On the Ninth Day of Christmas Recipes: Christmas Menu Planning

xmasmenu

Originally I planned to post Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus, well on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then I realized, for those of you frantically searching for what to serve your family and friends on those days, the day of is too late. Well, I actually think even now is a bit too late–I like to plan my menu out at least a couple of weeks in advance and try to start prepping what I can around now, if possible. But that’s me. As much as I love hosting guests, it stresses the hell out of me. Early planning is essential to prevent a nervous breakdown.

My family is Polish. We don’t exactly do the Feast of Seven fishes, like the Italians, but we generally abstain from eating meat on Christmas Eve. I say generally because growing up my brother and I were quite opposed to eating fish. And we weren’t really adventurous veggie eaters, so a meatless meal was a bit challenging. So while the rest of our family would eat scallops and sole, we ate mozzarella and tomato (I had no idea what Caprese was back then), mashed potatoes and fish sticks, if my mom was lucky. The one thing my brother and I were guarenteed to eat was at least a full bowl of Potato Leek Soup to start the meal. It was Knorr’s back then. I make it from scratch now, but still turn to Knorr’s when I’m in need of childhood comfort food.

Christmas Day was a feast of everything. A ham, turkey, kielbasa, and so SO much more. It was the type of rich food you would start your new year’s diet early for, just so you could remain the same starting weight when January 1 came. A gradual day of eating, starting with appetizers, food, presents, more food, dessert, drinking and conversations. And if I’m being honest, sometimes a bit more napping than conversation.

Like most holidays, I don’t know that Christmas Eve will ever be celebrated in our Brooklyn apartment, But here’s some thoughts on a menu.Originally I planned on posting a menu for Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day, but that’s just too many menues. So here’s my thoughts on Christmas, combining elements from both day and night, to create a Christmas extravaganza feast. Note, before you get scared, this is Christmas Dinner for about 15 or more guests.