Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. This feast was created by the pope to promote Christianity and remove pagan festivals celebrated at the winter solstice.

During the IVth century, the pope decided to bring the Christmas day on December 25th.

Christmas has always been represented by religious ceremonies and gifts and greetings exchange.

Here are some Christmas symbols:

* The Advent consists of a burning candle each Sunday four weeks before Christmas; which symbolize the rebirth of light after the winter solstice.

* The December 24th Christmas Mass; which celebrates the birth of Jesus.

* The Christmas Crib; which symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian homes.

* The Christmas tree, a symbol from the pagan celebration and representing life.

* The Yule log; which represents the log that we put in the fireplace to warm up on Christmas Eve.

* Santa Claus, an American creation, inspired by the Christian Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Alsace. This character wears a luxurious red cape, he has a long white beard and wears a red miter, he also holds a golden crosier. Saint Nicholas rewards good children while his companion Père Fouettard/Black Pete punishes nasty children) and the elf Yule Goat, celebrated in Scandinavian countries.

Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and Christmas Eve with our family, replaced the religious ceremonies.

The gift exchange: luxurious for the rich people and useful – sometimes only one orange – for the poor people, has been replaced by the modern marketing. People not only buys gifts but also spend lots of money in decoration items, food, drink…

The secularization of our society removed the true meaning of Christmas Time; which is, obviously, becoming a pagan feast.

Here are some countries which celebrate Christmas:

Belgium:
We have a festival especially dedicated to children; which is Saint Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) on December 6th. The Great Patron of Schoolboys, who is supposed to bring candies in their shoes, brings in fact toys by the thousands to our children.

In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved for adults: the streets are decorated and illuminated, we decorate our houses, windows, gardens, Christmas trees. Belgium seems to forget that it is a Catholic country and closes more and more churches, therefore, the Midnight Mass on December 24th usually happens at 6 or 8 PM. We then eat with our family and at 12 PM we exchange our gifts. Children usually receive a book or some clothes.

Christmas Day has little meaning but practicing Catholic go to church. Belgian people visit their family on January 1st. In the Belgian Ardens, people celebrate December 31st and not Christmas.

France:
Christmas is dedicated to children. The streets and the houses are decorated several weeks in advance. French people have lots of Christmas customs: Christmas Markets, the Christmas tree, the Christmas Dinner, Père Noël, Christmas gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey, The Christmas Crib, the Yule Log, and so on. In Alsace, however, Saint Nicholas predominates on Santa Claus.

The Netherlands:
They organize their St. Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) festival: the old bearded man traveling by boat and accompanied by many black aids, who distributes gifts to good children. Dutch people reserve the big gifts for Christmas Time because they profit for some great bargains after Sinter Klaas.

Germany:
Christmas in Germany lasts two days. On December 26th they visit their family and their friends. Christ-Kind offers gifts to the children on December 24th families and friends. Germany has also a Saint Nicholas festival on December 6th.

Great Britain:
Christmas is celebrated in England with enthusiasm. Children sing “Christmas Carols” in the streets, they eat the famous “Christmas Pudding” at the end the Christmas Dinner. In England, Santa Claus fills the English children socks with gifts. British people also exchange greeting cards; which are a British creation.

Spain:
If Santa Claus has little importance in Spain (Magi distribute gifts to children on January 6th), Spanish people decorate the streets with lights during the month of December. The windows of the shops are filled with lots of gifts and Spanish celebrate the Christmas Evening with their family.

Portugal:
Christmas Eve is a holiday. The Portuguese attend the Christmas Midnight Mass; which is the “Missa Do Galo.” If there is no Christmas tree in Portugal, there is nevertheless a “Wooden Christmas”.

Italy:
Christmas lasts three days, from December 24th till 26th. However, Christmas traditions vary from one region to another one and, depending on the region it is Babo Natale (Father Christmas) or the “Gesu Bambino” (Little Jesus) who brings gifts on December 25th. The Italian Christmas dessert is “Panettone”.

Scandinavian Countries:
During the Christmas Dinner, Scandinavian people reserve a place for the souls of the deceased members of their family. Once they finish to eat, they read the bible. The whole family is singing Christmas songs and dance around the Christmas tree.

