Christmas tapas
December 22, 2018 9:19 AM Subscribe
What’s a fun, special dish I can bring for a casual, quiet Christmas afternoon?
Usually we have a huge Christmas meal with lasagna, several roast meats, tons of sides, fabulous desserts etc for at least a dozen people. However, this was a hard year for my family and instead of the usual giant Christmas blowout, my mom has requested we have a small casual afternoon with just us. She doesn’t want a big fancy sit down meal. She said each of us (me and my two sisters) should bring a dish of something we can put on the kitchen island and then we can snack on all day.
I’m sad that we’re not having our traditional feast and party but I want to respect my mom’s wishes, while still making the day nice. What’s a tapas-esque dish I can make? I’m staying with my parents for the holiday so I have access to their kitchen and can make whatever. I’m a decent baker, a so-so cook. I’m looking for something nicer than pigs in a blanket but not something that’s gonna take hours to make and destroy the kitchen. Something that seems special for a holiday.
Bonus question - any suggestions for something we can do to celebrate the day when we’re all feeling a little sad and beat down, but grateful to be together? We’re in upstate NY. My dad has some mobility difficulty so nice long hike in the woods wouldn’t work. I suggested volunteering somewhere but...they weren’t really into it.
Usually we have a huge Christmas meal with lasagna, several roast meats, tons of sides, fabulous desserts etc for at least a dozen people. However, this was a hard year for my family and instead of the usual giant Christmas blowout, my mom has requested we have a small casual afternoon with just us. She doesn’t want a big fancy sit down meal. She said each of us (me and my two sisters) should bring a dish of something we can put on the kitchen island and then we can snack on all day.
I’m sad that we’re not having our traditional feast and party but I want to respect my mom’s wishes, while still making the day nice. What’s a tapas-esque dish I can make? I’m staying with my parents for the holiday so I have access to their kitchen and can make whatever. I’m a decent baker, a so-so cook. I’m looking for something nicer than pigs in a blanket but not something that’s gonna take hours to make and destroy the kitchen. Something that seems special for a holiday.
Bonus question - any suggestions for something we can do to celebrate the day when we’re all feeling a little sad and beat down, but grateful to be together? We’re in upstate NY. My dad has some mobility difficulty so nice long hike in the woods wouldn’t work. I suggested volunteering somewhere but...they weren’t really into it.
Most groceries have ham on sale right now, often pre-sliced Easy to pop it in the oven, serve with mustards, bread, cheeses. I live alone, but make a ham when it's really on sale. Then I have leftovers to eat and freeze, a hambone and scraps for soups. You can just heat ham in the oven, or make a glaze from mustard and jelly for sweet-savory goodness.
Everyone loves the spinach & artichoke hot spread/ dip.
I grew up in the midwest, and on a recent visit had sauerkraut balls. They are really good and pretty unusual. I recommend Thousand Island dressing as the dip.
Trader Joe's has bags of dumplings that are easy to cook, very tasty, and not traditional for most. Or make them; it's do-able and so good.
posted by theora55 at 9:45 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Everyone loves the spinach & artichoke hot spread/ dip.
I grew up in the midwest, and on a recent visit had sauerkraut balls. They are really good and pretty unusual. I recommend Thousand Island dressing as the dip.
Trader Joe's has bags of dumplings that are easy to cook, very tasty, and not traditional for most. Or make them; it's do-able and so good.
posted by theora55 at 9:45 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Some variation on Devils on Horseback is always a hit. A prune, stuffed with some kind of mild soft cheese, wrapped in bacon. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or so. Spear with a toothpick. Make more than you think you need.
posted by adamrice at 9:55 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adamrice at 9:55 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Devils on horseback, aka dates wrapped in bacon and roasted in the oven? Very rich, so you’d want to make sure you have some plainer options for the rest of the tapas, but very Christmas-y too.
Re: celebrating the day after a tough year: We do a “year in review” with a glass of fizz next to the Christmas tree, acknowledging (and letting go of) the big things that happened, and discussing what we’re looking forward to next year. Depending on the year, it can be more or less of a “we survived” vibe, but celebrating it and declaring a good bit of it Officially Over always makes me feel ready to take on the next phase. We usually do this in the quiet of Christmas Eve, but could be equally nice during Christmas Day downtime.
