Do you try to make to much?

[jglass]

I always try to make to much for holiday dinners. Every year I say that I wont and end up doing it anyway. I spend three days before Christmas in the kitchen. My FIL and I always make the Christmas dinner for 14-16 people. I have to pack up what I cook and take it to his house. I always make the ham and turkey and usually a large pork roast. I usually do a 12-15 pound ham and a turkey about 15-16 pounds.
Ill make the ham the day before Christmas so that I take it out about 4 or 5 am the day of the dinner. Then I put in the turkey. I make the pork roast in the crockpot. I make three different desserts. Last time I made some roasted veggies to go with dinner.
Im going to have Jons Dad do the hot sides this time. Green beans and potatoes, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, dressing & mac and cheese. They like the velvetta mac and cheese from the box. Ill make the gravy because I make the turkey.
Help me with the sides I should choose that can be served cold or at room temp. Last year I did three bean salad, deviled eggs, cole slaw, cheese plate and other stuff I cant even remember lol.

Plus Jon and I have our own little Christmas dinner here a day or so before we do dinner at his Moms and then his Dads. I make leg of lamb, salad, roasted baby potatoes, brussel sprouts, rolls & dessert.

This year I was thinking.
cole slaw - deviled eggs - three bean salad - deli style pasta salad - cheese plate - crudite platter w/dip. All of these things I can make the day before and store in the FIL's fridge so that I do not have to haul them the same day as the rest of the food.
Hot dishes
ham - turkey - pork roast - gravy
FIL is to make .. rolls - green beans and potatoes - dressing - mac and cheese - mashed potatoes - sweet potatoes.
For desserts I will make fudge - cake or cupcakes and a pie or something.
I will make these the same day I make the cold sides. Jon's Dad usually makes a pie or something.
Plus Jon and I have our own little Christmas dinner here in between going to his Moms and his Dads. I make leg of lamb, rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes, rolls, brussel sprouts, salad and dessert.

[jglass]

oops lol. .

[cookie]

Wow, that's a lot of food!!!!!! It sounds really good. Deviled eggs, thanks, I will make those that's a great idea for a appetizer, I just bought my whole berry cranberry sauce today (ocean spray) I'm thinking about making a small ham this year with whipped sweet potatoes. I'll make some kind of pasta, maybe stuffed shells. I will also make a big salad with olives in it. Pumpkin pie or cake for desert. We will have left overs that's for sure. Cookie

[jglass]

Has anyone ever tried cooking their ham in coke and onion on top of the stove? I have made ours that way for the past two years and then finished it off with a glaze in the oven. I cant eat ham but everyone else loves it.

[Jafo232]

I have seen it, but never tried it. I hear it is great.

I pretty much do the same thing. Better to have too much, than too little.

[cookie]

YEA. I have heard of that before coke and ham, and it is good that way.I have never cooked a ham or a turkey before wish me luck!!I will probably use brown sugar mixture with honey on ham for a glaze. cookie

[jfain]

Wow Jglass that is a lot of food, and I thought I was spending a long time in the kitchen. For Thanksgiving I usually do turkey liver pate and crudite for appetizers then Turkey with cranberry sauce and gravy about 4 side dishes and then usually only 1 dessert plus homemade cookies. I normally only have about 4 people and find that this is enough for everyone to eat till they are stuffed plus have some for them to take home and some left for me to eat for lunches later in the week. What do you do with all that left over food?

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

But Janie you must not make the gravy that's got to be made by your FIL

Just a suggestion! You know it keeps everone on their toes and appreciating your really GREAT gravy

[jglass]

Normally FIL makes a few hot sides. Dressing, green beans and potatoes & mashed potatoes. The really like a sweet potato dish. I made one last year but Im gonna have him do it this year.


This year Im going to ask him to make all of the hot sides pretty much. FIL is to make .. rolls - green beans and potatoes - dressing - mac and cheese - mashed potatoes - sweet potatoes.
I will make the ham, turkey & pork roast plus all of the cold things I listed and some desserts. I just cant do the turkey, ham and hot sides and pack it all up on the same day. I did that last year and had the back seat and the trunk full of food. Ham cooked in coke is really good according to the rest of the family. I cant try it with a bad gallbladder but trust me these people would tell me if it was bad lol. I always finish it in the oven with a brown sugar honey glaze.
After everyone takes home what they want it leaves enough leftovers for Jons Dad to have for a few days. Usually by the time I have cooked for three days I dont want to even look at leftovers. Besides I get tired of turkey quick.

But Janie you must not make the gravy that's got to be made by your FIL Jon's Dad has a very faint sense of smell and that coupled with his obsession about cutting fat makes for bad gravy lol. I am determined to keep the menu down to what I have listed this time. I told Jon to remind me of that when I start to get carried away lol.

[jglass]

Our local deli/bakery sells the containers they pack their food in to you for next to nothing. Anything they pack cakes, meat trays and other food in you can buy. I like to keep the tall plastic cups with lids for soup and freezing broth. Handy when the holidays come around.