As an annual tradition, as soon as we finish Thanksgiving dinner, we start planning Christmas dinner — like while our dishes are still on the table. Garrett can not understand how people who are full can talk about food so he is guaranteed to be grossed out every year. The rest of my family and I LOVE LOVE LOVE meal planning (obviously) so we have a great time debating whether to cook turkey again or ham (not my favorite) or to do something completely different. This year, we’re going for the latter and doing an All Day Menu.
You see, we have a Breakfast Tradition on Christmas and that is Menudo — a Mexican soup made with a beef/chili base and hominy. My grandfather (who was Mexican) used to make it every year, but even though he is gone we still keep the tradition alive. It’s served in big bowls with tons of oregano, lemon and freshly chopped onions and buttery corn tortillas on the side. Most people think it sounds a little different, but honestly it’s totally amazing! Even Garrett was unsure of it his first Christmas with my family but now he loves it — and even eats it full of tripe! Which, um…ACK! I eat the tripe-free version, I’m not THAT hardcore.
So after Menudo, and our traditional egg casserole (which I will post sometime soon, man it is it tasty and easy!) and pastries, and appetizers and yada yada yada — well you get the picture. Everyone ends up being full at dinner and we have a giant ham in the oven that no one’s *really* hungry for. Don’t get me wrong — WE EAT IT — but then everyone is full and sick and “Hey, what’s for dessert?” You know what I mean?
So this year, to combat that problem, we are doing mostly appetizers and dessert. A grazing ALL DAY LONG Menu.
Here’s how it’s breaking down:
Breakfast
*Menudo with the fixins
*Egg Casserole
*Traditional Pastries
Out All Day
*Pot of chili in the Crock Pot with shredded cheese, avocado, onions, sour cream and corn chips
*Cornbread + Honey Butter
*Ham + Asparagus Rollups
*My Grandma’s Chex Mix
*Veggies with Dill Dip
*My Mom’s FAMOUS Teriyaki Chicken Drumettes
*Cheese Tray (There will *definitely* be Cambezola for my aunt, probably some Smoked Gouda, my favorite Champignon Mushroom Brie and I’m not sure what else.)
*Bacon Wrapped Dates — because OMG, they are deliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish!
Dessert
*Mini-Eclairs
*Cream Puffs
*Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
*Possibly Oreo Rice Crispy Treats
*Mixed Fruit because Garrett had the audacity to ask if there would be any Paleo Dessert options. DEAR GARRETT, IT IS CHRISTMAS! LET LOOSE A LITTLE! 😉
Beverages
*Cranberry Ginger Fizzes at my mom’s request (Virgin and with Bombay Sapphire, of course!)
*Coffee and Hot Chocolate Bar — I think A’Dell has some good ideas for this.
And that’s it.
That’s it. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
No wonder Garrett thinks we are gross discussing this with full Thanksgiving bellies!
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What Christmas Food Traditions do you guys do in your house?
YUM. Can I come over?