Other European countries:
In Romania, on December 24th, there is a Christmas candle burning until the morning of December 25th. In Russia, Christmas Day happens on January 7th, according to the Orthodox calendar. In Greece the Christmas period begins on Christmas Eve and ends at the Epiphany. Christmas is less important than Easter.

USA:
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Santa Claus is coming to announce the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. American people love to celebrate Christmas and set up a decorated Christmas in their home. Children hang empty stocks empty on the fireplace and on the Christmas morning they find them filled with candy and small toys.

Canada:
Houses, shops and streets are decorated with lights. Canadian people decorate their house with a Christmas tree, a Christmas wrap, a Christmas Crib… After the “Midnight Mass” people have a Christmas Eve with their family. Turkey and the Christmas log are the essential ingredients of a Canadian Christmas Dinner. They send greeting cards to their friends and family who live far away.

South America:
Peruvian people have Christmas parties but also learn to live better on christmas time. Their Christmas season lasts a full week. Mexican people celebrate Christmas with Las Posadas (pilgrimages representing the path by the Mary and Joseph). They celebrate the last Posada on the Christmas morning and then start the Christmas dinner. I Guatemala, immigrants have imported their German customs and the Christmas tree is essential but the Christmas gifts are reserved to the children. Gift exchange for adults is on January 1st.

Australia:
Christmas happens during the summertime, so Australian people celebrate Christmas at the beach. People eat cold turkey and pudding.

New Zealand:
If there are few decorations, New Zealand people organize Christmas parades and people sing in the parks. They also organize their famous “Christmas barbecue”.

Japan:
Christmas is merely commercial significance in Japan. This festival represents Saint Nicholas and it is an opportunity to offer gifts to small children.

China:
If Christmas Day is not a holiday, Christmas is celebrated in Chinese cities. This festival was imported into this country by foreign missionaries. For the Chinese people who celebrate it, Christmas is a religious event.

Your wedding dress:

Start shopping right away. You won’t feel rushed or pressured into buying something and you’ll be able to shop smart.

Simple plain dresses are usually less expensive than the ones with lace, pearls/beads etc..

You could buy a plain dress and add lace, beads etc.. yourself. Or get someone to do it for you.

Rent or borrow a dress. If you like your mother`s, sister`s or friends dress ask them if you could borrow it. But don`t be offended if they refuse as a wedding dress is very sacred to most women.

Look around second hand shops/charity shops. You`ll be surprised at the amount they get given, and they are usually inexpensive.

The venue:

Book the ceremony/reception well in advance you may be able to negotiate a better price then you would if you left it to the last minute.

Have your wedding on off-peak months. November to April rates will probably be reduced. Christmas weddings are more expensive though so if you are planning a Christmas wedding you will have to cut your finances.

Instead of a grand ballroom or banquet hall, think less-expensive venues, like publicly owned buildings and parks, registry office, the church or temple hall, the backyard, the beach, a restaurant’s private room. You may have to get a permit to marry in a public place, but it will be less than a private banquet room.

Catering:

Look around for caterers. Get different quotes before you decide on one.

Choose cheaper entrees, like prawns instead of lobster, vegetables like broccoli instead of asparagus will cut the cost, too.

Cut down on courses. If you’re having a cocktail hour, do you really need an appetizer course? Do you need soup and salad?

Instead of waiter service, have a buffet bar.

Think ethnic! Mexican, Indian, Italian, or Chinese food is fun and much cheaper per person than the traditional wedding menu. See if your favorite restaurant caters.

If you are having a themed wedding create your menu around the theme.

Have the wedding cake only as dessert and eliminate any other sweets (eclairs, pastries, etc.).

Consider a wedding breakfast or brunch (omelettes, muffins, pancakes, French toast), or a tea (a variety of tea flavors, finger sandwiches, scones and jams, etc.) to save money.

The more tiers and decorations your cake has the more expensive it will be.

Buy your own drink it will work out a lot cheaper than paying the caterers or venues prices.

Photos:

Compare hourly fees and package deals to see which is more cost-effective for you.

Give disposable cameras as wedding favours. Then you can get copies of the day’s events from family and friends.

