Feast of the Seven Fishes - Maria K. Alexander

Feast of the Seven Fishes – My Italian Tradition
Maria K. Alexander
http://mariakalexander.com

Having grown up in an Italian household, food has always been an important part of family gatherings. We’d started eating in the early afternoon and continue well into the evening. And that was on a weekly basis, not just holidays!

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house. We celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as Vigilia di Natale, or Vigil of the Nativity. The significance of the seven fish represents the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church (Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick). A typical celebration would start with the fish in the early afternoon and then hours later we'd have pasta, followed by dessert.

For the kids in the family, the significance of the evening didn't extend beyond eating and getting presents. I remember my grandmother wearing a housecoat while breading and frying fish. The kitchen was full of women moving around in organized chaos preparing what would be a fabulous meal. As a child, I wasn’t the greatest of eaters. Saying I was horrible is probably an understatement. Thankfully my tastes have improved over the years, although I still don’t like broccoli rabe or savoy cabbage (what my family calls “veds”). Sorry, Mom.

Unfortunately times have changed and most people have to work a full day on Christmas Eve. Today, we cram what used to be a leisurely smorgasbord of food that spanned a half day into a few hours. While the fish may slightly vary each year, usually we have: crab cakes (my personal favorite), shrimp (cocktail & fried), flounder, scallops (fried and broiled), calamari, clams or mussels, tuna (or crab, if I’m lucky) sauce for the pasta. In addition to the main course, we'll have an antipasto, salad, plus various veggies like stuffed peppers and broccoli rabe. And let’s not forget dessert. Christmas cookies, fried bows, pizzelles, and biscotti are some of what grace the dessert table.

As an adult, while the food is still important, it also means spending time with family I don't see as much as I'd like to. While the number of family members has dwindled over the years, we continue to gather together to celebrate this wonderful tradition and love that will bond us forever.

My wish for you this holiday season is to remember your loved ones—present and past. Life is busy and the craziness of our schedules makes it sometimes a challenge to sit and appreciate being together with family. This year, may you stop and capture a moment in time and cherish it in your mind and heart forever.

In honor of this special tradition in my family, I’ll share my grandmother’s recipe for crab cakes.

Buon Appetito!


Elvira’s Crab Cakes


Ingredients

White Sauce
½ stick margarine
3 tbsp flour
1 cup milk
Salt & pepper to taste

Filling
1 pound lump crabmeat (fresh or canned)
8 slices bread (crust removed & cubed)
1 small onion, diced (or ½ large onion)
Oregano
1 egg slightly beaten
Salt & Pepper
Italian Flavored Panko or Breadcrumbs

Instructions

White Sauce
1. Melt margarine in a small pot.
2. Add 3 tbsp flour slowly, stirring to keep smooth.
3. Add salt & pepper and 1 cup of milk. (I’ve substituted ¾ cup soy milk & ¼ water for anyone who has a milk allergy)
4. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Cook until thick and bubbles slowly.

Filling
1. Place crab meat in colander and rinse. Remove any visible pieces of shell.
2. Place drained crab meat in bowl. Add bread cubes, salt & pepper, onion, oregano, and egg. Mix well.
3. Add white sauce and mix.
4. Refrigerate 1 hour.
5. Form oval patties (wet hands slightly with water to help shape) and roll in Italian Flavored Panko (or Italian breadcrumbs) until fully coated.
6. Deep fry.

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