DiscussionsHassle-free Holidays and Simple Entertaining Tips

Christmas eve has always been my special holiday.  As the family has grown and many moved away, it has become different.  Now instead of giving presents to everyone, we have a drawing---not each person, but letting the person pick his/her own.  We each bring a wrapped present (we set the top of how much each can spend) and put it around the Christmas tree. the first person draws/picks  a present and unwraps it.  The second person can either take that present or pick one from under the tree.  It progresses around and around.  Some pick the others present and then someone picks their present.  It makes for many laughts.  The presents are not always expensive, but funny.  Last year I picked a medium size present and it turned out to be a box of Snickers!  I'm a diabetic, so that was funny, but believe me, it went around the room several times!  We all bring something to eat, the host usually has the oven ready for warming.  Turkey, Ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, monkey bread, punch (we don't do egg nog), sodas, whatevery. Just remember to have fun !!

My husband makes lasagna for Christmas every year.  It takes him a while to make it so he actually makes it on Dec. 23rd since we are pretty Christmas Eve too.  It tastes better when it sits a while anyway.  We just add some time in the oven since it's been sitting in the refrigerator for a couple of days.  And the kids love the Pillsbury crescent rolls to go with it.  I've spent time trying to make yeast rolls from scratch, but they prefer the crescent rolls instead!  Then on Christmas I just throw an easy salad together, and for dessert, I get everyone's favorite flavor of ice cream.  Sometimes there's as many as six flavors, but we get a big bowl and get a scoop of each, then watch Christmas movies or the latest DVD.  Preparing the Christmas lasagna ahead of time makes for a "hassle-free" Christmas!  We just put on our comfy sweats (with elastic to allow for expanding bellies), relax, and enjoy!

My husband & I are the parents of 17 children, 14 of which are grown, our youngest 3 children still live at home with us. We also have 7 handsome grandsons and 1 beautiful granddaughter who'll celebrate her 3rd birthday in March 2009. Normally she's a grandpa's girl except when Grandma is baking, then she turns into a Grandma's girl so she can be the first taster before Grandpa. 

We enjoy having our grown children & our grandchildren come for a visit any time of the year ... especially during the holidays, our favorite of which is Christmas.

On Christmas Day, we enjoy a meal in mid-afternoon of a 27 lb. turkey (or as large as I can find) that I bake the day before, a 25 lb. spiral sliced ham that I bake that day, green bean casserole topped with cheesy french fried onions, a cranberry/jello/crushed pineapple salad that my mother (now deceased) gave me several years ago, yams topped with brown sugar, honey & miniature marshmallows, deep-dish homemade Cherry Pie, deep-dish homemade Apple Studel Pie, deep-dish home-made Peach Chiffon Pie, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cheesecake (baked in a springform pan), and a Turtle Cheesecake (also baked in a springform pan). (We have a double oven on our range which is wonderful because I can bake twice as many goodies at the same time.)

I also have a variety of homemade Christmas cookies, white divinity candy, pecan fudge, homemade from scratch caramels, and white almond-bark covered pretzels on hand for our children & grandchildren who don't think it's Christmas without a large variety of Grandma's homemade cookies & candy.

For any of our children and/or grandchildren who decide to spend the night here at our house (spread all over the floors in blankets or sleeping bags), we serve homemade entirely from scratch caramel pecan rolls for breakfast the next morning, Hash Brown Casserole, hot freshly ground coffee for the adults, and chocolate milk for the kids because Christmas is only once a year. 

I applaud you!!!  You and your family must really have a great time at Christmas.  I am expecting my first grandchild in January and then my second one in August.  I can't wait until Christmas 2009.  I have two younger children at home with me. I have all boys.  And they are definitely "mom's" boys.  My grandchild that is due in January is a girl so she is going to be so spoiled Christmas 2009.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your entire family!!!!! [G]

fauxmarlyn [:)]

alabama

Hello GrandmaB101!!

