A list to assist

Are you still trying to complete your Christmas gift list? We are. We went through our files, our records, even our old jottings (from our regular market research outings) to check on the various suppliers we have encountered during this out-going year. We wanted to be sure they are still in operation. After the review, here is a partial list, including new discoveries, for your reference. In this list are prepared items ready to give, packing ideas, as well as information on where basic ingredients, such as some of your baking needs, are available.

If you prefer to make your own cakes, pastries, bread, you may check out two of the country’s more popular suppliers of baking supplies. Maya of Liberty Commodities Corp. has come up with its own all-purpose flour, made of wheat flour, enriched and pre-sifted. The 4-kilo pack is at P300 plus, and ideal for large baking needs. Call 892-1185. On the other side of town, SMC PureFoods carries Baron all-purpose flour plus Bake Best baking powder. Using those as well as Magnolia Pure Fresh National cows’ milk, they have recipes for holiday goodies including molasses Christmas balls and golden brown cookie wreaths. Their Culinary Center is in Ugong, Pasig.

Try this recipe for molasses Christmas balls: You need 2 cups Baron flour, one fourth teaspoon salt, Magnolia Gold butter, one fourth cup sugar, 1 tbsp molasses, 1 cup roasted almonds, 1 cup colored sugar. Pre-heat oven at 325 degrees. Whisk flour and salt, set aside. Cream butter, adding sugar gradually; add molasses and flour; stir in the almonds. Roll one fourth inch balls of the mix in colored sugar. Arrange in baking tray, 2 inches apart. Bake in oven between 10 and 12 minutes. Makes 36 balls.  

A lot of us don’t limit our use of ham for breakfast. It is a major ingredient in dishes like paella and pastel. Josefina’s Ham has made a dent in a market originally dominated by another well-known brand. Check the following – leg of ham at P700 a kilo, from 3 kilos up; Christmas ham at P490; American at P350; chicken ham at P350 and the new duck ham for P500 a kilo. Call 514-4448 and 740-2024.

Our friend Maria is the lady behind La Cocina de Maria, based in Alabang Hills, 842-1367. One can almost smell and taste the Spanish flavors of her specialties in the royal colors of her flyers and the Iberian names of her offerings. Regular customers say her paellas (Valencia, Marinera, Catalana and Vegetarian) are the best, but we also give high marks for her fabada asturiana, cocido madrileño, lomo casa abuelo (pork loin segovia), fish fillet teodora with capers, and the super fisherman’s noodles. She does not skimp on ingredients, therefore one gets value for money.    

Baked goodies are what another friend, Marlene, does very well. She is also based in Alabang Hills, tel. 850-7609. Any recipient of her collection will delight in each piece of plain or ube-filled soft and chewy ensaymada, walnut brownies and mouth-watering food for the gods. They are packed in attractive Christmas boxes.

Non-food gifts will always be welcome. Take the “green” collection offered by Echostore in Serendra at the Fort and Poduim. Some of the most innovative environment friendly products are for body and home (sprays and surface cleaners). One of the popular items is what has been labelled “spa in a bottle” and “spa in a can.” It is a rubbing cream that relieves stress, even nausea and dizziness. Major elements are peppermint, orange and lavender. Gift packages containing a mix of products including room and linen sprays, fruit and vegetable wash and lip balm are available. Call 901-3485 and 470-2688. 

We now pay tribute to a departed friend and well-loved lady who made a big impact in the culinary world in her lifetime – Tita Cely Kalaw. She called everybody “tita” as well. She actually started the buffet culture when she reinvented and elevated the karinderia way of selling food when she offered the palayok food array in the restaurant she called Grove in Ermita.

We went there a lot and followed her wherever she would set up an outlet. The last time when we saw her – at the Salcedo Weekend Market – she was as gracious and solicitous as she had always been. “Anong gusto mo?” she’d ask as she would prepare a piece of paksiw na bangus with very thick tiyan and a crab or two cooked in thick coconut cream. She never seemed to have grown old, but told us one day that she was getting tired and then we could not find her there anymore. Goodbye, Tita Cely.

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