I love staying at home all day on Christmas and having delicious food with our family. I never want to leave, so I invite all of our loved ones over to stay as long as they want on Christmas Day. Sadly, we will have a much smaller gathering this year with just our little pod. I still wanted to make most things ahead so that I am not in the kitchen all day and can enjoy the magic with my boys.

Our Simple Menu

Breakfast

Quiche — I used frozen pie crust shells and made one with caramelized onions, sausage, mushrooms, and monterey cheese and another with spinach, roasted red peppers, and goat cheese

Cranberry Orange Bread

Cinnamon Star Bread (I used this video tutorial to visualize assembly)

Lunch

Spanakopita

Big snack board with bean dip and veggies, meats, etc.

Dinner

Ham

Potato Gratin

Salad with pears, goat cheese, candied pecans, craisins

Applesauce

Gingerbread cake in our special bundt

Utilize the Freezer

I made a list of things that can be frozen and, starting in early November, made one thing per weekend and popped it in the freezer. They all are cooked and cooled completely, then wrapped in saran wrap and tin foil. This was my frozen list:

Quiche
Cranberry Orange Bread
Cinnamon Star Bread
Spanakopita (freezing directions in recipe)
Sugar Cookie Dough
Applesauce

Make Ahead

The following things can be done / made a few days ahead of time:

Cut veggies for snack tray
Make bean dip
Bake gingerbread cake
Make cookies
Make potato gratin the day before (but don’t broil)

Christmas Eve Night

Take out cranberry loaf and put on the counter
Take out star bread and put on the counter (still wrapped)
Take out applesauce and put in fridge

Christmas Day

Quiche — Remove all tin foil and saran wrap from quiche. Bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for about 35-55 minutes. Watch carefully and put on tinfoil if it starts to get too brown.
Star bread— remove wrapping, place on a baking sheet, tent lightly with foil, and reheat at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes. Dust with confectioners sugar.
Cranberry Loaf — Remove wrapping.
Ham - Times will vary; cook at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes per pound.Follow directions given with ham.
Spanakopita — Remove all wrapping. Bake from frozen at 375 degrees F for up to 1 hour; watch closely and cover with tinfoil if starting to brown.
Veggie Tray — Take out bean dip; arrange snack board / veggie tray.
Salad — Make dressing.
Potato Gratin — Take out of fridge to get to room temperature. Reheat slightly at 325 degrees F, top with gruyere and parmesan, broil for 5-10 minutes. Top with thyme.
Assemble salad
Cake — I like this unfrosted; dust with powdered sugar “snow” right before serving in front of everyone! (Let the kids help!)

I hope that you can find some joy this holiday season 🌟

XO, Krista

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