Living on a ranch means never having a day off, but Ree Drummond makes an exception on Dec. 25. The Pioneer Woman host, her husband, Ladd, and their kids (Alex, Paige, Bryce, and Todd) go to great lengths on Christmas Eve so they can sleep in and do nothing the next day. Ladd gives the cattle a double feeding, and Ree serves her big holiday meal, a prime rib feast. "When the meat comes to the table, that's the moment we all get excited about Christmas," she says. Ree keeps the rest of the menu simple: Yorkshire pudding (made with beef drippings), roasted potatoes and mushrooms cooked in red wine. "It's a Christmas Eve tradition everybody loves," she says.

Photographs by Con Poulos