We’ve bid the lights, carols and Santa goodbye for now, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about the holiday flavors the rest of the year. By trading several ingredients here and there, every meal can still bring that Christmas spirit in a single pan flip.

For Breakfast: Gingerbread Pancakes and Peppermint Coffee

My favorite part of the holidays is waking up to cozy Christmas mornings. And because I don’t want to let go of that just yet, I’ve been starting my days with the same high by infusing gingerbread to my pancakes. You can do the same in four easy steps!

Images Courtesy of Cookie and Kate

Start by preheating your oven to 200˚ and place an oven-safe plate inside for keeping pancakes warm. In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, ¼ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. cinnamon, ½ tsp. ginger, and ¼ tsp. cloves, and give a good stir. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: 1 tbsp. molasses, 1 egg, 1 tbsp. sunflower oil, and 1 cup milk, and pour over dry ingredients. Stir just until combined. Heat a skillet over medium heat. When skillet is hot, take about ¼ cup of batter and pour onto skillet. Let cook for 1-2 minutes (until the pancakes begins to bubble slightly. Flip and let cook for another 1-2 minutes until pancake is cooked through. Place in oven and continue with remaining batter.

While you’re at it, add a dash of Christmas to your morning coffee simply by adding a pump of peppermint syrup for a truly festive pairing that would make Santa proud.

For Lunch: Christmas Ham Pasta

Most groceries and delis sell holiday ham before Christmastime comes ringing in. But for a the sweet, tangy and zesty taste of the yuletide all year-round, upgrade your pasta sauces with dices of Christmas ham.

Image Courtesy of healthy-diet-habits.com

Boil salted water and drop 500 g. pasta cook for designated time shown on the pack. In a sauté pan, add 25 ml. oil and sauté roasted shallots, 50 g. garlic and 5 g. chili flakes, then Sautee for 2 minutes. Cut 250 g. holiday ham into chunks and sauté for 3 minutes 50 g., and then add 250 g. of your pasta sauce—whether cream or tomato-based. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then toss in cooked pasta and 50 g. grated queso de bola. 

For Merienda: Puto Bumbong Cheese Rolls and Tsokolate

The holiday season is always about tradition. And in the Philippines, what could herald the coming of Christmas better than the much-loved purple rice cake? Dotting the metro on the sides of the streets or outside of churches, puto bumbong, along with its partner bibingka, is a favorite because of its distinct flavor enhanced by niyog and panutsa, or muscovado sugar. Thankfully, a few manongs and manangs still make this holiday the rest of the eleven months. For a dash of yuletide to your afternoon, take a trip to the nearest puto bumbong stall or make your own following this link:

http://www.mixph.com/2008/11/how-to-make-puto-bumbong.html

Now, here comes the part where we give this purple delicacy a twist in four easy steps. First, cut the puto bumbong pieces into halves. Then, place grated quick-melt cheese in the middle of lumpia wrappers then top with the puto bumbong pieces. Roll, seal, then fry these in oil until slightly brown. Set your rolls aside and in a separate pan, caramelize a cup of brown sugar. Drizzle this on top of your puto bumbong rolls.

To take things even further, go ahead and accompany this dish by whipping up a drink using tsokolate. The aroma of tablea is an instant giveaway that the holiday season is already sneaking around the corner. So for a full yuletide blast, trade your usual hot chocolate for a cup of tsokolate, then voila—a small meal that’s big on the Christmas spirit even when Santa is on vacation!

Dinner: Beef Casserole with Queso de Bola

Can you imagine a Nocha Buena table without that red ball of cheese? Queso de Bola, also known as Edam cheese to the rest of the world, is tangy, nutty, and has been a staple in the homes of Filipinos during the holiday season for generations. If you want a taste of its piquant flavor even when it’s not Christmas Eve, you can do so by simply adding it to your bowl of casserole. Here is a quick and easy recipe that you can follow to turn this humdrum dish into a holiday-infused meal.

