Every year on Christmas Day my family descends on our house for food and fun. Because we're the only ones with kids it works out really well for us; the kids get to play with their new toys instead of trekking off to visit family while their new toys sit at home all alone. And every year I try to make yummy treats for us to snack on. This year I'm having a much harder time with it. Perhaps it's because paying for private preschool tuition for two kids is draining our already meager financial resources? :) Anyway, I decided that with just ten days until The Big Day it was time to sit down and make a shopping list and a task list so I get everything accomplished. The Christmas cards have already been mailed, the presents are wrapped *, the house is decorated as much as it's going to be this year.....time to focus on the food!

* Except for the edible gifts I still need to make, but those won't be wrapped until a day or two before Christmas.

Breakfast is usually a casserole full of bread, eggs, meat, and cheese. I think this year I'm going to make a sausage version, as it went over really well last year. I'm also thinking about making cinnamon rolls since I have everything on hand already.

The rest of the day we just snack on appetizers instead of having me slave away in my out-of-the-way kitchen while everyone else enjoys themselves with the kids' toys. I always have a cheese ball of some sort with crackers. Last year was a bacon cheese ball, this year I'm thinking of trying this one.

I also think I'll make Pizza Bianca, which is dough topped with olive oil and rosemary. It's so simple and tasty.

I would love to do French Dip Sandwiches (we love this recipe!) and they would be really easy, but buying a beef roast doesn't sound cheap. We'll see.

Other years we've had Taco Dip with tortilla chips, Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips, Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip and things like that.

I have to admit that on Christmas we don't tend to eat many veggies.

Drinks will be coffee, tea, strawberry lemonade, and various sodas. I'm keeping it simple.