Christmas Eve dinner - I need something that I can prep ahead and leave in a crock pot

[hedgehog]

while I'm at the 5PM service. Or else something elegant and that I can prep ahead and cook up super quick. I'm feeding two vegetarians to top it off!

[cbayer]

1. How about a ravioli with an extravagant sauce.

I love the butternut squash ravioli from Trader Joes and it cooks up really quickly. You could make your sauce before hand (whatever you like, but I am partial to cream based sauces), then just boil the ravioli when you get back. I also really like the mushroom ravioli from TJ. They have a good selection without meat.

Salad and garlic bread could also be made beforehand and just tossed/warmed up before you sit down.

[The empressof all]

2. I always do clams and mussels for Christmas eve

They cook up super quick in butter, white wine and garlic. I always serve it with spaghetti with a spicy red sauce. I have extra red sauce on the side for dipping. There's lots of garlic bread and usually a simple green salad with orange segments and walnuts. Dessert is usually eclairs from the French Bakery.

Seriously This meal takes less than a half an hour to make if you prepare the sauce before hand and prep the salad.

Now the shellfish wouldn't work for your veggie guests but most folks love pasta even though it isn't elegant. If they eat cheese have a few selections for them to indulge on as well.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Are they full-fledged vegetarians?

Or, will they eat seafood? If they'll eat seafood, some sort of chowder or bisque would be good, with a nice salad on the side. Maybe something fancy like tossed greens with pear and gorgonzola or feta cheese and candied nuts. Add some homemade rolls that you can let rise while you're in church. It doesn't take long to bake them. You could do a vegetarian soup like butternut squash bisque, or a stew or chili. Leave it warmed in the crock pot, and maybe have a cold cut and cheese plate for making sandwiches.

[hedgehog]

4. I'm getting some good ideas here - they're vegetarians, not vegans, but won't eat fish.

I like the idea of warm dinner rolls, soup and salad.

[cbayer]

5. If you look at today's "What's for dinner" thread, there is someone making a vegetarian

chile.

[Warpy]

6. Veggie chili is great, there are plenty of recipes online.

I always tossed in a handful of bulgur wheat along with the beans to give it a little bite. Meat eaters swore there had to be meat in it. It's a great crock pot idea.

Toppings and tortilla chips make the whole thing festive: sour cream, avocado (don't do this one until you're ready to sit down), sprouts, grated cheese, scallions, chopped sweet onion, lime wedges.

[LaydeeBug]

7. If your company is vegetarian, I would suggest pasta with a beautiful, elegant sauce

maybe a cream sauce?

[msanthrope]

8. I have a great elegant veggie soup for you, that crockpots, and reheats very well:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1157&pid=15159


I would serve that with a roasted beet salad--that can be prepped well ahead of time, you mix the ingredients together at the last minute, and serve:

3-4 large roasted beets, a large fennel bulb, 4-5 juicy oranges, (bloods if you can get them) greens, olive oil, orange vinegar, or champagne vinegar, salt and pepper.

Scrub and prick beets, cover with foil, roast in a hot over until tender...always takes a while. Do this the night before. When cool enough to handle, use a pair of rubber gloves to rub the skins off. Chop beets into bite size chunks or slices.
Section oranges, and keep them in their juice. You can do this the night before. My aunt cheats and used canned mandarin, but use a good brand.
Shave fennel with a mandoline. Again, night before.
Before you go to mass, take out the beets, oranges, and fennel to come to room temp.
At the last minute, mix the beets, oranges, (with their juices) and fennel. Add 2 tablespoons good oilve oil, about a tablespoon of vinegar, salt and pepper. Taste. At this point, you can add Kalmata olives, crumbled goat cheese, or leave it as is. Serve over a bed of greens. This is a very typical Sicilian winter salad.

[grasswire]

9. How about a fondue and beautiful salad?

Oh another idea -- crepes! Prepped in advance, ready to pop into the oven and sauce. Could be asparagus and goat cheese.

You didn't specify if this needs to be a sit-down dinner or if it could be a walkabout.

[hedgehog]

10. Sit down family dinner with two hungry male carnivores and

two vegetarians and two moderately hungry omnivores.

Now i'm thinking blintzes!