From the Fanatic family to yours 
Christmas Eve has always been a big celebration in our house.
Perhaps because we’re Polish and Wigilia (Christmas Eve dinner) is traditionally quite the celebration full of delicious food and drinks!
Told you I’d be making these lil’ suckers again 
The Christmas Eve dinner (Wigilia) has either twelve or an odd number of courses served. This is also a no-meat event.
Our family’s Wigilia consists of seven dishes, featuring many different types of seafood.
This year’s meal mixed in some traditional dishes along with some welcomed new-comers.
Tradition: Nanny’s Sauerkraut & Noodles
Seriously so easy. Seriously so good.
Butter, onion, sauerkraut, noodles all seasoned with a good crack of black pepper.
Tradition: Homemade Pierogi topped w/ Butter & Green Onions
I think we all remember this little adventure 
Lots of green onions, so necessary.
As is the stick of butter. I mean it is the holidays after all 
Drizzled on top of the pierogi, definitely necessary.
Newbie: Clam Stuffed Mushrooms
Got this recipe from an old-school Church cookbook from the area in PA that my family comes from.
The best thing about old school cookbooks is their lack of precision. A lil’ of this, lil’ of that. Make it your own, totally my style!
Clams, onions, garlic, mushrooms, bread crumbs, Italian cheese and butter.
Stuffed into mushroom caps.
And baked until golden.
These were one of the biggest hits of the night!
Newbie: Cream Baked Fish
Got this recipe idea from this website.
My version included grouper, cooked for a few minutes stove top (season with salt & lemon juice) then covered in sauted onions and baked.
The onions were cooked in the same pan as the fish had been – picking up all those flavor bits.
A sour cream based sauce gets pulled together in the same pan – milk, flour, lemon, salt, pepper and sour cream – then drizzled on the fish and baked for a few minutes longer.
Once again, measurements unknown, but it definitely turned out delicious! I’ll be making this one again if I can remember what the heck amounts of ingredients went in it haha.
Tradition: Spiced shrimp
Can’t remember a Christmas Eve dinner without ‘em
Add in the fruit compote (spiced with cinnamon and cloves, so good!) and a side salad (unpictured) and there you have it.
Seven delicious courses. Mmmmm mmmmm.
This is definitely one of my favorite meals of the year
After the delicious dinner, there was lots of present opening! We do our gifts with my fam on Christmas Eve, no complaints here
Tortilla Press!!!!!!!!!!!
Ummmm totally normal?
It was a fabulous night. Christmas Eve may be my favorite night of the year. Having our family together and carrying on these traditions is so special and just so fun
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!
Merry Christmas girl!!! xoxo
Merry Christmas Steph! I spy a Cuisinart Hand Blender – perhaps Santa brought that for you so Cookin’ Fanatic mom could have the one she loaned you back.
Merry Christmas! Everything looks fantastic.
Everything looks so terrific! I love traditions like that.