CHRISTMAS GIFTS ATSARA

Every Christmas, whenever I have the time and the money, I make an effort to make my Christmas gifts special. Sometimes, I bake goodies and place them inside pretty plates or bowls or jars to give away to friends. Or sometimes I make chocolate candies then wrap in colourful paper or boxes for those who have the proverbial sweet tooth. But most of the time, it is usually the ever reliable and most often requested staple that we give away - the Kapampangan atsara. Many of our friends and relatives have looked forward to our gift of atsara because it is usually at this time of the year that the atsara is quite needed to partner with the regular Christmas food that we often enjoy - lechon, ham, crispy pata, and the like. And so this time around we did not fail them even though making it is such a tedious and arduous task, we continue to do so because I knew they expect it from us. I just hope they continue to enjoy our atsaras in much the same way that we enjoy making and giving it to them. Happy Christmas and Happy eating everyone!

UNIQUE GIFTS

The Christmas rush is past - the decors neatly wrapped and tucked away, gifts have all been opened with all the wrappings thrown away... but I would like to make my one last post for Christmas 2007 just to share with you the little things I gave away to friends and co-workers.

You see not everyone is blessed with lots of money to buy pretty gifts and it seems kinda awkward to always be just on the receiving end of gift-giving when Christmas really is all about showing someone how much you have appreciated them all these years.

Thus, in my own little way [and meager government employee budget] I still managed to give away the following little tokens of appreciation:

For little kids, I gave away these little beaded coin purses which takes me about two hours to make.... but since I am only able to do this when I get home from work (usually while I am watching my telenovelas) I am only able to do one each night. Often, when I help my kids with their assignments I don't get the chance to do anything at all. So I was only able to complete about 20 coin purses this Christmas which I was able to give away to cutesy nieces and even daughters of friends.

For teenaged nieces and lady friends, I had a choice between cellphone holders or cosmetic cases made in varying colors. I had to take pains to find out which is their fave color so that I know they would really be able to use the ones I made for them.

The gifts for our bosses I did not really make. Instead, I had my mother-in-law whip out her secret recipe for atsara which I then placed in red bowls, wrapped in sinamay, tied with a red ribbon and voila! A truly delicious and unique gift which they'd hopefully appreciate (well, if they eat atsara, that is!)

Finally, for some friends and co-workers, I baked some muffins and cookies which I then placed in red boxes or in pretty Christmas themed square plates, wrapped in cling paper and tied up with a gold ribbon. The gifts do not really cost me much - only my time, patience and a whole lot of love... just my own little way of showing how much I care...