Wednesday, November 2, 2011

12 Days of Christmas --- Dinner Ideas


If I plan a menu through the month of December (back in October), will it make the holidays go by with a little less stress? Just wondering because I'm so am hoping for that!

While jotting dinner ideas on my calendar I started thinking it would be fun to serve up some sort of food for those 12 days counting down to Christmas. (Yes, here I am, making a simple idea complicated again!) So, I've browsed from time to time, all the way up to Halloween, and now, before completing my menu, I can't help but share all my research with you! So, have a look, then share your ideas with me!

(BTW, I thought this video of the MOTAB singing the 12 Days of Christmas will be a fun way to start Day 1.)


    Day 1 --- Partridge in a Pear Tree

Fresh Pears (This is a nicely presented!)



Day 2 --- Turtle Doves

Turtle Cake --- This is beautiful! (However, I will use this chocolate cake recipe instead --- it's super easy to make, you don't need coffee an it's one of our favorites.) I think I'll have a scope of vanilla ice cream with that!


Day 3 --- French Hens

Stuffed Cornish Hens (2 hours), Apricot-Glazed Cornish Hens (for glaze only)



Day 4 --- Calling Birds actually "Colly Birds" (means blackbird/crow)

Calling Bird Cut-out Cookies
  • Buy or cut out a bird shaped stencil. Spread cream cheese on crackers and use the stencil for things like finely chopped chives, black olive, paprika, chopped egg yolk, to make the birds on top.
  • Colly Bird Pie (I think I'll make 2 pies some night soon and freeze one of those for later --- or --- I might just make a regular old pot pie and make reference to the children's rhyme with blackbirds baked in a pie.)

Day 5 --- Golden Rings


  • gold-foil wrapped chocolate bells (for ringing)
  • oranges sliced into rings
  • onion rings with a hamburger
  • Cowboy Donuts (for 5 golden glazed doughnuts --- or glazed will work)
  • Christmas Bread Wreath (for breakfast)

Day 6 --- Geese-a-Laying
Duck Egg and Brussels Sprouts Hash (I'll just use hen eggs from the store...)

Day 7 --- Swans-a-Swimming


Swan Cream Puffs


Day 8 --- Maids-a-Milking
Milk Duds, Popcorn and a Family Christmas Movie (But, what's for dinner?)
  • something with lots of milk (i.e. cheese, custard, yogurt)
  • Chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream
  • Tres Leches Cake

Day 9 --- Ladies Dancing


Pink Ladies (With so many sweets, just make 1/2 a batch --- these are rich and oh, so good.)
  • Pink Lady apples (can use to make Raw Apple Crisp, Apple Cider (juice the apples through a juicer)/Wassail, apple pie)
  • Gingerbread Ladies (1, 2, 3, 4) --- Can be baked and frozen until Day 9!

Day 10 --- Lords-a-Leaping


Chicken a la King (can make double and freeze extra for the 10th Day)

Day 11 --- Pipers Piping


Snowman Stew (Make 11 snowmen with little pipes drawn on with mustard.) I will use this slow cooker Beef Stew recipe because we like it and it's pretty easy, I'll just add the snowmen towards the end of the cooking time, maybe even pour it into a casserole dish... but that might be complicating a simple idea. Here's some good crusty bread to serve with it.)

Day 12 --- Drummers Drumming


California Rolls --- video (These are drum shaped, add something for drumsticks ---  chopsticks?) These can be made a day ahead. (Serve with instant Miso Soup and steamed veggies.)

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