Turkey or Ham? Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

[kathrynloveschristmas]

What does everyone have for their special dinner? We have turkey at my Dad's house, and ham at my Aunt and Uncle's. Also, does anyone here have their dinner on Christmas Eve? We've always had our dinner on Christmas Eve. Oh no...I just got a craving!! Turkey...gravy...potatoes...turnip...STUFFING!! And to top it all off...PUMPKIN ICE-CREAM PIE!!! AHHHH!!!

Tell me what you have for your special dinners. Also if you want the recipe for the pumpkin ice-cream pie, let me know...it is TO DIE FOR!! And unbelievably simple!

[dominick]

Our "big" dinner is whenever is most convenient for the majority of the family. More often than not, it's on Christmas Eve, and usually it's ham.

[Minta]

We have our big Christmas dinner with the extended family here on Christmas Day. We have turkey with all the trimmings. Usually we have stuffed shells too. For dessert I make pies apple crumb, pumpkin and sweet potato.

On Christmas Eve we have dinner at home with just our little family. We have a seafood dinner. We got o the local market on Christmas Eve afternon and order what ever seafood we want. Shrimp, clams, crab cakes, snow crab legs, etc. Our daughter loves steamed shrimp. Our little man is still to young to enjoy it but maybe next year.

[Head Elf]

When I lived in California, our friends always had their big dinner at 10:00 Christmas Eve night. Tamales, menudo and all the other fixins'. Our family would usually have the big todo on Christmas day with a big ham dinner with all the fixins.
Now that I'm out here in AZ, our friends have a get together on Christmas Eve and then leftovers or a buffet Christmas Day when their grandkids are with them.

[Pam]

We always have our family Christmas dinner on Christmas day and its always turkey! Wouldnt be Christmas without it!

[Christmas_Tex]

We have both ham and turkey. We eat a Christmas Eve lunch, go to church for a candlelight service, then come home, read the story of Christ's birth from the book of Luke, then tear the stuffing out of all the presents! It's quite a sight to behold. Merry Christmas!

[rufas2000]

Used to be turkey but we changed to ham. Christmas Day. Christmas Eve my Mom and I eat junk and watch "A Christmas Carol".

[scooterbugs25]

Ham for us too! Turkey is Thanksgiving.

[Iron Eagle]

Merry Christmas all !

Christmas Eve we all go to Mrs.Eagle's side of the family. This year it's her sister's house. My brother-in-law usually makes deep fried turkey. And it's great ! The kids (most over 21), enjoy slicing up potatoes and making "American Fries". We all take turns on Christmas Eve, last year was our year. No one beats Mrs. Eagle's upside down turkey, and my kettle'ed ham. Christmas day is at my sister's - more turkey and ham. You have to understand - in our family there's NEVER too much turkey or ham.

Otherwise it's about the same as Christmas_Tex, right down to the preasents.

[Billy Battles]

Ham for us too! Turkey is Thanksgiving.


Turkey on Christmas Day. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving I can eat turkey any day of the year.

[digbugsgirl]

We have turkey and ham, depending on where we are. We have dinner both days at different places.

[Holiday]

We only have turkey on Thanksgiving too - that's enough for me - I'm not a big turkey fan, but I do like it for Thanksgiving. For Christmas Eve we have Smokehouse Spaghetti at my parents house!! YUMMY! :smile: For Christmas Day we normally have ham at my in laws - now that I'm thinking about it - she might have turkey too once in awhile - but I can't remember for sure??? I eat the ham. Now I am hungry!!! :lol:

[scooterbugs25]

Turkey on Christmas Day. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving I can eat turkey any day of the year.


I don't know if i could handel it a month apart! we have it for about a week after turkey day! LOL

I do like turkey and bake a couple of them a year.

[MissKringle]

We have Christmas Lunch, it's a whole load of Meats both hot and Cold, Seafood, Salads, Veggies everything! (I want tacos this year too) and after the first meal we have a sort of midday dessert, with a load of pudding, cake, pavalova, Ice-creams, it's delicious, one of my fave parts of the season!

