Christmas Eve Dinner Italian Style

Fern Michaels invites you to try your hand at two delicious dishes that will be perfect for any Christmas Eve dinner.

little christmas gift on the plate
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EGGPLANT STACKS

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggplants, peeled and sliced ¼ inch think
  • 3 cups Italian-flavored breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 cups Parmesan cheese
  • 4 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dry oregano
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 8oz tomato sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1 cup olive oil

Directions

  1. Mix eggs and milk in a bowl.
  2. Mix breadcrumbs and half the parmesan cheese, parsley, and oregano in a different bowl
  3. Heat olive oil to medium in a frying pan.
  4. Dip eggplant in egg batter and dredge through breadcrumb mixture
  5. Place eggplant in frying pan and brown on both sides. Remove from oil and place on paper towels and let cool.
  6. Mix/whip ricotta cheese and remaining ingredients (except mozzarella) together
  7. Begin stacking:
  8. 1 slice of eggplant, spread 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture on eggplant; add another slice of eggplant; top with a spoon of tomato sauce and a tablespoon of mozzarella
  9. Repeat until you have 3-4 slices of eggplant per stack
  10. Once assembled, bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts.
close up of two flute glasses filled with sparkling wine wuth ribbons and christmas decor
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HERBED HALIBUT STEAKS

TOMATOES WITH ONIONS, CORN, ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Ingredients:

  • 2 halibut steaks (1 steak per person)
  • 3 tablespoons basil paste—buy in tube or make by crushing basil with a little olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons parsley paste—buy in tube or make by crushing parsley with a little olive oil
  • 1 16oz can plum tomatoes—drained
  • ¼ cup grated cheese—parmesan or Romano
  • 2-3 cloves garlic—minced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons flavored breadcrumbs
  • 1 package frozen asparagus
  • 1 package frozen/canned corn

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Brush halibut steaks with 1 tablespoon each of parsley and basil paste, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
  3. Bake in over for 18-20 minutes.
  4. Add the asparagus to the pan during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

While fish is cooking:

  1. Saute garlic and onion in a little olive oil
  2. Add tomatoes, corn, grated cheese, remaining basil and parsley paste
  3. Salt and pepper to taste

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