A Reminder to My Italian Friends

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 7:11pm

If your baccala isn't soaking by now you're going to have a very salty Christmas.

Updated On: 12/16/05 at 07:11 PM

[BrendanStryker]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 7:17pm

Do you eat that on Christmas or Christmas Eve? My mom always makes that, along with fried Smelts, on Christmas Eve. She's Italian.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 7:59pm

It's all fish on Christmas Eve. My Mom loved baccala salad..I'm not a big fan.....pass me the stuffed calamari.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:06pm

My friend told me about the fish tradition on Christmas Eve and I thought she was nuts. I had never heard of it.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:18pm

This is something I found that may shed some light....

Feast of the 7 Fishes
It is tradition that Italians have a 7 fish dinner on Christmas Eve. Some think that it is perhaps one representing each day of the week, but most traditions come from the observance of the Cena della Vigilia, the wait for the miraculous birth of Christ in which early Christians Catholics fasted on Christmas Eve until after receiving communion at Midnight Mass. In later years it became a penitential day, meaning that all foods except meat were allowed. Other theories include are that there would be served three fish dishes representing the three Wise Men or the Holy Trinity while in some there may have been as many as thirteen, one for each of the apostles plus one for Jesus. Each family and each sect of the Italian culture is different, (the fish they say is from a tradition those from Naples brought over), it also depends on what was available in various parts of Italy. In most of the southern coastal regions in Italy, seafood was abundant and so the perfect opportunity to work fish into the menu for this festive day. Others have 9 Fish, and yet others 12 types for the representation of the original 12 apostles. In any case, its all fish, don't forget that.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:19pm

I soak my bacala in chicken soup.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:29pm

We made Yenta an honorary Italian back in August, so you need to tutor her on the rituals of her first Italian Christmas.

Oy, Yenta, your mother would kill us!

[The Grovers Corners Yenta2]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:31pm

Bluemoon........and I haven't shaved my legs since August!

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:37pm

That's very.........continental.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 8:45pm

"I soak my bacala in chicken soup"

That sounds so dirty.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 9:19pm

AHHHHHHHhh us Italians now know to eat. Let's see Baccala, stuffed calamari, fried shrimp, lobster, crabs etc. Also, spaghetti with olive oil and anchovies on Christmas Eve. Christmas-- manicotti and veal parmigiana among other things. Always, Chistmas morning those zeppoles and/or eggs with Pannetone.

Updated On: 12/16/05 at 09:19 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 9:29pm

The Feast of the Seven Fishes also represents the fact that through the birth of Christ we all become "fishers of men". There are some on this board who may take that comment differently, though.

Christmas Eve at Il Casa Dollypop means: shrimp cocktail, caviar,
pulpo, mussels marinara, scungelli salad, stewed baccala, lobster.

My son is now living in Maine and he's already called several times for the recipes for these dishes.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 9:38pm

Specialmente per voi,
un salute gentile
per gioia alla festa di Natale
e nel tutto l'anno prossimo.

Buon Natale e Buon Capo d'Anno!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/16/05 at 9:46pm

Dollypop, sei propio il Babbo Natale di questo board! Buon Natale! Spero che possa mangiare a la casa tua a volte. Che menu.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 3:19pm

Mille grazie!

Posted: 12/17/05 at 4:30pm

we have lobster fra diavolo, raw clams w/ lemon and hot sauce, stuffed clams, scungelli salad, fried calamari, mussels, spaghetti- in clam sauce and fra diavolo and more.

christmas day is more like lasagna, chicken parm, etc.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 4:37pm

For Christmas Day I'm trying my hand at Pheasant--not very Italian.

Posted: 12/17/05 at 9:24pm

shou out to Mina. Love Mina.!!!!!!!

I'm glad you know how to prep the baccala but please tell me you also know of Mina....
Updated On: 12/18/05 at 09:24 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 9:58am

Chita, I have absolutely no idea what that means.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:37am

This thread is helping me with my Italain project. It's to compose a menu for a resturant-in Italian, with Italian dishes and everything.

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 10:48am

Boobies,
That sounds incredible. I think I was switched at Birth.
I was meant to be Italian.
That sounds like so much fun.
I LIVE FOR SEAFOOD.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 2:41pm

Corine, there's absolutely NO WAY that you are anything other than Jewish. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) An Italian knows his or her way around the kitchen. You know you're way around the Zagat's guide. When you start posting recipes instead of restaurant suggestions, I'll think otherwise.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta2]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 3:09pm

What is pulpo and how do you prepare it?

[littleredridinghood]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 3:11pm

Pulpo is octapus I think...but I have no idea how to prepare it.

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/18/05 at 3:17pm

I'm actually a very good cook. But cooking for one is no fun.
When I was living with Tom, I cooked for him all the time.
Asian cooking is my gift.

I can make a mean Zuccini flower and Chicken Piccata though.
And I adore Vitello Tonato in the Summer.