Have a professional photographer take the formal pictures and shoot the ceremony; have guests take all reception photos.

Visit your local college`s photography department and check out some of the students’ portfolios. They will do your photography a lot cheaper and just as good as a professional

Ask friends and family to video the big day for you.

Flowers:

Use flowers that are in season and/or locally grown they’re less expensive than out-of-season flowers that must be shipped to your area.

Have bouquet with just a few large flowers, like orchids, tulips, lilies, or sunflowers, tied with a ribbon.

If you are marrying at Christmas or Easter, your church may already be decked out beautifully.

Arrange to share the cost of ceremony decorations with the couple marrying directly before or after you that day.

Use silk or dried flowers instead of fresh ones in table centerpieces.

Music:

DJs are less expensive than live bands.

Ask a family member or friend’s child to sing at the reception.

Hire music for the evening reception only. People are usually too busy chatting to notice anyway.

Ask at the local college/university for young musicians.

Invitations:

Send invitations that are light enough when completely assembled to require only a single stamp for mailing.

Make your own invitation cards. They are cheaper and more personal.

If you are having a themed wedding make cards to do with the theme.

Transportation:

Limousines are cheap enough to hire for an hour. Find out in advance how long the ceremony will take.

Only hire a limo for the bride and groom; have attendants driven in relatives’ cars, or have them drive themselves in groups.

You might be able to hire a horse and carriage for just as less. Check the Yellow pages for any in your area.

We hope these are of some use to you. Good luck.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. This feast was created by the pope to promote Christianity and remove pagan festivals celebrated at the winter solstice.

During the IVth century, the pope decided to bring the Christmas day on December 25th.

Christmas has always been represented by religious ceremonies and gifts and
greetings exchange.

Here are some Christmas symbols:

* The Advent consists of a burning candle each Sunday four weeks before Christmas;

which symbolize the rebirth of light after the winter solstice.

* The December 24th Christmas Mass; which celebrates the birth of Jesus.

* The Christmas Crib; which symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian homes.

* The Christmas tree, a symbol from the pagan celebration and representing life.

* The Yule log; which represents the log that we put in the fireplace to warm up on Christmas Eve.

* Santa Claus, an American creation, inspired by the Christian Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Alsace. This character wears a luxurious red cape, he has a long white beard and wears a red miter, he also holds a golden crosier. Saint Nicholas rewards good children while his companion Pere Fouettard/Black Pete punishes nasty children) and the elf Yule Goat, celebrated in Scandinavian countries.

Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and Christmas Eve with our family, replaced the religious ceremonies.

The gift exchange: luxurious for the rich people and useful – sometimes only one orange – for the poor people, has been replaced by the modern marketing. People not only buys gifts but also spend lots of money in decoration items, food, drink…

The secularization of our society removed the true meaning of Christmas Time; which is, obviously, becoming a pagan feast.

Here are some countries which celebrate Christmas:

Belgium: Belgians have a festival especially dedicated to children; which is Saint Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) on December 6th. The Great Patron of Schoolboys, who is supposed to bring candies in their shoes, brings in fact toys by the thousands to our children.

In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved for adults: the streets are decorated and illuminated, we decorate our houses, windows, gardens, Christmas trees. Belgium seems to forget that it is a Catholic country and closes more and more churches, therefore, the Midnight Mass on December 24th usually happens at 6 or 8 PM. We then eat with our family and at 12 PM we exchange our gifts. Children usually receive a book or some clothes.

Christmas Day has little meaning but practicing Catholic go to church. Belgian people visit their family on January 1st. In the Belgian Ardens, people celebrate December 31st and not Christmas.

France: Christmas is dedicated to children. The streets and the houses are decorated several weeks in advance. French people have lots of Christmas customs: Christmas Markets, the Christmas tree, the Christmas Dinner, Père Noël, Christmas gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey, The Christmas Crib, the Yule Log, and so on. In Alsace, however, Saint Nicholas predominates on Santa Claus.

The Netherlands: They organize their St. Nicholas (Sinter Klaas) festival: the old bearded man traveling by boat and accompanied by many black aids, who distributes gifts to good children. Dutch people reserve the big gifts for Christmas Time because they profit for some great bargains after Sinter Klaas.

