Happy Christmas Eve!
It’s time for SSJ’S annual Christmas Eve Checklist, preceded by our 2025 Menu for our Annual Feast of the Seven Fishes. Last year’s small-plates edition was such a success that we’ve decided to stick to mostly tapas again for 2025, with many repeats. While this is a rather minimal cooking schedule for the F7F, we’re actually having an F13F, when all is said and done.
FEAST OF THE SEVEN THIRTEEN FISHES 2025
Bea’s Garlic-Marinated Anchovy Stuffed Green Olives
Smoked Salmon with Nigel Slater’s Juniper Butter on Rye Crackers
Caviar on Potato Chips with Green Tahini Crème
Shrimp Cocktail
PEI Oysters on the half-shell with Champagne Mignonette
Black Cod Fillets with Miso Sauce
Squid Ink Pasta with Smoked Mussels, Clams, Artichoke, & Caper Sauce
Tins:
Octopus in Galician Sauce
Smoked Sardines in Olive Oil and Sea Salt
Mussels with Garlic and Chili
Scallops in Galician Sauce
CHRISTMAS EVE CHECKLIST 2025
□ Morning walk with Nimue and a Thermos Wassail
□ Source local bakery bread
□ Make, buy, or substitute something in for this year’s Bûche de Noël
□ Bring home a bouquet of flowers for the table
□ Marinate the miso black cod for our Feast of the Seven Fishes
□ Blend the green tahini crème & make juniper butter
□ Make the pasta sauce
□ Power nap
□ Backyard play with Nimue
□ Light lunch
□ Set the table for the evening feast
□ Carols at the piano
□ Eggnog and a Christmas movie
□ Tune in to Jon Solomon’s 25-HOUR LIVE-FROM-HOME HOLIDAY RADIO SHOW. [5:00 pm December 24 TO 6:00 pm December 25 on WPRB 103.3 FM PRINCETON, NJ, USA]
□ Plate the cold and tinned dishes
□ Shuck the oysters
□ Dress up and have an Elemental & Cider
□ Cook the miso black cod
□ Make the pasta and reheat the sauce
□ Put on the Christmas Crowns!!
□ Enjoy the Feast of the Seven Fishes
□ Card or board games at the cleared table
□ Bûche de Noël (or its substitute) and Christmas cookies
□ Howl at the moon with the dog
□ Leave cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and the team
□ Adult siblings basement screening Star Wars: A New Hope…the legend continues!
□ Late night cocktails and more radio for R&B
ON THIS DAY
2024: Christmas Eve Checklist 2024
2023: Christmas Eve Checklist & An Expanded Feast of the Seven Fishes
2022: Advent 2022, December 24: Christmas Eve Checklist
2021: Advent 2021: Christmas Eve Checklist
2020: SSJ’S Christmas Eve Checklist 2020
2019: Advent Day 24, 2019: Christmas Eve Checklist
2018: Advent Day 24, 2018: Christmas Eve Checklist
2017: Advent Day 24, 2017: Christmas Eve Checklist
2016: Christmas Eve Checklist
2015: Christmas Eve Checklist
2014: Christmas Eve Checklist and a Gingerbread Bûche de Noël
2013: Christmas Eve Checklikst and a Recipe for Lemon Bûche de Noël
2012: Advent Shadowbox 2012: Christmas Eve Checklist
2011: Advent Shadowbox: Christmas Eve Checklist
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