Natale A Casa

 

We have been looking forward to Dicembre because L's famiglia are coming over - his parents and cousin, her husband and daughter Miki and it'll be wonderful to spend time and celebrate Natale together! We have set up the guestrooms for them and put up our very first live Xmas tree! :)

L's parents arrived first and we decided to invite some amici over for an early Xmas festa and house-warming too. Melina (MIL) who is a superb cook like most Italian mamma, prepared her specialita' - Casatiello - a savoury Neapolitan bread loaf that is usually enjoyed at Easter but M always makes it for Christmas too.

According to www.ciaoitalia.com, Casatiello derives from case - in Neapolitan dialect it means cheese, because of its use as a filling. "The rising dough meant the promise of new life; the shape of the bread symbolized a crown and the eggs meant rebirth." Apparently there are many variations of this stuffed bread and it is a traditional recipe that should be treasured. I love Melina's version that includes a tub of lard which she lugged from Napoli!

 

L also asked his amico who is a TV celeb chef in Rome to make 2 Xmas Panettone for us and they were delicious and light! For Xmas Eve, we will be enjoying a traditional seafood and fish dinner along with lots of vino of course. And then on Xmas Day, we will be flying off to Bali for 5 days per far niente.

Here's wishing you a Merrilicious Natale and abundant joyous New Year - I think I'm ready for the next stage in my life to unfold! Let the adventures begin. So be it baby.