Badabing's Xmas Eve Dinner

It's been a pretty consistent tradition for the Badabing family to have a fancy Xmas Eve dinner. It really helps to get us in the mood for Xmas day, which is pretty hectic since we usually play host to about 20 family members. Xmas Eve is something I always look forward to, and usually make something pretty elaborate or special dishes that the family has always enjoyed. This year we had only five of us, and for the first time in years both of my children were able to make it. The menu, with the exception of dessert, was very Italian:

• Fried mozzarella with garlic, capers & anchovies
  
• Finocchio salad with parmagiano reggiano
  
• Osso buco (braised veal shanks)
  
• Risotto Milanese
  
• French fruit tarts & chocolates from our local chocolatier
  

We had a nice French champagne to kick things off, followed by a few bottles of Melini Chianti Classico (a nice smooth chianti), and we enjoyed a nice aged port wine with the dessert. Bellisimo!!

I got up bright and early Xmas morning to begin cooking baked ziti, meatballs and sausage for the Xmas day gathering.

Tonight I'm doing something simple on the grill. Buon Natale a Tutti.

Badaboom Badabing...