Still too soon? ISO Sides & Appetizers for Xmas

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JustJoel

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Thanksgiving dinner for Mark’s family went so well, that I’m hoping to be afforded an opportunity to make their Christmas dinner as well. Turkey is so last week, so I thought it’d be “fun” to do a Beef Wellington (I have an idiot-proof recipe that cooks the tenderloin sous vide before wrapping it. Perfect every time!). I’d like to add a little surf, too, but I’m not sure what kind of seafood would compliment the beef. Maybe two main courses separated by a palette cleanser?

And everything else I’m considering seems to have mushrooms! Stuffed, marinated, braised, roasted, gratineed. Would it be too cliché to have a mushroom themed dinner?

I’ve been relentlessly searching the web for recipes for appetizers and side dishes; I’m curious to know if any of you have a special or unique recipe for either that will turn the dinner into something to remember!
 
No unique sides for us. We count on the company being unique.. :)

Going to friends for Christmas day.. We will have a grazing buffet instead of a formal dinner.. So far, there will be poultry, ham and some type of roast..Family and friends will be dropping in at no set time.

I'm taking my family crab dip along with a couple of other dips, yet to be decided upon. I'll also put together a selection of crackers, chips, etc., along with a cheese/shaved meat plate and a veggie plate.

Personally, I prefer grazing, to a sit down dinner.

Ross
 
Thanksgiving dinner for Mark’s family went so well, that I’m hoping to be afforded an opportunity to make their Christmas dinner as well. Turkey is so last week, so I thought it’d be “fun” to do a Beef Wellington (I have an idiot-proof recipe that cooks the tenderloin sous vide before wrapping it. Perfect every time!). I’d like to add a little surf, too, but I’m not sure what kind of seafood would compliment the beef. Maybe two main courses separated by a palette cleanser?

And everything else I’m considering seems to have mushrooms! Stuffed, marinated, braised, roasted, gratineed. Would it be too clich to have a mushroom themed dinner?

I’ve been relentlessly searching the web for recipes for appetizers and side dishes; I’m curious to know if any of you have a special or unique recipe for either that will turn the dinner into something to remember!

DH has mentioned having beef Wellington for Christmas. Since there are only two of us, I was looking up recipes and found one that serves them with roasted Brussels sprouts. If you want to do surf 'n turf, lobster tails always go with beef.

I wouldn't call a mushroom-themed dinner cliché, but it would be rather one-note. Start with a winter salad or light soup. For salad, I'd do mixed greens with dried cherries or cranberries, chopped apples, goat cheese and a dressing made with apple white balsamic vinegar. For soup, maybe a cup of butternut squash soup with gingerbread croutons.

Then have the surf 'n turf with a green vegetable and maybe a Hasselback potato gratin, like this: Hasselback Potato Gratin Recipe | Serious Eats

Then fruit and cheese, and/or dessert.
 
+1 on Lobster being your surf to the turf of Wellington!
I was thinking a type of Scampi-style, minus the pasta though,
maybe just some gorgeous bread for dunking?

My first thought too was Stuffed Mushrooms,
if you wanted it to be as a formal-sit-down-fork&knife sort of
plated first course.
May I suggest Lidia Bastianich's recipe?
Nothing wrong with a fungi strong menu, at least in
my humble opinion anyways ;)
I don't know how "faaancy" you plan on being,
that is IF you get the nod for a repeat performance.

By the by Joel, you haven't posted your blog's
website as yet... care to share?
Mine is in my signature, and I too have a recipe
for Stuffed Mushrooms, a bit different from Lidia though :chef:
 
If you want to do a bit of work, terrines are very nice. The possibilities are endless. Here is a fish one.. Not that you would want to do this but it is just an example of how you can fancy up a meal..
500x675_162033978353e12be110ae7.jpg

Oh, and there are many recipes for ones that contain mushrooms...
 
