For the last two years I have made a tamale dressing that was well received. The recipe is on the 'Homesick Texan' website.

I don't mind crowd breakfasts BUT I don't run a restaurant. :thumbup: We have a variety of foods and people can choose from what's offered - no special requests. Want something special? Go to a restaurant or fix it, yourself. :)

Oh, I like this discussion. Since being very young, 19-20 years old, I have been the host to most small family functions. Boy do I look back and see the graciousness of my guests (mostly single guy friends of my husband). I have done many different things over the years and now that I have children in their late teens, I would question the change of traditional menu items. I can just hear your guests say, " where is the ham?cheesey potatoes? etc.

My mother-in-law is almost always with us for Christmas, and I have fallen into doing Pork ribs in her honor for Christmas Eve dinner. That is our big, fancy meal of the holiday. Baked potatoes with creamed corn, coleslaw, homemade potato rolls, veggie tray with dip and baked beans for my husband. We all love this and I'm not feeding a crowd or it would be something different.

Hope you got some ideas, as I know I have.

Last year since they all came in at different times and even different days, I fixed two pots of soup one chili and the other veggie. There were different cheeses and crackers. I made a Ky Sunrise Cake, cheese cake, pumpkin pies, and cookies. everyone seemed to like it and one of my 10 year grandson enjoyed figuring out just what make the chili different from his Moms, I think he really might have wanted the recipe.:D

Saveaquilt,Is your cream corn homemade if so would you please share your recipe Thanks In advance(:)

Prime rib and Lasagne here...Love Christmas...Turkey for Thanksgiving..

My husband is drooling....he love holiday meals and Thankgiving is his favorite...so glad he loves to cook

How about a brunch meal? There are many recipes for a wonderful egg casserole out there on the web. Serve with hash browns or grits, fruit, muffins or biscuits. The possibilities for brunch are endless and can be served buffet style. My family likes the brunch idea.

Our dinner is the same for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ham, Prime Rib, mashed pot, sweet pot with pecans and fluff, mac and cheese, Collard greens, cranberry salad, deviled eggs, Dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, cheesecake . we usually have about 10-12 people.

With almost 40 people coming to your house, I would start asking them to bring dishes, this way you could do your regular menu and then have more of a variety. If you really want to change your menu and stay away from turkey and ham, I would suggest like some of the others on here...some roast beef, that's cheap enough to feed 40 people. Desserts is always a hit at holiday season.