topic Re: Easy Christmas Buffet... in Community Chat

Easy Christmas Buffet...

nana59 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:39:48 GMT

Help! I'm hosting Christmas for 12. The past two years I have ordered Italian dishes from a great restaurant....but I'm tired of that menu. Any suggestions for an easy buffet? My arthritis gets in the way of doing anything that requires too much preparation. Thank you....

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

hopi — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:46:15 GMT

@nana59

When having a buffet it is usually during football season and I like the least sloppiest method, So I choose alot a finger food. chicken strips, wraps,

mini hoagie sandwiches - that type of stuff.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

cherry — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:53:06 GMT

You might get a spiral sliced ham,and serve it at room temp( buy some chicken parts already cooked) . You could buy salads and or sides from a grocery store

Make a couple of jellos, some cottage cheese, relishes, rolls/breads

A couple of store bought, nice desserts, some ice cream

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

Sooner — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:58:19 GMT

@cherry wrote:
You might get a spiral sliced ham,and serve it at room temp( buy some chicken parts already cooked) . You could buy salads and or sides from a grocery store

Make a couple of jellos, some cottage cheese, relishes, rolls/breads

A couple of store bought, nice desserts, some ice cream

You can't go wrong with ham! Have some side salads, coleslaw, and some slider buns and several types of mustards and some mayo, bread and butter and dill chips and sticks pickles, olives, sliced cheeses (those little sliced variety packs you can get now are great!).

Buy the desserts: Pies, cakes, cookies. OR put a big batch of curried or stewed fruits (with butter, brown sugar and spices in them) in a crock pot and let it go about 3 hours or more before time to serve. You can actually cook it on low all day). It smells like the holidays big time, and is wonderful either as a side dish with the ham OR as dessert with ice cream and/or pound cake!

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

queendiva — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:00:56 GMT

I agree with the spiral ham as the centerpiece of your Christmas buffet.

Some make ahead and freeze sides: mac & cheese, scalloped potatoes etc, a big, fabulous salad, beautiful breads/rolls and some veggies.

Ask your guests to bring dessert.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

cherry — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:00:17 GMT

I also suggested chicken, in case there were people coming who didn't eat pork products. It gives them a choice

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

Kitlynn — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:15:01 GMT

A turkey and ham are really easy to put out for a buffet style meal. It is also pretty simple to do some form of potatoes along with a couple of vegetable side dishes. Buy Marie Calendar pies and bake them the night before. You can get turkey and ham from places like Hickory Baked that are already cooked and all you do is heat them through. At the holidays most stores have holiday food like dressing ready to heat up also that you can get in the deli department. You can also get full holiday meals from your store just ask about it at the deli and they will prepare what you want for you and then you either pick up or they will deliver.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

KentuckyWoman — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:16:36 GMT

I'm having fourteen after church on Christmas Eve. I'm doing ham and lots of snack types of food. Garlic cheese grits and home made biscuits are is the only hot dishes I am fixing. I am ordering hot wings from a local deli. The kids love fried chicken so I am picking up drumsticks at the same deli as well.

I have already made four dozen meatballs. I baked them in the oven, let them cool completely then popped them in the freezer for a couple of hours. I used my Food Saver to vacuum seal them. Before we leave for church on Sunday, I'll throw them in the crock pot with a jar of Heinz Chili Sauce and some grape jelly. Cocktail Lil' Smokies in barbecue sauce in the crock pot is another fave.

I will make my home made candy ahead of time and have a couple of cakes from a local bakery.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

missy1 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 19:34:11 GMT

large spiral honey ham

rolls

meatballs in BBQ sauce (low simmer in crock pot)

veggie/dip tray from supermarket

party size bag of chicken wings

chips and dip

party size Stouffer's mac & cheese

party size Stouffer's lasagna

big bowl of salad with croutons, bacon bits etc

store bought desserts/ice cream

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

sissel — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 21:36:29 GMT

Also don't be shy if any of your guests ask if they can bring something. When you figure out the main dish let them bring a side or dessert.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

lulu1 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:09:22 GMT

@nana59 wrote:
Help! I'm hosting Christmas for 12. The past two years I have ordered Italian dishes from a great restaurant....but I'm tired of that menu. Any suggestions for an easy buffet? My arthritis gets in the way of doing anything that requires too much preparation. Thank you....

