Now that Thanksgiving is over and December has arrived, Italians go into overdrive in the kitchen.  There are so many wonderful dishes, recipes, specialties and customs that come along with the holidays, which for me has always been a wonderful time of year.  Christmas Eve in particular is one [...]]]>

Now that Thanksgiving is over and December has arrived, Italians go into overdrive in the kitchen.  There are so many wonderful dishes, recipes, specialties and customs that come along with the holidays, which for me has always been a wonderful time of year.  Christmas Eve in particular is one of my favorites as we celebrate “La Vigilia” with a fish feast!  As a matter of fact, my very first post on Italyville was on Christmas Eve last year and I posted on the “Seven Fishes” which is a tradition with many Italian families including mine.  I was recently sent a book called, “Feast of the Seven Fishes” by Robert Tinnell, Shannon Tinnell, Ed Piskor and Alex Saviuk.  The team over at “Feast of the Seven Fishes” sent me 2 copies actually…. one for me and one to give away on Italyville.  It’s a wonderful comic strip story about family, friends, love and best of all… food!  Robert Tinnell who grew up Italian American also includes recipes he and his wife Shannon make for their ”Feast of the Seven Fishes.”  In addition, there are some great photos and a brief family history of growing up Italian American in West Virginia.

So, in celebration of the holidays and “la Vigilia di Natale”, Maryann of Finding la Dolce Vita and I are hosting a virtual “Seven Fishes Feast”   We will be giving away a copy of “Feast of the Seven Fishes” …. but since it’s the season of giving, we are sweeting the pot! (that’s just how we roll) So here’s a photo and list of “Italian products” in our holiday gift basket: {Note: products in the gift basket may vary to apply to postal laws}

• 1 homemade sopressata
• 1 small bottle of extra virgin olive oil from Calabria
• 1 jar of homemade roasted red peppers
• 1 bag of Perugina Baci
• 1 package of cookies (Savoiardi/lady fingers)
• 1 panettone
• 2 boxes of Properzi torrone (regular and chocolate covered)
• 1 book – “Feast of the Seven Fishes”
  

So come join us for a wonderful fish feast.  We are accepting recipe’s until December 18th.

This is what you have to do to participate:

• Create a fish or shellfish dish and post it on your blog.
• Display our “Seven Fishes Feast” badge and link back to both Maryann and me.
• Send your entry to me at joe (at) italyville (dot) com and put “Seven Fishes Feast” in the subject line.
• Tell me your name, blog name, url, the name of your recipe with a photo and a link to your post.

Maryann and I will be posting the recipes as they arrive… so keep checking back!  We will chose a winner at random on December 19th.

….and thanks for the early Blogoversary wishes Maryann!