Pasko na!

Almost. We are reminded of this everywhere we go….bare and fully decorated trees are all around, sidewalks blink with multi-colored lights attached to vari-shaped lanterns, gifts come packaged in lively green and vibrant red. Talagang Pasko na! Most of us are torn between feeling happily optimistic and sad because of the sorry economic state that the great majority of Filipinos find themselves in. What then must we do? Christmas will come and there’s no way to stop it. Let’s consider it as a renewal of our faith, so let’s celebrate, in whatever humble way we can.

In reply to those who sent us e-mail massages about how to get ready for the coming Yuletide season, here are a few tips.

Go to bazaars and weekend markets, because it is there you can stock up on food that you would need to prepare your holiday tables. Special breads can be frozen and will keep until you are ready to serve them. Bottled sauces will last if stored in the freezer. Seafood and meat will not spoil if immediately frozen after purchase. Seasonings have long expiry dates and dried spices and herbs will last longer than the season. You can also order your hams (chicken and pork) from some of the vendors. Likewise you may decide to get gift packages thus relieving you of the hassle of packing and decorating.

Visit Divisoria, Quiapo (ilalim ng tulay) and Mayon Street in Quezon City for the baskets you will need to package your food gifts. It is also in Divi that you can get the bottles for your home-made sauces. They come in sacks, but be careful–inspect each and every bottle because you might get some broken ones. Ribbons etc. are sold at much lower cost on Juan Luna Street. Don’t wait until very late when scheduling your trips to these places and don’t go during the weekends. You can park in the covered multi-level structure in Tutuban, walk to Divi, make your purchases and get a tricycle to bring you back to the parking area. Do not go alone. Company (at least one) is safer and will make your life easier, specially if you expect to buy a lot. With the latest clean up and re-layout of Quiapo and its environs, we need to visit within the next few days and see how things are traffic-wise, the merchandize selection and the flow of human traffic.

Mayon, since two years ago, is better organized. Merchants are housed in covered and cemented structures. Aside from baskets, ceramics (perfect as gifts; cost minimal), wrought iron pieces and many décor items are sold. Fruits and seafood, meat and chicken are offered at the nearby Suki market on Dapitan Street. We hope the vendors have become more customer friendly.

What else can you store with regard to ingredients and other cooking items? The basics–bottles of soy sauce (light and dark) and vinegar, sugar (both white and brown), cooking oil (including olive oil, if your family loves Spanish specialties like paella and cocido, or if salads are your thing), capers (small and big bottles, also for salads and sauces), catsup (the old fashioned mix), tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and capsicums, mushrooms (in cans, you can choose pre-cut ones), perhaps two or three cans of anchovies which you can use to enhance the flavor of salad dressing, chorizo de Bilbao (El Rey brand), herbs and spices (dried to store, the most popular being rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, tarragon), dried lemon grass, noodles (who will not have some noodle dishes during Christmas and New Year’s?), mayonnaise (although we recommend that you make your own healthy dressings and dips without this calorific thing). You might also need to get some cream, butter, margarine (which we prefer) and a selection of cheeses (cheddar, quick melt). For munching and to serve as starters, get some ementhal, manchego and blue cheese.

Plan your menu early, like now. You have to consider the following must meals–Christmas Eve repast which could be something light, Christmas Day dinner (you might be too sleepy to prepare lunch), New Year’s Eve and New Year’s evening meal. Rotate your get-togethers among the different branches within your family. This would be much easier to handle, effort- and pocket-wise.