Christmas Eve Dinner Tradition:Crackers & Cheese

Holiday traditions can be a little bit tricky when you get married, especially if you both come from great families with very different traditions.  It has taken us years to reconcile the great "What do we do on Christmas Eve" debate.  You see, my husband's family has their big, delicious dinner on Christmas eve.  His mom pulls out all the stops and it is WONDERFUL.  That way, in theory, she can relax on Christmas Day. {I chuckle a little as I write that because does any mom really relax on Christmas Day?}

In my family, we always had our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, which was also WONDERFUL, and we had crackers and cheese for Christmas Eve so my mom could, in theory, relax and gear up for the big day.  Also, I'm pretty sure, in the younger years, we were all too excited about Santa coming and opening presents to eat much dinner anyway.  Neither tradition is righter or wronger than the other, just different.

I'm certainly not cooking TWO big dinners, and I don't think I could get away with doing NONE either, so some years we do it my way and some years we do it his way.  Either way, we have a delicious meal of crackers and cheese at some point in our holiday festivities.  It might be my favorite meal of the whole year!  {I'm a finger-food kinda' gal.}  I always serve a nice variety of crackers, sliced cheeses, and deli meats, but the hit of the show is ALWAYS the Cheese Ball.  I usually just pick one up from the deli, but I thought it might be fun to try and make one this year.  I've rounded up some fun cheese ball recipes from all over the internet that I am excited to try {not all at once -- that's a lot of cheese}:

Leave it to Betty Crocker to make the cutest cheese ball in the world.  This one has basil pesto and yellow mustard in it and no nuts, which would be a hit with my family. 

This Gorgonzola and Cranberry version from Sam's Club makes my mouth water.  It also has minced celery and red and green pepper in it.

I know Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball from CentsLess Deals would be a hit with every member of my family -- again, no nuts!

The Happy Tulip has two different versions that both sound yummy -- a classic cheese ball recipe and a green onion & bacon cheese ball.

So, this isn't a cheese ball per se, but don't these Party Cheese Ribbon Slices at Made from Pinterest sound delish?!  OK, now back to the balls . . .

Have I been living under a rock all this time?!  I had never heard of sweet cheese balls!  This Chocolate Chip cheese ball with brown sugar and pecans is headed straight for my table.  Maybe today.

Or maybe a Peanut Butter cheese ball, like this one from Buns In My Oven . . . Mmmmmm.

Time to buy stock in Philadelphia cream cheese, because mommy's gonna' try 'em all!  I know, in my heart of hearts, it doesn't really matter what we eat and when we eat it.  That's not what Christmas is about. What matters is that we gather as a family, express love, and give thanks for our blessings, not the least of which is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  How do you and yours celebrate Christmas?  Any fun traditions?