Over the past 4 years we've moved to buffet style christmas. This way the various family members can stop by and feast at what ever time is available. My daughters will be visiting 4-5 households on christmas day so trying to coordinate a sit-down isn't as practical. I always thought it was more welcoming to know there place to stop by unscheduled.
As a buffet we heavy load with desserts and snacks. First several types of cookies including at least:
- TollHouse Chocolate chip made Christmas Day afternoon in both dark and white chocolate versions
- Decorated sugar cookies (traditionally made on Christmas Eve)
- Nut roll cookies (not sure of the name)
- Pizzells (ultra thin waffle like cookie)
- Some type of Fruit Tart cookie
- the minature pecan pie type cookies
- Biscotti
Additional desserts including at least:
- fruit pie (apple and/or cherry/blueberry),
- one pinapple upside down cake,
- jello cake with cream cheese topping
- Lee's home made Banana bread (with crushed pecans, raisin and honey marbled top).
- 3 lb starter plate of Peg's Diabetic Coma Killer Homemade Fudge (she usually makes 10 to 15 pound for presents).
Appetizers include a large vegetable platter including carrots, celery, red and green papers, brocaully, cauliflower, pickles (sweet, dill, garlic), black olives with 3-4 types of dips. Also cubed chesses (munster, jack, provolone, swiss, cheddar), summer sausage, and Chips (Regular and Crab).
We do add a few main dishs, spiral cut honey ham, green been cassarole, sweet potatoes, Sauteed mushrooms (last year's were brandied) and either heart-attack-in-a-pan(kielbassa and sliced pototes) or poor-man's lassagne. I'm hoping for crab balls again, but we'll have to see what's available. Finally there are also breads and crackers.
In the past drinks were mostly non-alcoholic, soda's, hot chocolate, eggnog, hot apple cider, tea, and coffee. We may add some spiced brandy, spiced rum, and Irish whiskee to add to the coffees, and maybe some hot hard cider now that kids and guests are older.
Leftovers (alway lots) are retired late christmas night to the 'frig's and are consumed throughout the following week. On New years we add black-eyed peas, cornbeef and cabbage which are traditional good luck dishes from the south and Baltimore respectively.
Many of these goodies start appearing a couple of weeks before christmas (cookies, candies, quick breads, cakes, etc). To share with visitors and friends who stop by over the holidays.
For me this is the welcome repast. It's the goodies to share as we visit and feed relationships throughout the holidays.
