What Will You Be Eating for Christmas Dinner??

Is it possible that, under the circumstances, you can ask everyone to bring one of their favorite dishes? It would seem appropriate that people would want to help last minute.

Otherwise, I'd keep it simple with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, a simple vegetable or salad. 25 people is a lot. If it's too much for you, have Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans provide the sides for you (they make them in family sized portions).

Good luck!

We're staying home this year and it'll just be us....We're having a honey baked ham, hashbrown casserole, sweet potato casserole, dinner rolls, corn, carrots, baked apples. I agree with the others---maybe ask people to bring salads, and sides since there are so many people.

When our extended family gets together on xmas, we have a cheesy potato casserole every year - terrible for you, but sooo good. This recipe looks close (use cream of celery soup): http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1746,133188-253193,00.html

We also have a veggie tray, fruit salad (popular with the kids, too), squash or sweet potatoes, green beans. People bring appetizers/sides.

Here's a recipe for you that's easy to make and a hit with a crowd. Also delicious with ham :) I make these all the time.
1 package of frozen shredded Hashbrowns
1 1/2 to 2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 stick Margarine/Butter
1 16oz container Sour Cream
1 ½ packages extra sharp cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Use 9 X 13 pan. Spray with cooking spray. Combine and Mix all ingredients. (Except Cheese Save ½ package for the top) Place combined ingredients in the pan and let cook approx 1 hour. May take longer depending on your oven and if you like it brown and crispy on top. During the last 5 minutes of cooking put remaining shredded cheese on the top and finish baking.

One of our favorite salads is Cherry Jello, made according to directions...Mash up one can of whole berry cranberry sauce, 1 can of drained crushed pineapple and a bunch of walnuts. For the topping I use 3/4 container of Cool Whip mixed with 1 8oz pkg of cream cheese..whip it all together. You can double the recipe or triple it..

Can you handle another response? With ham a cheesy potato goes best. The suggestion of au gratian is great or the baked hashbrown/creamy soup/cheese type of potato works wonderful. Both you can make ahead and bake when needed. Mashed doesn't work as well because you don't have a gravy available. Then simple warm veggie side dishes. Green beans of some sort and either carrots or broccoli go well. You could do simple or the casserole type. Sweet potatoes are good but not a must. Then round out the meal with a cold salad, either spinach, fruit, or jello and rolls. Dessert is pies and cookies. We are having ham also and my cousin is bringing a warm pinapple dish. That too would go wonderful with ham. Sure you could find the recipe on the internet. Good luck!

We are having turkey and cranberry sauce and peas and corn and salad and mashed potato and gravy. Sometimes we have ham instead. I agree with the earlier suggestion to ASK if some of your guests can please bring a side dish - salad or other item to share (that serves 6-8 people) because you'll be busy with your ham and getting your house ready and having two little ones...

You can always roast some vegetables. I like to roast asparagus and cherry tomatoes. The asparagus takes longer so put that in first. (Lightly drizzle with olive oil and salt and put on a cookie sheet). Roast at 400 for about 10 minutes or until tender (could be less). The tomatoes only take a few minutes in a preheated oven. So good and healthy too. So you could cook/heat your ham. Then while you are cooking rolls you could roast the vegetables. Just do it right before you sit down b/c they are better hot. Good luck!

My family's favorite side dish with ham is cheesy scalloped potatoes and corn.

I always make fresh biscuits too!

Good luck with your dinner and sorry for your loss.

We're having ham with baked mac & cheese, corn, rolls, green salad, cranberry sauce, and some type of sweet potato thingy.

We also might make a turkey breast and would have gravy to go with it.

You can do rolls, Green bean casserole, Mac n Cheese. My family does Turkey with stuffing.

In my experience, it's best when the host doesn't try to adhere to any "traditions" anyway-- just makes what they make well. In my parents' family that's fettucini alfredo and in my mother-in-law's family they do a traditional polish meatless dinner.

If you can you provide the Ham, Drinks, Rolls and ask each family to bring a side that would make it easiest. If that fails some easy things are:

Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potatoe Casserole
Mashe Potatoes and Gravy
Corn Casserole
Stuffing or Dressing

All these you can find recipes on line and are easy to make.

