Hellobee Boards

I was just about to ask this! I was planning to order a turkey holiday meal kit from the fancy grocery store chain for thanksgiving but they sold out before I ordered. Oops. So definitely order early if you are looking into this option.

For Christmas I'm debating between doing the same turkey holiday meal kit or having my husband cook. He really wants to cook but I honestly don't want to deal with a big mess of dishes since it is just the three of us. Normally we go see my family (they live out of state) or go to our closest friend's house and I assume we will resume that next year. So long story long, I still have no idea what we are doing.

edit- when we don't travel to see my family I cook a big breakfast with a baked french toast, pastries, bagels, etc and my IL come over. It is nice. I'll probably still make the baked french toast this year. For dinner we go to our family friend's house and they always offer a ton of delirious food. My favorite is the maple bacon brussel sprouts!

Before we moved back near our family we did Christmas at home by ourselves. My main thing when planning holiday meals is that I don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen by myself all day. That would annoy me and DH always says all he remembers about his mom on Christmas is that she was cooking all day

On Christmas Eve we would do pasta and meatballs for dinner. I make the meatballs and sauce in the crockpot in the morning and at dinner time I just need to cook the pasta. Typically we’ll add frozen garlic bread and make a salad. Super easy. Dessert will be some of the cookies we make for Santa that morning.

Christmas breakfast is a baked French toast that I prep the night before. In the morning I make it in the oven and also bake some bacon. Add cut up fruit.

Christmas Day was either a ham in the crockpot with sides that I make ahead and just have to reheat. Things like: mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a cheese/broccoli bake. Add rolls and salad. Or a premade chicken pot pie with a salad.

Also, even though I know it’s not great I use all disposable pans because I do not want a lot of clean up. I also use crock pot liners to make it even easier.

So we’re bringing back that menu. I think we decided on the pot pie for Christmas Day because DH is having a back procedure on the 22nd and I want to make things as easy as possible.

When things are normal we go to a big potluck party at my in-laws on Christmas Eve. Do Christmas morning by ourselves with the baked French toast. And see my family for a big meal in the afternoon. I’m actually kind of excited for a quiet holiday at home this year.

We are fortunate to live in Atlantic Canada where cases are very low and public health is allowing us to gather in groups of 20 or less for the holidays. So our traditions will look a little different (my inlaws won’t be traveling to us from a neighbouring province sadly) but overall it should be somewhat similar.

Christmas Eve : After church we usually go to my parents for seafood chowder and appetizers. We won’t go to church this year , and my parents won’t be hosting as many as they usually do but we will still go over there.

Christmas Brunch: Is always at our place with my parents/sister and DHs parents/sister - we will still have this with my family but my inlaws won’t be there. We do lobster quiche, hashbrown casserole, pecan butter biscuits, wifesaver casserole, sausage bites, festive salad, coffee cake and orange Julius mimosa knock off... it’s probably my favourite meal of the whole year !!

Christmas Dinner - is always at my parents and will be again this year, but with a smaller crowd . It’s the usual turkey, potatoes, a gazillion sides and gingerbread cake with cream cheese icing for dessert .

Boxing Day - Usually my aunt has a big party with Chili and fish but this year it’s canceled. We’ll probably just hang at home and honestly I’m not sad about it haha.

NYE: We usually do a fondue and hot tub with my parents/sister and will probably do so again this year .

Last year I had nine people for four days, plus some of those people on either end. To simplify Christmas dinner I made this Christmas Tortellini Soup. It looks festive with the red tomatoes and green spinach. I'm planning to do that again this year for our much smaller Christmas. And hoping to find some crab for crab cioppino on Christmas Eve.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/christmas-tortellini-spinach-soup/

@catgirl: This is my strategy too! The less time I spend in the kitchen, the better. But, I still want it to feel special

We have done at-home Christmas for about 6 years now so this year will be just like the rest, but without seeing local friends or attending our community events (that are mostly cancelled anyway).

For Christmas Eve we do snowman pizza. I’ve made dough, bought prepared dough at the grocery store, or used naan bread as the base in various years. Super easy, kid-pleasing and festive enough.
Christmas morning I do a make-ahead bake. Overnight french toast, strata, eggy sausage casserole, etc. This year I’m going to do a croissant/cream cheese/fruit bake.
Christmas Day I put out a cheese board and make some frozen apps (pigs in a blanket, stuffed mushrooms) for lunch.
Christmas dinner is a slow cooker meal that I prep for a night or two before. Most years we do braised beef short ribs with either grits, polenta, or mashed potatoes. Add a veg like green beans, asparagus, or broccolini. I don’t do a Christmas dessert since we have so many stocking treats!
New Year’s we usually give the kids their own dinner and then do a cheese board/apps again with champagne after they’re asleep. Fondue sounds so fun!! I was also thinking of maybe splurging on some special seafood or something like that.

Our Christmas eve meal won't change as we always just host my parents and they're in our bubble. We make prime rib, sourdough stuffing, and this brussel sprout arugula salad. DS1 will have a hot dog.

Christmas will definitely look different. Our breakfast will be the same. I make monkey bread, breakfast casserole and sourdough cinnamon rolls. We would normally get together with all of our extended family but that's off the table. I'm sort of looking forward to spending the day in our jammies and ordering out. Just need to figure out if any restaurants will be open.

NYE won't change either. Ever since DH and I met, we've always spent the night at home making an elaborate dinner. We just need to pick out the menu!

I forgot NYE - we always do breakfast for dinner. The past few years we have had banana bread french toast, sausage or bacon, fruit, and sparkling cider. I'm not quite sure how it started but we've been doing it for five years.

@charm55: @erinbaderin: I needed to know what “wifesaver casserole” is, so I googled and there are some really disparate recipes out there—some with white bread, egg, and ham with cereal sprinkled on top; and some with croissants, peaches, and eggs.

So which type do you all make?

@charm55: @erinbaderin: I love this! I had never heard of this but it is a staple in my husband's family. We lived out west for a while, and I learned that it is a favourite holiday breakfast meal there! It is on my list for this year, though I have never made it before!

@lady baltimore: Here you go! They're amazing. Of course with anything sourdough they take some time. I also make my own icing that's basically powdered sugar, vanilla and milk since no one in my family likes cream cheese. I know, we're weird.

https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2017/12/how-to-make-sourdough-cinnamon-rolls-step-by-step-guide/

@Anagram: I am not on board with peaches and eggs! We do the same as @charm55: although usually with Rice Krispies, probably because that’s what my mom has in the pantry.