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Thinking about doing this--it would be quite a change for us from our usual Roast Beast, but where we live, seafood is plentiful and reasonably priced. Anyone prepare this for Christmas Eve?
Any favorite dishes/methods?
I have some Italian heritage, but much of the awesome cooking has not found it's way down to my generation. I've learned a lot more from Italian cookbooks and cooking shows.
My mom always made a mostaccioli pasta with a marinara sauce with squid in it for Christmas Eve dinner. I'm guessing it was originally part of a Seven Fishes tradition.
I now make this for my own family on Christmas Eve, I've been thinking of expanding it to at least a couple more fish dishes to make it more traditional. I would love to hear more suggestions, especially ones that kids might like.
I don't think the Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Vigilia) is a big hit with kids. I would have to make linguine with just olive oil and garlic for them when they were younger, thank goodness their adults now and love it.
Appetizers - Crab dip, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail and lots of good wine
Dinner - Scallop cream soup, clams and macaroni, crabs in red sauce over linguine, baccala salad, fennel salad, fried shrimp, baked flounder, calamari stew and lots of good wine
We do have more than 7 different dishes but we use the same fish different ways. My grandparents use to do 13 and happy to say we don't follow that tradition
I don't think the Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Vigilia) is a big hit with kids.
I know. I remember hating all that stuff. Seemed like the older generation ate some pretty "interesting" things, but as I grew up surprisingly I began to like most of it. I really miss it.
I don't think the Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Vigilia) is a big hit with kids. I would have to make linguine with just olive oil and garlic for them when they were younger, thank goodness their adults now and love it.
Appetizers - Crab dip, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail and lots of good wine
Dinner - Scallop cream soup, clams and macaroni, crabs in red sauce over linguine, baccala salad, fennel salad, fried shrimp, baked flounder, calamari stew and lots of good wine
We do have more than 7 different dishes but we use the same fish different ways. My grandparents use to do 13 and happy to say we don't follow that tradition
"lots of good wine"--that's a good idea along with the rest of your excellent advice.
My kids are grown and they *love* seafood so that's not a problem for us, but I can see how this might be an issue for some families.
We will have one younger kid, but he is quite the fisherman and has helped catch our dinner in the past, I think he'd be okay with this meal. I will check with his mom though.
Thanks for all the menu ideas, folks! It's nice to hear from people who have grown up with this tradition.
I think I might actually be able to pull this off.
Of course you call pull it off. It's really not about the food, it's about being with family and friends that mean the most...............and of course "good wine"
Enjoy your feast.
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I've learned a lot more from Italian cookbooks and cooking shows.
