Christmas Day buffet recipes, anyone?

[Faery-Wings]

I have Christmas Day dinner at my house every year. Thus year, due to changes my mother in law flung at me a few days ago, I am not having dinner but more of an entire day of comings and goings. Lucky me, ha ha.

Anyway, short of ordering pizzas and telling her to take it or leave it (which sounds darn good to me), I thought I would do more of a buffet. stuff that I could make the day before and just pop in the oven and to the table. But for some reason I cannot think of what I could make. So I am asking you for some suggestions. I do think I am going to make burgundy meatballs in the crock pot, and maybe a hot artichoke dip. But what else?

Thanks for helping a brain fried and frustrated cook!

******
edited to add: No I am not going to serve my fried brains for dinner! :eek: :p

[Yvonne Belisle]

pigs in blankets, cold cut trays with rolls near by, veggie trays, ziti or lasagna go well, ham can also sit in an ooven on low for a longer while. Soup is good for things like that too with a nice basket of rolls near by to dip in it. I can come up with more if you need it.

[MammaStar]

I agree with Yvonne, Chryssi.

Get a deli platter from the supermarket (order now) and make up a tray of Ziti or Lasagna. Maybe even get an antipasta platter too.

Can you tell we have Italian Christmases at my house. :p

[MoonRaven]

My parents did that one year for New Year's, only because it was easier than having a sit-down meal for people who were going to be there from 7 PM until 2 AM. There was plenty of lasagna, sausage rolls, chicken wings, garlic bread, cabbage rolls, veggies, pasta salad, potato salad, roasted potatoes, and these really neat crab things my cousin makes (crab meat and cheez whiz on quartered english muffins, baked until toasty and starting to bubble - better than you'd think!). And, of course, there was one party-sized pizza, because there are very simple men in my family.

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks for your suggestions. :)

MoonRaven, I have had those crab thingies- they sounds so bizzare but they are delicious!

[Lavender]

Yeah! Cold chicken wings are a life saver here at this time of year! Also, mix bean salads. Get a couple of different kinds of cans of beans, drain the water, add chopped onions & spices and some italian salad dressing & that's it!

[MoonRaven]

Actually you can now BUY cans of marinated beans for bean salads in the bean aisle (or shelf... depending on the size of the place you shop I suppose). They come pre-seasoned so all you really have to do is throw them in a bowl (maybe with some wax beans and chopped red onion or something). Talk about lazy...er, I mean convenient. :nyah:


Ooo! *hop hop hop*
How about a shrimp ring? Everyone loves shrimp rings!
Or stuffed mushrooms!!! :mmm:

Actually I've got a magazine here that's got all kinds of appetizers in it, not to mention the fact that I could go on forever!

[Faery-Wings]

My family looooves stuffed mushrooms, but alas (:D) I am allergic to mushrooms. :sick: So I make them once ina blue moon. As an Italian cook, it is really hard to cook and not taste. :)

I never had a shrimp ring, can you tell me how you make that?

Chris- could live on appetizers and cookies

[MoonRaven]

How to make a shrimp ring:

Go to the store and buy a shrimp ring (available in seafood cooler). Open and place on platter.
Buy a bottle of seafood/cocktail sauce.
Pour sauce into a bowl and serve in middle of shrimp ring.

Shamefully simple, and relatively inexpensive.

[Flaire-FireStar]

Oh goodness.....Sea food is painfully popular here. Of course, when we host the Christmas Eve party, we always have crab dip (with little crackers to dip in it) and prawns (shrimp).


How to make a shrimp ring:

Go to the store and buy a shrimp ring (available in seafood cooler). Open and place on platter.
Buy a bottle of seafood/cocktail sauce.
Pour sauce into a bowl and serve in middle of shrimp ring.

Shamefully simple, and relatively inexpensive.

Only if you don't have access to fresh shrimp.. :) (I hate the things myself, but everyone else out here loves 'em) :eyebrow:

Personally, I like sausage rolls... Fruit platters can be good too - with a nice dip. Fondue? Always yummy. :)

[Mithrea]

If you want to make veggie dip Chryssi, I have a recipe that will make people beat each other up trying to clean out the bowl . . .

