What is your must have food item @ Christmas?

[debidoo]

Well, we used to have "party food" on christmas eve and there were certain food items always present however since my mom died we don't hold to that tradition. But there are three things I'm not going to go through Christmas without and those are: swedish tea cookies which I always make, sherbert/ginger ale punch (in honor of my mom cause she always mad it at christmas) and chocolate covered cherries in honor of my dad because it was his favorite candy and we always had that at christmas.

[cathy37]

My favorite is ham and potato salad.  I also make a broccoli casserole that is so good.

[Optiwoman]

The only must have is mashed potatoes.  We alternate ham or turkey for our main course - but this year we are thinking about a prime rib roast.   No matter what else we have - there are only two times a year that I make home made mashed potatoes - thanksgiving and christmas (bob evans mashed potatoes do just fine the rest of the year)

[tuscarorarain]

Sugar cookies are a must. Reminds me of my mom.

[loulizlee]

I am one of the few people, I think, who loves fruitcake - along with one other person on this thread. 

[lbryanwf]

Got to be the old favorite  fruitcake! 

[showmethedoe]

My must have food for item for Christmas is Dressing with cranberry sauce. YES!!

[LaTashaS28]

The food that I must have at Christmas which I love is honey ham, homemade mac & cheese, and broccoli; and of course the cakes and pies.

[TAZALISCIOUS]

Wow there are lots of interesting favorites here. It is all making me hungry! Also giving me ideas to add on to my own Holiday checklist. I love seeing the different cultures of food and hearing the background of where the tradition of certain foods came from. This is what the holiday season is all about 

[paddison]

Christmas night we have family and friends (about 15-20) over for fried turkey.  If you haven't tried it, it may sound awful, but it is the best bird in the world.  Moist and juicy.  And we have all the fixings to go with it, and for dessert it's homemade Christmas cookies, pumpkin pie and apple pie.

[lguzman1]

I am Puerto Rican and we just have to have Arroz on Gandules; it a kind of Rice. Every think else is if we can and want. 

[kila31]

Ham, mac & cheese