Merry Christmas @Londy3 and all the members of The Pipeline. And for all my Italian brethren who celebrate Christmas Eve in the traditional way I present you Feast Of The Seven Fishes. Unfortunately this is not my table or my cooking, and since this year I'm not able to get my entire family together we won't be honoring the tradition. But I still plan on having a pot of seafood cooking on the stove for my wife and I. We won't have all seven fishes, but enough to keep my relatives in Heaven looking down and smiling.
@ghostsofpompeii - you could do a seafood stew with seven types of seafood which would cover the tradition while saving on the preparation of the seven individual dishes. Bon Natale my friend.
@ghostsofpompeii I haven't had the Feast of the 7 Fishes since my Uncle Pasquale died, I never really ate them all. The Calamari I'd only eat the rings, not the tentacles.
We always do the seven fishes. I usually do the cooking. Then after the huge dinner, we play games, cards and stuff till the wee hours. It's always a blast but it's not like it was when I was a kid.
I am in Cleveland this week visiting family. I thought I would share what is was like growing up Italian. Christmas Eve was a big deal in our family, among other Holidays. For my cumbars on here, you will enjoy this and remember since we all lived the same way regardless where you were raised here in the US. https://youtu.be/XKITsQ7NQVw
Our extended family goes over to Grandma's house. To make life easier, a few years ago, we decided that each family will bring a crockpot full of their favorite soup. This year, several of the kids (now adults?) will also bring soup. So many choices!
Merry Christmas to some of the greatest guys I have the pleasure of associating with. May your today and the upcoming year be filled with peace and health, and may God richly bless you all...
@randelli That looks delicious. I can remember buying oxtails for next to nothing at the grocery store - now they cost as much as a nice cut of steak. Even soup bones with a nice chunk of beef marrow has gotten a little pricey. I guess people are starting to appreciate the throwaway cuts of meat once purchases for a pittance by us peasants. Things like soup bones and beef marrow, oxtails, tripe and organ meat has finally found it's way into the homes of the upper class.
It just goes to show how the hard working families that always struggled know how to cook the best meals and appreciate the little things in life. Keeping it simple, being content and knowing how to be happy.
@Londy3, enjoying this Cleveland weather! Maybe we can get together for a pipe if your able to, we didn't get the chance last year, how long are you in town?
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Merry Christmas @Londy3 and all the members of The Pipeline. And for all my Italian brethren who celebrate Christmas Eve in the traditional way I present you Feast Of The Seven Fishes. Unfortunately this is not my table or my cooking, and since this year I'm not able to get my entire family together we won't be honoring the tradition. But I still plan on having a pot of seafood cooking on the stove for my wife and I. We won't have all seven fishes, but enough to keep my relatives in Heaven looking down and smiling.
Salute!
Here is tonight's stew
Merry Christmas everyone!
I search out the best food of other cultures (even southern and yankee dishes) and these are commonly centered around throw-away ingredients.