[Lavender]

If Chris doesn't want that recipe, I'll take it! :D

[MoonRaven]

Oooh (yes it's me again)!

My mom makes this really neat dip with spinach (I don't know what it is exactly, but someone else probably will) that gets served in a hollowed out round of pumpernickel (with cubes around the edge for dipping). It always gets devoured whenever she makes it for a family get-together.
Another thing my family does is bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. You take whole canned water chestnuts, wrap each one in a slice of bacon, secure with a water-soaked wooden toothpick, and bake until the kitchen smells great and the bacon is cooked (but not crisp). My cousin made these during a family BBQ and she couldn't get them in and out of the oven fast enough - people were stealing them as soon as they came out - still hot! You can also do this with sea scallops or mushrooms, or even pearl onions.

[WynterWynd]

now I am drooling for crab dip, and its crab season here!!!

How about a cheese dip with corn chips or what ever else to dip in it! I make one (it takes a crock pot) with Velveeta cheese and either a can of chili thrown in or a jar of spicy slasa. Heat it till its all gooy and melted. My family can t stay out of this!!!

[Old Witch]

Y'all!! I'm starving now!!!!!!! Gonna go crash a party........:cool:

[Stacy]

chicken wings and Ranch..

I think I forgot to eat..

And the test said that I'm not an Internet addict.. :rolleyes:

[WynterWynd]

What test????:eek:

[Faery-Wings]

Yummy suggestions everyone! And now I am hungry.

Thanks for your ideas- they helped a lot and now I know what I am going to do. The burgundy crock pot meatballs, tortilla sandwich wraps, crab bruschetta, shrimp cocktail, artichoke dip, and a baked brie. Wine and beer. Homemade cookies and a frozen tiramisu for dessert!

And you are all invited! Virtual seats and plates heaped full for all of you.


PS: Mith if you can post that recipe, I still would love it- I have a New Years party to go to. :)

***edited for ridiculous spelling errors

[Stacy]

Originally posted by VroomBroom
What test????:eek:

Here is the link to the post:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22542

I'm not sure that the test is accurate, though :T

[Flaire-FireStar]

:lol: I'd be right over there, Chryssi!

We've got company coming today though - turkey's in the oven..I'm sure we're gonna be having crab dip being made soon too. :mmm: Butter tarts! Oh my. :D

[MoonRaven]

Ok seriously, am I the only being on earth who doesn't particularly like butter tarts??

[Faery-Wings]

What are butter tarts? LIke shortbreads? Or croissants?

[Faery-Wings]

Oh and you all might have to wait to ocome over until Thursday. They are predicting 6-10 inches of snow here tomorrow! ACK!

[Stacy]

Originally posted by chryssi1
Oh and you all might have to wait to ocome over until Thursday. They are predicting 6-10 inches of snow here tomorrow! ACK!

They said that for MO as well (over the night we were supposed to have 12-inches of snow), but so far nothing.. Weather people.. guessing and being payed for that.. :rolleyes:

:D

[Flaire-FireStar]

Moonie... I haven't run into anyone here who doesn't like them out here. :bug:


Originally posted by chryssi1
What are butter tarts? LIke shortbreads? Or croissants?

Actually.....They're very much like a raisin pie (I think). :)


Butter Tarts

1/2 cup seedless raisins
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 golden corn syrup
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 450F. Line 12 medium size tart tins with plain pastry.

Pour boiling watr on raisins to comletely cover. Let stand 5 to 10 mins. Into a medium size bowl measure the butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup. Add the warm, drained raisins (do not dry them) and stir vigorously until butter is melted. Add beaten egg and vanilla. Fill pastry-lined tart tins 3/4 full. Place on cookie sheet. Bake in a very hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes. When done the filling will lightly be browned but still bubbling. Do not over bake or filling will become too solid when the tarts cool. Remove tarts from oven but let them remain in ins for about 10 min to "set".



Edited to add: They are VERY sweet...

[Stacy]

Maaan, it's snowing like crazy in here now!

They were right.. :(

:wah: