Our Christmas Eve meal is fondly called "platter" - a sort of Smorgasbord, buffet style meal. Its the kind of meal that can be adapted to suit what's in the shops, you feel like making and the tastes of any guests. Basically lots of nice things, and a few treats thrown in, that we can enjoy, and any leftovers will be enjoyed over the next few days. Mostly cold, but sometimes some hot items as well.
Ours includes a range of things from the following:
A selection of cooked and cured meats - sliced ham, parma ham, salami (usually a couple of types), spiced beef, braseola, proper corned beef.....
Fish - smoked salmon, hot smoked salmon, smoked salmon pate, cooked prawns, squid rings, garlic breaded mussels....
Veggies and salads - carrot sticks, red pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes, olives (black and green), pickled onions, mixed salad bowl...
Dips - hummus, sour cream and chive, salsa, marie rose (for prawns), some salad dressing…
Flat breads, bread sticks, crackers, nice sliced crusty bread....
The cheese board - well filled, and to be enjoyed for the week to come
Maybe some bits like pate, sausage rolls, some M&S party food etc.
We put them all out on the table and everyone helps themselves to whatever they want.
We don't tend to do much for dessert that day, I usually have mince pies available, and DD will have baked cookies so there are some of those as well, but we don't usually want sweet things. A bowl of fruit salad in the fridge is always a useful thing to have though.
And it can be changed up to suit the different tastes of people who will be there. Most of it can be bought ready to open and decant to the table. Add a bottle of wine and some nice drinks for DCs and light some candles, and it makes it a special feast meal without being too heavy before the turkey next day. But can be as substantial as you like at the same time - some years, we've had a pasta salad or potato salad as an option when DD is particularly energetic and hungry to add carbs etc.