Feast of The Seven Fishes! A Traditional Italian Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner is not just a meal, but a feast. A Feast of the Seven Fishes! It is tradition not to eat meat on this day. The significance of the number 7 has a few variations of the reason for 7, and depends on who you ask. Some say it has to do with a commemoration of the last seven of the Ten Commandments, which prescribe rules of human interaction -- as opposed to the first three, which address human relations with God. Others say it is to remind us of the seven deadly sins. In any case, seven fish dishes is a feast!

What fish you use is entirely up to you and what your family traditionally uses. In my family growing up we had many courses. We would have fried shrimp, smelt, baccala, stuffed calamari, calamari pie, octupus salad, cuttle fish, sardines, and of course the fish sauce. The fish sauce is made with all the sea food thrown in there including lobster and crab. The meal itself takes hours to eat. There is time between courses to drink wine, laugh, talk, open presents, and be reminiscent about the old days!

Dessert is always something spectacular and special during the Christmas season. The many many homemade Italian cookies, stroffoli, pannetone, cannoli, and more. Baking is started long in advance of Christmas. Some of the cookies that are made special for the holiday are very time consuming and take more than one baker to handle!

The tradition of the Feast is special to our family and many other families. It's a lot of work, it's very expensive, but I couldn't imagine Christmas without it!

Buon Natale!! Recipes will follow soon!!

ANTIPASTO DINNER!

There is nothing better than the warm weather and lazy summer nights!! Though on those nights the last thing you feel like doing is cooking and eating a heavy meal! Why not try a super easy but oh so fabulous antipasto dinner??
So simple. And there is no recipe. Its all up to you and what you like to serve and eat!! Here is a recent nights dinner at my house.A plate of some good Italian cheeses
Some prociutto wrapped mozzarellaThinly sliced eggplant and zuchinni that I simply brushed with olive oil and grilled, and then tossed with a splash of red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
Grilled asparagus, tossed in olive oil and sprinkled with some fresh pecorino romano
Marinated mushrooms.
Melon
Italian sausage grilled and sliced in half
Fresh Italian bread brushed with olive oil and grilledCaprese Salad. Simply tomato, Mozzarella and fresh basil, salt, pepper, drizzled in olive oil.I love to drizzle a bit of good balsamic over everything. Gives it a little extra love!
And whatever else I had on hand. We love to top this meal off with a cold bottle of prosecco.
Give it a try and you'll see that it really doesn't take long to put together and you will be more than satisfied at the end of your meal.

San Gennaro 09

As much as I love to travel, I love coming home!

I have no pictures. YET. I didn't bring my camera. I forgot it. Stupid I know. Good news is Mom brought a camera. BUT its not a digital so I'll have to wait for prints I guess and then scan them into the computer.

We had a BLAST! I swear it was the best time I've ever had in NY. My parents hung out like champs. Considering their ages they did amazing!!(68 &70) My father even put me to shame one night!

Fri we took my parents to the 9/11 memorial site. My Dad is a retired firefighter so this was a very touching moment for him. He even had a group of firefighters at the fire station talking to him. (this is the firehouse right across the street from where the building were). So after that we went to the feast. YUMMMMY....we ate our way down the streets. Italian sausage sandwiches, stuffed hot peppers, pizza, braciole, and lots more. We watched a very good and very funny doowop band, The Elegants(they had the one hit "Little Star") We ended down at the Mulberry St. Bar. Louie and I always hang out here. All the guys know him here. They refer to him as Upstate Louie. Its pretty funny.

So now its about 8pm, the bar is packed. And I mean packed like sardines and they are doing Karaoke. I swear these were some of the best karaoke people I've ever seen!! We call my little cousin(hes 24) in Brooklyn and tell him to come down. He makes it down there about an hour later and brings his buddy Phil. At this point my mother is sitting on the only bar stool in the joint. Someone went and got her one. But her and Dad were drinking and eating and singing and laughing and having the time of their lives. My mom could not stop eating fried shrimp doused in hot sauce. Me and my mother decide were wiped out and are going back to the hotel. My dad, louie and my cousin are staying out. Well they didn't get bacck to the hotel till almost 3 am!! I yell at my husband for keeping my daddy who is 70 years old out so late!! He informs me that my father kept him out!

