December 23, 2009 | Breakfast,Menus,Side Dishes,Soup,Vegetables
Chances are that you’re spending today wondering if you have everything figured out for your holiday meals. I know some go big on Christmas Eve, often doing something special like an Italian Feast of Seven Fishes. Others prefer to offer up a stunning brunch on Christmas morning. At our house we have a low key lasagna dinner on Christmas Eve with just our immediate family, then I cook an elegant dinner on Christmas for our extended family with a whole tenderloin as the centerpiece. Whatever your plans, here are some recipes, ideas and links to help!
For brunch, I love making tarts – they can be made ahead of time and simply reheated briefly in the oven, or can be served at room temperature. Use my easy tart crust recipe, or if you don’t have the time or inclination, buy a prepared pie crust shell to use. For fillings, just use your imagination! Some of my favorite combos are:
- Andouille sausage with cheddar cheese
- Roasted red peppers with feta cheese and pine nuts
- Caramelized onions with Gruyere cheese
- Spinach with fontina cheese
- Broccoli with cheddar cheese
You don’t need to add much to make this a filling brunch – perhaps some great bacon (cook it on baking sheets in the oven – it’s much easier and faster than slaving over a frying pan), a nice fruit salad, some drinks (juice selection, perhaps mimosas, and coffee) and maybe something sweet. Try my zucchini bread or these carrot muffins.
Now if you’re making dinner instead, you probably have already decided on your entree, so let me highlight some side dishes that you might want to incorporate into your menu:
Pancetta Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Butter Braised Asparagus with Morel Mushrooms
Balsamic Roasted Beets and Onions
Garlicky Braised Kale or Spinach
Balsamic Glazed Roasted Asparagus
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday meal with family and friends – drop me a note if you have questions about any of the dishes you want to prepare!