Germany: Christmas in Germany lasts two days. On December 26th they visit their family and their friends. Christ-Kind offers gifts to the children on December 24th families and friends. Germany has also a Saint Nicholas festival on December 6th.

Great Britain: Christmas is celebrated in England with enthusiasm. Children sing “Christmas Carols” in the streets, they eat the famous “Christmas Pudding” at the end the Christmas Dinner. In England, Santa Claus fills the English children socks with gifts. British people also exchange greeting cards; which are a British creation.

Spain: If Santa Claus has little importance in Spain (Magi distribute gifts to children on January 6th), Spanish people decorate the streets with lights during the month of December. The windows of the shops are filled with lots of gifts and Spanish celebrate the Christmas Evening with their family.

Portugal: Christmas Eve is a holiday. The Portuguese attend the Christmas Midnight Mass; which is the “Missa Do Galo.” If there is no Christmas tree in Portugal, there is nevertheless a “Wooden Christmas”.

Italy: Christmas lasts three days, from December 24th till 26th. However, Christmas traditions vary from one region to another one and, depending on the region it is Babo Natale (Father Christmas) or the “Gesu Bambino” (Little Jesus) who brings gifts on December 25th. The Italian Christmas dessert is “Panettone”.

Scandinavian Countries: During the Christmas Dinner, Scandinavian people reserve a place for the souls of the deceased members of their family. Once they finish to eat, they read the bible. The whole family is singing Christmas songs and dance around the Christmas tree.

Other European countries: In Romania, on December 24th, there is a Christmas candle burning until the morning of December 25th. In Russia, Christmas Day happens on January 7th, according to the Orthodox calendar. In Greece the Christmas period begins on Christmas Eve and ends at the Epiphany. Christmas is less important than Easter.

USA: The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Santa Claus is coming to announce the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. American people love to celebrate Christmas and set up a decorated Christmas in their home. Children hang empty stocks empty on the fireplace and on the Christmas morning they find them filled with candy and small toys.

Canada: Houses, shops and streets are decorated with lights. Canadian people decorate their house with a Christmas tree, a Christmas wrap, a Christmas Crib… After the “Midnight Mass” people have a Christmas Eve with their family. Turkey and the Christmas log are the essential ingredients of a Canadian Christmas Dinner.

They send greeting cards to their friends and family who live far away.

South America: Peruvian people have Christmas parties but also learn to live better on christmas time. Their Christmas season lasts a full week. Mexican people celebrate Christmas with Las Posadas (pilgrimages representing the path by the Mary and Joseph). They celebrate the last Posada on the Christmas morning and then start the Christmas dinner. I Guatemala, immigrants have imported their German customs and the Christmas tree is essential but the Christmas gifts are reserved to the children. Gift exchange for adults is on January 1st.

Australia: Christmas happens during the summertime, so Australian people celebrate Christmas at the beach. People eat cold turkey and pudding.

New Zealand: If there are few decorations, New Zealand people organize Christmas parades and people sing in the parks. They also organize their famous “Christmas barbecue”.

Japan: Christmas is merely commercial significance in Japan. This festival represents Saint Nicholas and it is an opportunity to offer gifts to small children.

China: If Christmas Day is not a holiday, Christmas is celebrated in Chinese cities. This festival was imported into this country by foreign missionaries. For the Chinese people who celebrate it, Christmas is a religious event.

ENGLAND

Christmas in England began in A.D. 596. The monks who arrived with Saint Augustine wanted to bring Christianity to the Anglo Saxon shores. The day before the feast the only thing the people ate was Frumenty, which is a corn porridge. Over the years the recipe changed and it is now Plum Pudding. The traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. The dessert is fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, minced pies and pastry filled with chopped dried fruit. Christmas dinner is eaten at midday on December 25 during daylight. Father Christmas the gift-giver, wears a long red or green robe and fills stockings on Christmas Eve. They are usually not opened until the following afternoon.

