Christmas Eve, or La Vigilia, is one of the biggest feast days in Italy … but, wait. We’ve already talked about that, haven’t we?
Known as “The Feast of the Seven Fishes” because southern Italians traditionally served seven different types of seafood, this custom has been passed throughout generations of Italian-Americans, written about and blogged about.
Two of my blogging buddies, MaryAnne of Finding La Dolce Vita and Joe at Italyville have teamed up to create an Italian-style Christmas Eve feast like none the blogosphere has ever seen.
And they asked for help.
If you have a great seafood recipe to contribute to the Seven Fishes Feast, here is what you do!
- Create a fish or shellfish dish and post it on your blog.
- Display the “Seven Fishes Feast” badge and link back to both Maryann and Joe.
- Send your entry to joe (at) italyville (dot) com and put “Seven Fishes Feast” in the subject line.
- Include your name, blog name, url, the name of your recipe with a photo and a link to your post.
They will post the recipes as they arrive… so check in with them throughout the week!
Oh, also they will chose a name at random on December 19th and the winner will receive a super-cool Calabrian-inspired gift basket.
So count me in.
This pasta dish is easy, peasy and is a staple at our house year-round.
Pasta al Tonno
(Serves 2)
Ingredients:
>> Canned Tuna (one small can per person)
>> Penne Pasta
>> Olive Oil
>> Parsley
>> Garlic
>> One Fresh Red Pepper
Directions:
1. Lightly brown garlic in a small amount of olive oil.
2. Drain the tuna and add to the pan.
3. Slice the pepper in half and add it in with the tuna.
3. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add parsley.
Enjoy.
** See? I told you it was easy peasy! **
I’ve already said this is a staple at our place. What are some of your favorite meals to quickly whip up at the end of a long day?
This is also a favorite at house–we add a bit of white wine and lemon as well 🙂 Another great winter quickie is tortellini in brodino; for the summer pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil. Super fast and one of my absolute faves!
Oh yea, we love the tortellini with brodo, too. That is a “feel better” meal when we are sick!
michelle of bleeding espresso’s last blog post..what’s cooking wednesday: fried baccalà and baccalà with tomatoes
This is a crowd pleaser up here too, no pepperoncino because we feed a minor too. This is actually the first dish my husband ever cooked for me (on our second date) so happy memories all around!
Ahhh, how sweet! I never thought I’d like this dish, b/c I am not crazy about tuna in the US. It is much better here, I think!
joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..The incident with the eels
Love this.
An easy dish is pasta with broccoli. I got the recipe from Michelle @ bleeding espresso. A glass of a nice crisp white wine and it’s all good.
It is all better with a little Italian wine, isn’t it, NYC Gal?
nyc/carribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Here comes the sun.
Oh Cherrye! You girls are killing me with these wonderful seafood dishes and the memories that come flooding in! Thank you for joining us!
I do a tuna dish but always tend to add tomato sauce. In the summer I make this like you, but I chill it. Brava!..and Merry Christmas!
I’ve never had this with tomato sauce, maybe we will have to make it next time. You know, just to mix things up!
maryann’s last blog post..Seven Fishes Feast Roundup!
xox
😉 No worries!
I make something so very similar C. We put peas in ours- and i know I’ll get a nice Italian beating for this faux pas, but we dust it with Parmesan. I know, I know- no cheese with fish. I say- Boh!
I don’t think it is bad, at all. You’ll get no beating from me… whatever you like, I say!!
My Melange’s last blog post..Contests and Giveways Galore!
Cherrye, thanks so much for helping us out and participating. This dish is one that my Zia Mina always makes for me when I’m in Calabria. Safe travels and buon natale!
Prego, Joe! You have a great Christmas, as well.
joe@italyville’s last blog post..Seven Fishes Feast Roundup
I will definitely be making that dish..pasta and tuna, a staple in our house too. Oh how I miss the fish in Italy :-(…
I just love this tradition, amazing, What a feast!!
I like the seafood here SO much, too. Come back soon and get some more!!
anne’s last blog post..The Noble Sculpture Prize 2008…..
This is one of my favorite go-to fast dishes though DH hates tuna, so I only make it for me. As for staple fast dinners — for a long time it was wilted spinach with a fried egg and soem bread. Fast and very satisfying.
I never liked it until I moved to Italy … strange lands do that to a person! lol
This is a great standby, Cherrye.
To answer your question:sage with butter (except I use olive oil)and garlic/oil/chili.
Oooh, yum. Sounds like another easy last-minute dish!
casalba’s last blog post..Feasting & Fasting
Hi! Found you through The Italian Notebook but I also read Michelle and Maryann’s blogs. My husband is from Reggio Calabria, and I’ve been trying to replicate his family’s recipes for all my marriage 🙂 This sounds good and nice and easy to make. Buon Natale!
Pat
Hi Pat. I hope you liked the recipe … glad to have you here. If you and your hubby get to Reggio I hope you will let me know!
Pat’s last blog post..Some Favorite Christmas Cookies