We are going to BBQ a pork butt and relax, as our season will be done. On Boxing Day, I am making the MOST Garlicky Pasta Bolognese! Cause we have to give up garlic in October!!
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That Boston Butt is for New Year’s Day along with hoppin’ John jambalaya and cabbage casserole. Christmas Day will be ham, but the rest of the menu is still undecided. It will be Tamales on Christmas Eve. -
Yes, we are Santa and Mrs, It's true you sweat garlic! So we give it up about a month before our first event, then we enjoy our Boxing Day Bolognese!!
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Xmas Eve will be tamales and tacos - a tradition going back to my childhood.
Xmas Day…honestly don’t even know what we’re doing. There will be cinnamon rolls and bacon/sausage for breakfast after the boys open their presents. Not sure if other family is coming over later or not.Comment
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Daughter and her hubby are hosting Xmas. Her plans are for a huge pot of Beef Bourguignon, some fancy mashed potatoes, even fancier brussel sprouts etc.
We'll bring the $$$booze$$$ and appetizers. The focus of the day is not as much on the dinner as with playing with the little grandgirls. It's a grazing sort of time, filled with love, happiness, and fights over which toy is whose.
I've got some good app recipes lined up, but they need to be vetted by the daughter. Just when this role reversal occurred, I'm not sure.
One of many to come as the years pass by.🤷🏻♀️
KathrynComment
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Grazing days built around family are my favorite,
I have no doubt that fzxdoc daughter and sil. are going to make it right, then with you (the Matriarch) and husband showing up, it’s going to be a good day! I’m sure they are feeling a bit of have to do this right!
Grandkids and young energy truly make everything feel the best!
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Well, apparently this year we only get ALL of the kids and grandkids for.... 3-4 hours on Christmas Eve! No all day hangouts this year apparently.
So, not sure what I will do. Last year I have pics of a giant prime rib I made on the Weber kettle. Usually each person brings their favorite thing. I imagine this year it will just be various finger foods. In fact.... that may be it. I'll do a grill (or two) full of chicken wings, with a couple sauces, as my finger food contribution.
EDIT: I may steal Karon Adams idea and just do a butt. I've got a nice butt from Porter Road in the freezer, and I've been toying with the idea of a rotisserie Boston butt after seeing Steven Raichlen do it that way a few times... rotisserie would require more attention and refueling though, and a smoke would be more hands off... Hmmm.Comment
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We’re hosting a large family Christmas party 5 days before Christmas so we’re not hosting anyone on Christmas. We’re going to cater that from a local Italian restaurant we love and I’m going to make some pork belly burnt ends as an appetizer on one of the boys, or maybe I’ll do some wings instead. We’ll see.
Christmas Eve will be at my brother’s house and Christmas Day will most likely be at my in laws though I’d rather stay home. Maybe we’ll host again but I know my MIL will push to host. So who knows.Comment
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I'll be doing the Double Smoked Ham recipe from the free side, again this year. Was a big hit, and the leftovers made some really, really, really good ham salad. Did I mention it was really good?
And I'll have a hambone for some soup later as well.
That's all I'm in charge of. That and the beer and whiskey.
Edit: And maybe some Eggnog (for me)! Oh yeah!Comment
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Doing the family Chanukah Zoom on Monday night. The Draznnl family tradition is pastrami on rye with stone ground mustard and potato latkes on the side.
Christmas Day, my wife is planning to make lasagna and I’ll smoke a rib roast I have in the freezer. We’ll have some sides and dessert.Comment
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Everyone is coming for the week right after Christmas and staying until just after New Years. I’m supplying the Creekstone IRODORI Wagyu ribeye roast that was on sale, and also a Cheshire Pork crown rib roast. Kathy and I aren’t lifting a finger as all families have decided to plan and cook the entire week for us. They won’t even let us clean up or wash the dishes. That will be a great present for both of us.
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Family/Friends - 20th, probably 10 people. Roasted beef loin, mac-n-cheese, scalloped potatoes, green beans, green salad. Pot luck sides and desserts. Mediterranean snacks, veggies, olives, nuts.
Christmas - 3 people - Bone-in roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes, asparagus. Going to try a new cocoa rub recipe Kathryn posted last week.Comment
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Christmas eve (24th) at the in-laws. Big affair (70 people), everyone brings something: I'm bringing BBQ pork ribs (5-6 racks).
Christmas dinner (25th) family: Spaghetti with homemade sauce and homemade sweet Italian sausage.
Christmas dinner (28th) extended family: Chicken/Sausage Gumbo and Seafood Gumbo.Comment
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Christmas Eve only 3 of us so Maybe Pizza not sure yet
Christmas Day just 4 of us so Beef Stew
For the 4-5 Days after Christmas up to 13 aka Entire Family so the skies the limit
Pulled Beef
Meatballs, Shrimp, Burnt Ends, Cheese, Crackers, Lefse (for sure), and many more snacks, etc
Pancakes (my adjusted Krusteaz recipe) Eggs, Sausage, Ham, Coffee Cake, etc
Pulled Pork
Smoked Beef Tenderloin (Smoked in Chunks so there's more End Cuts), Oven Fries, Salad
LEFTOVERS from aboveLast edited by Skip; December 12, 2025, 08:11 AM.Comment
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Well, no idea. LOL
Up until today I wasn’t even sure if I’d be in SoCal for the holidays…thought I might be spending Xmas day in a hotel room in Florida. yippee When the powers that be decided (read: figured out that they would also be working) they gave me the option to go home and return after the 1st sometime. So I’ll be home Wednesday.
That said, my brother generally hosts a bash on Christmas Eve. He'll probably do a brisket and/or ribs. At least the sides & dessert will be good. ROFL
On the 25th…not sure as I hadn’t planned on being there. I’m thinking a tri-tip might be just the thing. The pastrami on rye that Draznnl mentioned sounds great…but I don’t have time to make it and only my partner’s son & I like it. So that won’t work. Grrr
But I think we’ll start off the day with a spinach & artichoke dip potato crust quiche…and go from there.Comment
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Christmas Day is an early cooked "English" breakfast with my 2 adults sons including sausage, bacon, egg, beans black pudding, white pudding, (or maybe haggis!), beans, hash browns, mushrooms etc... the works, washed down with Bucks Fizz or fruit juice! Come evening my partner and I will have a carpet picnic of charcuterie, various cheeses, pickles, salad etc.
Christmas dinner is on Boxing Day with guests when the menu includes seafood starters with home cured / cold smoked salmon, crab claws, prawns / shrimp and local king scallops. Mains include Traeger cooked turkey, rib roast and / or gammon with all the trimmings including Yorkshire Pudding and copious pigs in blankets! Deserts will be Xmas pud, profiteroles and / or trifle with various accompaniments whilst the main alcoholic beverage will be Prosecco.
Don't tend to bother with presents too much nowadays, more about good company, good food and concentrating on the good things going on in the world, it is nice to try and have a couple of days away from the bad news stories we are perpetually bombarded with!Comment
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It's just my lovely bride and me, and we will be having a spectacular Creekstone porterhouse steak as the centerpiece of our meal. I'll cook it via sous vide que, and sear it on cast iron (either on the stovetop if the weather is lousy, or just put the CI on the gasser to avoid the spatter in the kitchen if the wx allows). I'm not completely set on the sides yet, but I'm pretty sure one will be twice-baked taters, and we'll have some kind of veg (air fried glazed carrots?), a salad, and some crusty bread. We'll pair that with a 2021 Olema cabernet out of Sonoma County.
Good luck to everyone who is hosting family and friends!Comment
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