Yes your old pal Bendrr has gone and done it this time! I've committed myself to hosting Christmas Day at my place and that includes cooking a Christmas dinner for at least 11 people.
I already planned on my "adopted" family coming over which would be no big deal, just snacks and a few beers. But this year I spent Thanksgiving with my older brother and his family. We were talking about plans for Xmas and I offered for them to come over and let me do the cooking. (of course my sister in law jumped at the chance, i mean what mom wouldn't take the opportunity to stay out of the kitchen on Christmas?)
I've never officially hosted a holiday and this is my first chance. Now I can indeed cook, as my friends and family will tell you. But I've never cooked on such a large scale before. I'm not going to cook a turkey or a ham. Too traditional, too conventional. Two things this family is not. None of them know what I'm going to cook, but I do know they're expecting me to outdo myself in the kitchen so I can't let them down. So I was thinking of cooking a big Italian meal since I just love Italian. I've been surfing recipe sites online for ideas and everything I read sounds good. But I've got to narrow it down a little. I need to put together a spread that everyone will enjoy, come back for seconds and thirds, and still leave some leftovers that I can take to work and share with the guys at the shop.
So I'm hoping that we've got some Italians here or at least some knowlegable afficianados who can provide some guidance as to a good menu. Help me out here y'all. This is my first time hosting a Christmas dinner and I want to make it one for the history books.
Mike, who after hitting the [post] button is back to surfing and printing out recipes.
p.s. keep in mind that I don't have a microwave. I detest them and will not tolerate my cooking being soiled by one of those infernal contraptions from hell. The only compromise I've ever made in my cooking is using electric instead of gas and that is as far as I will ever go.