Help me pick a Christmas Meal

[FSogol]

We've been renovating our kitchen and don't have a regular sized oven at the moment. We have a small Breville toaster oven, a large cooktop, and a great grill outside.

Here's our dilemma. There were only 4 of us, so we were going to make Chicken cordon bleu. However, relatives have started arriving unexpectedly and now there will be 10. We'd never fit 10 Chicken cordon bleus in the little oven.

What should we make?

Past Christmas dinners we have had (as a main course):

Turkey
Salmon
Roast Beef
Roast Rack of Lamb
Coq au vin
Beef Tenderloins

Any ideas? What say you, DU?

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

1. Salmon...

Quick easy and easily scaleable. I don’t think scaleable is a word but get my idea? Merry Christmas.

[Phoenix61]

2. I'm going to an Italian inspired Christmas dinner

The host is making Italian sausage. I'm bringing Risotto with portobello mushrooms.

[dameatball]

5. I'm making lasagna.

[blur256]

3. Do you eat pork?

Pork tenderloin on the grill is easy and great. Will definitely feed a crowd.

[Corgigal]

4. We're having

Manicotti for Christmas Eve
Ham for Christmas Day.

[FSogol]

6. Thanks for the suggestions. On the road today, but will read

All responses when i can.

Ps for Christmas eve, we'll have a Bolivian stew called Picana.

[Cousin Dupree]

7. Marinate a pork tenderloin (there are tons of recipes on line) and throw it on the grill. Yum!

[Freddie]

8. Do you have a crock pot?

You can make a ham in the crock pot. Make rice pilaf and vegetables on the stovetop.
I always make ham on Christmas, with hash brown casserole (“funeral potatoes”) the obligatory GBC, mixed veggies, coleslaw. Way easier than Thanksgiving, no gravy or potato peeling.

[procon]

9. Anything can be braised on top of your stove.

If you have a large enough covered pot you can braise a whole turkey or ham. If not use a turkey breast or a smaller ham, or whatever cut of meat you like. Many cheaper cuts of beef and pork are especially good for braising

It's important to use a well seasoned liquid, such as flavorful broth, wine or beer, to baste over the meat to keep it moist. A cooking thermometer will show when it's done.The tasty broth makes a great soup base, too.

For years when we had huge family feasts, and I always braised an extra turkey in addition to the big roasted bird. It was sliced up and put in little "care packages" sent home with those who needed a little extra.

[woodsprite]

10. We used to do the all out Christmas meal with either a large ham or turkey, plus all the trimmings.

As the numbers in the extended family grew (went from 8 gathering at our in-laws house to 18), we've gone to a smorgasbord-type meal. It's worked out well, especially now that our in-laws live in Florida and the rest of us still get together in Delaware. We provide the sandwich fixings, a few sides and appetizers (hot and cold). Everyone who is attending brings a dish plus at least one batch of Christmas cookies to go on the dessert table.

Much less hassle, and kind of fun to see what cookies they all bring!

From your menu, I'd choose the roast

[Coventina]

11. You can do a turkey breast in a crock pot.

I'd have to hunt up the recipe.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Reservations.

[Major Nikon]

13. I always do a rib roast for Xmas

This year my local grocery store has USDA Choice on sale for $4.69 per pound for bone-in rib roast and the butchers there will always custom cut one from the middle for me. At least around here they always go on sale around Xmas and this is the cheapest I've seen them in quite some time. A few years back they were $6 per pound and the grocery store was delivered prime from their supplier, so I got prime rib for $6 per pound. Normal price during the year for prime is at least $20 per pound with choice at around $8-12.

For 10 people you'll need about 4 bones. Of all the options you listed, it's arguably the easiest to prepare, it's hard to screw up provided you cook it by internal temperature, and it's generally a big hit.

[appalachiablue]

14. Beef, tenderloins. Tangerine/orange garnish.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. Head down to the Aldi. They have spiral-sliced ham going for

95 cents a pound. There's a packet of honey sauce included. I got the smallest one I could, just under nine pounds, as there is just one of me. Someone will show up. That ham will be gone in no time.

Aldi is closed on the 25th. The hams had a pull date of 12-25-2018. The big ones are 12 and 13 pounds.

The ham is already cooked. You can heat up a few slices at a time in a toaster oven or microwave. I opened mine as soon as I got home on Thursday. It is delicious.

[MissB]

16. Salmon on the bbq

Because that’d free up the toaster oven to heat up some bread.

Some sort of rice dish on the cooktop.

[Kali]

17. we do beef for Xmas

used to be a big production rib roast and all the sides but somehow I have managed to con everybody to doing steaks out away from the house now. one salad, a few jumbo shrimp maybe some green chiles if any in the store, pie or some other easy desert. almost no cooking for me!

[mnhtnbb]

18. Ribs. Do ribs on your outside grill.