Christmas cooking in style

MANILA, Philippines - Christmas season is the one time of the year you’ll find everybody in the kitchen. And I mean, everybody. There’s some who cook or bake, then there’s the official tasters (or eaters) of the chefs and bakers — and there’s the clean-up crew! With the sweet aroma of freshly baked cakes and pies, glazed ham and other unique smell of Christmas food, there’s no stopping your visitors, family or friends, to head to the hearth of the home — invited or not. So be prepared, have your kitchen ready for guests!

La Germania, your trusted brand in cookers for more than a hundred years, gives us tips on how to make your working kitchen presentable and functional all the time.

1. Take a stock of your pantry. It is important for the pantry to remain well-stocked not just with the staples but with holiday ingredients as well — for those impromptu gatherings and holiday reunions. If you believe Christmas is not complete without castañas, queso de bola and a lot of sweets, by all means, stock-up!

2. Don’t forget the spice cabinet. Throw the aged ones away. You don’t want to be cooking a big pot of stew only to use spice well past its due.

3. Make your kitchen layout work for you. Small or big kitchen, identify the work stations — where you prep for cooking, where you cook, where you plate and where you wash dishes. This way, when guests come and decide to help out, you would know where to send them.

4. Arrange kitchen utensils or equipment according to the work stations. Put pots and pans near the cooking area and flatware and dishes near the plating area and so on. Doing so will avoid “crossing over,” which is difficult when your kitchen is packed with well-meaning family members and guests. This way, you can also inventory all your kitchenware.

5. Finally, make an inspection to find out if all your kitchen appliances work. Make sure the range is operational, the blenders work and the oven heats up to the right temperature.

Designed for utmost functionality and modern styling, La Germania cooktops, built-in ovens, range hoods, free standing range, compact range and gas and electric stoves have been part of the Filipino tradition of celebrating family and good food year after year.

 (For more information, visit your nearest appliance dealer nationwide or call 564-1521 or log on to www.lagermania.it)