I am a new member and am learning my way around the Pillsbury Community and the internet.

17 children?  And I had trouble handling 2!!  WOW! You have my undying and utmost respect.  From the sound of it, you handled it like a champ, with lot of love.  You remind me of my grandmother the most unique woman. 

She made the most beautiful Bi-Low Dolls and sold them to peoople all over the world, other ceramics, crocheted beautifully and still made the time for all of grandkids.  And the time to cook the most wonderful holiday dinners.

Your pies and cheesecakes sound absolutely like something she would do.  Do you share?  My newly married daughter is having her first family thanksgiving at her home, and though she fought me on learning to cook when she was young, now she is trying to learn.  i want her first holiday meal to be memorable.  she loves the cheesecake idea and I like the cherry and peach pie idea. 

so if you do share your recipes...I have an open mind.

thank you so much.  Mo5410

P.S.  You sound like a really fun grandmother.  I only have one granddaughter and two step-granddughters (we don't use the word "step" except when we really have to clarify).  we buy the toys/gifts that Mom and Dad would prefer the kids not have.  My daughter told me we better not do to her what their grandmother did to me.  "You wish" was all I could say.  Have a Wonderful Holiday and keep those goodies on the menu.   Mo5410[;)]

[quote user="GrandmaB101"]

My husband & I are the parents of 17 children, 14 of which are grown, our youngest 3 children still live at home with us. We also have 7 handsome grandsons and 1 beautiful granddaughter who'll celebrate her 3rd birthday in March 2009. Normally she's a grandpa's girl except when Grandma is baking, then she turns into a Grandma's girl so she can be the first taster before Grandpa.  

We enjoy having our grown children & our grandchildren come for a visit any time of the year ... especially during the holidays, our favorite of which is Christmas.

On Christmas Day, we enjoy a meal in mid-afternoon of a 27 lb. turkey (or as large as I can find) that I bake the day before, a 25 lb. spiral sliced ham that I bake that day, green bean casserole topped with cheesy french fried onions, a cranberry/jello/crushed pineapple salad that my mother (now deceased) gave me several years ago, yams topped with brown sugar, honey & miniature marshmallows, deep-dish homemade Cherry Pie, deep-dish homemade Apple Studel Pie, deep-dish home-made Peach Chiffon Pie, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cheesecake (baked in a springform pan), and a Turtle Cheesecake (also baked in a springform pan). (We have a double oven on our range which is wonderful because I can bake twice as many goodies at the same time.)

I also have a variety of homemade Christmas cookies, white divinity candy, pecan fudge, homemade from scratch caramels, and white almond-bark covered pretzels on hand for our children & grandchildren who don't think it's Christmas without a large variety of Grandma's homemade cookies & candy.

For any of our children and/or grandchildren who decide to spend the night here at our house (spread all over the floors in blankets or sleeping bags), we serve homemade entirely from scratch caramel pecan rolls for breakfast the next morning, Hash Brown Casserole, hot freshly ground coffee for the adults, and chocolate milk for the kids because Christmas is only once a year. 

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HI I JUST FINISHED MAKING 14 QUARTS OF CANNED PEACHES AND 8 JARS OF PEACH JELLY.MY HUSBANDS BROTHERS  PLACE HAS THIS REAL GOOD PEACH TREE. MY MOTHERIN LAW STARTED IT FROM A PEACH PIT AND MY BROTHER IN LAW NURTURED IT.MY HUBBY AND I GET TO PLAY WITH THE PEACHES.LAST WEEK ON MY WEEKEND I MADE LEMON CURD AND CANNED IT. I SAW YOUR LETTER HERE AND REMINDED ME WHEN MY PARENTS AND IN LAWS WERE ALIVE I COOKED LIKE THAT . MISS IT SOMETIMES.,BUT GETTING BACK TO THE RECIPE , I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT .WOULD YOU SHARE IT PLEASE.   LIBRA 875[A]