Christmas Ham

CEBU, Philippines – In the Philippines, people like their food on the sweeter side. That's why the local Christmas hams are encrusted in either a brown sugar crumble, or blanketed with a syrupy glaze. It's usually eaten on its own, fried to add some flavor, or enjoyed with bread and 'kesong puti' (goat's cheese).

Keso de Bola

Keso de Bola is the localized name for Edam cheese, which is from the Netherlands. Enclosed in a red paraffin shell, it usually doubles as a centerpiece during Filipino Christmas dinners. It was first brought to the Philippines by a Swedish doctor who immigrated to the country.

Pancit

This yellow-colored noodle dish flavored with annatto seeds is quite festive in appearance, and exceptionally tasty in flavor. Loaded with eggs, shrimp, and chicharon, the Pancit never fails to satisfy even the hungriest of bellies.

Sweet Spaghetti

As compared to tangy Italian red sauces, Filipino-style spaghetti (also known as Sweet Spaghetti) is heavy on sugar. The inclusion of bright red hot dog bits and processed cheese also adds to its visual appeal. It may seem weird to foreigners, but Filipinos just love it!

Buko Pandan

While 'pandan' leaves are widely used in savory dishes, this dessert uses pandan-flavored gelatin that's mixed with coconut milk and cream. The result is a festive green-and-white treat that's a big favorite during the holidays.

Kakanin

Because Filipinos love rice so much, they find delicious ways to turn the staple grain into a lot of other things - dessert being one of those. 'Kakanin' refers to a wide assortment of sticky sweet goodies that come in a range of colors and flavors. From the Christmasy puto bumbong and bibingka to the everyday suman and kutsinta, Filipinos never tire of their own sweet rice treats.

Fruit Salad

This is one of the easiest desserts to prepare. It simply takes a can of fruit cocktail and all-purpose cream, and mixed well; and in five minutes there's already a nice dessert to complete the Christmas dinner. Some families add a little twist to the fruit salad by adding tapioca or coconut. There are no rules, whatever works is okay.