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If you want to do a bit of work, terrines are very nice. The possibilities are endless. Here is a fish one.. Not that you would want to do this but it is just an example of how you can fancy up a meal..
500x675_162033978353e12be110ae7.jpg

Oh, and there are many recipes for ones that contain mushrooms...
That’s an interesting idea! I actually have a great recipe for salmon mousse; not a terrine, but similar. And probably easier, lol! Thanks!
 
+1 on Lobster being your surf to the turf of Wellington!
I was thinking a type of Scampi-style, minus the pasta though,
maybe just some gorgeous bread for dunking?

My first thought too was Stuffed Mushrooms,
if you wanted it to be as a formal-sit-down-fork&knife sort of
plated first course.
May I suggest Lidia Bastianich's recipe?
Nothing wrong with a fungi strong menu, at least in
my humble opinion anyways ;)
I don't know how "faaancy" you plan on being,
that is IF you get the nod for a repeat performance.

By the by Joel, you haven't posted your blog's
website as yet... care to share?
Mine is in my signature, and I too have a recipe
for Stuffed Mushrooms, a bit different from Lidia though :chef:
Sweet Moses, everyone is pushing lobster! Unless Rose wants to foot the bill for the ingredients (something I would never even hint at. Well I guess I just did, but neither she nor anyone she knows reads this forum), lobster isn’t really an option for me. But I can do jumbo shrimp!

I have a gut feeling that Rose won’t want a formal dinner. She’ll probably be more comfortable with either family style, or buffet. And I must keep telling myself that it’s not about me, it’s about her, and making her blessed holiday joyful and stress-free.

I’ll have to go into my account info to update my blog site info, I’m flattered that you thought to ask! I’m an intermittent blogger at best; writing a food blog, especially one that’s recipe oriented, is time-consuming and expensive! And when one is a full time caregiver, those are two things that are in short supply.
 
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Too early to decide on appis. Might go spiny lobster cocktail, maybe abalone or conch fritters, uni, diver scallops or stonies.

If we have a standing rib roast, the sides will include mushroom bread pudding, but again too early to nail down the rest.
 
Bacon wrapped scallops
Oysters Rockefeller
Crab cakes

My final suggestion is the riskiest but would be amazing with your beef... it also has mushrooms and can be prepped a little in advance and them baked: coquilles saint jacques

This pairing wold be yummy but rich. You would want to keep the sides very light - for example: salad and some bread but this would make the meal a bit simpler in the long run. Follow it up with a killer dessert and it would be a memorable meal.

Regarding the mushroom themed diner... I would not. Mushroom is a pervasive flavor and may be too intense for an entire meal.
 
Lyonnaise potatoes are always a hit at our house.

I'd make stuffed mushrooms (cheddar and walnuts) if anyone would eat them.
 
Sweet Moses, everyone is pushing lobster! Unless Rose wants to foot the bill for the ingredients (something I would never even hint at. Well I guess I just did, but neither she nor anyone she knows reads this forum), lobster isn’t really an option for me. But I can do jumbo shrimp!

I have a gut feeling that Rose won’t want a formal dinner. She’ll probably be more comfortable with either family style, or buffet. And I must keep telling myself that it’s not about me, it’s about her, and making her blessed holiday joyful and stress-free.

I’ll have to go into my account info to update my blog site info, I’m flattered that you thought to ask! I’m an intermittent blogger at best; writing a food blog, especially one that’s recipe oriented, is time-consuming and expensive! And when one is a full time caregiver, those are two things that are in short supply.


I'm not sure if you have a Costco or a Sprouts where you are Joel, but I found at both locales here in the middle of the desert, all kinds of relatively inexpensive seafood product.
I have two Lobster Tails in the deep freeze for a meal to serve my Mother when she is with us for the month of December.
I was thinking about utilizing them as part of our Christmas Eve Seven Fishes dinner.
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DH and I started a Finger Food 7 Fishes meal some time back.
It's fun and delicious.
I change up the dishes each year.
I didn't do it last year, what with our move and all, we went out with
Mr&Mrs Dear Friends instead.
 
