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SHAYD12
member
Mini vent/ Christmas dinner advice?
SHAYD12
member
I usually lurk but would love some advice from you all!
so we just moved to Alaska. We move in to our house around the 18th, giving us a week to unpack and get ready for Christmas. Well my husband just informed me he invited his soldiers over for Christmas dinner. So probably a total of 15-17 people (including there family's.) Which normally I would be completely ok with but I'm trying to mentally prep myself for how I'm going to manage doing all this.
We will have one week to move in to our house, get all our house hold good, unpack, decorate and get ready for Christmas. All while I will be 34 weeks pregnant with a two year old running around "helping me".But I have never made a big meal like this before so this will be my first. So I'm trying to think of what to make and what can I prep a head of time so I can enjoy our first Christmas together. I'm would love any tips and what do you usually make/ have at Christmas dinner? Once things calm down I will probably start joining in here more. I lurk a lot and you all are very helpful!
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Re: Mini vent/ Christmas dinner advice?
We generally do Chili/soup supper for Christmas Eve with lots of appetizers/cookies/treats on the side, and then a traditional dinner (usually ham or prime rib) for Christmas Day. Side are usually mashed potatoes/gravy, stuffing, corn casserole, and some sort of pie for dessert (I hate pie, so if I am cooking, it is from a box ... or I make cheesecake, because I think that tastes better - and can be made a day ahead of time). The pioneer woman has a great mashed potato recipe that can be made days in advance, which would give you a bit of breathing room. We always do the stuffing in a crockpot, so it is a set it and forget it kind of dish, too.
I would do this as well and I hate potluck usually. Other things we've done on Christmas Eve was a soup buffet, like 3 or 4 different soups, all different sorts of bread {rolls, cornbread, etc.} and whatever toppings you might need. You could do a chili, a loaded potato and maybe a gumbo or something else broth based, but hearty. We've done a low country boil on CE, which is good for a crowd, though not really do-ahead. I just did Italian for 15ppl and things like lasagna are really easy to do ahead of time. Serve with bread and a salad.
Good Luck! It was nice of your DH to invite everybody, but lord that's a lot to expect of you.
wow! lol you'v got a lot going on!
Did you already pack everything up to be moved yet?
Pack everything and then leave a couple of boxes open for things that you will deff need the day/week you move.. tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap, dish soap, laundry soap. clothes for a week, pj's, and a few toys. so that you could have everything that you really need in one (or a couple) of boxes and dont have to dig through stuff.
pack the stuff that you will need for the party together, wine glasses, napkins, table cloth, napkin rings, whatever. So its all there together in one box
I would work on the rooms that your guest will be in 1st. No one is going to go looking in your drawers and bedroom clothes to see if you unpacked your clothes.
maybe make something in the crock pot of christmas dinner? Maybe go to trader joes or something to have dinners for the week that you move so you wont have to worry about cooking.. get lunch meat, bananas, ceral, etc stuff you dont really need to cook for meals.
you can do like, steamed greenbeans with bacon crumbs and salad dressing the night before for a side. order cookies/bread from the bakery so you can just pick it up. buy a fruit and veggie tray, try to make stuff easy, people will understand
pack a box of toys for LO to unpack and help you!
I wish i could come help you lol. We have moved some much i have it down to a science. i can pack move and unpack a house in 24 hours now! the key is just to have everything labeled really good!
what was your husband thinking? I would not be happy if that happened to me. If these guys are married see if you can talk to their wives (or your husband can talk to the guys at work) and figure out what everyone can bring. I don't think anyone would expect a huge gormet meal from someone that just moved and has a toddler.
I usually do baked ziti on christmas eve and that would be something easy you could do for a crowd.
We did ham for a group that size last Easter. It was the first time we had ever done one and it was really easy. We covered it in an apricot glaze and it was super easy.
Is there a Costco or Sam's club nearby? They both have some great pre-made sides for really reasonable.
Next, can you locate something like a honey baked ham co.? Or get a large spiral honey baked ham from the store. Get some rolls that are either brown and serve or the frozen kind you let rise like Rhodes. Then make a couple sides like mashed potatoes, maybe cornbread dressing. This may be a situation where you throw money at it. Also can you hire a teenager to either help unpack or watch your kid in your home? Or meet some neighbors quickly.
YEa - I'm of the "WTF was YH thinking?!?!?" crowd on this one...
First, I would hire someone else to do the main jist of the work for you and only unpack the kids' rooms and kitchen stuff... Maybe there's a caterer/grocery deli in town that would package everything up and all you need to do is rewarm it... Otherwise, I'd plan to just do "easy" things that you can put in a cooker and go... Pulled pork/beef, Soup, etc. and tell your DH to get the word out that it's potluck or all you'll make is different varieties of quiche!!
I also like the potluck idea with you doing just a couple main dishes and a dessert... There's only so much you can do when you're 34 weeks along with kids to "help"...
Thanks for all the tips lady's!
I will have my husband tell people to bring something with them and try and keep it pretty simple. I did convince my husband I needed new pots and pans to make this happen so I'm pretty excited to get them!
Yes we are military and I will have to look in to the free child care I haven't heard about it yet but we just got here. I'm excited to meet new people even if it's going to be a little crazy
Great idea on unpacking main areas first then the rooms if we have Time. The funny thing is we got rid of our living room set so we could buy a new one up here and my husband forgot we won't even have a living room set. So we will have to look and see if we can find one we like before or I guess people will sit on the floor! Lol
I figure we will just make it work and not stress. But it does give me a good way to meet people since it looks like they are trying to send my husband to the field for a week the same week I'm due! Eek got to love military life!
Thanks lady's for the help!