[JOHNOR]

HOLIDAY: what is smoke house spaghetti? it sounds delicious!

i have turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings on boxing day at the carvery with all my mum and all her side of the family, christmas day is spent with my dad and his side of the family at a chinese restaurant!

[Holiday]

HOLIDAY: what is smoke house spaghetti? it sounds delicious!

SMOKEHOUSE SPAGHETTI

½ LB. SPAGHETTI NOODLES (COOKED & DRAINED)
1 LB. BACON (FRIED & CRUMBLED)
2 ONIONS, CHOPPED
3 LB. HAMBURGER-BROWNED
3 – 8 OZ. CANS TOMATO SAUCE
1 PINT SPAGHETTI SAUCE (we use more - to taste - usually at least a quart)
½ TSP. OREGANO
½ TSP. GARLIC SALT
3 – 4 OZ. CANS MUSHROOMS W/ JUICE
½ LB. MOZZARELLA CHEESE - GRATED
½ LB. CHEDDAR CHEESE – GRATED
FRY TOGETHER BACON, HAMBURGER, & ONIONS. STIR IN TOMATO & SPAGHETTI SAUCE. ADD SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE. ADD OREGANO, GARLIC SALT, & MUSHROOMS. POUR ½ OF MIXTURE INTO GREASED BAKING DISH (we use a roasting pan) TOP WITH ½ OF CHEESE, AddThe Rest Of The Mixture & Top With the rest of the cheese . Bake at 375º for 25-35 min. Uncovered.
* We normally cut back on the Hamburger, double the recipe & it feeds over 30 people

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:family: Turkey - turkey - turkey!

I usually get it three times a year. For Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas in July. I try for Easter, but everyone else always wants ham. I'm not fond of ham so I'll take a bit and enjoy the vegy dishes instead.

Thanksgiving and Christmas has always been turkey. On Boxing Day or for New Year's we usually have ham.

My cousin used to visit here from London and she and her husband had to "make the rounds" and she wound up with four turkey dinners in three days.

[Montana's Santa]

Christmas Eve will be MacDonalds and Christmas Day will be whatever special is on at the truckstop on my way home to Montana from California

[Montana's Santa]

Thanksgiving is the restaurant closest to my hotel

[The Littlest Angel]

We used to have roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Christmas Day. Now we just have a simple buffet of finger foods: lil smokies, raw veggies and dip, etc.

[The Littlest Angel]

SMOKEHOUSE SPAGHETTI

½ LB. SPAGHETTI NOODLES (COOKED & DRAINED)
1 LB. BACON (FRIED & CRUMBLED)
2 ONIONS, CHOPPED...

Yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

[Sanity Clause]

Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, parsnips, brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding on Christmas Day. :family:

[Sunshine73]

On Christmas Eve we go to the in-laws where my mother-in-law serves tons of hors dourves and appetizers for their Christmas Eve open house. Marinated meatballs that are absolutely out of this world, little sausage bits in sauces, mini quiches, breaded veggie bites, chips & dip, veggies & dip, a seafood platter, chicken balls, etc. She usually makes a lasagna as well for the main dinner but I don't think anyone ever actually eats the main meal because we're all always way too stuffed from eating the hors dourves.

On Christmas Day we go to my family where it's the traditional family fare (for my family at least):

Turkey (I LOVE turkey!)
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes & gravy
Candied Yams
Baked Beans
Escalloped Corn
green bean casserole
Cranberry sauce
Burn and Serve rolls

[Annette1990]

I usually get together with my 5 brothers and their families, as well as my sister. We usually draw names, exchange gifts etc.. Some Christmas Eves. we do "traditional" dinners (which I prefer) other times we make it simple by having appetizers. I actually love turkey for Christmas dinner, along with my famous sage dressing, taters and gravy, cranberrie, my famous broccoli and cheese dish, rolls and desserts. I do recall one yr. thou I did make a prime rib but now I save that for the New Year.
* I'm getting hungry here*

[kidzrme]

We have a family party on Christmas Eve with turkey and ham, we have a large buffet. Approx. 25-30 people usually come. We have leftovers on Christmas day....Yum, I am so in the mood for that right now!

