Start
your elegant Christmas dinner menus with appetizers ...
offer your guests 3 or 4 different appetizers and beverages as they mingle
before being seated
to get acquainted and/or renew friendships.
Why not serve one appetizer with seafood, one for the vegetarian, another
appetizer with cheese and another with meat.
If you are hosting the dinner and inviting a large group
ask your
guests to share in the fun and bring one of these appetizers for
everyone to enjoy,
it will be fun to include them in making something special and maybe
they will receive some 'oohs' and 'aahs' too ....
it also takes the pressure off you to have one less course to
prepare.
Here are some Christmas dinner appetizer suggestions for you to make your
menu even better.
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Mini Cheese Balls
Cheese
and Port wine wrapped around a juicy grape rolled into balls then
coated with pistachio nuts, deliciously refreshing.
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Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto
Thin prosciutto slices spread with Boursin cheese, honey
mustard and pepper for a 'kick' wrapped around tender crisp asparagus
spears. |
Cheese-Olive Pepperoni
fresh rosemary stems are used to skewer
pepperoni, cheese slices and olives... how easy is this appetizer
to make! |
Cream Cheese Candy Cane Dip
a delicious Christmas dip of blue cheese decorated with red bell pepper strips formed into a candy
cane served with baguette bread. |
After the Appetizers comes the Amuse Bouche.
Serve when guests are seated for a unique and special
Christmas treat.
These are
little bites of delicious tasting foods to wake up the taste buds in
anticipation of what is to come....
just a simple yet elegant and easy course to delight your
guests...
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Shrimp Cocktail
Simply
put a small amount of cocktail sauce in shot glasses, add a shrimp with
tail-on and serve. How easy is that for Christmas! |
Asparagus Mousse
Puree
asparagus, onion, cayenne pepper and other ingredients together, serve
on an appetizer spoon for a delicious bite.
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Cheese Cube
Gruyere cheese cubes deep fried in oil straddled across a shot glass filled with a flavorful Orange-Herb
vinaigrette for dipping |
Wonton Mushroom Purses
Mushrooms, garlic and Vermouth wine in wonton purses served over a cream
sauce on a Chinese spoon for a unique taste. |
Consider
serving a First Course Appetizer for your Christmas menus... I have many to
choose from.
These are individually plated and garnished appetizers, a beautiful
way to pamper your guests
All elegantly plated, most of
them can be made ahead of time which makes your Christmas dinner easier to
present
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Smoked Salmon Swan
Smoked
salmon horseradish mousse with a Pate a Choux swan neck served with
cucumber slices dusted with dill weed.. an elegant course. |
Shrimp Cocktail Martini
This
is about the easiest first course appetizer to make. It is so
beautiful in a martini glass and perfect for Christmas menus.
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Baby Artichokes
Serve these cute little guys on a
flavorful swirled mustard sauce enhanced with dill weed for a delicious
Christmas dip. |
Crostini Shrimp & Mushrooms
Sauted portobello
mushrooms and large shrimp sitting on crostini with a delicious
tomato sauce perfect for Christmas dinner or anytime.
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Many great dinner menus choices
to choose from, these
recipes are just a few suggestions for
your Christmas Dinner menu...
they are all uniquely garnished
making a beautiful presentation.... all easy to make, most of
them can be made ahead of time
so that you are not stressed out with too much preparation.
I would suggest the serving portions be no more than a 1/2 cup for
each person.
Though these are excellent, they tend to be very filling,
it is best to give everyone a small taste leaving them with the
concept of wanting more rather than giving too much.
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Chilled Tomato Soup
Fresh
ginger root, vibrant red tomatoes and tabasco sauce in a cordial glass
make this a special soup course for Christmas dinner. |
Green Pea Mint Soup
Who
doesn't like the taste of fresh mint leaves... combine that with just
the right ingredients and you have a fantastic entree.
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Shrimp Bisque Flambe
Have you ever tasted a seafood soup
made fresh with shrimp stock and flambéed with brandy? You have
got to try this, it's easy. |
Leek-Spinach Soup
Use a ring mold to separate the spinach
soup from the leek soup as it is poured into a bowl for a beautiful
presentation.
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Lots more Gourmet
Soups
with Photos for dinner menus
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Here
again,
I would suggest the serving portions be no more than a 1/2 cup for
each person if you are planning a multi-course Christmas dinner.
Though these are excellent, they tend to be very filling,
it is best to give everyone a small taste leaving them with the
concept of wanting more rather than giving too much for a
multi-coursed Christmas menus
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Crab Avocado Timbale
With
garlic, pickled ginger and arugula in an olive oil, fresh lemon juice,
Dijon mustard dressing.. how lovely for Christmas dinner menus. |
Arugula Pear Asiago Salad
Fresh arugula leaves and grated Asiago cheese
in a martini glass with a pear slice on the rim and a breadstick
swizzle.. how elegant! |
Insalata Caprese
Layer tomato and Mozzarella cheese
slices with fresh basil leaves in a ring mold drizzled with olive oil
for a delicious combination. |
Hearts of Romaine
A unique way to serve romaine
lettuce. Cut into wedges, drizzle with a balsamic vinegar, serve
with Stilton cheese and candied pecans. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Salads
with Photos for menus
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Here are
some luscious, delicious mouth-watering main entree ideas
to chose for your Christmas menus.
be sure to see all of them... each has a
photograph so you can see how they look...