Sat. We went to the cutest diner. Ellens Stardust Diner. All the singers are actors and actresses from broadway who are either waiting for a break or in between gigs. They all take turns singing. It was amazing! Mom and I go shopping and Louie and my Dad go up to the Bronx to see a buddy of Louies and then to Arthur ave. Mom and I also had lunch at Serendipity. OMG frozen hot chocolate is to die for..DIE! So freaking good!

Sat night was absolutely AMAZING!! We all got dressed up and had dinner at Patsy's and then walked down the street to The Carnegie Club. What a cool joint. Such a throw back. Its a cigar bar so we could smoke there. And even my Mom who quit smoking years ago was smoking and drinking and having a blast. There was an 11 piece orchestra and the singer,Steve Maglio who spoke and sang just like Frank Sinatra..he was amazing. He sang right to my Mom. After the show he and his wife came at sat at our table..we had the best spot in the house. All couches and cocktail tables right up front. He and his wife were very cool, bought a round of drinks and sat with us for a long time. He then gave us all cd's of his. Oh and we met a boxer that was there..can't remember his name right now.

Sunday we went to brunch at this place right on the water.PJ Clarke's On the Hudson So pretty and the weather was perfect. We then went to see the statue of liberty and ellis island. Went back to the hotel to rest a bit and then off to the feast again. We had dinner at IL Cortile then went tshirt shopping at the feast and to the Mulberry street bar again and then to the Spring St lounge to watch the Giants game. Mom and Dad left early Monday and Louie and I did some shopping, ate mile high pastrami sandwiches at a Jewish Deli, and sat and people watched while we killed time before going to the airport. All in all it was a wonderful (and expensive) trip!! I can't wait till next year!
stay tuned for pictures!

San Gennaro Feast This Week!

Well were off to NYC and to the San Gennaro Feast this weekend!!! The 82nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City’s longest-running, biggest and most revered religious outdoor festival in the United States! The festival attracts more than 1 million people all over the world to salute this patron saint of Naples. The festival runs for 11 days. We'll be going the second weekend and be there for the end. The official website for the San Genarro Feast says it best:
“This Feast of San Gennaro holds a special place in the hearts of Italian people everywhere,” says Joseph Mattone, President of Figli di San Gennaro, Inc. “It is a festive period of faith and redemption, a time for remembrance and reconciliation, and a time for celebration. The delicious food, the free musical entertainment that reflects Italian-American culture and heritage are all there. The Feast brings the world to Little Italy and Little Italy to the world.”
My husband and I go each year and this year we will bring my Mother and Father with us. They too are looking forward to the food, the music, the atmosphere...there really is nothing like it!
Come back next week for a full detailed report and review of this years trip! We have many things planned in our weekend. From a Frank Sinatra show to checking out Arthur Ave. in the Bronx! Heres a small sample of photos from past trips!

Italian Fest '09

Perhaps I should say "first annual Italian fest 09!" Yup, its been decided, declared, and ordered, that I do this every year! Good Lord help me!
It really was a huge success! Of course there were a few mishaps!

Rain. No thank you God not during the party! But the morning was horrible! I sat at the window and prayed and prayed and prayed. Then I went and lit a candle, hung my rosary outside, and prayed some more. By the grace of God the clouds parted and the sun shined in time to dry up the rain!
Since it was raining, I was delayed to finish the decorating and last minute details. So like a crazy woman I was in panic mode and running around, barking orders and pretty much was a complete lunatic. But nothing a couple of glasses of good chianti couldn't handle!
Guest arrived, and were greeted by the smells of Italian sausage and the sounds of Louie Prima!
Here was the menu
Antipasto platters
Sheets of different pizzas
Italian sausage with peppers and onions
baked ziti
greens and beans
eggplant parm
salad
coffee
cannoli
italian cookie trays
lemon ice (huge hit!)
beer
wine
pop(soda!)

CHOLESTEROL KING HEART STOPPER

Its all about the bread. Finding good crusty bread can be difficult in some areas but worth the effort!!

