‘Cioppino’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Christmas Eve 2011

December 26, 2011 · Narrative

While I was making dinner, Santa came through on the fire truck with candy stockings for all the kids. Love this tradition.

Christmas Eve means the Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian) and thirteen desserts (French). Since Mystic is Jewish, I also added latkes and gelt. First time for making either. Those two recipes, along with the salad, will follow in the coming weeks. I have made the Cioppino (fish stew) for several years now because it takes care of five of the 7 fish. I think this past Christmas Eve will be the last year for that though. My interest in it has waned a bit, and I want it to be more feast-like with seven individual dishes. Although it’s more challenging, especially with the kids underfoot, I think with a little proper planning, it can be done.

Gelt waiting to be wrapped. Pure chocolate. Can’t go wrong with that.

Although it looks fussy, this Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread is crazy simple to make, and perfect to dip into the Cioppino.

I had to have some greens on the table, and went with a knock-off of Cheesecake Factory‘s French Country Salad, which is delish.

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A Few of My Favorite Things

December 23, 2010 · Narrative

As I was putting away groceries tonight, I got a little inspiration for tonight’s post.

These are a few of my favorite things. Not “clean eating.”

But it’s a holiday.

And there will be dip.

And dip needs a dipping vehicle.

And carrots alone just won’t do.

I’d love to hear your favorites.

People ask me all the time how I can manage to lose weight with all the baking we do. It’s simple. Salt is my poison. Which is exactly why the above types of things only appear in the house on special occasions.

Project 365
December 23, 2010, Photo #318

My list for today during my lunch break and after the gym. And would you believe I managed to get it all done? I was aiming to get through the list so I didn’t have to take the kids out tomorrow, but I forgot juice and dog food, so there will be one quick trip. I’m still in desperate search for the Ramona and Beezus DVD (because now that we’ve rented it three times I think it’s safer to just own it!), but have come up empty, and will just get it after Christmas for a just because or Valentine’s Day present.

Christmas Eve Menu

Regular readers know that we celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and we also have 13 desserts (a French tradition). Cioppino will be taking care of five of the seven fishes, with the last two fish appearing in Spumo di Tonno and Smoked Salmon Spread. There will also be Spinach Artichoke Dip, Spinach Cheese Squares, fresh fruit, Macaroni and Cheese and Herbed Pull-Apart Rolls. My sister is taking care of cheese and crackers, and my Mom is handling the desserts. Ignoring my Mom’s comment about me being a glutton for punishment, there will even be a craft for the kids before dinner tomorrow. God willing. Can’t wait to get the festivities underway… what’s cooking for your holiday celebration?

Recipe: Herbed Pull-Apart Rolls

January 5, 2010 · Narrative

With a main course like Cioppino (fish stew) for our Christmas Eve dinner, I wanted to make sure to have a bread on the table, in case anyone wanted to go dipping. I totally get what Rachael Ray means when she says bread is like an extra utensil at their dinner table … have liquid, will dip. When I spied this recipe for Herbed Pull-Apart Bread, I knew it would be perfect.

The recipe comes from Taste of Home magazine. For some unknown reason, I stopped subscribing to the magazine a few years ago, but rediscovered it this last Spring. To be quite honest, there’s something perfectly comforting about a recipe from Taste of Home; they’re all a bit down-home and old-fashioned – recipes that make you feel good from the inside out. It’s a feeling I quite like.

Although the recipe looks fiddly, it really couldn’t be easier. After all, it starts with refrigerated bread dough. My only sticking point is that the recipe calls for one can of refrigerated bread dough, but given how many circles they have shown in their pictured Christmas tree, it was more than one can. Luckily I had purchased two at the store, because I couldn’t remember how many the recipe needed.

After I rolled up all the pieces and formed the shape on the pan, I showed Nick and asked him what it looked like.

“A Christmas tree!” came the answer. Phew!

When the bread was out of the oven and peacefully cooling on the counter, someone Uncle Tim who shall remain nameless, swiped the top (the star!) of the tree.

Of course now that Christmas has passed, you could make this in any old shape you want … or not. Simple spiraled herbed bread rolls in a basket would be just as pretty and tasty, and a welcome addition to any dinner table. I can think of endless possibilities with this recipe, using it as a base and then mixing and matching the “inside” ingredients … a pepperoni and mozzarella version, perhaps one with sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, another one with feta cheese and Kalamata olives. This one will definitely be appearing on our table again.

Project 365
January 5, 2010

This is one of those ingenious, smack-your-forehead, why-didn’t-I-think-of-this ideas. I actually spied this on a photo blog, of all places (I think it was this one). Madeline loves yogurt. I love that Madeline loves yogurt, but if you have a young ‘un, particularly one that is a messy eater (it can’t be just her!) but is fiercely independent and doesn’t want help, you’ll love this. When she’s eating yogurt, she makes an insane mess. You’d be surprised at how many places the yogurt can actually end up. Solution? Poke a straw through the top of the yogurt container without opening it. Yup, even grown-up yogurt. Sucks through like a dream. No muss, no fuss. Isn’t that the best? Life is certainly looking different after using this ingenious little tip.

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