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Lobster Tail
Poached in butter
served over spinach with a butter dipping sauce of toasted almonds and
garlic powder, so elegant for Christmas. |
Trout filled with Salmon Mousse
Puff
pastry filled with baked trout and salmon mousse, an easy entree made
ahead of time and a good choice for a Christmas dinner. |
Prime Rib of Beef
Such an elegant choice for Christmas
dinner menus... it is a classic served with a delicious au jus
recipe for dinner. |
Rack of Lamb
Roasted to perfection with fresh herbs,
garlic and Dijon mustard, then served with an exceptional lamb
sauce perfect for Christmas. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Entrees
with Photographs for dinner menus
Chose a sorbet to serve just before the main
entree to cleanse the palate to enjoy the feature attraction before the
main entree...
here are a few you might like
to serve for Christmas, all of them are made ahead of time and so easy to do to
enhance your menus,
no ice cream maker or sorbet machine is required!
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Grapefruit Mint Sorbet
So
refreshing... fresh mint leaves, grapefruit juice and simple syrup
make this a wonderful sorbet for Christmas menus. |
Orange Sorbet
This
is so delicious with fresh orange juice and fresh zest of an
orange... how refreshingly simple to make. |
Lemon Sorbet
This is always a classic. How
can you go wrong choosing this easy yet refreshing sorbet to cleanse your
palate at Christmas. |
Green Apple Sorbet
Granny Smith Apples with apple juice
and other ingredients make this an easy sorbet to serve for elegant
dinner party menus. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Sorbets
with Photographs for dinner menus
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Garnishes are great to use and always make
Christmas dinner
menus even that much better by adding color contrasts
and creating interest to any plate.
I have many to chose from, all with photographs so
you can see what they will look like.
Here are just a few you might like to make.
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Zucchini Christmas Tree
Cut
zucchini into pieces for the tree then use tomato or red bell peppers
for the branches, make one for each guest... easy to do. |
Cherry Tomato Flower
This
is the easiest garnish of them all to make.. just make two cuts in
the tomato, spread out the petals and add mustard for the center. |
Beet Stars
Another easy garnish. Cut stars
or other shapes from sliced beets with a cookie cutter, put 3 on each
plate. Make them different sizes. |
Zucchini Flower
An easy one to make ahead of time, just
roll up sliced zucchini slices, refrigerate until ready to use.
Put one on each plate. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Garnishes
with Photographs for dinner menus
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Chose side dishes to enhance your Christmas dinner
menus...
I have many to chose from, all with photographs so
you can see what they will look like.
Here are just a few you might like to make.
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Steamed Broccoli
Cooked al
dente, sprinkled with toasted pine nuts and grated Parmesan cheese, then
drizzled with white truffle oil. |
Fresh
Snow Peas and Carrots
A
colorful easy vegetable to prepare, just toss with olive oil, lemon
juice, minced garlic and fresh Thyme leaves... so refreshing. |
Sweet Potato Baskets
Baked wonton baskets made ahead of
time filled with pureed sweet potatoes, put one on each plate for a
unique Christmas side dish. |
Fresh Carrot Spaghetti
Cut carrot into thin strands then toss
with vegetable oil and dill weed... very simple to make, refreshing and
colorful. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Side Dishes
with Photographs for dinner menus
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End this beautiful Christmas dinner menu with an
elegant dessert ...
it is rewarding to make this feast even more special by
adding some simple and easy to make desserts..
here are
some recipes you may like to go with your menus
I have many gourmet desserts to chose
from... all with photographs so you can see the final
product.
Most all of them are sooooo easy to make.
Here are just a few you might like to serve your guests.
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Chocolate Mousse Cake
Easy to make ahead
of time, beautiful individual little 2" chocolate cake rounds
filled with a delicious creamy chocolate mousse. |
Chocolate Mousse
Make this ahead of time
then serve topped with whipped cream in martini glasses for a
spectacular Christmas presentation. |
Ice Cream Tuille
Bake a tuille strip then wrap it
around a small timbale of ice cream, dust the plate with cocoa and serve
for a gourmet dessert. |
Ice Cream & Cappuccino
Put coffee ice cream on a Chinese
Spoon, then put whipped cream between Cappuccino Cookies and serve this
easy elegant dessert. |
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Lots more Gourmet
Desserts
with Photographs for dinner menus
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Resources About the Author
Contact Me
Photographs are copyrighted, gourmet all Recipes are created by Peggy Bucholz, Fine Dining
Recipes
established 2001
www.finedinings.com
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