Help! Holiday Party. What to cook? Rib Roast?

[momof4]

I am having a holiday get together this weekend. I am having around 10-12 adults and 8-10 kids. I'm having it around 4:30 or 5:00. What would be a good main course and side dish. I saw a recipe for rib roast. Can that be served at room temp? Also, I saw a good recipe for pork filled dijon pepper biscuits, but they were used as an appetizer. Is it OK to hve a spiral ham with rolls for dinner or is that more of a lunch food. I don't want to do a casserole or lasagne. Somehing festive. I really need to get on the ball with the menu. I think I have the appetizers down, but any suggestions for those would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch!!

[Leonard]

I'm having DH's family this Saturday for our first holiday dinner! We won't be here for Christmas because we are going north to see my family. I wanted to have a dinner for them before we leave. I want to use my good Christmas china and set a beautiful table using all the Christmas napkin holders, tablecloth,etc. I've decided to have a Mixed Green Salad with pecans, goat cheese and dried cranberries. I'm also having the Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin in December's BA. I'll serve mashed potatoes, biscuits and green beans with bacon and shallots. For dessert, I'm making the Fudge Crostata with Raspberry Sauce from the Pillsbury Bake Off Archives. I've made it several times. It is to die for and so easy! I've never cooked a whole beef tenderloin or rib roast so I'm a little nervous about that. I hope we both have a wonderful dinner!

[Kathy B]

I think a ham would easily fit your requirements of feeding a lot of people, could be served warm or at room temp, and would appeal to a large majority of people.

Were you thinking of serving it with rolls so people can make a sandwich, or were the rolls just an accompaniment? How casual the meal is would depend to some degree on your side dishes, too. If I wanted it to be casual, I would add some sandwich condiments and things like a veggie platter or fruit salad. For a little fancier meal, a couple of vegetable side dishes, some kind of potatoes, and a great salad would dress things up.