Christmas Eve Dinner

Spinach Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing



Beef Tenderloin Roast with Red Wine Sauce

Potato, Onion and Cheese Gratin

Green Beans with Bacon and Shallots



Creamy Cheesecake with Graham Cracker-Walnut Crust
and Sour Cream Topping

This is a festive and delicious menu that will delight your family and guests. For maximum flavor, the cheesecake should be prepared one or two days ahead and refrigerated. In the morning, make the salad dressing and refrigerate. If using prewashed spinach and green beans, you are good to go. Otherwise, clean and refrigerate both. The cheese for the potatoes can be grated and refrigerated. Later in the day, assemble the potatoes gratin, allowing enough time for baking as indicated in the recipe. Before dinner, cook the bacon and eggs for the salad. Place the roast at room temperature for about 30 minutes. When the potatoes are done, remove from the oven, cover with foil and keep warm. Increase the oven temperature, roast the beef and cook the green beans. Meanwhile, assemble and serve the salad. While the roast is resting, make the wine sauce and, if needed, return the potatoes to the oven to reheat. Slice the beef, place on individual plates with the potatoes and beans and drizzle the beef with sauce. After the main course, serve that scrumptious dessert and enjoy.

Christmas Breakfast

Fresh Orange or Tomato Juice

Mom's Fluffy Scrambled Eggs

Raw Fried Potatoes

Baked Canadian Bacon with Maple-Mustard Glaze

Cranberry-Orange Nut Bread

Assorted Fruits and Berries

Coffee, Tea and/or Hot Chocolate

On Christmas Day, my mother always served a hearty breakfast after the presents were opened. She made a beautiful table setting using her red depression glass. Eventually, I took on the tradition. Like Mom, I alter the menu on occasion, but the basics of eggs, meats and quick breads or breakfast cakes remain. This is an easy menu, most of which can be made that morning with little effort. The cranberry bread can be baked one or two days ahead, cooled, wrapped in foil and refrigerated. The fruit and berries can be prepared as desired and refrigerated the day before. Christmas morning, place the cranberry bread at room temperature to remove the chill. Fry the potatoes, bake the bacon and cook the eggs. If necessary, they can all be kept warm in a very low oven for a short time. If desired, serve the juice cocktails spiked with a little gin or vodka and the cranberry bread with softened or whipped cream cheese.

Christmas Dinner Buffet

Brown Sugar and Mustard Glazed Baked Ham

Homemade Dinner Rolls or Small Sandwich Buns

Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bell Peppers

Homemade Baked Beans from Scratch

Seven-Layer Salad



Assorted Christmas Cookies

Classic Eggnog

Coffee, Tea and/or Hot Chocolate

This is a simple, informal menu with items that can be prepared the day of or before the event, storing and reheating dishes as needed. That is a plus for those who receive guests who are obligated to visit several relatives or friends at indefinite times. Like my mother before me, I always make cookies several weeks before Christmas so I can serve them any time during the holiday season. Make the eggnog and beans several days ahead and refrigerate. If desired, the dinner rolls can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months. Prepare the salad the day before, cover and refrigerate. If desired, the ham can be made up to three days ahead and refrigerated. Slice and serve at room temperature, or cover and gently reheated in the oven in a little of the cooking juices. Serve with the rolls or buns and your favorite condiments so guests who prefer to do so can make little sandwiches. The macaroni and cheese can be made that day or assembled and refrigerated up to two days ahead, then baked when needed. To accentuate the holiday theme and make cleanup quick and easy, purchase festive paper plates and cups for serving. That is it. Relax and enjoy the day.