Hi Kevin!  I think the thing that surprised me the most was the similarities between certain Scandanavian and northern Italian foods.  Last Christmas, I found out that Lutefisk and Baccala are basically the same - that nasty rehydrated salted cod fish.  My Italian grandmother always made it for Christmas Eve (as you know, the Italians are big on seafood for Christmas Eve).  YUCK!  Rosettes are also a similarity for Christmas cookies.  However, meatballs are definitely NOT the same (long story).  My husband is a good sport through when it comes to trying new foods he has never eaten before (when we first strated dating - he told his borther that I was a great cook, but was serving him food with names he couldn't pronounce  LOL and if he doesn't like it, he'll say - he can live without it).  So, to accomodate everyone, Christmas Eve, we had pastas with regular sauce, alfredo sauce and a pink sauce; scallops and shrimp scampi and steamers (my new son-in law (my husband's daughter's husband) is from Jersey and we were soooo excited to find a fish monger in Minneapolis that carried little neck clams).  Dessert was the usual Christmas cookies (the baking usually starts the weekend after Thanksgiving - a tradition my Mom started) and homemade rice pudding (for the Scandanavian side).  Christmas Day was the prime rib, potatoes and veggies.  This year, my brother and his family will be here for Christmas (hasn't been here in 5 years since he has been stationed in Jacksonville FL with Navy).  Since we didn't grow up together (kinda like your story), I will try my best to accomodate his traditions and my sister inlaws (Irish and German from Maine).  It sure will be a housefull, but I am anxiously awaiting it!

 

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