Seven Fishes Feast: Pasta al Tonno

Posted on: Dec 17, 2008

 
Christmas Eve, or La Vigilia, is one of the biggest feast days in Italy … but, wait. We’ve already talked about that, haven’t we?
 
Known as “The Feast of the Seven Fishes” because southern Italians traditionally served seven different types of seafood, this custom has been passed throughout generations of Italian-Americans, written about and blogged about.
 
Two of my blogging buddies, MaryAnne of Finding La Dolce Vita and Joe at Italyville have teamed up to create an Italian-style Christmas Eve feast like none the blogosphere has ever seen.
 

7fishes 300x229 Seven Fishes Feast: Pasta al Tonno

 
And they asked for help.
 

If you have a great seafood recipe to contribute to the Seven Fishes Feast, here is what you do!
 

  • Create a fish or shellfish dish and post it on your blog.
  •  

  • Display the “Seven Fishes Feast” badge and link back to both Maryann and Joe.
  •  

  • Send your entry to joe (at) italyville (dot) com and put “Seven Fishes Feast” in the subject line.
  •  

  • Include your name, blog name, url, the name of your recipe with a photo and a link to your post.
  •  
    They will post the recipes as they arrive… so check in with them throughout the week!
     
    Oh, also they will chose a name at random on December 19th and the winner will receive a super-cool Calabrian-inspired gift basket.

     
    So count me in.
     
    This pasta dish is easy, peasy and is a staple at our house year-round.
     
    Pasta al Tonno
    (Serves 2)
     

    dsc04377 300x257 Seven Fishes Feast: Pasta al Tonno

     
    Ingredients:
    >> Canned Tuna (one small can per person)
    >> Penne Pasta
    >> Olive Oil
    >> Parsley
    >> Garlic
    >> One Fresh Red Pepper
     
    Directions:
     
    1. Lightly brown garlic in a small amount of olive oil.
     
    2. Drain the tuna and add to the pan.
     
    3. Slice the pepper in half and add it in with the tuna.
     
    3. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
     
    4. Add parsley.
     
    Enjoy.
     
    ** See? I told you it was easy peasy! **
     
    I’ve already said this is a staple at our place. What are some of your favorite meals to quickly whip up at the end of a long day?
     

    Durban’s Naick(er) Rider meets torque forces.(News) here gta 5 news

    Sunday Tribune (South Africa) March 1, 2009 The thought of living the life of a famous television show character is just fantasy for most – unless, of course, you’re Vishnu Naicker.

    He is Durban’s very own Michael Knight, instantly recognisable as he cruises the streets in his 1986 black Transam Firebird – an exact working replica of Kitt, the talking crime- fighting car of the hit 1980s television series, Knight Rider, which starred David Hasselhoff.

    For those who grew up watching the series, getting behind the wheel of Kitt was the ultimate dream, a dream Naicker realised 20-odd years later when he built his own version of the iconic car, complete with aircraft-like cockpit, scanner lights, TV screens and authentic voice box – yes, the car does talk.

    “It all started in 1992 when I drove past the American Car Sales showroom and saw this amazing white Pontiac Firebird. I had a flashback to the Knight Rider shows and that is how my dream began,” said Naicker.

    The Durban businessman had an opportunity to start the Firebird’s engine in the showroom and was immediately taken by the American muscle car’s brute V8 engine.

    “I could feel the windows of the showroom shaking and the car vibrating – it was amazing,” he said.

    Naicker bought his very own Firebird in 1998. It was a Transam Firebird GTA 5.7 litre TPI V8, imported from California.

    Although at first it was not his intention to build a replica of Kitt, after doing research on the internet and visiting the United States, Naicker found it would be possible to turn his Firebird into his ultimate dream car. go to web site gta 5 news

    “I started my journey searching for information about Knight Rider, browsing through the internet and American car magazines until one day I found a website which directed me to companies responsible for building the original Knight Rider car,” he said.

    While on holiday in the US in 2002 he continued his research, determined to realise his dream.

    “On concluding my research, I discovered that Kitt’s cockpit and scanner light were designed by aviation experts in the United Kingdom, the front nose was manufactured for Universal Studios in Canada and the electronics were developed in Fort Loradace, Miami,” Naicker said.

    When he returned to South Africa, Naicker started importing the parts he needed to build Kitt.

    “It’s taken me a long time to build this car. I’ve been working on it for about six years now,” he said.

    “It has a personalised lip, bonnet and boot spoiler, therefore it is the only one of its kind in South Africa,” he said.

    Religious Naicker said the car attracted attention wherever he went, and was quite popular with women.