ITALY

In Italy the Christmas season lasts for three weeks, beginning eight days before Christmas and is known as Novena. The week before Christmas the children go from house to house dresses as shepherds, playing pipes, singing and reciting Christmas poems. They are given money to buy presents. A fast is observed for twenty four hours before Christmas Eve, and then a celebration meal followed by a light Milanese cake Panettone and chocolates are served. At noon on Christmas day the Pope gives his blessings to crowds gathered in the Vatican Square.

FRANCE

Most French homes at Christmas time display a Nativity Scene or Creche. This Creche is often filled with little clay figures called Santons or Little Saints. The Christmas tree is not popular in France and though the use of the Yule Log has faded, they make a traditional Yule Log shaped cake called the Buche de Nol which means Christmas Log. Le revillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu varies according to the region. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris, oysters and pat de gras. Le reveillon may consist of poultry, ham, salads, fruit and wine.

MEXICO

The Mexicans and the Spanish share many traditions. A religious procession called La Posads reenacts Joseph and Mary search for shelter before the birth of Jesus by going from house to house carrying images of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter. Children receive gifts and on Christmas day are blindfolded and try to break a clay piñata and once it is broken, they recover the candy that was inside. The children who have been good also receive gifts on January 6th from the” three wise men”. Mexicans attend a midnight mass called la Misa Del Gallo or “the rooster mass” where they sing lullabies to Jesus.

AFRICA

Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. Homes are decorated with pine branches and all have the decorated Christmas Fir in a corner with presents for the children. For some, Christmas dinner is an open air lunch. For others it is a traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables and plum pudding. On the west coast of Africa in Liberia most homes have an oil palm for a Christmas tree decorated with balls. Dinner is eaten outdoors with everyone sitting around in a circle sharing a meal of rice, beef and biscuits. Games are played in the afternoon and at night fireworks light up the sky.

UNITED STATES

Christmas traditions in the United States can vary basked on each family’s ancestry. Some families celebrate Christmas Eve by attending Midnight Mass. Christmas morning is spent opening gifts. Gifts can range from handmade items to clothing to the latest in electronics. Gift baskets that include Christmas foods such as spice cookies and ham and decorated with traditional holiday trim are popular gifts. Basket Affair is a company that has been in existence since 1986 and specializes in Christmas gift baskets. You can order online at www.basket-affair.com or call 412.366.2400.

Ever culture has a different way of celebrating the Christmas season, and Mexico is no different. With the wonderful traditions, you will find an authentic Mexican Christmas is a thing of joy and wonder involving the whole family and lasting considerably longer than one or two days.

December 16th is the start of Posada. Posada celebrates and follows the journey of Joseph and Mary on their travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Two children after dark each night carry two small, pine cones that have been decorated to represent Joseph and Mary on the burro. There is a procession each night with the children knocking on a random door asking for lodgings for the family.

At this point, the residents threaten harm to the family if they do not move on, and obviously, this leaves the family pleading for a safe refuge. The house members will again threaten the traveling couple, but then the head of the house will realize who the couple is, and throwing open the doors, will greet and welcome the couple with open arms.

Everyone will kneel around the Nacimiento or the manager scene, and will sing glorious songs, Ave Marias, and of course, offer a prayer. Upon Christmas Eve, adding a new verse to the Ave Marias indicates that the birth is under way, and at midnight, fireworks announce the birth of Christ. There is a lot of wondrous celebration, and the whole family eats, drinks, and prays welcoming the Christ Child to the world.

Of course, if you are celebrating an authentic Mexican Christmas, you will want to have the best in costumes and foods. Delectable cuisine is a must at a celebration, and this is cuisine you will find absolutely delicious and wonderful. Filled with menudo, atole, rice, tamales, and other fine dishes, this is a holiday like no other.

Here are is a favorite from my own kitchen. What would you like to add?

Sweet Rice or Arroz Dulce

3/4 cup of rice
1/2 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of Mexican vanilla or real vanilla
4 cups of whole milk
1 cup of cream
1/4 teaspoon of salt

Briefly scald the whole milk. Place the rice into one of those deep baking dishes, pour the scalded milk over the rice making sure to cover thoroughly, and bake in a 275 degree oven for roughly 3 hours. You can adjust as needed for time and temperature. The rice at this point should be soft. You will want to stir about every 10 minutes for the first house to help in preventing sticking. Also, you can add more scalded milk if needed.

