Christmas Eve Dinner: Feast of the Seven Fishes

It's here! Today is Christmas Eve, and tonight will be a feast. 

It being our first holiday season here in Pittsburgh, Husband and I wanted to start some new traditions of our own. My very favorite Natalie gave me this idea around Thanksgiving when she told me her family chose to do different versions of holiday meals, to switch things up from turkey and dressing. Don't get me wrong - we all love those traditional foods, but why not try an Italian Christmas dinner on for size? So, that's exactly what we're doing! 


Traditionally, some Italian families cook up a storm, and make the Feast of the Seven Fishes. (Fish for Christmas - YES!) A most trusted and useful online resource says, "The Feast of the Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci), celebrated on Christmas Eve, also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia), is believed to have originated in Southern Italy and is not a known tradition in many parts of Italy. Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. However, some Italian American families have been known to celebrate with 9, 11, or 13 different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus." Since we are surrounded by Bloomfield, the Little Italy here in Pittsburgh, we had plenty of markets to grab our precious ingredients. 


Since Husband and I are only two people, I've chosen to only make three dishes. (We can only eat leftovers for so long!) My menu consists of (forgive my stock photos!):

Fritto Misto Calamari 

(via clintonhillfoodie.com)

I plan to use this recipe or this recipe, both from incredible Italian-style chefs. 

Baccala alla Veneta

(via manusmenu.com)

Because he's the Master Italian Iron Chef, I'm definitely using Mario Batali's Baccala alla Veneta recipe. 

Pasta Bolongese, because Husband needed his pasta and meat dish!

(via thebutchersdaughter.net)

I'm using Anne Burrell's Pasta Bolognese recipe, mainly because I adore her and her style and cooking knowledge. She's a complete rockstar chef.

So, in total, I'm serving three 'fishes': squid, baccala and anchovies. Yum! I'll be sure to take lots of photos from my dishes to show later. 

Tomorrow, Husband is taking over cooking duties, and making me a dish we've only had once. In February of this year we were snowed in. In Texas, when it snows, EVERYTHING shuts down. We took this to our advantage, and went on a field trip to the wine store close to our apartment. We purchased a Chianti, and went home to make Ina Garten's Filet of Beef Bourguignon. After just a short time, we had a glorious snow day meal. Husband is going to reenact that for us on Christmas day. I can't wait!

What are your plans for your holiday dishes?

She's Back in My Life!

Since we moved across country to PA, we signed up for a new cable provider. To my delight, we now have the Cooking Channel, another spin-off from Food Network (yet, somehow 'cleverly' disguised as hip and new). Prior to getting this new channel, I noticed that one of my favorite shows had been pushed to a late-night spot on the dial. Around 3:00am, this show would air, and I had to DVR it to catch it. Then, all of a sudden, it vanished completely. 

As I was flipping around the guide, I noticed the show had settled onto the Cooking Channel. It's still somewhat late-night, but it was there. 

Nigella Lawson has landed on the Cooking Channel, to my delight!

via vitellotonnatolover.wordpress.com

I have been recording every episode of Nigella Express and Nigella Feasts that graces the airwaves.

via thechive.com

As I was looking for THIS FABULOUS RECIPE I CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE, I learned that recently she has slimmed down. What is this? Nigella Lawson's weight loss journey?! The voluptuous dame has always been the icon for thicker girls around the world. Why would she ever want to change what she was given? I'm not sure, but I think she looks great either way.

via noskinnywomen.wordpress.com

(Forgive the terrible juxtaposition.)

via Blisstree.com

Husband agrees. Who wouldn't? She looks lovely in her bright yellow jacket with close-fitting black pants and boots. Sure, it's a slimming outfit, but she does look many pounds lighter.

via guardian.co.uk

For those of us on our own weight loss journey, this is somewhat confusing. Why wait until you're 50-something to slim down? I love her and her style, and I'm happy for her either way and at any weight!

More Posting!

I have a few loose ends I wanted to tie up:

As you know, I signed up for Twitter. I'm @CristinAshley and I'd love to start following more people I personally know. I have some TV Stars, Chefs, and authors on my list, but I need more real people! :)


Just FYI, there's a sale at Target going on right now for Giada De Laurentiis' pasta and coffee. If you buy three pastas (from $1.99 to $2.99) you get a free bag of coffee.

As of right now I can't vouch for the taste/quality of the pasta or coffee, but I'd say it's worth purchasing to try it! I'll report after our breakfast coffee and pasta dinner on Wednesday or Thursday.