Cholesterol King Heart Stopper

The ultimate party sub. This is intended to feed approximately 8 people and weighs in at over 6 pounds.

Remember to lift with your legs, not your back. Serve with chips and a cold dill pickle.
Makes 8 servings.

1 (1 pound) loaf French bread, halved lengthwise
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 head lettuce, shredded
1 pound sliced cooked ham
1 pound prosciutto or mortadella
1 pound sliced cotto salami
1 pound sliced mozzarella cheese
1 pound sliced Swiss cheese
1 pound sliced Provolone cheese
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 (10 ounce) can pitted black olives, sliced (optional)
1 (4 ounce) jar sliced mushrooms, drained (optional)
1 green or red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced or one small jar of roasted red peppers drained and sliced (optional)

1 Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a
small bowl, mix together the butter and garlic. Spread garlic butter on both halves of bread, and sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese. Place in preheated oven until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.

2 On the bottom half of the bread, place a layer of lettuce. Alternating between meat and cheese, arrange layers of ham, prociutto or mortadella, salami, mozzarella, Swiss cheese and provolone. Add a layer of tomatoes, onion, black olives, mushrooms, green peppers and anything else you like. Place the remaining half of bread on top.

3 Place the sandwich on a cutting board, and slice into individual servings.
Alka Seltzer for dessert!!!!!

How To Throw An Italian Festival In Your Yard!

Well I wish I knew! I'm attempting to do this myself in August. The plans are in full swing right now and so is my panic!
I started out by making a guest list. Of course this list grew and grew. You know the routine, you invite Uncle Guido then you have to invite Uncle Luigi. Or If you invite Aunt Stella you better not invite Aunt Josephine, they haven't spoken in 56 years! So not unlike planning a wedding, the guest list is very important to the success of you festival! You want to also be sure to invite the Fun and Crazy friends and relatives, it will cut down on your entertainment expenses!

After fine tuning the guest list, its time to make out the invitations. I decided to just do a simple flyer type invite on the computer. It came out great. I added some Italian flags to it, and the whole "what, where, who, when" information that was needed.

Envelopes stuffed and addressed and mailed. Now onto the decorations.
After doing some research on the Internet I found tons of great decorations. There will be no doubt what the theme of the party is when the guest arrive. Here is one site that I found a lot of great decorations! This is another one.

Now onto the rental company for tents, chairs and tables! Once I found the company I am going to use, it became obvious I was in need of more than just some tables and chairs! I decided to rent a large grill also. Oh, I better get that 100 cup coffee maker too, unless I want to be standing at my 12 cup coffee maker for 3 hours! Oh look they rent EVERYTHING!! I had to reel myself in and not over do it! I am a woman after all and love to shop!! I got what I needed and that was that!

And the most important aspect of any good party is the food!!! In the beginning stages of planning this I though I would do ALL the food MYSELF. Silly silly silly me. What on earth was I thinking. Do you know how much macaroni you have to boil to serve 125 people? Or how many greens you have to wash for the greens and beans? Its not that I can't do this, I just think I might want to actually enjoy the party and not worry about ALL the food. So I've decided to cater out most of it and do a bit myself. I'll take care of the Italian sausage (because its not an Italian Festival without the smell of Italian Sausage wafting through the air) and the steamed clams and probably a few other things. Mom is making her stuffed banana peppers, and another friend is making pizza. The rest will be catered by a good friend from our favorite Italian restaurant.

So far planning this festival has been fun. Everyday I get a new idea! Everyone has been very excited about attending. Pretty funny how much different a response you get when you call something a festival instead of a party!!! Hope their expectations aren't tooo high!!

Don't forget the bocce ball!! Its a must! Great game for all ages. Maybe you can set up a tournament! We Italians can be a bit competitive you know!!

Last but not least the music. You have to stay true to the theme!! There will be plenty of Al Martino, Louie Prima, Frank Sinatra, and the like playing in the backround.

When the night is coming to a close and you sit back and enjoy that last cannoli and cup of coffee or espresso, pat yourself on the back for pulling off a unique and fun party...I mean festival!!
I will be sure to update my progress and meltdowns of our upcoming festival! And of course plenty of pictures of the big event!!!