Image Courtesy of Dude for Food

In a skillet, cook ¼ cup chopped onions in butter until golden, and 1lb sliced sirloin steak, 2 chopped tomatoes, 1 chopped red bell pepper, ½ cup sliced green bell pepper until soft. Add 1 chopped hard-boiled egg, ¼ cup raisins. ¼ cup sliced black olives, ¼ cup chopped sweet pickles, and ¼ cup sliced mushrooms. Cook for 1 minute, then add 2 tbsp. brandy. Shake the skillet gently until the flames go out. Stir in 1 tbsp. flour, ½ cup beef broth, ¼ tsp. chili powder and salt, ½ tsp. chili sauce, ketchup, and liquid hot pepper sauce, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Simmer and stir occasionally for 5 minutes. Line the sides of a 9-inch baking dish with part of the 7oz. sliced Edam cheese, and then pour the beef mixture into the casserole. Cover with the remaining Edam cheese. Place in a large pan of water to 1″ deep, cover and bake at 325˚ for 15 minutes and then serve.

Don’t limit yourself to adding this ingredient to cooked meals. Serve with fruits such as pears, apples and peaches, or even to your usual crackers for quick flavorful hints of Christmas meals all year round.

Photo Credit: atmtx via photopin cc

When planning events on our own, there are times when we fail to give attention to our table setups. Some people are happy with draping a white cloth over their monobloc tables to suit their equally unremarkable chairs. In any event, however simple it may be, a gorgeous table setup can make a world of a difference.

So what makes up table setup essentials? The two most important elements are the tablecloth and runners, followed by the cutleries, the folded table napkins and the centerpiece.

• Tablecloth and Runners. For your tablecloth and table runners, make sure you choose a color that compliments your motif or your theme. But there are some events where the host wants the table bare and au naturel. In this case, you just need to make sure that your table is clean and spotless.
• Cutleries. By cutleries, we are referring to the silverware that the guest will use in eating. Always keep in mind that the different silverware we have are meant for different purposes. So, as hosts, you must ensure that you have set-up the proper silverware needed, and arrange them accordingly. Also keep in mind that the silverware must be properly polished.
• Table Napkin. In table set-ups, we have different classic table napkin folds, like the Bishop’s Hat or the Lotus. If you want to make it more modern, try rolling your napkin into a log and seal it with a pretty ring or ribbons. You can use different colors of ribbons for a more sophisticated look. You can even accentuate the ribbons with monograms.
• Centerpiece. Centerpieces are the center of attention in table set-ups. Before, we would settle with simply using flowers as centerpiece. But you can make it look more modern depending on the theme of your event. Candle centerpieces are just some of the examples of modern and easy-to-do centerpieces. Try playing around with candles mixed with flowers; they can add a touch of magical charm to your setup!

There are different ways to set-up your tables and chairs. You can go all out or you can opt for a minimalist look. Just make sure you do not go over the top, and you pay attention to every aspect of your table setup.

Culinary arts and pastry arts have evolved through time. As time passes by, we learn to explore the versatility of ingredients. Nowadays, we use sweet ingredients for savory dishes and use savory ingredients for sweet dishes. Ever heard of using rock salt for chocolate cake and black pepper for cupcakes? How about bacon ice cream or corn muffins?

Photo Credit: Alexis Fam Photography via photopin cc

One of my favorite desserts with savory ingredients are cheese desserts! Many people might be surprised to know that tiramisu is made with mascarpone, a type of cheese made from cream coagulated with citric or acetic acid. The cheese is mixed with egg yolks, flavored with cocoa and liquor, and held together with coffee-dipped ladyfingers.

Photo Credit: 3liz4 via photopin cc

And among all the cheese desserts, how could anyone forget the classic cheesecake? Next to cakes and macarons, cheesecakes are my favorite type of dessert. Our mini raspberry, blueberry and mango cheesecakes are some of the most requested pastries by our catering clients.

Lastly, have you ever tried using parmesan for your cheese desserts? Try adding it to your cupcakes for an interesting salty kick! Your guests or kids will love you for it. Including cheese as part of any pastry recipe can help in balancing the sweetness and richness of your dessert because of its salt content.