A gift from Michael

He keeps me in check, keeps me motivated and keeps my head above water.

TNFNS: Final Two

Jeffrey & Melissa. I couldn't be happier.

Next week, it better be THIS person standing:

I will watch every show! FN is BACK!

The Next Food Network Star Thoughts

I've been following the Next Food Network Star since it came on this season, and I have to say, I am thoroughly disappointed. First of all, I don't feel like it's a legitimate compeition because it seems like the producers are editing the show in a way to show certain contestants in a certain light, and others in another. Also, the judges hone in on certain faults, and glaze over others. If you watch the series, you'll know what I'm talking about. It makes me think it was all pre-determined, and they are already filming the "winning" contestant's new show. Anyway, I hope Melissa or Jeffrey win, but I'm not sure I'll be watching TNFNS after this season. Food Network has been disappointing me lately, and I think I'll explore other food-oriented or culinary programming.

KERA, here I come.

Peach Cobbler

Today, I am attempting to make a peach cobbler (homemade, of course), for our after-dinner dessert. It's a recipe done by a Maine native that I found on the Food Network Web site. She's from the Northeast, so it must be good, right? (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-specials/peach-cobbler-recipe/index.html)

I'll try and post pictures when I'm done. Our camera broke, so I'm taking photos with my Blackberry. (If people haven't noticed the poor quality of my pictures lately!) By the way, do any of you have Blackberries?

Update: Here it is - the most fantastic peach cobbler ever! The Exit 51 farmstand peaches really made the difference.

Mesa Grill!

Third post for the day! I bet you're wondering which one to comment on...comment on all three! :)

Michael and I had reservations for lunch on Wednesday at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (http://www.mesagrill.com/lasvegas/). Even though you can see almost the same thing on the website, I took a photo of the side entrance to the restaurant.

Michael ordered the famous organic/agave nectar margarita.

Blue corn pancake with duck (Ashley):
Roasted pepper & cilantro cream soup (Michael):
Photo of our entrees: Michael's diver scallops and my Mesa burger. I knew I would never make it to Bobby's Burger Palace, so I decided now was the time to have one of his burgers!
Finally - Dessert! We got the banana & caramelized hazelnut ice cream-stuffed puff pastry with whipped cream and crunchy caramel bits. So pretty and delicious!

Colorful and interesting atmosphere. I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the restaurant. It was a sight! I just wish Bobby would have shown up!

This Weekend - May 8-10th

This weekend was great! I got to do a lot of fun things and meet/see people!


Friday
Michelle, Corban, Michael and I went to see Ted Allen at Taste Addison on Friday night. We weren't able to hear most of his Robert Mondavi presentation because of the gobs of people drinking wine and yacking away, but what I did hear was good. He made a shrimp scampi with a zucchini salad. He then talked about Chopped and Top Chef for the next thirty minutes. Apparently, he left Top Chef because Food Network offered him several shows.
Michelle and I "rushed the stage" to see him after his presentation, and above is my crappy resolution Blackberry photo that she was kind enough to take for me. He was sociable, and had plenty to talk about. He talked a lot about himself, but why wouldn't he - he's Ted Allen!


Saturday
We travelled to Sherman for Mother's Day, Prom, Dinner and Cellarman's. We went to see my Grandma, Granny, Mom and Martie. We stayed at Michael's parent's home to prep Amanda for Prom. She asked if I would do her hair and makeup, and below is a picture of the back of her hair.

Then, she asked Michael to put on her shoes:
BAD idea. Like he knows how to put a strappy shoe on a girl's foot - and carefully! haha!


Then, later, we went to City Limits with my parents for dinner. Great food. Greasy, but great. My mom and I both got burgers, and Dad and Michael got the chicken fried steak. YUM.


After that, we met up with a bunch of people to have drinks at Cellarman's Pub. I am a HUGE fan of the Spinach Artichoke dip there, so I have to get it every time. I think I need to post a review on TripAdvisor about it, actually!



Sunday
We spent the night in Sherman (of course...) and my mom made us breakfast before we left. Since then, we've made cheesecake! and will have pictures soon. I have no idea why we decided to make cheesecake, but we did! It's a Tyler's Ultimate recipe, so we'll see if it's an Oates Ultimate!

UPDATE: Had the cheesecake, and it was good. I'm not sure it was the "ultimate" cheesecake, but good nonetheless. Definately worth trying! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/the-ultimate-cheesecake-recipe/index.html (minus the lemon-blueberry topping)