Last month I wrote an article on the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Now I will focus on the perfect Christmas dinner- a meal that is simple and hopefully stress-free.
First, the main entrée. Turkey is a popular dish. But so is ham. If one wants to be creative, a turducken with cornbread stuffing will do. Supposedly there is a turducken that can be stuffed inside a pig, which outdoes the concept of having a suckling pig or a roasted pig. Or one can do Christmas in the style of Victorian England and serve goose. Or if one wants something lighter, then perhaps fish would be a good choice.
Next, there are the side dishes. Mash potatoes is the ideal starch dish. Dinner rolls are easy to prepare, and help complete the carbs for the menu. Corn would be an excellent vegetable dish, as would as the vegetable medley (a.k.a. California medley), which consists of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. And don’t forget the gravy.
Then there are the finger foods. A veggie tray (consisting of carrot sticks, celery sticks, broccoli, cauliflower, and ranch dip) is a good choice. Crackers and various cheeses (cheddar, Colby Jack, pepper jack) are popular finger foods, as are certain meats, such as summer sausage, salami, pepperoni, or shrimp cocktail. Assorted nuts (whether they be chestnuts, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, etc.) are also popular.
Then there are the desserts. Fruitcake is a popular dessert, as is mince pie. Gingerbread, cookies, various fruits, and candy are also popular. But I think the best dessert is cheesecake, preferably New York Style, and with the option of having toppings, i.e. cherry or strawberry. Jell-O (preferably lime jell) is also a good idea.
Finally, there are the beverages. Water is simple, but I’m certain people will want coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Fruit juice is an option. Some people will opt for alcoholic beverages. Hot chocolate is popular. Egg nog and apple cider are also well-liked, whether or not they contain alcohol.
If you decide to have a brunch for Christmas, then I recommend any of the following: egg whites, egg beaters, or egg substitutes (all of which are cholesterol-free), bacon, sausage, ham, Canadian bacon, steak, pancakes, waffles, French toast, biscuits, bagels, English muffins, toast, cinnamon rolls, donuts, sweet rolls, Danish, strudel, muffins, hash browns, and skillet potatoes.
So there you have it. A Christmas meal that is easy to prepare.
Merry Christmas.
