Even though the price per pound for turkeys and hams is usually pretty good around the holidays, if you have a small family or a small freezer, it sometimes isn't worth buying a 20 lbs. of meat at a time.  An alternative that gives you holiday flavor without the work is to make turkey loaf.  I've been making it with frozen tubes of ground turkey from Aldi that costs me $1.29/lb.  I add onions, celery, salt, spices, quick oats and a little water to the turkey and it usually turns out to be flavorful and juicy.  (Helpful hint: Don't add cranberry sauce to the turkey loaf.  See the Recipe Flops thread for more info.  )  You can put it in a bundt pan for a more interesting presentation and then garnish it with cranberry sauce.

Any other frugal alternatives to traditional holiday dishes?

One year Mom decided that we'd go out for Mexican food at a place in Newport News. If memory serves me right we spent less than $20.00. It might have been $25.00 for the two of us.

This year I can go 2 ways for Christmas dinner at home. I can go Italian and use up frozen meatballs, pasta, pasta sauce, and Italian salad greens all bought on sale. If I want an expensive dinner, I can cook a frozen roast, fix a green veggie, and have potatoes au gratin. That sounds expensive, but I did buy that food on sale also.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yummie

I may cook some sausage and make either pancakes or popovers. I also have the ingredients to make creamed ham.

Christmas Eve I fixed a cheeseburger.

My family always does a very UNtraditional Christmas dinner.  We used to have French Toast for dinner when my dad was with his previous wife.

 Today, we are having ribs on the grill at my brothers house for lunch, and i am making a broccoli cassserole, dad is bringing pumpkin pies.

 Over at my mom's for dinner, we will have traditional step-dad Chili!  He makes it every year for christmas!

I'm making 2 different pans of enchiladas this year; one a chicken and cheese enchilada cooked with a white sauce and the other is a pork with pinto beans enchilada cooked with a tomato sauce. These are easy to put together. I cooked the meat Tuesday and will assemble everything this morning, unless the weather turns bad and our family members can't get here, in which case we will do it on Sunday.  Also I'm making a bread pudding for a dessert. With salad it will be a good simple meal and leave time for fun and games during the day. 

We always do such a big meal for Thanksgiving that lately I want to do simple for Christmas instead. There is so much more activity for Christmas so a simple meal fits in better.  Edey

VGNW when is dinner sounds good all this e-mails all I had was a roast beef potates sister in-law gave a quish I think it was spinch looked good tasted kinda well just say ok and keep it that was before Im shot by my sister...:)