Between the 3:00, 5:00 and 10:00 Christmas Eve services on Monday, I had Christmas Eve dinner at my house. Husbands two boys, my inlaws, my brother and his two kids came. It is not a huge crowd, but our house is not a large one either. To be honest, I have hosted Christmas Eve before, but in those years, my parents were around (they are now in Arizona) and my mom and my mother-in-law helped with the cooking. In fact, last year, I gave my mom a key and she started cooking early, so we wouldn't have to eat so late.
Not this year, though. This year it was just me. Mother-in-Law had us over the night before at their apartment. I decided if I was going to do this, we were going to keep it simple. So here was the menu:
Store bought appetizers: veggie tray with dip, and shrimp and cocktail sauce.
Swedish Meatballs, Sour Cream Hash Browns, Green Bean Casserole (the recipe even got in The Lutheran Magazine last Easter!), corn, and White Jello (my sister-in-law's recipe, and a favorite of my stepsons'). (Recipe to follow). Dinner rolls, lefse, and a box of cookies sent from my mom! My brother came through with a pumpkin pie!
For two days I was a wreck, trying to figure out how I was going to get sermon-writing, worship planning, shopping and cooking done. (I made the meatballs and the jello Sunday afternoon and evening, and the two casseroles Monday morning before going to church.) I kept saying, "I'm not doing this any more! I'm not doing this any more!"
In the end, it worked. Everything timed out okay. The white jello tasted delicious, and there was just a little left over of everything (except corn. That was gone.)
Still, I don't think I'm doing this any more. Please.
Now, here is my sister-in-law's wonderful recipe for White Jello:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup Cool Whip
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 envelope Knox gelatin
Grease mold with margine or Pam spray. Beat cream cheese and sguar with electric mixer until fluffy. Dissolve gelatin in 1/3 cup boiling water, and let stand. Mix milk, lemon juice, vanilla and gelatin water until well blended Pour into mold and chill overnight. Garnish serving plate with mint leaves and fruit if desired. (I doubled the recipe for the mold I used.)
Merry 3rd Day of Christmas!
Not this year, though. This year it was just me. Mother-in-Law had us over the night before at their apartment. I decided if I was going to do this, we were going to keep it simple. So here was the menu:
Store bought appetizers: veggie tray with dip, and shrimp and cocktail sauce.
Swedish Meatballs, Sour Cream Hash Browns, Green Bean Casserole (the recipe even got in The Lutheran Magazine last Easter!), corn, and White Jello (my sister-in-law's recipe, and a favorite of my stepsons'). (Recipe to follow). Dinner rolls, lefse, and a box of cookies sent from my mom! My brother came through with a pumpkin pie!
For two days I was a wreck, trying to figure out how I was going to get sermon-writing, worship planning, shopping and cooking done. (I made the meatballs and the jello Sunday afternoon and evening, and the two casseroles Monday morning before going to church.) I kept saying, "I'm not doing this any more! I'm not doing this any more!"
In the end, it worked. Everything timed out okay. The white jello tasted delicious, and there was just a little left over of everything (except corn. That was gone.)
Still, I don't think I'm doing this any more. Please.
Now, here is my sister-in-law's wonderful recipe for White Jello:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup Cool Whip
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 envelope Knox gelatin
Grease mold with margine or Pam spray. Beat cream cheese and sguar with electric mixer until fluffy. Dissolve gelatin in 1/3 cup boiling water, and let stand. Mix milk, lemon juice, vanilla and gelatin water until well blended Pour into mold and chill overnight. Garnish serving plate with mint leaves and fruit if desired. (I doubled the recipe for the mold I used.)
Merry 3rd Day of Christmas!
P.S. My meatballs did not have little Swedish flags.
8 comments:
YUM! But it does sound like a lot to handle!
However, you did it and it worked and you can just say no next year!!
White jello...who would have thunk it? It sounds good!
You are very brave.
Very brave, you are indeed ... and methinks an over-achiever, too maybe? Glad it went well. And the white jello sounds very interesting.
actually, white jello is really good. I'm not a big jello fan, but this is one of two varieties I like. tastes a little like a fluffier cheesecake. I put some strawberries in the middle.
Yum--that sounds delish!
I don't know how you did it. I always get sort of frantic when we have people over for holidays and we only have a few! And I don't have to work!
The white jello sounds good to me.
You did great! The white jello sounds really good. And I'll bet you will do it again. Because you can.
I think I deleted my comment but all of this sounds great!
Your Christmas Eve is much the same as in our house. We also have two birthdays that we celebrate, so it becomes quite tricky sneaking it all in between worship services.
Thanks for the recipies!
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