On preview: jinx adamrice!
posted by Concordia at 9:58 AM on December 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
Re: celebrating the day after a tough year: We do a “year in review” with a glass of fizz next to the Christmas tree, acknowledging (and letting go of) the big things that happened, and discussing what we’re looking forward to next year. Depending on the year, it can be more or less of a “we survived” vibe, but celebrating it and declaring a good bit of it Officially Over always makes me feel ready to take on the next phase. We usually do this in the quiet of Christmas Eve, but could be equally nice during Christmas Day downtime.
On preview: jinx adamrice!
posted by Concordia at 9:58 AM on December 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
We love going to the movies on Christmas. There’s usually something fun or uplifting playing and it’s nice to get out of the house. It’s also a very low key activity so still feels relaxing.
posted by notheotherone at 10:03 AM on December 22, 2018
posted by notheotherone at 10:03 AM on December 22, 2018
Shrimp cocktail! Just keep the pre-cooked shrimp over ice and mix ketchup and horseradish sauce together to taste (I like mine with a pretty strong kick) to make cocktail sauce.
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:21 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:21 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
What about a fancy cheese/meat plate? We always have one at Christmas, consisting of various things from this list:
Brie or camembert
Soft sliceable cheese like havarti
A blue cheese
Hard cheese like a double gloucester or sharp cheddar
Salt cured or otherwise fancy olives
Dried fruit, quince paste, maybe a very stiff and not too sweet fruit jelly
Some kinds of Italian sausage or prosciutto or similar
Any other spreads that strike your fancy
Fruit such as oranges and apples for slicing
Nuts
Smoked salmon or smoked salmon spread
Various kinds of crackers
Maybe a nice bread (provide butter in this case)
When I was a kid, we always also used to have high-quality cocktail sausages and some kind of dip for them plus the kind of port cheese spread that comes in a little tub. I'm not sure if this was specifically because the kids liked them or because they were a fun variety of junk food.
You can arrange all this prettily on a large tray or plate and it feels festive even though most of the work is done at the grocery store. The cheeses can be as ordinary or fancy as you like - anything you feel that you'll enjoy with crackers.
Also what about making a special fizzy drink - even something simple like fresh fruit juice with sparking water?
posted by Frowner at 10:31 AM on December 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Brie or camembert
Soft sliceable cheese like havarti
A blue cheese
Hard cheese like a double gloucester or sharp cheddar
Salt cured or otherwise fancy olives
Dried fruit, quince paste, maybe a very stiff and not too sweet fruit jelly
Some kinds of Italian sausage or prosciutto or similar
Any other spreads that strike your fancy
Fruit such as oranges and apples for slicing
Nuts
Smoked salmon or smoked salmon spread
Various kinds of crackers
Maybe a nice bread (provide butter in this case)
When I was a kid, we always also used to have high-quality cocktail sausages and some kind of dip for them plus the kind of port cheese spread that comes in a little tub. I'm not sure if this was specifically because the kids liked them or because they were a fun variety of junk food.
You can arrange all this prettily on a large tray or plate and it feels festive even though most of the work is done at the grocery store. The cheeses can be as ordinary or fancy as you like - anything you feel that you'll enjoy with crackers.
Also what about making a special fizzy drink - even something simple like fresh fruit juice with sparking water?
posted by Frowner at 10:31 AM on December 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't know if it's celebratory exactly, but it's not as fancy as it sounds like your Christmas usually us, but it is fun: My family, when it's just us, does a big-ass poker game on the holidays and it's very diverting. Merry Christmas!
posted by Countess Sandwich at 10:47 AM on December 22, 2018
posted by Countess Sandwich at 10:47 AM on December 22, 2018
British isles pigs in blankets are sausages wrapped in bacon
posted by brujita at 10:49 AM on December 22, 2018
posted by brujita at 10:49 AM on December 22, 2018
a) Gingerbread
b) How would they feel about an at-home, everyone-sitting-around-the-table volunteering project?
