Holiday Favorites: A Christmas Menu

So, I’m a little late in the planning for anyone who wants to borrow some ideas, and a few days late for ‘Five Favorites’ (this menu has more than 5 recipes anyway)…but hey. It’s how I roll. A little late, always. I’ll stop the rambling and chatter now and just get to the point! Recipes for Christmas!! YUM.

For Christmas Eve:We are going to Mass on Christmas Eve, so having an easy dinner ready in the crock-pot is the way to go. Last year I made this soup (at least, I think this is the one!) and I’ll be making it again this year. It’s so nice to come home from Mass and have the warm smells of soup greeting us, knowing all we need to do is serve it up.
Meatball Minestrone Soup
I’ll serve it with some gluten-free bread (store-bought, this year…I am simplifying, remember?) and a loaf of Italian bread. We’ll probably also have wine. Or Hot Buttered Rum…because I have high ambitions (and likely won’t actually get to it, because simplicity rules the day. But I can dream, right?!)

For Christmas Day:
Apple Crisp for breakfast (or this recipe, which is gluten free)
Antipasto platter (cheese, salami, prosciutto, olives, etc)
We love roast beast! This recipe for standing rib roast never fails.
Salad, with a mix of greens, topped with pecans, apples, dried cranberries, pomegranate pips, and goat cheese. SO tasty.
Rolls of some sort, gluten-free of course.
Buche de Noel, aka Yule Log

And of course, wine, sparking juice for the kids, hot buttered rum (if I get to it…), coffee…

For the Friday after Christmas: (it matters, yo. It’s a Friday, so meatless, and you know no one thinks about food for the days after Christmas, so I plan ahead)
We love this recipe for fish taco bowls. It’s much better than you would think, if you’ve never had fish tacos. And if you haven’t, you should try them.

Holiday treats for the whole season:
Sugar Plums! It’s a real thing!
Cranberry Orange Biscotti (gluten free!)
Spiced Pecans (These are a MUST-make. They are SO SO good, and crazy easy. I’m going to double the recipe every time I make them from now on.)
Cream Cheese Mints
Meringues
Gingerbread cookies

Wants ideas for New Year’s Eve?
We have a lot of fun doing fondue, or homemade pizza, or an antipasto platter again.

Have ideas? Please share! I always love a good new recipe!