My apologies for this late round-up . . . When I took on the responsibility to host LP’s 16th Edition, I was already infancipating . . . A healthy baby Andrea joined my family in late February. I am now back to work in Brunei . . .
As the holiday season made its way into our homes again, whether we lovingly welcome it in or we protect ourselves from its infectious effects, we will end up giving or receiving a gift or two! There is just no excuse! Whatever amount it is, big or small, for the well heeled or not, giving is just what Christmas is all about.
For most Filipinos, who for 500 years have been Christianized, and grew up with Catholicism in their blood stream, the celebration of the birth of Christ will always be a joyous occasion. There is the much-awaited Noche Buena – midnight feast done on the eve of Christmas day, after we come back from Misa de Gallo (or Midnight Mass). The following day we continue the celebration with our best dresses on, for our traditional Christmas lunch – also the reunion lunch which normally would extend till dinner, with a lot of karaoke sessions in between. (Yes, karaoke! you are not a full blooded Pinoy if you don’t enjoy it or haven’t tried it at least! It is like a San Miguel Beer or our famous balut! Believe me, I have been away from the Philippines for quite some time now, but from where we stay – you will definitely know which houses belonged to Filipinos because Nonoy Zuniga wannabes will try very hard to give it their best shot for “I’ll never say goodbye”, and that would be like 7:30 in the morning! Love it or hate, its just so Pinoy!
Anyway, enough of the sidetrack and lets get down to the wonderful recipes & gift ideas you have shared for this round of Lasang Pinoy! It was a wonderful journey into their kitchen and a sneak peak into the lives of our dear friends from all over the world for last year’s Christmas celebration!
Here they are . . .
Choco Crinkles from essenCes.
Dhey’s Refrigerated Cake.
Erwin’s Fil-Canadian Lechon Manok at Iskandals.
Iska’s Crispy Fried Chicken at Iskandals.
Mango Jam from Joey’s 80Breakfasts.
Tangerine Ginger Cookies from Little Bites Of Nutrition.
Marketman’s Pinoy Food Gifts | Part 1.
Marketman’s Pinoy Food Gifts | Part 2.
Marketman’s Pinoy Food Gifts | Part 3.
Tamales from Mel’s Kitchen and Garden.
Chocolate Polvoron from Sassy, the Pinoy Cook.
Bibingka, Ensaymada, Yule Log Cake and Puto from Simply Anne’s.
Rellenong Manok and Biscotti from Stefoodie.
And since this round-up is kinda late, I hope that this would help our fellow foodies around and give them enough ideas on food gift giving for the coming holidays!
Thank you very much for joining Lasang Pinoy 16!
Lasang Pinoy 16: Pinoy Holiday Food Gifts | HALEYANG UBE
January 5, 2007
During the festive holidays, no matter how early we prepare for our gifts, for the food that we would like on our Noche Buena Table for the celebration, we will still end up cramming for things to buy on Christmas Eve itself. And I suppose like everywhere else, you have to battle your way through long queues at the supermarket (…for that 1 can of tomato sauce you forgot to buy, argh!), haggle and bargain in wet markets for the fresh veggies and fruits you need that day. Or get that last gift for a friend – because you were having second thoughts on whether to buy it earlier on, hoping she doesn’t show up so you can save a few bucks, but you thought “what-d-heck it is Christmas, just buy it anyway.”
Food gifts are just the right solution if you don’t really want to drag yourself into the malls during the very busy period. You can cook it yourself or just place an order from your favorite restaurant or bakeshop – ready to be picked up when you have the time. (Of course it is always a good idea to make your orders in advance). They are perfect to bring to Christmas gathering and family reunions, or give to relatives and friend. In my younger years, I remember my family buys loads of “Haleyang ube” for this reason. We don’t really cook it 
but my mama would order a few trays or “llaneras” as we call it, to be given away.
Im not sure if some of you can even recall, some “haleyas” being sold in Manila in the early 80’s in a shape of a fish – a very purple fish! (don’t ask me why or what the fish would symbolize, but it sure was the mould used at that time. Trend maybe?) It will be delivered around the 23rd or the morning of the 24th, and we kids would start giving it to our favorite neighbors soon after. It was a very pleasing experience knocking on their doors, giving it to the “misis” upstairs, and remembering the happy look on her face.
Nowadays, I don’t really know what my family would give away for Christmas, not being there for a few years – it could be the pasta carbonnara or crema de fruita, but I’m sure the spirit of giving food is still very much in tradition in our family. I though it will be difficult for me to come up with a photo to put for this round of Lasang Pinoy, luckily, our favorite Pinoy restaurant here in Brunei – Renyi’s had this sweet delicacy served during the holiday season! And to my surprise, when we had a visit on the 24th you can see a lot of “llaneras” lined up along side pancit and leche flans ready to be delivered to Pinoy homes in time for Noche Buena.
Ingredients:
1 kilo ube
¼ kg sugar
3 cups coconut milk
1 cup condensed milk
Method:
According to “Manang”, cook of Renyi’s – as we all call her, you boil your ube till it is tender, (but make sure you don’t over cook it, otherwise would be too soggy). Drain then mash ube and mix well with sugar and coconut milk.
In a low heat pan, put in your ube mixture, add the butter and condensed milk, while you continuously stir and the whole mixture is well blended and smooth. Transfer into your favorite mould, (if you happen to have the fish, by all means us it! , let it cool and serve.
Happy Holidays!
Lasang Pinoy, which could mean ‘tastes of something Filipino’ or short for ‘the Filipino taste’ is a monthly food blogging event to promote Filipino food. It is a product of e-mail brainstorming sessions of several Filipino food bloggers who thought it was time for a Filipino event in the tradition of Is My Blog Burning. The blogger organisers of Lasang Pinoy and participants strive to make the events reflective of Filipino culture.