Take out of the oven about 30 minutes before it is completed. Add the sugar, vanilla, cream, and stir thoroughly. Continue baking to completion.

Celebrating a Mexican Christmas or Posada would not be complete without adding this delicious sweet rice to the table. Children as well as adults love this rice dish with a sweet kick. Celebrating the holiday season has never been so easy or so absolutely scrumptious. In fact, this recipe also makes a wonderful dessert for special occasions all year long. Feliz Navidad!

Favorite foods enjoyed by Americans for any given holiday, season or special occasion will likely include some ethnic
dish, given the many ethnic groups that reside in the country. Despite this variety of melting pot cuisine, there are some similarities in
dishes that will be a part of most meals during celebrations such as Christmas.
 Christmas in the United States comes almost one month after another big holiday, Thanksgiving, in which the traditional
meal must consist of a turkey as the main dish. This dish also carries over into Christmas as roast turkey is one of the main dishes that
may be served for Christmas dinner. But unlike Thanksgiving, which is solely devoted to turkey meat, Christmas dinners may also
include other birds or poultry.  These include roast goose or duck. Roasted ham may also be served. Cranberry sauce, vegetables,
pumpkin pie and a plum pudding or fruity Christmas pudding for dessert tops off traditional Christmas dinners. Mince pies and pastry
that is filled with a mixture of chopped, dried fruit may also be added to the menu.
 For drinks at Christmas dinner, a bottle of champagne is very popular, as well as wines. But the everyday beverage of beer
is a must for many people to make a meal truly enjoyable.
 Before Christmas Day and the big dinner arrives, there’s also another type of food that Americans enjoy in large quantities
during the Christmas season. The consumption and sales of candies, gingerbread and other cookies and holiday treats increases rapidly
during the holidays. Similar to how department stores seek to attract shoppers to buy items for Christmas gifts, candy manufacturers
also put out special boxes and types of candies for Christmas and the holiday season.
 A survey done  the National Confectioners Association found that many adults derived much pleasure at
Christmas from giving and receiving candies and other treats. In their responses the survey participants said that giving decadent
boxes of chocolate to friends and family, placing candy canes on the Christmas tree and hiding candy treats in Christmas stockings
were favorite ways to give and receive candies, cookies and treats during the holidays.tp://www.christmas.moneybizhome.com
 Sweet treats remain popular at Christmas despite a constant message about dieting that is present in everyday life in the
media, in billboards and from some food manufacturers. At Christmas time, people feel free to enjoy the festive season without
constraints. But they also know that they can enjoy candies and cookies that are health conscious by eating ones that are targeted to the
low-carb dieter by having ingredients that are sugar-free and fat-free or both.
 Cookies that are enjoyed at Christmas are often home-baked ones and usually include gingerbread items.  The tradition of
gingerbread cookies at Christmas is also believed to have originated in Germany and brought to America by German immigrants.
German bakeries began baking very fancy gingerbread houses with icing as edible snow and other decorations after the Grimm
Brothers published their children’s story, Hansel and Gretel. That story had a description of a house that was made of bread,  a roof of
cake and windows of barley. The popularity of the creations by German bakeries gave rise to cookie cutters that were made in a
variety of shapes, enabling small gingerbread cookies of various shapes to be baked at home. Some of these cookies that had the
shapes of little people and animals were used to decorate Christmas trees.
 More than one hundred years ago from today, German homes in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania would have cookies
that were up to one foot high in the front of windows of their houses as decorative items during winter. The cookies were often giant
gingerbread men and women that had colorful rows of buttons and big smiles. Passersby were often cheered and intrigued by the sight
and brought the idea to their homes on a smaller scale.
 Being able to enjoy special dishes, candies, cookies and other goodies during Christmas and the holidays adds a sweet
flavor to the season and also helps to create warm and cherished memories.

tp://www.christmas.moneybizhome.com

That seems to be a frequent question people keep asking me about Christmas dinner. When even my hair stylist and my husband asked me what I was going to serve for dessert for Christmas dinner, I realized that it is a popular question.