An easy way to impress that is surprisingly affordable is caviar. I'm on a Martha Stewart kick, so please spare me the eye-rolling, I know caviar is sooo nineties. But people still think caviar is chic and it's not expensive because the app requires so little of it. I'd serve it with blinis, homemade or not, sour cream and just a small dollop of caviar. They sell black Capelin Caviar at Cost Plus and Salmon Roe at the 99 Ranch Market (fellow Las Vegas resident) and both jars are under $10.

Here's a recipe for blinis, although I've never made them, I buy the premade ones at Cost Plus and cut them out with a biscuit cutter. I have a feeling TJ's will have them too.
https://www.marthastewart.com/354763/blini-caviar
 
When I purchase caviar, it is for a special occasion and I'll go by this local business. I will pay more than $10.00 depending on the caviar. Most likely Osetra. :ohmy::D It isn't so '90s or these folks wouldn't be doing so good.;)

https://bemka.com/
 
Oh yes, I'm sure there's much better caviar than the 99 Ranch Market, just as there's better wines than two-buck-chuck, but I thought the Cost Plus variety was decent, especially for the price.

And honestly, I don't think most people will know. :angel::)
 
Bacon wrapped scallops
Oysters Rockefeller
Crab cakes

My final suggestion is the riskiest but would be amazing with your beef... it also has mushrooms and can be prepped a little in advance and them baked: coquilles saint jacques

This pairing wold be yummy but rich. You would want to keep the sides very light - for example: salad and some bread but this would make the meal a bit simpler in the long run. Follow it up with a killer dessert and it would be a memorable meal.

Regarding the mushroom themed diner... I would not. Mushroom is a pervasive flavor and may be too intense for an entire meal.
The Coquilles St Jacques is a great idea, except for one thing; I hate scallops! Ok, “hate” is a strong word. But if they were the only thing on the menu, I’d find someplace else to eat! Oysters Rockefeller sounds yummy, though (but I’m not much of a shucker, regardless of what people say ?) or maybe Clams Casino?

I’ve been doing not much of anything but searching recipes, and I’ve found lots of non-fungi appetizers and sides that look delicious and easy (as in, I can coordinate them into my prep and cook time). Brussels sprouts, roasted cabbage with Green Goddess dressing, and I’m still looking for something unique with corn.
 
I made this appy plate for Thanksgiving. Simple, quick and easy.

thanksgiving_2017_112317_2_P1100296.JPG

Marinated mushrooms in the center, Cream Cheese, Green Olive and Walnut Poppers around center bowl, Triscuits on top and then clockwise pepperoni, Trader Joe's smoked cheese, Smoked gouda, Muenster, Cheddar, Sopressata.
 
I made this appy plate for Thanksgiving. Simple, quick and easy.

View attachment 28546

Marinated mushrooms in the center, Cream Cheese, Green Olive and Walnut Poppers around center bowl, Triscuits on top and then clockwise pepperoni, Trader Joe's smoked cheese, Smoked gouda, Muenster, Cheddar, Sopressata.


Yesssss... I will be taking a similar platter , along with dips, etc., to Christmas celebration at our friends home.. :yum:

Ross
 
Here's some ideas for appetizer bases that don't involve grains

>Cucumber slice, cut round or diagonal
>Small bell pepper in halves or quarters
>Endive spears, different colours
>Button mushrooms, stems removed
>Small coloured potatoes, boiled or roasted, sliced
>Cherry tomatoes, pulp & seeds removed, slice a bit off bottom to make them stand up

Some ideas for fillings
>Gorgonzola and pine nuts
>Roasted red bell peppers, pureed
>Avocado with salmon roe and lemon juice
>Shrimp
>Brie with pistachios
>Brie with fig preserves (no sugar)
>Olive tapenade
>Hummus with paprika sprinkle
>Creme fraiche with caviar
>Goat cheese with pistachios or pine nuts
 
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