help me fill in my christmas menu gaps

[givemeaclue]

Gurus of christmas food that is delish yet easy, I am mid-online shop and searching for inspiration of a tried and tested kind. Help me fill in these gaps - family of 5

23rd: easy yet delicious dinner not of the shepherds pie variety that won't spoil if eaten later (travellers arriving) - was thinking beef in beer stew as can sit in the oven if eaten later, but may try something different (NB doing cola ham xmas eve)

xmas eve: delicious home made soup recipe (not carrot 'n' coriander, not parsnip) - any 100% proven winners?

boxing day - nice lunch (having ham, turkey, salad etc for tea and we've already done soup on xmas eve...)

canapes - easy and quick to make ones please to nibble on pre dinner

thanks a million santas helpers

Beef a l'orange - brown casserole beef, put aside. Brown baby onions, add flour and the zest and juice of two big oranges, whisk, add beef stock and a dessert spoon of black treacle (for colour - can be omitted), and pour over the beef in a casserole. Cook in a medium oven for about 2.5 hours - v flexible timing - longer and slower fine, adding button mushrooms about half an hour before serving. Serve with baked potatoes, or potato, celeriac and sweet potato mash.

Soup - soften chopped onions and carrots, add red Thai curry paste (adjust to taste later), add red lentils and stock and cook gently until the lentils are fully softened. You want to end up with a fairly thick looking soup. Add a can of coconut milk and blitz til smooth.

If youre doing the cola ham then nigella has a fab recipe for black bean soup to use up the leftover liquid/juices from the ham!

If your cooking your ham in advance, could you make a bacon and lentil soup.

I made Christmas dinner in nursery last week and brought home the carcass and juices. I made a lovely spicy turkey soup with good intentions of freezing it for over the holidays. Alas, it was rinsed :o