I grew up in a community with many descendants of Italian immigrants, and one family in particular I have been close friends with virtually my entire life.
Some years ago, one of the brothers and his wife began a Christmas Eve tradition of serving their version of a dish called Bagna càuda. It's a northern Italian/southern French fondue-like style of cooking.
The basic receipt:
1 gallon olive oil
50 gloves garlic
8 tins anchovies
An assortment of protein (prawns and sliced beef in this case)
Assorted vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, celery, potatoes and what not)
Crusty bread
Method:
Dump oil into a large pot over medium heat.
Add garlic and heat until soft, then mash.
Add anchovies and smoosh together until well smooshed.
Cook for a bit
Divide oil and smooshings equally amongst as many electric deep sided frying pans as necessary to accommodate diners and heat to frying temp.
Place a bunch of Italians elbow to elbow around a large table (we're all Italians at that table) and then reach over each other to grab and add your goodies into the pan, argue about who's stealing what from whom, drink a little wine, make an awful mess, sop up the goodies with great bread, and feel more love than you can imagine!
And don't worry about Santa finding your place cuz he will smell the garlic!
Mangia!
Some years ago, one of the brothers and his wife began a Christmas Eve tradition of serving their version of a dish called Bagna càuda. It's a northern Italian/southern French fondue-like style of cooking.
The basic receipt:
1 gallon olive oil
50 gloves garlic
8 tins anchovies
An assortment of protein (prawns and sliced beef in this case)
Assorted vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, celery, potatoes and what not)
Crusty bread
Method:
Dump oil into a large pot over medium heat.
Add garlic and heat until soft, then mash.
Add anchovies and smoosh together until well smooshed.
Cook for a bit
Divide oil and smooshings equally amongst as many electric deep sided frying pans as necessary to accommodate diners and heat to frying temp.
Place a bunch of Italians elbow to elbow around a large table (we're all Italians at that table) and then reach over each other to grab and add your goodies into the pan, argue about who's stealing what from whom, drink a little wine, make an awful mess, sop up the goodies with great bread, and feel more love than you can imagine!
And don't worry about Santa finding your place cuz he will smell the garlic!
Mangia!
Wow what a feast! I have been told that at some point my father decided that all that garlic was too much for his public facing career. So my mom switched to using onions. Think caramelized onions anchovies and olive oil. I use both. 
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