While this roast could be prepared in an oven, smoking it over apple and cherry wood adds another dimension of flavor to compliment the peppercorn and mustard glaze.
Rosemary Chile Vinegar
This is our favorite vinegar. Recommended chiles include serranos and habaneros, but it can also be made with dried pasillas for a raisiny flavor. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.
Marinated Barramundi on the Barbie with Spicy Sauce
Christmas Down Under falls in the middle of summer and is often celebrated on the beach with the holiday feast cooked on the “barbie.” Prawns, steaks, chicken, and lobster, as well as fish, are all popular entree choices to be cooked on the grill. Barramundi is a white-fleshed fish popular in Australia but seldom found outside the country, but other fish such as cod or swordfish can be substituted.
Linguine con le Vongole (Linguine with Spicy Red Clam Sauce)
La Vigilia di Natale, or Christmas Eve, is the most important holiday for many Italians. The meal served is a holiday feast with deep religious roots. Traditionally it has to be “di magro” or meatless, a custom which dates back to older church doctrine that limited the eating of meat on holy days. For those who follow the custom, the meal consists of fish or seafood and a number of side dishes. Depending on the availability, meals can have seven to thirteen seafood dishes, and in landlocked areas as few as three. Whatever the number, the number has religious significance. Linguine served with chile spiced clam sauce is a popular “il primo piatto” or the first course in a meal of many courses.
Green Beans with Piñon Nuts
If you can’t find piñon nuts, substitute walnuts in this savory dish. Use hotter chiles if desired.