We throw a dinner party on Christmas Eve with extended family and friends and this year it looks like we’ll be about 20. The Christmas holiday is swiftly approaching and I’m making any items this week that can be frozen. Here’s the menu for this year:
CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER – 2015
Hors d’oeuvres
Spanikopita
Mini Potato Latkes with Sour Cream & Chives or Applesauce
Mini Sweet & Sour Stuffed Cabbage
Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard
Crudite & Dip
Cocktails
Buffet Dinner
Garlic-Herb Rubbed Roast Pork Loin with Creamy Mustard-Herb Sauce
Apple Cider Chicken
Macaroni & Cheese
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Thyme
Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower with Lemon-Shallot Butter
Christmas Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
(Kale, Beets, Apples, Pistachios, Blue Cheese)
Apple Sauce
Challah
Wine
Desserts
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Apple Crisp
Ricotta Cheesecake
David’s Bars
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Fruit Bowl
Coffee & Tea
Today I’m making the apple crisp, which I’ll freeze uncooked. This can easily be taken from the freezer to a preheated oven and baked for an extra 30 minutes (1 1/2 hours total). The remaining apples (I bought three bags of apples, Granny Smith, Rome and MacIntosh) are for applesauce. I used a large stockpot (think lobster pot size), which I filled three-quarter full of chunked apples. I didn’t peel or core the apples, I used a food mill to puree them, and then added a good sprinkle of cinnamon. I got nine pint jars and a bowl for dinner!
I’m also making the Sweet and Sour Stuffed Cabbage today. These, too will be frozen uncooked and go directly from the freezer to the oven and cook for about two hours.
Cut the blanched cabbage leaves into quarters (triangle shaped). Place about two teaspoons of the meat mixture at the top, bring the outer edges over and roll up.
Throughout the rest of the week, I’ll make Challah and Potato Latkes.
I need to order some rentals: linens, chairs and all-purpose glasses. There are a few items I’ll get readymade from Stew Leonards: fruit bowl, pigs in a blanket and spanakopita. The chocolate-covered strawberries I’ll order from Edible Arrangements. With these details out of the way, I can focus on decorating the house and wrapping presents next week.
My To Do List is done. Anything already accomplished I highlight in yellow. I’d be lost with the list – it keeps me on track and from becoming overwhelmed. I’ll also print out the menu and pencil in cooking times on Christmas Eve so I know how to coordinate the final dishes.
Here’s the To Do and Grocery Lists:
To Do List
Centerpieces
Candles
Flowers
Rentals
Chairs (6)
Linens (cloths, napkins, runners) 3 tables + buffet
2 Dozen All-purpose glasses
Make Ahead and Freeze
Latkes
Stuffed Cabbage
Challah
Applesauce
Apple Crisp
Christmas Week
Tuesday
Groceries
Wash herbs and greens
Roast beets
Prep Ice Cream Base
Wednesday
Bring up Xmas china
Set Tables
Tablecloths/napkins
Centerpieces/candles
Knives/forks
Glasses
Churn Ice Cream
Lemon Shallot Butter Sauce
Thyme Butter Sauce
Thursday
Garlic Herb Rub
Brown Pork Roast
Rub Pork
Bake sweet potatoes
Parboil broccoli and cauliflower
Creamy Herb Mustard Sauce
Ricotta Cheesecake
David’s Bars
Friday
Thaw Challah
Prep Mac n Cheese
Prep Christmas Salad
Pomegranate vinaigrette
Cook
Apple Cider Braised Chicken
Stuffed cabbage
Spanakopita
Latkes
Mac n Cheese
Broc/cauli
Sweet pots
Warm Applesauce
Setups:
Cocktail Napkins/Small Plates/Forks
Dessert Plates/forks
Coffee/Tea/Spoons – sugar/cream
Serving Platters/Bowls:
Cocktails:
Spanikopita/Pigs in a Blanket/Mustard
Latkes/Sour cream/Chives/Applesauce
Stuffed Cabbage
Crudite/Dip
Dinner:
Pork/Sauce/Meat Fork
Chicken/Meat Fork/Ladle
Sweet Potatoes Bowl/ Serving Spoon
Carrot Platter/Tongs
Veggie Bowl/Serving Spoon
Bread basket/butter dish/butter knife
Salad Tongs/ Serving Spoons (sweet pots, mac n cheese, applesauce)
Grocery List
Order in Advance
Stew Leonards
Fruit Bowl
Crudite Platter
Edible Arrangements
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Meat
3 pounds ground beef
boneless pork roasts
chicken
Dairy
Heavy Cream
Half & Half
Eggs
Blue Cheese
2 # ricotta cheese
12 ounces extra sharp Cheddar cheese
Fruit
Apples (applesauce, apple crisp, plus one for stuffed cabbage)
Lemons
Orange
Vegetables
8-9# Russett Potatoes
Onions
3 Heads of garlic
Shallots
2 large green cabbages
2 pounds rainbow carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Beets
Herbs
Chives
Thyme
Rosemary
Sage
Parsley
Staples
2 packages yeast
Kosher salt
APF (7 cups)
Dried cranberries (1 cup)
Pomegranate vinegar
Neutral oil
Dijon
Brown mustard
Dark, Milk and White Chocolate
1 # elbow macaroni
Condensed Milk
Other
Apple Cider
Pistchios
Spanikopita
Pigs in a Blanket