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:56 AM on December 22, 2018
b) How would they feel about an at-home, everyone-sitting-around-the-table volunteering project?
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:56 AM on December 22, 2018
Deviled eggs
posted by Polychrome at 11:10 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Polychrome at 11:10 AM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I visit a friend of mine who happens to have cancer she always pulls out a tray that has brie that is covered in fig jam, in a decorative manner, and has grapes and walnuts as well as three different kinds of crackers. And it feels very elegant to be slicing bits of brie with fig jam and to put them on the crackers and then to nibble on the nuts and the grapes.
I enjoy playing things like Yatzy or card games or doing puzzles with my family. This is partly because we actually get to talk and tease each other while we are playing and I frequently find out things I would not find out if we were trying to have a real conversation. And it’s great if everybody is feeling a little bit sad and exhausted anyway because there’s no pressure to have a good time or to be cheerful. You can just kind of be, and I often find that cheering. I am so sorry your family has had such a difficult year and I hope next year will be better for all of you.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:26 AM on December 22, 2018
I enjoy playing things like Yatzy or card games or doing puzzles with my family. This is partly because we actually get to talk and tease each other while we are playing and I frequently find out things I would not find out if we were trying to have a real conversation. And it’s great if everybody is feeling a little bit sad and exhausted anyway because there’s no pressure to have a good time or to be cheerful. You can just kind of be, and I often find that cheering. I am so sorry your family has had such a difficult year and I hope next year will be better for all of you.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:26 AM on December 22, 2018
Also if you are anywhere near a Trader Joe’s or place that has a decent deli and if you can eat bread and like it, then you can make a wonderful tray filled with prosciutto and various salamis, cheeses, olives, marinated artichokes, etc. or if you want a super cozy holiday you could make macaroni and cheese, the really good kind that is baked in the oven with meat or other add-ins, and make lots of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and or whip cream. I understand why you would be sad but as someone on the other end of the holiday thing, it can be really freeing to skip all the work of the tradition and focus more on ithe comfort of your family overall than the food.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:32 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 11:32 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cheater Spanish tortilla made with kettle chips? Very classic tapas option with a festive (and easy) twist.
posted by redfoxtail at 11:53 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by redfoxtail at 11:53 AM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
My easy fancy starter item is goat cheese with lemon curd on top and then blueberries pressed into the lemon curd served with crackers. Insanely easy to make and but makes a nice impression.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:27 PM on December 22, 2018
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:27 PM on December 22, 2018
For my family's Christmas, we always do easy finger-foods. This way no one is trapped in the kitchen working, and we can all just relax and enjoy one another's company.
Food we tend to have at Christmas:
* Fancy cheese
* Fancy jam/marmalade
* Finger-food type meats or sausages
* Crackers
* Olives
* Carrots, green peppers, other vegetables, and hummus
* Shrimp cocktail
* Smoked salmon
* Tasty dips -- maybe spinach/artichoke dip?
Since a big spread of snacks is our Christmas tradition, I find it really comforting and festive, not depressing. It's wonderful to wake up at my parents' house on Christmas morning (I live far away so I come in from out of town and stay at their place), get a log burning in the fireplace, hang out in pajamas with my folks around the Christmas tree listening to our favorite Christmas music and drinking coffee, open a few presents, play with the dog, go for a walk together, and then bum around the house all day together snacking and listening to music and enjoying one another's company. It's so festive and relaxing, and there's no sit-down meal involved. Maybe there's a way you could make this about enjoying the closeness of just-us family bonding at the holiday, rather than feeling like you're missing some bigger event.
I also love the smell of the Christmas tree and wreaths around the house -- if you haven't already, can you do some easy decorations with evergreen or cut paper snowflakes in the windows to help things feel more Christmassy?
posted by cnidaria at 12:53 PM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Food we tend to have at Christmas:
* Fancy cheese
* Fancy jam/marmalade
* Finger-food type meats or sausages
* Crackers
* Olives
* Carrots, green peppers, other vegetables, and hummus
* Shrimp cocktail
* Smoked salmon
* Tasty dips -- maybe spinach/artichoke dip?
