Holiday dining, executive-branch style

Ever wondered what presidents and presidents-elect enjoy for their holiday dinners? We can assume they and their spouses are probably not cooking since they have lots of staff to cook for them.

It might be fun to choose something to replicate for Christmas or your next holiday celebration or dinner party.

This year, the Obama family spent the day before Thanksgiving serving a holiday dinner to residents of the Armed Services Retirement House in Washington, D.C. while President-elect Donald Trump and family traveled to his elegant estate in Florida.

The Obamas, including President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia, Mrs. Obama’s mother Marian Robinson, and dogs Bo and Sunny celebrated their final Thanksgiving at the White House.

According to People magazine, their appetizers included mini BLTs, mini crab cakes, fresh veggies and hummus, chicken satay with peanut chili dip, pigs in a blanket, fresh veggies and hummus and pizza bites.

Dinner was a buffet with four entrée choices such as honey-baked ham with apricot-mustard glaze, prime rib and creamed horseradish with shallot marmalade, fried chicken wings, and a thyme roasted turkey carving station with garlic jus and cranberry-orange relish.

Side dishes included classics like cornbread stuffing with a twist of chorizo and roasted peppers, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and bread rolls. Other sides of oyster stuffing, braised winter greens, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato gratin, and fresh greens and kale Caesar salad were also on the menu.

Finally, dessert consisted of six pies: banana cream, coconut cream, pumpkin, apple, pecan and cherry.

President-elect Donald Trump and family dined on a sumptuous buffet at his Mar-a-Lago estate club and resort dining room in Palm Beach, Florida. Dinner included “Mr. Trump’s Wedge Salad,” and “Three-layer Trump Chocolate Cake.”

Also offered were stone crabs, oysters, jumbo shrimp, Middle Neck clams, deviled eggs, vegetable couscous salad, Ahi tuna martinis, lobster bisque, veggie minestrone, turkey with stuffing and sweet mashed potatoes, beef tenderloin with steamed vegetables and whipped potatoes and popovers, leg of lamb, Chilean sea bass, short ribs, Diver scallops, and an array of pies and other sweets.

According to NBC News, 150 Secret Service personnel guarded the Trumps’ Thanksgiving at the cost of about $7 million, a Homeland Security staffer told NBC.

Just like at your house, right?