CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY-GOOD FOOD IN SICILY
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We did, and today is Steves onomastico, his Saints name day. San Stefano day is Dec 26 and according to old custom here, much more important than the date that he was born on. He has received several Auguri (best wishes) and gifts already today.
Christmas Eve we went to Joe and Brigettes and joined the family and his mother for a fish celebration that it was amazing. Brigette is a great cook, but her cooking is so good that she actually got me to eat squid and gladly! Her stuffed squid was heavenly. We also had shrimp ka bobs, shrimp meatballs, sweet and sour spatola (dont know the equivalent in English) fillets with onions, breaded and fried cod (bacala), mussel casserole, and clams casino. That is 7 kinds of seafood, and I had heard that it was a traditional Christmas Eve dinner (but Brigette says it was just coincidence that she, Joe, and her daughter Enza chose those foods). Also part of the menu was salad (Joe's mother just could not get enough of it!), breaded fried cauliflower, and breaded fried olives. Dessert was a heavy cream profiterole. We joked and laughed till midnight and then came home to see if Babbo Natale came.
Sunday afternoon, Christmas day, we were back and knew we were in for more taste treats. Brigette had described the ingredients to me, but you readers can only imagine the Tortellini Burbero flavour. It was a cheese filled torellini with a sauce of mushrooms, pancetta and cream in a tomato base. Wow! She had gotten the recipe from a restaurant in Catania, and I bet they could go out of business if they give all their secrets like this one away. That was only the primo piatto (1st course). Segundo (second) was baked potatoes and a Beef Wellington pastry that featured the mushroom and beef flavour classic that was out of this world. An artichoke and green bean tray, and salad, and then fruits such as melon, avocado, tangerines, and nuts were served. Last was my contribution, an instant pumpkin cream pie from a mix I bought in Germany. Hey, we all missed pumpkin flavour, and the spiced nuts I make every Christmas and the spicy hot pumpkin soup I have been making just is not the same as that pumpkin flavour. And Jello does a real good job with these mixes.
So we are having lentil soup today. Something light is definitely called for. We missed our friends and family a lot, but our friends here are such a delightful treat that they help us be away from all of you for the festivities. Thanks again, Brigette, Joe, and Enza
And Happy San Stefano to all of you Stevans, Stevens, Stephanies, and Stephens.
Christmas Eve we went to Joe and Brigettes and joined the family and his mother for a fish celebration that it was amazing. Brigette is a great cook, but her cooking is so good that she actually got me to eat squid and gladly! Her stuffed squid was heavenly. We also had shrimp ka bobs, shrimp meatballs, sweet and sour spatola (dont know the equivalent in English) fillets with onions, breaded and fried cod (bacala), mussel casserole, and clams casino. That is 7 kinds of seafood, and I had heard that it was a traditional Christmas Eve dinner (but Brigette says it was just coincidence that she, Joe, and her daughter Enza chose those foods). Also part of the menu was salad (Joe's mother just could not get enough of it!), breaded fried cauliflower, and breaded fried olives. Dessert was a heavy cream profiterole. We joked and laughed till midnight and then came home to see if Babbo Natale came.
Sunday afternoon, Christmas day, we were back and knew we were in for more taste treats. Brigette had described the ingredients to me, but you readers can only imagine the Tortellini Burbero flavour. It was a cheese filled torellini with a sauce of mushrooms, pancetta and cream in a tomato base. Wow! She had gotten the recipe from a restaurant in Catania, and I bet they could go out of business if they give all their secrets like this one away. That was only the primo piatto (1st course). Segundo (second) was baked potatoes and a Beef Wellington pastry that featured the mushroom and beef flavour classic that was out of this world. An artichoke and green bean tray, and salad, and then fruits such as melon, avocado, tangerines, and nuts were served. Last was my contribution, an instant pumpkin cream pie from a mix I bought in Germany. Hey, we all missed pumpkin flavour, and the spiced nuts I make every Christmas and the spicy hot pumpkin soup I have been making just is not the same as that pumpkin flavour. And Jello does a real good job with these mixes.
So we are having lentil soup today. Something light is definitely called for. We missed our friends and family a lot, but our friends here are such a delightful treat that they help us be away from all of you for the festivities. Thanks again, Brigette, Joe, and Enza
And Happy San Stefano to all of you Stevans, Stevens, Stephanies, and Stephens.
posted by Sicilian Mama at 9:25 AM
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