@nana59

If the Italian selections were a hit with your guests, I'd stick with it. Tried and true dishes become a tradition guests look forward to.

A spiral ham would be a nice addition.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

Cakers3 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 23:01:59 GMT

@lulu1 wrote:
@nana59 wrote:
Help! I'm hosting Christmas for 12. The past two years I have ordered Italian dishes from a great restaurant....but I'm tired of that menu. Any suggestions for an easy buffet? My arthritis gets in the way of doing anything that requires too much preparation. Thank you....
@nana59
If the Italian selections were a hit with your guests, I'd stick with it. Tried and true dishes become a tradition guests look forward to.

A spiral ham would be a nice addition.

@lulu1 Agree. I know my Christmas Eve fare is looked forward to every year.

@nana59 I'm sorry about your arthritis-is there a local market catering for the holidays? Package plans which are not all that more expensive. You can choose the whole 9 yards or just the appetizers/main dishes or just the sides if you decide to do the ham.

And a good suggestion a poster made-if somebody offers to bring something, please say "yes".

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

ROMARY — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 23:22:40 GMT

I'd probably stick with the 'tried and true' Italian buffet, if everyone, so far, has enjoyed it. Sometimes people look forward to a nice Italian (or whatever) buffet once a year.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

cherry — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 23:24:55 GMT

Speaking as one who has stomach issues, an Italian buffet has absolutely nothing, I could even remotely eat

There are cuisines I avoid like the plague, because of the ingredients they contain

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

Katcat1 — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 23:27:44 GMT

@nana59, How about a spiral ham? A half would probably be enough. If you have a Whole Foods near you, you can call up the deli for side dishes. If not, call up your local grocery store.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

BirdieGal — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 02:19:10 GMT

I agree with the other posters who suggest that you find a good market that prepares the entire meal for you. You can usually customize them based on the amount of people coming.

Warm up the food, put everything in your own serving dishes. No muss, no fuss. You will enjoy your holiday and not overwork your hands.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

sunshine45 — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:02:30 GMT

if you are tired of italian why not choose another ethnic food.....maybe chinese?

chicken and string beans

mongolian beef

shrimp and snow peas

wonton soup

mixed fried rice

lo mein

dumplings

egg rolls

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

stuyvesant — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:19:01 GMT

@nana59 wrote:
Help! I'm hosting Christmas for 12. The past two years I have ordered Italian dishes from a great restaurant....but I'm tired of that menu. Any suggestions for an easy buffet? My arthritis gets in the way of doing anything that requires too much preparation. Thank you....

Stick with what's gone well and what you are familiar with. I'll bet the restaurant you've ordered from the past two years considers you part of their Christmas routine also.

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

CAMOGIRL — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:56:45 GMT

Perhaps a prepared spiral honey ham and a prepared turkey breast.

Stouffers Party size Mac & cheese.

Frozen veggies - I am thinking carrots and also baby green peas.

Boiled shrimp ring with cocktail sauce.

Sara Lee little crescent rolls.

Condiments such as olives, pickles, peppericinis.

Mrs. Smith fruit pies - I am thinking apple and also razzleberry.

Sounds good to me! A little ordering, a little shopping, a little oven cooking - the pies and the rolls. A litttle microwave cooking - the veggies.

Now comes the fun part - making your buffet look fabulous and tasting all that yummy food. Enjoy your buffet and your holidays!

Re: Easy Christmas Buffet...

lovescats — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:12:56 GMT

I would stick with the Italian dishes from the same place unless last year it wasn't ok. People will be dissappointed if there is a change and they miss their favorites.