Christmas Dinner Plans

Before my second son was born I started hosting Christmas dinner at my house. It was easier, having a small child, to stay home on Christmas morning. I thought that if I cooked a dinner and invited whomever wanted to show up, it gave my in-laws and my mom permission to take a break from cooking, if they so desired. Plus, I get to keep most of the leftovers and the turkey bones. I absolutely LOVE all the amazing, rich stock I get from turkey bones. It keeps my freezer stocked in homemade stock for at least 4 months.

This year our family has been exceptionally busy and/or sick. Somehow it slipped my mind to actually plan our meal. I realized sometime last week I should probably buy a turkey. Beyond that my meal is a bit unplanned. I know, shocking.

My tentative plan is roasted potatoes (both russet and sweet) cooked in the Actifry, stuffing (bread crumbs, celery, etc) cooked in my slow cooker, and turkey cooked in the oven. I'll think about roasting bell peppers in the oven while I'm finishing off the rest of dinner, and steaming carrots on the stove. What about salad? Do you serve salad with your Christmas meal? Homemade cranberry sauce, for sure. A fresh vegetable and fruit tray, maybe. I'm not feeling amazingly healthy yet, so that could be why I'm so undecided. 

What sort of traditions do you follow for Christmas? I'd love to hear about them! Let me know what you're cooking for dinner, and maybe you'll inspire me!