What do you suggest for a Christmas dinner other than the "usual" turkey dinner?

I am retired and in my entire life time I have never had turkey for Christmas. I go by the old school thing of eating what is available.

TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING....the wild turkeys are hatched in the spring and have been getting fatter all summer, they are at their best at Thanksgiving time after that they can't find as much to eat and actually get thinner during the winter months.

BEEF FOR CHRISTMAS......cows take the longest to get their full growth so they weren't butchered until the very late fall so there was fresh beef for Christmas. I personally prefer the standing rib roast...it looks really festive.

HAM FOR EASTER....the hams of the pig were salt cured and lasted for the winter, longer than any of the other meats. In the spring time, ham was the only meat left, other than canned meats...so they prepared the ham for Easter dinner. Soon after that they had new pullets ready to be eaten and then pigs were ready.

Preparing a different type of meat also lets you do completely different side dishes and desserts.

I realize we can have any meat at any time in this day and age....but it somehow seems right to me to keep it the same way.

We always have turkey and all the fixings for Thanksgiving. So by Christmas, that just doesn't sound all that special. About 10 years ago, I started making lasagna and now we can hardly wait for Christmas and my lasagna. And it is so easy -- I make the lasagna the day before Christmas -- so on Christmas, I put that in the oven, when it is done, make a salad and garlic bread, and we are good to go. The secret to my great lasagna is so easy -- just add lots and lots of cheese!

The last couple of Christmases my family hasn't felt like doing a full turkey dinner, so we've just done a couple different soups and salads and breads. Simple and easy. Less time cooking, so more time with the family too!

hmm.. lot's of folks order Chinese food though I've never personally done that. Last year I fixed rack of Lamb, it was very good, and a nice change from poultry and beef. Other years I have fixed crown roast pork, with Rice Pilaf in the center, and seasonal veg. Good luck, and Merry Christmas!

Lasagna

I plan to do cornish game hens again this year tasty and cook faster and each person can have oen bird. They average a lb and done with wild rice stuffing or with a white wine and grape sauce are fantastic another possibility is duck,goose or quail or pheasant for variety

These are all non-traditional or twists on the traditional recipes.

Here are a bunch of ideas for appetizers:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2416980/b...

And here are a bunch of ideas for main dishes:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2435346/t...

And side dishes:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2445098/c...

And even some warm drinks:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2429748/h...

Hope it helps!

Considering how hot it can get here in Australia, roasting a turky isn't really fun so we often have an outdoor seafood BBQ.

We had Prime Rib last Christmas, and it was very nice

A ham goes well