Feliz Navidad! Christmas Dinner in Spain

Christmas dinner is the biggest dinner in Spain for the entire year. It is very important in their culture and it is eaten on the eve of Christmas; but is not eaten until after midnight. There are a lot of bonfires that take place as well. Because Spain is surrounded by water, there are a lot if fish inspired dishes that grace the tables on Christmas in addition to turkeys and chickens.

Fish Soup

1 Cup Rice

12 Clams

1 Lb. Shrimp

1 Salmon Head

1 Chopped Carrot

1 Chopped Onion

½ Cup Olive Oil

1 Cup White Wine

1 Chopped Tomato

2 Bay Leaves

4 Cups Water

Combine clams, water, fish head and bay leaves into a sauce pan and let cook on low for 15 to 20 minutes. Next, add the shrimp and continue to cook on low to medium heat for another 5 minutes.

After that, add the carrots, onions, and tomato to a heated and oiled pan and cook until done and soft. Add the white wine after the vegetables have sautéed for cook for 5 minutes.

Put the wine mixture into a pot along with the fish broth that you made earlier. Be sure to strain the broth and remove the fish head and shrimp. Begin to boil this mixture and then add the rice. Let the rice cook on medium-low for about 15 minutes until cooked all the way. If you would, you could add the shrimp back into the soup afterwards

Spanish Crumble Cakes

4 Egg Yolks

1 Beaten Egg White

2 ¼ Cups Vegetable Shortening

1/3 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Grated Lemon Peel

½ Tsp. Cinnamon

7 ¼ Cups Flour

2 Ounces Vodka

2 ½ Tsp. Allspice

Begin by preheating your oven to 325 degrees F. Combine oil and shortening in a bowl with a mixer and then add in the sugar. Next add in the all spice, lemon peel egg yolks, cinnamon and vodka then continue to mix. After this is mixed well, add in to baking soda and flour slowly until the mixture is very smooth. Make small balls with the dough and place onto a baking sheet. Make sure that the sheet is not greased. Brush some of the egg white on the top of each cookie and bake for 15-20 minutes.

Spanish Roast Turkey

1 Turkey

1 Egg

1 Garlic Clove

2 Tbsp. Butter

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Lemon

1 Can of Peaches

3 Onions

1 Pinch Basil

5 Tbsp. Chestnuts (Peeled)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees F. Boil chestnuts and bay leaf in water. Next put garlic butter and oil into a baking dish and place into the oven. Chop up the chestnuts and then add it to basil and peaches. After this, place the chestnut mixture into the turkey. Place the turkey onto the baking dish that was in the oven. Cover the entire turkey with foil and place back into the oven. Bake for two hours, checking at each hour to keep moist by pouring more juices onto it from the pan.