So, you are serving a main course of seafood, right? Sounds like you are Italian.

If so, a "fancy" pasta might be in order. A wild mushroom lasgana or a tortellini might be nice.

We did an early Christmas last weekend, and I made individual vegetable pot pies in ramekins that were a huge hit. I served them with kale mashed potatoes and a butternut squash soup with a touch of cream.

I love the pot pie idea above! Comfort food!

There is a deliriously delicious pesto lasagne in one of Alice Waters's cookbooks (I think the Chez Panisse cookbook). Something along those lines would be terrific, especially if you make your own lasagne noodles.

Even the simplest food can appear elegant and upscale if presented appropriately. Once you decide what you want to serve, think about more upscale ways to present it.

Last week I did a very simple molded couscous salad in the center of a plate, surrounded by lightly dressed frisee with slivered figs and goat cheese. You'd have thought it had taken hours given the way people gushed.

What about a quiche? Fill it up with cheese and veggies and give everyone a slice alongside a nice salad! That way your vegetarian option has a nice amount of protein in it without having to resort to fake meats or party unfriendly beans.

On Christmas day I'm bringing a butternut squash lasagna to my family's house, where they will be serving prime rib for the meat eaters.

I recently went to a pot luck Christmas dinner, and brought the vegetarian main course: a goat's cheese-cake. The recipe can be found here (sorry no photos up yet):

http://misspeltt.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/a-vegetarian-christmas-savoury-cheesecake/

It looks lovely, especially if you're liberal with the pink peppercorns, and is rich enough to satisfy most people...it can also be made in advance, which is a bonus!

Maybe polenta with a mushroom sauce? That's my favorite vegetarian main course for autumn or winter. The mushrooms have enough protein and umami flavor to make carnivores happy.

Every year I go to my fiance's house for Christmas, and despite the fact that both their children and their future daughter-in-law are vegetarian, they never make any nonmeat dishes except a few overcooked vegetable sides. Last year I made a vegetable pot pie (think the recipe was from food network). If you use a puff pastry topping, it is very easy, delicious, and impressive. Also a nice Christmas dish since it is hearty and comforting. Highly recommended.

This year, I'm making latkes since I'm Jewish and Christmas falls during Hannukah.

My first thought was a mushroom ragu over pasta: rich and meaty without being meat, and maybe it's just me, but mushrooms always feel very Christmasy.

If the omnivores in the crowd would be happier with some meat, you could also shred a roast chicken and top their plates with it.

Vegetarians appreciate some protein. How about a frisee salad with a poached (or encrusted) egg on top? French-style mashed potatoes are also nice, with cranberry chutney and spices.

My whole family is vegetarian and usually my mom makes zucchini cakes (like crab cakes) with a roasted red pepper mayo as a dipping sauce for our Christmas Eve meal. They are delicious. I would also agree that lasagna is a great alternative.

Oh I made a delicious butternut squash lasagna from a recent martha stewart issue. sorry to keep throwing out lasagna ideas!

peta has a great holiday recipe guide online: http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/Celebrate-a-Vegan-Holiday.aspx

A hearty pot pie sounds like the perfect dish!

I like dishes that can be made ahead and just warmed in the oven. Here are few from my Pinterest collection:
Leek and potato cake (I made this on Friday for Saturday and it was amazing!)
http://pinterest.com/pin/3377768440211506/

Individual mushroom turnovers:
http://pinterest.com/pin/3377768440136654/

Onion and mushroom tart:
http://pinterest.com/pin/3377768440035345/

Leek bread pudding:
http://pinterest.com/pin/3377768440035288/

And here is one of my own ideas:
Roasted vegetable hand pies (this can be vegan):
http://talesofaretromodernhousewife.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-delish-vegetarian-valentines-day.html

Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife

I love the lemon pasta idea. I love to make spaghetti or linguine in a lemon zest/garlic/olive oil then add fresh tender-crisp green beans, sliced cooked waxy red potatoes, a peppery green like arugula or watercress if you want, and finish with fresh lemon juice, sour cream, and a little parmesan cheese on top. SO. GOOD.

I groan whenever upscale restaurants do it, but risotto is elegant vegetarian, even though it's easy and much cheaper to make than the $20 they ask for it.

Stuffed peppers. Elegant, easy and colorful. You could do them in red, yellow, green and even orange. Cut them in half so that you get two servings from one pepper. I make a filling from saffron rice, vegetable broth, gimme lean veggie sausage and onion. Just add enough broth to make the whole mixture creamy.