Personally, I like to serve a striking dessert—flambé or flaming. It is so fun and adds to the excitement of the event. For flaming, I think the traditional Cherries Jubilee is hard to beat. It is so simple, with very little advance preparation and has Christmas colors—red and white—and green if you add a mint leaf.

I’m including my favorite preparation, which can be used on bananas for Bananas Foster or on Raspberries, Peaches or any combination of fruits. Making the sauce tableside in a chafing dish is quite spectacular and fun to watch.

Here in New Mexico, Flan is a favorite and very practical too, as it can be made ahead of time—up to one week in advance…great for the busy holiday preparations. The flan can be flamed too.

Just remember the following tips for flambé and you will always be successful.

1) Have warm food. (The cherry sauce or the flan need to be warm.)

2) Have a few Tablespoons of sugar ready in a small bowl to scatter on the food to be flamed just before igniting.

3.) Barely warm 50% alcohol liquor, such as brandy or rum—can be done in a ladle with a long wooden match or lighter held under it. When it catches aflame, pour the liquor over the food to be flamed. Or warm in small pan and when first bubbles come, pour over warm food and ignite.

4.) For safety, have a lid handy for snuffing the flame, if it is needed.

Cherries Jubilee

*******

This basic recipe can be used to create other fruit for flambéing, such as bananas, raspberries, peaches or any combination. Prior to the meal, place the balls of ice cream in sherbets or small bowls and place in the freezer. The sauce is great made tableside in a chafing dish, if available or it can be made ahead for reheating and flambéing just before serving.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

1/3 cup unsalted butter 5 Tablespoons sugar or to taste, divided—tart cherries will require up to 6 Tablespoons (light brown sugar is also good) 1 ½ pounds dark sweet cherries, fresh, frozen or canned (pie cherries are all right, just need more sugar)

1. Measure and prepare the ingredients and have each ready for immediate preparation. Using a chafing dish or heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sugar and stir, then add the fruit. Cook quickly until fruit is cooked—three to five minutes.

2. In the meantime, when the fruit is done, sprinkle 2 Tablespoon sugar over the top. Then heat the liquor over low heat—either in a small pan or in a ladle. When the first bubble forms, add to the fruit. It will flame up. As the flame dies, spoon sauce over the ice cream.

FLAN CARAMELISADO (Custard with Caramel Topping)

*******

Years ago, my Mexican aunt shared this, her favorite flan recipe. It is fool proof if you carefully follow the instructions and it is so delicious.

Yield: 4 – 6 servings

1 ½ cups sugar, divided 6 eggs 3 ½ cups milk 1 cinnamon stick, preferably canela or Mexican cinnamon 1 teaspoon Mexican vanilla Cold unsalted butter, for buttering custard cups

1. Caramelize ½ cup sugar in a small skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is melted and browned. Pour immediately into the bottoms of 10 to 12 well buttered 4 ounce custard cups.

2. Beat eggs until well mixed with a simple whisk. Gradually add the remaining cup of sugar, beating after each addition to dissolve the sugar. Do not beat until foamy.

3. Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick until warm. Add milk to egg flan mixture, stirring to combine well. Add vanilla and stir to combine.

4. Pour into the caramel-lined custard cups. Set cups on a cloth towel in a 10 x 14 pan(or one large enough to hold the custards) of hot water and bake in a 350 F oven for 35 minutes, or until they are slightly bubbled up and barely jiggle when the water bath pan is shaken a bit. (I prefer to not insert a knife, as it will make a hole. However an inserted knife should come out clean when done.) Overbaking is a popular problem. Do not bake past the point of doneness. Allow to cool for at least three to four hours. To serve, warm slightly in the microwave (about three minutes) or in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes or until the liquid in the bottom has softened and they slide out easily. Then using a table knife, insert it against the side of each bowl and invert onto a small dessert plate.

Notes: One large flan can be made if preferred. It will take longer to cool and must be made one day in advance.

——————————————————————————–

Jane Butel, the first to write about Southwestern cooking, has published 18 cookbooks, several being best sellers. She operates a full-participation weekend and week long vacation cooking school, an on-line school, a mail-order spice, cookbook, Southwestern product business and conducts culinary tours and team-building classes. http://www.janebutel.com