We are smack-dab in the middle of all the December festivities. From school Christmas programs to special church services, and everything in between, it’s definitely a full-on Christmas season. And I love every minute of it. So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite holiday recipes.

This Chocolate Cake is amazing!!

It’s also that time of the year when you may be wondering how you’re going to get everything done. A couple of years ago I took a hard look at our Christmas traditions and decided to stop sending family photo Christmas cards.

From trying to get my entire family together (16 in all including grandkids, kids, and their spouses) for the photo, to finding time to mail all the cards, it was just a lot.

Plus, the kids are all grown now and they can send out their own cards. Just skipping this one thing freed up so much time.

More than a few years ago, I completely changed my Christmas Day menu. By the time the big day rolls around, we are pretty much done with all the rich foods that we only eat during the holidays.

Breakfast

I’ve been making the same simple Christmas Day breakfast ever since the kids were little. It’s a family tradition.

I serve my amazing Mocha Punch with Pillsbury Grands canned cinnamon rolls! It’s easy, simple, and oh, so good!

Note: Now that the kids are all grown and gone, my husband and I forgo the mocha punch for breakfast and I have it ready as our family/guests arrive for Christmas Dinner (lunch).

Christmas Dinner (served around 12:30 pm)

So, we decided to start grilling ribeye steaks for Christmas dinner. For years, I baked and served a standing rib roast (prime rib) but here’s the problem. Prime Rib is best when served medium rare or at least medium.

Several family members will only eat their beef well done (let me go ahead and insert a big ole’ eye roll right here – bless their hearts) so those members were not happy.

Since we live in the south, we grill year-round. Plus, my husband is the grill master and that takes a lot off my plate (pun intended). I get to concentrate on the sides and desserts and that’s A-OK with me.

We order our steaks way ahead of time and my husband has the best marinade recipe. I’ll have to share it at some point.

Sides

I always make my famous Stuffed potatoes! I’ve shared the recipe many times over the last 30 years!

I usually do a salad, rolls, mac and cheese, and another green vegetable (varies from year to year).

Favorite Holiday Recipes – Desserts

For years I would make 4 or 5 desserts for Christmas. But we’d have so much food left over. Over the last couple of years, I’ve cut way back.

We have an amazing baker in our church. She owns her own bakery so I ordered a 10-layer chocolate cake from her. I’ll make pecan pies or my famous pecan pie cobbler.

Turtle candies and buckeyes (peanut butter balls) will also be on the dessert bar. I’ll make those a day or two ahead of time and they are very easy to make.

In case you don’t know, I have a recipe site called An Alli Event. I first started that blog as a hobby, sharing my favorite family recipes and party tips, at the end of 2012.

At the time, I had no way of knowing that my hobby site would explode with growth and become a source of income.

Feel free to check out all my favorite holiday recipes and have a very Merry Christmas!