Christmas Day Dinner

This one meal culminates the season and carries with it such great expectations. What fun it is to bring out the china, polish the silver, and arrange flowers. Whether you've done this for years or it's your first time to host, use our plan to discover tricks and secrets that will make the day memorable and stress free.

Menu:

• Orange-Glazed Ducks
• Orange-Glazed Hens
• Potato-Butternut Squash-and-Gruèyre Gratin
• Cream Sauce
• Green Peas With Crispy Bacon
• Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

 

Music Mix: Instant Party
1. "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring"
2. "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"
3. "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
4. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
5. "Silent Night"
6. "The First Noel"
7. "The Christmas Song"
8. "Ave Maria, Ellens Gesang III, D839"
9. "Winter Wonderland"
10. "O Holy Night"  

Click here to buy this music on iTunes.

Gilt and Glamour
Gold and silver decorations turn the table into an exquisite setting. Unpack all of your metallic-colored items―ornaments, garlands, mercury glass gazing balls, and family treasures. You will be amazed at how beautifully it all comes together.

Magnificent Mantel
Combine all types of silver for a dynamic display. Bell jars compartmentalize each item, but this idea works equally well without them. Pile up ornaments, use a compote dish as a stand for a tree topper, and weave it all together with greenery and white statice flowers. Even the Christmas tree goes silver―the pewter-colored foliage of a 'Carolina Sapphire' Arizona cypress provides the perfect foil for metallic ornaments.

"Christmas Day Dinner" is from the Christmas at Home 2007 issue of Southern Living.