Thursday night’s dinner was fun and filling, as the Italian Christmas Eve does not disappoint. Naturally we got right to eating and drinking (the beverage of choice was champagne), so I did miss out on photographing most of the hot items. Some of the seven fish dishes included fried smelts, lump crab stuffed mushrooms, our hot crab dip, and a shrimp dip. There was also a lasagna with braised leeks and onions, shrimp, parmesan, ricotta, and bechamel, which Slip’s mom made and the guests adored.

The spread included some classic Italian antipasto, like roasted red peppers, olives, artichokes, and grilled asparagus.

Slip’s cousin brought us all these adorable tins filled with yummy cupcakes and what is now my new favorite candy, chocolate mint M&Ms.

There was also a fantastic dessert spread, which included homemade Chocolate Butter Rum Cake and these homemade pizzelle cookies Slip’s aunt made on her pizzelle press. My mom made chocolate peanut butter brownies with peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache— really good. Recipe to come soon.