As a born-again atheist, it's the only way I can bring myself to relate in any way to the Xmas madness. It has something to do with a connection to my ethnic heritage. After tonight, the only feast I will celebrate this year is the pagan German Yule, or, interchangeably, the pagan Roman Satunalia.

Yum.

Tonight's just-about-impromptu supper at home, was certainly more Italian (Roman?) than German, and it and its kind are part of the reason for my weblog-ing negligence of late:

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Thinly-sliced Italian hot copa sausage on a bed of baby arugula seasoned and laced with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, together with a sturdy Puglian bread.
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"Risotto alla Milanese," or a risotto composed of red onions, home-made vegetable stock, saffron threads, vermouth and grated parmesan cheese.
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"Caposante in Padella con Capperi," or diver scallops pan-fried with capers, sage and meyer lemon juice.

Served with baby spinach quickly braised with oil and lemon.
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French cheeses, a soft St. Felicien and a semi-soft St. Nectaire, served with thinly-sliced crusty bread.
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Espresso-flavored gelato with ground espresso "sprinkles."
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Turkish dried figs
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Espresso
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Well, actually, it wasn't really much work, since a lot of it was already composed (somewhere), or, in the case of the risotto, left from the night before. Still very yum, and a great format both for music and good conversation with Barry.