re: Christmas Eve - What are you cooking?

growing up wed always go to my grandmas place on christmas eve and my uncle, who did the books for an italian place, would always bring trays of lasagna, chicken marsala, and a dish they called pasta bud

even though we arent out there anymore, we still do the lasagna and pasta bud on christmas eve

the lasagna is made with homemade bolognese



and i made the pasta bud sauce on tuesday. pasta bud is a pasta dish with sausage and mushrooms in a tomato cream sauce. i cook sausage in the pot, take them out and add butter and the mushrooms, cook the mushrooms with some salt and then when they are done i add the sausage back with some parmesan rinds. then i add marinara and mix in some alfredo sauce. this year i made the alfredo from scratch over last weekend and i think its making a noticeable difference. i then add some wine, some italian seasonings, and a little extra butter and let it all come together. its not very healthy



gonna make some garlic bread and a caesar salad for the sides. have caprese salad skewers for appetizers and have some homemade peppermint bark for desert

We're quarantining (wife found out close coworker is positive) so our meal is store-bought.

Stuffed artichoke and mini muffulettas from Zuppardo's.

Chili.....

New York strips
Homemade French fries
Ben & Jerry's salted caramel ice cream

We're having party/finger foods here this evening. Of course various cocktails as well.

Spinach & Artichoke dip
Brownies with homemade cream cheese icing
Candied pecans
Banana pudding bars

Seafood gumbo with Gambino's bread

Filets
Twice baked potatoes
Creamed spinach
Green bean bundles (sweet and savory)
Old fashioned to grill
Wine to dine

I made a shrimp/corn/potato soup that never fails...