[AL_Storm_Chaser]

I am so hungry after reading this thread...

Usually we have Christmas Eve at my in-laws and just do finger foods while all the kids go through their presents. When we get home that evening, my wife makes stuffing that has sausage, celery and all kinds of good stuff in it. It is a meal in itself. On Christmas day, I'll fry a turkey after all the presents are open and my wife makes casseroles. We then eat the leftovers for several days - the best part!

[JOHNOR]

On Christmas Day we go to my family where it's the traditional family fare (for my family at least):

Turkey (I LOVE turkey!)
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes & gravy
Candied Yams
Baked Beans
Escalloped Corn
green bean casserole
Cranberry sauce
Burn and Serve rolls


mmm, sounds yummy! i'm in england, so can you explain to me what candied yams, escalloped corn and green bean casseroles are? i get the general idea but i just want to be sure!

on christmas eve, i spend the day at my mums and see most of the family, when we eat it's usually just things like sausage rolls, sandwiches, couple of slices of pizza. when i go home in the evening i get a takeaway with my partner.

christmas day is a strange one, after drinking heavily (!) at the pub, i go for a chinese meal with my dad, my sister and my dad's side of the family, we have a huge banquet including, spring rolls, peking duck, prawn toast, cod in plum sauce, king prawn seasonal vegetable, chicken black bean sauce, fillet steak in cantonese sauce,fried rice and a bottle or two of champagne!

boxing day is always a great day, about 25 of us on my mums side of the family go for a carvery and have a few bottles of wine, i have prawn cocktail for starter, the for my main course i turkey, stuffing, cranberry, roast potatoes, carrots, cauliflower cheese, brocolli, yorkshire pudding and lot's of gravy. puding is treacle sponge with lot's of custard, and yes, i do put a bit of weight on over the festive period. HO HO HO!


:rudolph:

[sugarplum fairy]

On Christmas Eve, we always go to my in-laws. We have different things to eat every year. She lets us know ahead of time what the ''theme'' is going to be. Some years it is an all out feast, other years it may be finger foods. We have had BBQ, pot luck, sandwiches, and everything in between. We just have to bring something that goes along with her ''theme'' (and that my kids will eat). She has had some strange ones before.

On Christmas Day, we always go to my mother's house. There we always have a "traditional" Christmas meal...ham, potatoes (mashed and/or potato salad), dressing, gravy, corn, pinto beans, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, rolls, yams or sweet potato casserole, and my chicken casserole (my nephews and nieces fuss if I don't). We usually have other stuff to go along with the traditional things, but it differs from year to year depending on what my sister wants. Desserts are different from year to year also except for an Oreo pie. I make that every year for my kids and nephew.

[Holiday]

We should put a warning with this thread:

***DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE THE LEAST BIT HUNGRY!!!***

:lol: :lol:

[SW1Dennis]

:sparkle:

Turkey on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Nothing can top it in my opinion!

[sgrover]

I'm so glad I read this while eating lunch, or I'd be running to the nearest deli for a turkey sandwich!

Christmas Eve is always at home, we go to the children's service at church, them my parents, my in-laws and occationaly a few additional family members come back for a buffet dinner. I make little cocktail weiners in sauce, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, sausage and cheese tray, veggies/dip, chip/dip, spinnage dip in a bread bowl, shrimp & crab w/seafood sauce, cookies, bars etc. And we open the "Mom and Dad" presents, because of course, Santa doesn't come until after we're asleep.

Christmas Day is either at my Mom's, my sister's or my brother's. And we have both turkey & ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, broccoli salad, corn, cranberries, rolls, pumpkin & berry pies. A veritable feast!

[JOHNOR]

this is making me so hungry! what do you all eat in the run up to christmas? do you find that you eat more chocolate and candy than ususal? do you find you eat more takeaways because you can't be bothered to cook because you have been so busy decorating, shopping, wrapping presents etc?