Need Easy, Christmas Meal Ideas

[tarheelmjfan]

We're going to be spending our first Christmas Day as a family of three at our home in North Carolina. (We used to spend it with MIL, but she passed away last month. ) Unfortunately, the weather here wreaks havoc on my health, so I may not be able to cook. (It would be impossible, at the moment.) I still want to make the day special for my family, so I'm hoping for ideas for special dishes for all three meals that DH could prepare, if necessary. This town will most likely be shut down that day, so eating out isn't an option.

So, what are your best, minimal cooking meals to serve for a special occasion?

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Order something the night before from a favourite restaurant and heat it up as leftovers.

 

[Skippyboo]

You could get a ham and cook it beforehand. We do fried dippy eggs with toast for breakfast after opening our presents. We have done lasagna for dinner. You could do waffles or pancakes for breakfast, maybe just put out some cheese and crackers, veggies tray for lunch.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Christmas Eve:
Baked Ziti
This recipe looks about right
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18031/baked-ziti-ii/

Christmas Morning:
Make the day before for a quick Christmas Morning, let the bread soak up the batter - really I just make a french toast batter and pour it over chunky torn up loaf of bread
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/240502/easy-french-toast-casserole/

Christmas Day:
Roast beef, pork roast, pork loin or chicken, whatever your budget permits.
Bag of potatoes, use mini guys cut in half or reg size peeled and cut into chunks
Toss in Lipton onion soup mix with oil & bake the last hour of the roast
Some pillsbury rolls

 

[Southernmiss]

We're going to be spending our first Christmas Day as a family of three at our home in North Carolina. (We used to spend it with MIL, but she passed away last month. ) Unfortunately, the weather here wreaks havoc on my health, so I may not be able to cook. (It would be impossible, at the moment.) I still want to make the day special for my family, so I'm hoping for ideas for special dishes for all three meals that DH could prepare, if necessary. This town will most likely be shut down that day, so eating out isn't an option.

So, what are your best, minimal cooking meals to serve for a special occasion?

North Carolina... I'm thinking the weather would accommodate Grilled steak, grilled asparagus or green beans, salad, baked potato with all the toppings. And a grocery or bakery dessert.

Charcuterie tray for nibbling all day.

Think of your family favorites and enjoy!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Order something the night before from a favourite restaurant and heat it up as leftovers.

We're considering ordering a quiche & cheesecake from a local restaurant to cover part of breakfast & dessert, but we're up for other suggestions as well.

You could get a ham and cook it beforehand. We do fried dippy eggs with toast for breakfast after opening our presents. We have done lasagna for dinner. You could do waffles or pancakes for breakfast, maybe just put out some cheese and crackers, veggies tray for lunch.

Thanks for the ideas.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Christmas Eve:
Baked Ziti
This recipe looks about right
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18031/baked-ziti-ii/

Christmas Morning:
Make the day before for a quick Christmas Morning, let the bread soak up the batter - really I just make a french toast batter and pour it over chunky torn up loaf of bread
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/240502/easy-french-toast-casserole/

Christmas Day:
Roast beef, pork roast, pork loin or chicken, whatever your budget permits.
Bag of potatoes, use mini guys cut in half or reg size peeled and cut into chunks
Toss in Lipton onion soup mix with oil & bake the last hour of the roast
Some pillsbury rolls

I'll check out the casserole. Thanks for the other ideas too.

North Carolina... I'm thinking the weather would accommodate Grilled steak, grilled asparagus or green beans, salad, baked potato with all the toppings. And a grocery or bakery dessert.

Charcuterie tray for nibbling all day.

Think of your family favorites and enjoy!

We're South Floridians most of the year, so it's very cold here to us. I'll see what DH thinks about grilling though.

Edited to clarify any NC/FL confusion.

 

[focusondisney]

I actually hate the idea of a big stressful meal. I bake a cinnamon coffee cake on Christmas Eve, we have that for breakfast. I get ritz crackers, cheese, pepperoni, shrimp & cocktail sauce, pumpernickel bread & dill dip & have them available all day. I get salad mix with add ins & good deli roast beef, turkey, ham & salami plus hard rolls for when anyone wants something more substantial. They can make a chefs salad or have a sandwich of their choice. My daughter doesn’t eat beef, my husband doesn’t like chicken or pork, my DIL & daughter’s BF don’t like mayo based sides or roasted veggies if too greasy etc, etc. This way, I have something everyone will eat & I don’t spend all day in the kitchen. The kids each have big dinners with the inlaws on Christmas Eve, so they’re fine with grazing on Christmas Day.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We're going to be spending our first Christmas Day as a family of three at our home in North Carolina. (We used to spend it with MIL, but she passed away last month. ) Unfortunately, the weather here wreaks havoc on my health, so I may not be able to cook. (It would be impossible, at the moment.) I still want to make the day special for my family, so I'm hoping for ideas for special dishes for all three meals that DH could prepare, if necessary. This town will most likely be shut down that day, so eating out isn't an option.

