going to have a late dinner ☹

Escargot Bourguignonne - one of my favorite apps!! I never had them before I met Mr Olive, and now, I can’t get enough of them.

Ensalada Gorgonzola - because he knows I love cheese!

Roasted Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic - another food I hated until he made it for me.

Baked potato - with sour cream, fresh chives (we grow them in a window box), bacon bits and maybe (if I’m REALLY good to him, caviar)

Brussels Sprouts in Lemon Sauce - my all-time favorite veg 🙂

Artisian rolls with roasted garlic and olive oil - need I say more?

Coffee, with Cheesecake with apricot glaze - I doubt we’ll even get to this point, but WOW!!!

He treats me so good 🙂

Olive

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-cooking-for-christmastime/429250/40 "2007-12-24T01:58:59Z")

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appetizers  
hummus served with pita bread & chips from Harris Teeter  
Also from Harris Teeter: cheese logs with Deli Rye, Rosemary & Olive Oil, and Cheddar Triscuits

dinner  
Cornish hens  
ham  
stuffing  
mashed potatos  
green beans w/bacon  
mixed greens  
potato rolls  
[egg nog shakes](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8075778&postcount=22)  
From Giant: chocolate swirl cheesecake

Tomorrow we’re just ordering from Papa John’s so we don’t have to cook.

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