I’d like to start this post Blog with wishing (a slightly overdue) MERRY CHRISTMAS from my family to yours!
I had intended on writing a blog post PRE-Christmas festivities but with all the craziness of the season (and also the fact that I was hit with the lazy bug!) I hadn’t realized how quickly Christmas had crept up on us!
We have a small family (and my husband’s family is in Italy) so Christmas is sort of like any other day…except for the presents, of course! I feel like we got just a taste of what it’s going to be like as our children get older-my son is 2 1/2 so only understands what it is all about to a certain extent and my 1 year old, well, just doesn’t get it at all yet!
Needless to say, all I needed to see was the excitement on my children’s faces as they opened their gifts to get into the Christmas spirit!
And not to mention the “whooooa!” that my son yelled out every time he unwrapped a present!
Here’s my daughter showing off some of hers!
Lunch was at our house this year and we had a VERY non-traditional menu planned:
Crostini with dill cream cheese and smoked salmon
Spicy octopus, squid and calamari stewed with tomatoes, potatoes and peas
Tagliatelle with smoked salmon cream sauce
Deep-fried calamari, squid and shrimp with tempura zucchini
Traditional Panettone and Nutella cheesecake
*On a side note, my food photography took a back seat as I was too busy preparing everything for lunch…however, I think the final products still look delicious (despite the lack of lighting, staging, etc). 😉
The prep wasn’t nearly as pretty as the final product!
It doesn’t look like it (I was putting on a brave face for the camera!) but trust me, I was seriously reconsidering my brilliant idea to make stewed octopus for lunch!
Crostini ready to serve!
Prepping the smoked salmon cream sauce for the pasta…
The ‘piece de resistance’ (the slimy, gross preparation was well worth it!!)
One of my favourites…’frittura mista’ (or what was left of it!)
And to finish off…Nutella cheesecake (care of my mom!)
And traditional Panettone (accompanied by some Sardinian Cannonau wine)
Do you have a traditional on a non-traditional meal at Christmas?
You are brave making octopus! Way to go! So I rarely see photos posted of yourself, and yes the bob works great on you! I’m still too nervous!
Thanks…I have made it before but it was long enough ago to forget how gross it is, lol! As for the bob, I say, just go for it! 😉
Your family is beautiful (hot mama!). It looks like you have some amazing Christmas memories tucked away – and as always – the food is beyond impressive! xxx
Thank you Monica! I can’t wait to make more memories as the kids get older! By the way, Merry (belated) Christmas!
I know this post was all about wonderful food and your adorable kids, but you are so darn cute! I miss my hair being cut like yours! Okay so back to the kids… I wish Quinn was a little older this year to see her react to her gifts like your babies did. I guess it will be fun to compare this year to next year!
Awe, thanks! I had my hair long for so long…now I’m glad it’s short!! As for the kids, it is SO much better when they are old enough to know what’s going on, lol!
It looks like you guys had a very nice Christmas…………
YES, we did!