Category: Food

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Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve chez Chris is a at this point a tradition of my clan. As the host I have to make things comfortable and unexpected at the same time. So, as far as the menù goes, I try to strike a balance between classics and new entries. This is what I served this year:

  • Appetizers: spicy olives, soft bread with Caprino cheese and Sichuan/Cubeb pepper, Parmigiano, Salame bites and tortillas
  • Cocktails: fair selection including Margarita, Negroni (shown here) and Vodka Martini
  • Rigatoni with Pesto and Bacon
  • Marinated barbecued Ribs Texas style with fresh tomato salad
As for dessert I made a Peanut Butter cheesecake but I don’t actually have pictures of the finished product.

Sauces and marinades I made myself. I made pesto last summer with fresh basil from my vegetable garden then froze it. The Barbecue Sauce recipe I got from my friend Albano (I tweaked it here and there but it’s basically his). 

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Gnocchi w/ fresh tomato sauce

It’s summer. Straight from my vegetable garden (semi-destroyed by the recent floods) I got my own tomatoes… taste like the sun. Some fresh gnocchi to go and we are in business. The only problem is I ate all of them… in one sitting. 

You need some good olive oil, a little garlic, baby onions. Brown. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they start turning mushy and the juice blends with the oil (1). Turn off the heat and add some fresh basil (chopped). Add the cooked gnocchi and sauté (2). Serve (3). If you like cheese on your pasta I suggest grated goat cheese. 

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