Frying turkey, ham, green been casserole, corn, mashed potatoes, salad, buns

Dessert: Andruit (wafer thing), brownies, cookies, poppyseed cake, cheesecake, cupcakes for the kids to decorate.

Appetizers: shrimp, polish sausage, broccoli dip, chip and dip, and something else I can't remember

Have a great one!

In my family the person who is having the meal provides the meats plus mashed potatoes and they call around to see whose bringing what (everybody brings something and there are those who love to make more than one thing) We always have ham and turkey I have a siter who when its her turn will also make a coke roast. some things people bring sweet potato casserole green bean casserole brocli cheese casserole slaw theres always pies cookies jello cake. with you taking over the dinner do to a death I think it would be aproperate to get people to bring something to hel you. enjoy your meal.

Hi M. well for starters, how about potato salad, mixed greens(mustard, turnip and spinach) cooked with hamhocks, strings beans, macaroni and cheese,cornbread, meatballs,kraut and sausage,spaghetti in meat sauce and some fried chicken. I hope these suggestion help.

We are having ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, pies. I wanted to make this fantastic cheesy potato bake (which kids would like too) but my sister chimed in with mashed potatoes. We also always have a fruit tray and a veggie tray for folks to nibble on. From what I have learned keep it simple with traditional foods people are comfortable with and perhaps add a dip and/or dessert that is different and special for you. I have an incredible banana pudding from Southern Living that is excellent and quite different from fruit pies. Good luck and try to enjoy yourself in the process. Merry Christmas!

That's so nice of you to have everyone over. We're having traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, etc. I just wanted to say that you should save yourself some time/energy and grab some pre-made veggie & cheese trays today. They'll keep your guests busy and help with food for so many. A couple of crusty loaves of bread with dip would be great too.

I agree with everyone to ask folks to bring things to help out. If you wanted to make a simple dish that goes far, try a pasta salad. You can add cut up cucumber, grape tomatoes, artichokes, chunks of mozzarella cheese to bowtie pasta and use a little light Italian dressing to taste. It's super easy, makes a ton and tastes great.

Good luck and enjoy your family dinner!

This will not help in your case, but since my MIL does Thanksgiving and Christmas, we decided this year to just have lasagna, salad and garlic bread. Much easier to prepare, and a change from the usual.

First off-
Make your appatizers easy- some nice cheese, crackers, a veggie plate and dip. Put your husband in charge of circulating the aps and making sure everyone has a drink or glass of punch or whatever. That leaves you free in the kitchen!

I would ask other people to bring a few salads and rolls. Those things are easy and with such a big group I'm sure people will want to give you a hand.

Make scalloped potatoes with cheese to go with the ham. They're easy and can be made in a casserole ahead of time (like today!) and then heated up for the dinner.

Another nice, elegant and easy side is green beans with walnuts. This is actually even less work than traditional green bean casserole and if you have some more health conscious guests, it would be a lot less sodium, etc. for then as well.

Steam the green beans on the stove or in the microwave- be careful not to over cook them. They should be bright green and still have a little 'crunch' when you bite them. Then heat up a skillet, and put some crushed walnuts or hazelnuts in with a little butter. Cook the nuts until they are darkened and the butter is browned. Then add the beans and a little more butter if you need it to give the beans a light coating. Stir fry them up - and you have a lovely green veggie to go with your main course.

For dessert, I would just have a bunch of cookies or little things- everyone will be full from the main meal and will just want to 'pick' at dessert anyway. You could even ask everyone to bring a dozen, and then all share what you made. Have a wonderful holiday- I'm sure it will be a huge success!

as we have just 4 in our family, plus my mom, we keep things pretty simple and laid back. I typically cook prime rib or beef tenderloin. mashed potatoes, salad, veggie, rolls and dessert.
I would suggest that you have some au gratin potatoes, maybe some type of baked beans, green bean casserole or brocoli/cheesy rice casserole. all goes well with ham. my mom has this recipe for green beans, and corn casserole. I think she got it from the southern living magazine. I think it is "company's coming casserole".