For decorating day, the day we put up the tree and decorate the house I do a big ham. I usually go with a nice big country ham that will serve the family and guests but also leave me lots of leftovers. I want lots of ham for breakfasts and lots of ham sandwiches. Few things in life beat a good ham.
For our big formal dinner I prepare a six or seven bone rib roast. In my opinion a good standing rib roast, cooked over real coals, makes a fantastic meal. For me, this means Christmas. I prepare it with Yorkshire Pudding and lots of good gravy. I make the gravy by cooking the roast over a drip pan that I keep a small amount of water in. The drippings fall in and make perfect gravy.
Christmas Eve means seafood, lots of shrimp and crab, enough to keep everyone eating and drinking all night. Serve it up with all the treats everyone brings and the best rum in the world and you have a great party. In my family people anticipate Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day. Maybe I should grill up something on Christmas Day.
Of course there are lots of other great traditional meals you can prepare for the holidays. Turkey, duck, Pheasant and goose make great meals that are both formal and fantastic. The one thing I am already planning on for next year is a great rack of lamb. So whatever your plans this year I hope you have a safe and happy holiday and a great new year of grilling and barbecue.
