Christmas Dinner Menu

So this year is the first year in 4 years that we will have had Christmas with family.  Rich's aunt and uncle just moved near us (about 4 hours away) but that is way closer than any of our other family and does not include horendously expensive plane tickets.  So we are going up to his families house for the Christmas weekend.  Sadly aunt works in retail and will be working up til 6pm Christmas eve, so I decided I would do Christmas eve dinner, and she could do her traditional Christmas brunch the next day.  That way a nice warm meal is waiting for the family after what I am sure is the worst day in retail next to the day after Thanksgiving.  So I have planned out the menu for 5 adults

Appetizer
Cheese Ball - 2 packs of cream cheese, 6 pieces of bacon chopped, scalions chopped.. mix together, form a ball and roll in pecan pieces. easy peasy

Main
Prime Rib
Pancetta Braised Brussel Sprouts
Stewed Apples
Mashed Taters

Dessert
Southern Sweet Potato Pie

This will be my first shot at Prime Rib.. I think i might use the Alton Brown method, or the Easy method.. it is yet to be determined.  Costco sells pre-seasoned prime rib, so that is probably what I will choose.  I have decided to choose side dishes that can be made on the stove top as the prime rib is not to be disturbed in the oven.  The pie I will make the day before or first thing in the morning.

The dogs will get kibble and maybe a few nibbles of prime rib, cause i love them.

How is your holiday menu coming along???