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HAVE A HOLIDAY BUFFET!

If you're anything like me, sticking to the traditional methods in any circumstance is a rarity. I prefer to break the mold on the usual tradition of Holiday celebrations and family dinners by creating themed buffets.

Since Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are almost always large in quantity, I decided to create a non-traditional Holiday buffet with themes attached, such as Italian, Chinese and Mexican. It's a fun and unique way to treat your family and friends to something special.

Thanksgiving and Christmas buffet themes can be as simple or extravagant as you desire. This year, we'll have an Italian buffet that includes pastas, sausages, sea foods, breads and desserts.

Our Italian themed holiday buffet menu includes:

1) FAMILY SIZE LASAGNA w/FOUR CHEESES (CHEDDAR, MOZZARELLA, PARMESAN and ROMANO)

1) FRIED ASPARAGUS SPEARS

1) FETTUCCINE ALFREDO w/CHICKEN & SHRIMP

1) PASTA w/RED SAUCE & THREE MEATS (PEPERONI, GROUND BEEF and DICED HAM)

2) LARGE 18" PIZZA TOPPED w/PEPPERS, ONIONS, PEPPERONI and ITALIAN SAUSAGE

1) FRESH GARDEN SALAD w/ITALIAN DRESSING

1) SHRIMP MARINARA w/RED WINE SAUCE

2) ITALIAN GARLIC BREADS TOPPED w/TOMATO, BASIL, CRUSHED RED PEPPERS & CHEESE

1) ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

2) DOZEN ITALIAN BUTTER COOKIES

2) PITCHERS ITALIAN ICE (LEMON/STRAWBERRY) SMOOTHIES (adults/red wine spritzers)

Our Chinese themed holiday buffet menu includes:

1) HOUSE SPECIAL FRIED RICE w/SHRIMP, BEEF and CHICKEN

2) DOZEN EGG ROLLS STUFFED w/CHICKEN

1) SALT & PEPPER SHRIMP/CRABS

1) STIR FRY BEEF w/ONIONS, BROCCOLI AND PEPPERS

1) STEAMED HALIBUT w/GINGER

1) CHINESE CABBAGE SALAD

1) GENERAL TSO'S CHICKEN

2) DOZEN CRAB RANGOON

2) DOZEN DEEP FRIED YAM PUFFS

1) CHINESE STICKY CAKE

2) DOZEN DEEP FRIED WATERMELON PIECES

2) PITCHERS CHINESE COCKTAILS (with or without RUM)

Our Mexican themed holiday buffet menu includes:

1) SOUTHWESTERN MAC&CHEESE w/ ADOBO CHICKEN

1) FRUIT SALSA w/CINNAMON CHIPS

3) DOZEN MINI-TACO PUFFS

3) DOZEN FLANK STEAK QUESADILLAS w/AVOCADO, TOMATO & MANGO SALSA

3) DOZEN JALAPENO POPPERS

3) DOZEN POTATO POPPERS

1) FAMILY SIZE NACHO PLATTER w/EIGHT TOPPINGS (THREE MEXICAN CHEESES, GREEN CHILES, SALSA, GREEN ONIONS, JALAPENOS & SOUR CREAM)

2) LARGE MEXICAN PIZZAS w/BEEF, CHEESE & BEAN SAUCE

1) BOW TIE SHRIMP w/TEJANO SALSA

2) TAMALE PIES

6) DOZEN SWEET FRIED BREAD

6) DOZEN FRUIT TURNOVERS

2) PITCHERS SANGRIA (with or without RED WINE)

Creating a buffet meal may seem like a lot of extra work. But these recipes are quick and simple to make, in large or small quantities. Invite your friends and family to have loads of fun decorating and preparing these un-traditional Holiday buffet meals. Nothing can compare to the memories you'll share with these theme based buffet specialties this Holiday Season.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Ann Newton.
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