So, what are your best, minimal cooking meals to serve for a special occasion?

No cooking ideas for you, @tarheelmjfan, but did want to pass on my condolences on the recent passing of your mother-in-law. 's

 

[Micca]

So sorry to hear about your DMIL my friend. The grocery stores here have various levels of complete meals, all cooked and ready to eat. I'm betting that some of the more up-scale stores have some very good versions of dishes you might expect.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I actually hate the idea of a big stressful meal. I bake a cinnamon coffee cake on Christmas Eve, we have that for breakfast. I get ritz crackers, cheese, pepperoni, shrimp & cocktail sauce, pumpernickel bread & dill dip & have them available all day. I get salad mix with add ins & good deli roast beef, turkey, ham & salami plus hard rolls for when anyone wants something more substantial. They can make a chefs salad or have a sandwich of their choice. My daughter doesn’t eat beef, my husband doesn’t like chicken or pork, my DIL & daughter’s BF don’t like mayo based sides or roasted veggies if too greasy etc, etc. This way, I have something everyone will eat & I don’t spend all day in the kitchen. The kids each have big dinners with the inlaws on Christmas Eve, so they’re fine with grazing on Christmas Day.

Sounds like a nice, relaxing day.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

No cooking ideas for you, @tarheelmjfan, but did want to pass on my condolences on the recent passing of your mother-in-law. 's

Thanks, Dan.

So sorry to hear about your DMIL my friend. The grocery stores here have various levels of complete meals, all cooked and ready to eat. I'm betting that some of the more up-scale stores have some very good versions of dishes you might expect.

Thanks, Micca. We'll definitely check Ingles for ideas.

 

[Skippyboo]

You could go A Christmas Story style and get Chinese food.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You could go A Christmas Story style and get Chinese food.

Unfortunately, the Chinese food we've tried here isn't very good, but that's always an option.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Seems like casseroles are good for maybe one of the meals.

"Taco Bake" is pretty easy... it's basically a matter of making some taco meat w/McCormick's mix (or whatever brand) and hamburger, adding a can of Rotel, topping it w, Mexican cheese blend... baking that in the oven til the cheese melts. Serve it over crushed up tortilla chips. It is also really good to top it w/shredded lettuce and sour cream.

 

[ForceofWill]

I'm a big fan of Alton Brown's Ham and Broccoli Casserole recipes. I make them a lot. They're pretty simple to follow and delicious.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/city-ham-recipe-2013153

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/broccoli-casserole-recipe-1940671

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Hotdish is also good... not hard to do.

Some people like to add onion, I definitely do NOT. Basically just brown hamburger, squeeze out the fat and add it to a baking dish. Spread green beans and corn over that really good (I prefer frozen over canned), add cream of mushroom soup then add tater tots over the top of the whole thing and bake it about an hour. Add cheddar cheese to the top to melt towards the end of the run.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Seems like casseroles are good for maybe one of the meals.

"Taco Bake" is pretty easy... it's basically a matter of making some taco meat w/McCormick's mix (or whatever brand) and hamburger, adding a can of Rotel, topping it w, Mexican cheese blend... baking that in the oven til the cheese melts. Serve it over crushed up tortilla chips. It is also really good to top it w/shredded lettuce and sour cream.

I'm a big fan of Alton Brown's Ham and Broccoli Casserole recipes. I make them a lot. They're pretty simple to follow and delicious.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/city-ham-recipe-2013153

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/broccoli-casserole-recipe-1940671

Thanks. Both ideas sound good & easy for anytime.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What about a nice soup or chowder?

I saw this one the other day (Ham Bean Soup by good.vibes.cooking) and it looked really good. We might make it ourselves on Christmas Day.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I think I’d do something really easy for breakfast, then a mid-day luncheon (1 or 2pm?). Chances are you won’t be too hungry after that, or you could just do something light later on maybe?

So sorry about your MIL, btw.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

What about a nice soup or chowder?

I saw this one the other day (Ham Bean Soup by good.vibes.cooking) and it looked really good. We might make it ourselves on Christmas Day.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I think I’d do something really easy for breakfast, then a mid-day luncheon (1 or 2pm?). Chances are you won’t be too hungry after that, or you could just do something light later on maybe?

So sorry about your MIL, btw.

Thanks. We love 15 bean soup. I've never tried adding greens & extra meat, but that looks good.

 

[tvguy]

My wife and daughter today informed me I am making Macaroni and Cheese for Christmas dinner. While it is from scratch, it is easy to fix.