Christmas Dinner with our Old Friends

The holidays are the perfect time to get together with family and friends to celebrate this joyous season. We've been in touch with a few old friends from previous issues and asked them to share some of their favorite holiday recipes here. So pull up a chair, sit down and enjoy.

Bartolo Drago

"Thanksgiving is the prelude to Christmas, and at our house, it's the time to put diets on hold and enjoy some of the best dishes of the year, not to mention an abundance of cakes and pies from each of our family members," writes Bartolo Drago from Hopewell Junction, New York.

"When December arrives, and with no regard for the deepest snow or the coldest of days, we always succeed in finding the perfect Christmas tree. Some of them have been so large that to drag them into the house I have needed two or three friends. We welcome the tree's wonderful scent and decorate it with everything from vintage light bulbs to small photos that have been around since the birth of each of our children, plus those of our pets, past and present. Nothing is more memorable for my wife Lisa and me than watching our children each year on the morning of December 25th. The smiles that 'Santa' puts on their faces are priceless and worth every bit of the time and investment we put into these kids every day of the year.

"I come from a family with an Italian background, so seafood is the main course on Christmas Eve," continues Bartolo, who shares some of his family's favorite recipes here. "But not everyone enjoys seafood, so we decided to back off on the traditional 'seven fishes' and incorporate some other dishes that everyone could enjoy, as well as two or three seafood dishes without all the deep frying. That is how we came up with Chicken in Wine Sauce (an instant favorite). We have Penne a la Vodka at every holiday because it is simple, light, and my kids actually put this dish together. My favorite dessert is cheesecake, but for holiday meals, we like to serve something a little lighter, like berries and cream.

"Imagine my surprise when I heard your theme for this issue is It's a Wonderful Life," adds Bartolo. "It has always been my favorite movie, so much so that we have dedicated a room in our home to the theme of the movie with actual-size posters complementing the walls. Every year we watch the movie - at my insistence, of course! - and have even loaned it to a friend or two to watch if they're at home. It always puts one in the right frame of mind for the up-and-coming holidays, which for some can be depressing and for all are exhausting.

"Like George Bailey in the movie, I would like to know that I personally have left something of value to my family, friends and most anyone I associate myself with on an everyday basis. 'You do good things and good things will happen.' I have lived by this rule and I have truly been blessed with a wonderful family, great and trustworthy friends and colleagues.

"And last, but not least, I would like to thank all of you at Penzeys for being part of my 'wonderful life.' It has always been and will be my pleasure."

Menu:
Bartolo Drago
Chicken in a Wine Sauce with Cherry Peppers
Penne à la Vodka