Seven Fishes

Yes, this is about as Creepy as Santa can get, hugging a Moray Eel. it's in celebration of the Seven Fishes Dinner which usually includes that critter, but not this year, not at my table.

So, a few years back I did the Seven Fishes dinner for a few friends and we had a great time with it. We pull in stragglers who don't have family around for the holidays and it's a wonderful celebration for Christmas Eve. So this year we decided to do it again. I started inviting people and overshot my mark so we have 8 coming for dinner tomorrow. Today I was dragging dishes out of the cupboards and realized I only have 6 wine glasses. And four comfortable chairs with four bad ones hauled in from the nether regions. This readily offends my OCD-ish need for semi-perfection. Of course with fish we have to have white wine which we usually dont drink, so I never bought the full set of white wine glasses. And now I figure this out. SO, out come the tumblers for the wine, not very fancy but at least they are all starting out the same. I also think I have overshot the goal of seven. I may leave the anchovies out of the broccoli rape because so many people are turned off by them, and then I am back to seven. So, the menu to date:

Crab spread on Crostini (pesce 1)

Clams Oreganato (pesce 2)

Olives, Almonds, Italian Cheeses

Fruiti di Mare (pesce 3,4,5)

Fougasse (a fish shaped bread adapted from a leaf shaped bread) (faux pesce)

Black Squid Ink pasta with Mussels (pesce 6)

Sea Bass on Spicy Soffrito (pesce 7)

Stirfry Broccoli Rape (optional pesce 8)

Cannolis, Italian Cookies, Biscotti

Espresso and Dried Fruits and Nuts

Whew, that's a lot of food. And a lot of work set out for me tomorrow. I'll check in afer I get out of recovery.

Just checked the Horror:

The Moon's return to Leo the Lion may bring out the lazy cat in you, but your responsibilities can be unyielding. Relaxing and having fun might be tempting, but you have more important things to do now. You have been itching to make something happen and this is a smart time to push ahead, as long as you don't become impatient. Positive change must be grounded by a strong foundation, so impulsive action is unwise. Build on what you already have instead of betting your success on the unknown.

So much for all that art-speak critiquing! Now you have it- it simply cannot be explained.

Now, please don't watch this video if you cannot stand seventeen seconds of commercial! It's so annoying but I couldn't steal a copy without the ad. Maybe hum something to yourself for the duration, then watch the most adorable animal outside of a cartoon. Whole thing is fast, Ignore talking heads, just watch the rolling one.

One more thing- I think I am entitled to this award I was in a window the other day, but I would need an extention piece to tie it to my waist. But still, I AM the champion, perhaps of more territory than simply North America. Do I hear a challenge? Anyone?

Lazy Cat, indeed.