I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

So my SIL, BIL and their 4 kids will be staying with us for Christmas. So will my FIL. I invited my bil aunt because she lives here and we like her. She will be here and I felt bad having the kids here and her not seeing them.

Find out that BIL's brother, wife and son will be here from florida and so will BIL uncle wife and 2 kids. Of course I invited them cause i felt bad. BUT I will have at least 40 people here Of course all my family will be here.

SO ANYWAY...
I have no IDEA what to make. I thought about catering but usually we cater chrstmas eve and do the italian thing. So I don't want to do that again HELP!

Guess we aren't using the good china again this year

Message edited 11/7/2007 7:00:22 PM.

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

Can it be potluck, like the ones who live here can bring something?

Or KISS...keep it simple. Trays of baked ziti, trays of salad...Good stuff in large quantities. Maybe 3-4 things only.

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

Also, if you do do potluck, decide first what you want to have and then go from there. Rather than have 20 people bring chicken and not have salad, create a checklist of what you WANT and have people choose based upon availability. This way you can kind of keep track of what is coming and you won't be surprised when you get 5 hams and 12 plates of yams.

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

Since christmas eve for us is usually the italian fish Christmas Day was always sauce. When I hosted Christmas last year I had antipasto and homemade manicotti with a good meaty sauce!

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

I can stop by with a spiral ham

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

Growing up my family always had a cold cut platter for the 30-40 people at my grandma's for christmas.

Now, my mom cooks a turkey the day before and gets a spiral ham from costco, and serves it all cold buffet style with potato salad and cold slaw.

With that many people it'g got to be a low key buffet style thing.

Re: I know it's really early but lets talk Christmas!

I would say make a ham, but my current ham baking experience is a bit stressful... and we're not having company

if you want to go to your ethnic roots, how about doing a genuine italian christmas eve dinenr with tons of fish...

here's an article that explains the tradition, and supplies some recipes too

an italian christmas eve