6 Ideas for Scrumptious Christmas Day Meals
The holidays have arrived! It may seem like we just celebrated the start of the new year, but we’re already gearing up for another season of making lovely memories with friends and loved ones.
Hosting holiday dinner parties is no cinch, but getting your planning started early will help tame the stress. Read on for some super delicious meal Christmas day meals.
Let’s Get Started
Every holiday party needs a few appetisers to keep your guests’ hunger at bay while they wait for the main course. Try some of these.
A Little Sweet, a Little Savory
Any kind of tart is going to impress your guests! But these Cranberry and Brie Tarts are a holiday stunner.
You’ll need:
2 sheets of thawed puff pastry
2 cups of fresh cranberries
16 ounces of brie, rind removed, cut into 24 slices
1 tbsp. room temperature butter
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup marmalade
1 egg, beaten
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and prep a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Place butter, cranberries, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Cut pastry sheets into a total of 12 rectangles. Add a teaspoon of marmalade to the base and top with 2 slices of brie. Then place a spoonful of cranberries on top of the brie, indenting slightly.
4. Fold the edges of the pastry inwards and brush with egg wash.
5. Bake for approximately 17 minutes or until the pastry is golden.
Wow Your Guests with a Beautiful Charcuterie Board
Not up for cooking an appetizer on top of everything else you’ll be doing in the kitchen? Opt for a super pretty charcuterie board, instead. Charcuterie boards are easy to assemble and make any event feel instantly elevated.
The Main Event
This is what everyone has been waiting for. Here are a few ideas that will please even the most discerning of tastes!
Rosemary Rib Roast
A rib roast is a beautiful dish that is truly worthy of everyone’s holiday dinner table. This recipe will warm your guests’ stomachs and hearts.
You’ll need:
A standing rib roast, with the bones frenched, approximately 9 to 10 pounds (plan on 1 pound per guest)
3 tbsp. olive oil
3/4 tbsp. ground black pepper
3 sprigs of rosemary, stripped
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt
5 cloves of garlic, sliced
1. Bring roast to room temperature by pulling it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat a roasting pan on the lowest rack in the oven at 425 degrees. Make slits between the ribs and insert garlic slices into the slits. Grind up the seasoning, including the rosemary, and mix with olive oil. Rub seasoning blend on the roast.
2. Place the roast in the roasting pan, with the bones on the bottom. Cook for approximately 2 hours, or until the thickest part of the roast reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees.
3. Cover with aluminum foil and rest 30 minutes.
A Classic Christmas Ham
It’s hard to go wrong with a lovely Christmas ham. They’re so popular that most grocery stores sell them pre-roasted and pre-seasoned to make cooking a breeze. But if you feel like going all out and making one from scratch, this recipe ought to impress.
You’ll need:
3/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves, chopped
3/4 cup pineapple juice
A 14 pound smoked ham
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the mustard, brown sugar, and thyme leaves and rub on the ham.
3. Cook the ham, fat side up, with the pineapple juice in the bottom of the roasting pan. Bake for approximately two hours, basting every 20-25 minutes with the pineapple juice.
You’re Sure to Impress with These Christmas Day Meals
Whether you go traditional and serve up a beautiful Christmas ham, or you switch things up and impress with a lasagna, your guests will be begging for seconds! Serve up any of these Christmas Day meals along with your favorite side dishes and your holiday party will be the stuff of legends.
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