Since a big spread of snacks is our Christmas tradition, I find it really comforting and festive, not depressing. It's wonderful to wake up at my parents' house on Christmas morning (I live far away so I come in from out of town and stay at their place), get a log burning in the fireplace, hang out in pajamas with my folks around the Christmas tree listening to our favorite Christmas music and drinking coffee, open a few presents, play with the dog, go for a walk together, and then bum around the house all day together snacking and listening to music and enjoying one another's company. It's so festive and relaxing, and there's no sit-down meal involved. Maybe there's a way you could make this about enjoying the closeness of just-us family bonding at the holiday, rather than feeling like you're missing some bigger event.
I also love the smell of the Christmas tree and wreaths around the house -- if you haven't already, can you do some easy decorations with evergreen or cut paper snowflakes in the windows to help things feel more Christmassy?
posted by cnidaria at 12:53 PM on December 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
I like to do mini quiches (store bought) or a crustless quiche if I'm making it from scratch. Festive? Questionable. Easy to make, easy to eat, few dishes to clean up? Definitely.
posted by vignettist at 12:55 PM on December 22, 2018
posted by vignettist at 12:55 PM on December 22, 2018
Our Christmas Eve tradition is a big appetizer spread at my uncle's. Popular offerings have been:
Cheese plate
Roasted veg platter with dip(s)
Cold beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce
Buffalo chicken dip
Shrimp with cocktail sauce
Spinach artichoke dip
Cheese fondue
Stuffed mushrooms
Mini quiches (from Costco)
Smoked salmon
Fancy pizza/flatbread
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on December 22, 2018
Cheese plate
Roasted veg platter with dip(s)
Cold beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce
Buffalo chicken dip
Shrimp with cocktail sauce
Spinach artichoke dip
Cheese fondue
Stuffed mushrooms
Mini quiches (from Costco)
Smoked salmon
Fancy pizza/flatbread
posted by sarajane at 1:28 PM on December 22, 2018
Gougeres are easy and will get demolished.
Deviled eggs (decorate with red paprika and green chives, or minced red and green pepper bits.) Good, fancy olives. Brie with fig jam and crackers (Trader Joe's has a gingerbread cracker this year that looks like it would be so good with that.) Cream cheese stuffed dates. Have some green and red grapes out if you're going to serve a cheese tray.
mini quiches - easier to buy than make, but not too bad, especially if you buy the mini pie shells already made. Stuffed mushrooms. A big boule of sourdough bread with spinach-artichoke dip. Oh, and a twist pull-apart bread thing like this made Christmassy looking with sundried tomato filling and green olives.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:32 PM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Deviled eggs (decorate with red paprika and green chives, or minced red and green pepper bits.) Good, fancy olives. Brie with fig jam and crackers (Trader Joe's has a gingerbread cracker this year that looks like it would be so good with that.) Cream cheese stuffed dates. Have some green and red grapes out if you're going to serve a cheese tray.
mini quiches - easier to buy than make, but not too bad, especially if you buy the mini pie shells already made. Stuffed mushrooms. A big boule of sourdough bread with spinach-artichoke dip. Oh, and a twist pull-apart bread thing like this made Christmassy looking with sundried tomato filling and green olives.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:32 PM on December 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tarte soleil! It looks fancy, but it's really just a sandwich of two pieces of puff pastry with something between them.
posted by Lycaste at 2:09 PM on December 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Lycaste at 2:09 PM on December 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
I made the tarte soleil for solstice and it was great! I'd also consider a big tray of nachos or seven-layer dip. It sounds like you're aiming for fancier than that, but it's disappeared immediately at every party I've ever seen it at.
posted by metasarah at 4:20 PM on December 22, 2018
posted by metasarah at 4:20 PM on December 22, 2018
Mini versions of these baked chicken meatballs make a great party snack.
posted by neushoorn at 2:21 AM on December 23, 2018
posted by neushoorn at 2:21 AM on December 23, 2018
Stuffed vine leaves are great for this sort of thing.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 1:57 PM on December 26, 2018
posted by the duck by the oboe at 1:57 PM on December 26, 2018
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posted by supercres at 9:25 AM on December 22, 2018 [5 favorites]