    “People love it, wherever I go. You could probably get a lot of girlfriends with it, but I’m married and that’s that,” he said.

    Naicker said although he enjoyed fast cars and motorcycles, he was not a fan of drag racing and did not participate in races.

    Naicker is a deeply religious man. He said people were surprised to hear that he was studying to be a guru and that when he was not upgrading the electronics on Kitt, he was studying religion and meditating. Last year he joined gurus in a |60-day fast for world peace.

    Naicker said Kitt held very special significance for him.

    “Kitt symbolises peace and justice. Michael Knight was a person who wanted to rid the world of corruption – and that is what I want to do, in a way,” he said.

    Kitt can be viewed at the Overport Motor Show, today at the Overport Secondary School grounds.

    pixel Seven Fishes Feast: Pasta al Tonno

    Category: My Bella Vita Features, Recipes

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    11 Responses

    1. This is also a favorite at house–we add a bit of white wine and lemon as well :) Another great winter quickie is tortellini in brodino; for the summer pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil. Super fast and one of my absolute faves!
       
      Oh yea, we love the tortellini with brodo, too. That is a “feel better” meal when we are sick!
       
      michelle of bleeding espresso’s last blog post..what’s cooking wednesday: fried baccalà and baccalà with tomatoes

      [Reply]

    2. This is a crowd pleaser up here too, no pepperoncino because we feed a minor too. This is actually the first dish my husband ever cooked for me (on our second date) so happy memories all around!
       
      Ahhh, how sweet! I never thought I’d like this dish, b/c I am not crazy about tuna in the US. It is much better here, I think!
       
      joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..The incident with the eels

      [Reply]

    3. Love this.

      An easy dish is pasta with broccoli. I got the recipe from Michelle @ bleeding espresso. A glass of a nice crisp white wine and it’s all good.
       
      It is all better with a little Italian wine, isn’t it, NYC Gal?
       
      nyc/carribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Here comes the sun.

      [Reply]

    4. maryann says:

      Oh Cherrye! You girls are killing me with these wonderful seafood dishes and the memories that come flooding in! Thank you for joining us!
      I do a tuna dish but always tend to add tomato sauce. In the summer I make this like you, but I chill it. Brava!..and Merry Christmas!
       
      I’ve never had this with tomato sauce, maybe we will have to make it next time. You know, just to mix things up!
       
      maryann’s last blog post..Seven Fishes Feast Roundup!

      [Reply]

    5. maryann says:

      xox
       
      ;-) No worries!
       

      [Reply]

    6. My Melange says:

      I make something so very similar C. We put peas in ours- and i know I’ll get a nice Italian beating for this faux pas, but we dust it with Parmesan. I know, I know- no cheese with fish. I say- Boh!
       
      I don’t think it is bad, at all. You’ll get no beating from me… whatever you like, I say!!
       
      My Melange’s last blog post..Contests and Giveways Galore!

      [Reply]

    7. Cherrye, thanks so much for helping us out and participating. This dish is one that my Zia Mina always makes for me when I’m in Calabria. Safe travels and buon natale!
       
      Prego, Joe! You have a great Christmas, as well.
       
      joe@italyville’s last blog post..Seven Fishes Feast Roundup

      [Reply]

    8. anne says:

      I will definitely be making that dish..pasta and tuna, a staple in our house too. Oh how I miss the fish in Italy :-(

      I just love this tradition, amazing, What a feast!!
       
      I like the seafood here SO much, too. Come back soon and get some more!!
       
      anne’s last blog post..The Noble Sculpture Prize 2008…..

      [Reply]

    9. City Girl says:

      This is one of my favorite go-to fast dishes though DH hates tuna, so I only make it for me. As for staple fast dinners — for a long time it was wilted spinach with a fried egg and soem bread. Fast and very satisfying.
       
      I never liked it until I moved to Italy … strange lands do that to a person! lol
       

      [Reply]

    10. casalba says:

      This is a great standby, Cherrye.

      To answer your question:sage with butter (except I use olive oil)and garlic/oil/chili.
       
      Oooh, yum. Sounds like another easy last-minute dish!
       
      casalba’s last blog post..Feasting & Fasting

      [Reply]

    11. Pat says:

      Hi! Found you through The Italian Notebook but I also read Michelle and Maryann’s blogs. My husband is from Reggio Calabria, and I’ve been trying to replicate his family’s recipes for all my marriage :-) This sounds good and nice and easy to make. Buon Natale!
      Pat
       
      Hi Pat. I hope you liked the recipe … glad to have you here. If you and your hubby get to Reggio I hope you will let me know!
       

      Pat’s last blog post..Some Favorite Christmas Cookies

      [Reply]

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