Christmas dinner ideas please?

Question

Hi need some ideas for three or five course christmas meals for a restaraunt, Got to be able to serve on bulk for large party bookings, Turkey and all the trimmings for the main dinner , need ideas for starters and dessert and vegetarian.

Answer 1

Pumpkin Soup ( use veggie broth for those that won't eat meat- or Turkey)

Mixed baby green salad with apples and pecans, and a raspberry vinagrette

Rice Pudding for dessert- with raisins and cinnamon, not traditional- but ultimate comfort food and the pilgrams would have loved it.

Veggie- Lasagna is a great option- and to keep the thanksgiving theme, do a butternut squash one, like this from Food Network:

Butternut Sqaush Lasagna

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup water

3 amaretti cookies, crumbled

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 1/2 cups whole milk

Pinch nutmeg

3/4 cup (lightly packed) fresh basil leaves

12 no-boil lasagna noodles

2 1/2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the skillet and then cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and then transfer the squash to a food processor. Add the amaretti cookies and blend until smooth. Season the squash puree, to taste, with more salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in a heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly. Transfer half of the sauce to a blender*. Add the basil and blend until smooth. Return the basil sauce to the sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the prepared baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/3 of the squash puree over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over the noodles. Repeat layering 3 more times.

Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the lasagna. Continue baking uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden, 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.

*When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Answer 2

Elegant Christmas Dinner



Champagne with Pear Liqueur  

Blue Cheese Gougeres  

Warm Roasted Mushroom and Feta Salad  

Celery Root and Potato Mash with Horseradish  

Green Beans with Shallots  

Banana Maple Tart Tatin  



Traditional English Christmas Lunch



Nutty Brussels Sprouts  

Herb-Roasted Potatoes  

Turkey Gravy  

Brined and Roasted Turkey  

Sausage and Apple Stuffing  

Plum Pudding  



Sicilian Seafood Feast



Fried Calamari  

Baccala Meatballs: Polpette di Baccala  

Warm Seafood Salad: Insalata Tiepida  

Crab Salad in Endive Leaves  

Spaghetti with Mussels: Spaghetti con Mitili  

Shrimp in Crazy Water: Gamberoni al' Acqua Pazzo  

Whole Fish Baked in Tomatoes, Onions, and Garlic  

Italian Fig Cookies  



Festive Christmas Brunch



Chocolate-y Christmas Cafe au Lait  

Balsamic Bloody Mary  

Cheese Strata with Ham and Tomatoes  

Sugarcane Baked Ham with Spiced Apples and Pears  

Panettone French Toast  

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Frittata  

Arugula and Romaine Salad with Walnuts and Blue Cheese Vinaigrette  

Quick Sticky Buns  



Vegetarian Christmas



Mulled Cider  

Bruschetta with Caponata  

Mushroom Soup with Chestnuts and Roasted Fennel  

Herb Cheese-Stuffed and Fried Eggplant "Steaks" with Braised Radicchio, Fennel, and Escarole  

Butternut Squash, Apple and Onion Galette with Stilton  

Roasted Red Onions with Butter, Honey, and Balsamic Vinegar  

Farro Vegetarian Jambalaya  

Rice Pudding with Vanilla Bean, Orange and Rum  



Christmas Cocktail Party



Spiced Nuts  

Crispy Olives Stuffed with Sausage  

Winter Fruit Compote with Selection of Cheese  

Salmon Gravlax with Buckwheat Blini  

Crab Mousse  

Moroccan Lamb Kabobs  

Saucisson En Croute  

Tiny Pizzas  

Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Focaccia Toasts  

Roasted Baby Pears with Herbed Goat Cheese  

Answer 3

http://www.christmasmadeeasy.ie/html/men...

Answer 4

What a refreshing question! It's HOT here in Las Vegas. I'll check my cookbooks and add some more to this answer. Pesto Sun Dried Tomato Pate, Pineapple Cheese Ball, Mandarin Orange Salsd with lettuce, Original Ambrosia, Red & Green Lasagna, Orange & Red Onion Salad with Cranberry Orange Vinaigrette, Cauliflower Salad with Red Pesto Dressing.

Answer 5

This will have to wait untill i get back from my summer holiday.

Ive heard the early bird thing, but please!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

um its august. wait until october at least. Quorn roast is good for veggies

Answer 7

we always have this delicious mushroom soup before dinner

salad and dressings

you could do a tofu turkey (like on that Everybody Loves Raymond episode!)

mixed vegi casserole- a cheesy kind

fresh breads

stuffing

mashed potatoes/gravy

green bean casserole or steamed green beans

pumpkin pie

pecan pie or pecan bars

chocolate cream pie

Answer 8

Large Portobello Mushrooms! Yummy and DELICIOUS! Email me if you wanna know some recipes.

Answer 9

Can't even begin to think about this until at least the end of september!

Answer 10

WHy does everyone think it's too early?  Don't they realize you have to print up advertising and prepare months in advance? .....Some sort of sweet potato or pumpkin casserole (maybe with apples too) might be good for a vegetarian entree;  Maybe double-stuffed giant sweet potatoes and add some cheese......  

Pastry-wrapped Brie with crackers;  prime rib w/horseradish sauce,  browned baby potatoes, steamed asparagus bundles (tie with a sunroasted pepper strip) ... Chocolate pecan pie

Citrus vignarette green salad .... teriyaki salmon,  rice pilaf,  steamed broccoli ... Lemon chiffon pie

Caesar salad ... Rack of Lamb;  parslied red potatoes,  whole baby green beans in butter ... frozen Grasshopper Pie

Answer 11

isnt it a bit early?