11 December, 2008 at 3:55 am
Christmas Feast or Noche Buena doesn’t have to be expensive especially with the traditional ham. Commercially-processed ham can be very expensive but you can surely prepare your own home-made Sweet Ham for Noche Buena. Follow this Filipino-style Ham recipe proven and tested to add color and flavor to your Noche Buena.
Ingredients:
3 kilos pigue or pig’s leg without the bones and with the skin and fat intact
9 tbsps sugar
8 tbsps salt
1 ½ tsps vetsin
2 tsps prague powder or salitre powder
Directions:
How to prepare the ham
1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Rub the seasonings or mixed dry ingredients well into the meat. Set aside the seasoned meat in a glass bowl. Cover and refrigerate for one day.
3. Tie the ham tightly into a ball with string preferably cotton crochet string. Remove and drain the meat juices that were left in the glass bowl and set aside for injecting.
4. Using a large syringe enough to fit the meat juices, inject the flavored meat juice all around the ham in small doses.
5. Set the ham aside in a covered glass bowl inside the refrigerator. Repeat the injecting process daily until no juice is left.
6. Keep the ham inside a plastic bag in the freezer for a month or more.
How to cook the ham
1. Add enough pineapple juice to cover the ham at about 3/4’s level or not quite to the top of the ham.
2. Add brown sugar, just enough to sweeten the pineapple juice mixture, bay leaves and crushed garlic.
3. Cook the mixture in a teflon-type, heavy pot over a low fire until the meat becomes tender. Watch out that the meat doesn’t get burned. You can prevent overbrowning by turning the meat from time to time.
4. Cool the meat and slice into pieces.
Technorati Tags: christmas filipino food, ham recipe, noche buena, pork ham recipe
8 December, 2008 at 9:43 am
Simbang Gabi is part of the Filipino tradition when observing the season of Christmas. It is one of the longest and most popular traditions in the Philippines. This is a time when Catholic churches across the country open the door shortly before the break of dawn to usher in people to the Simbang Gabi.
Simbang Gabi literally translated means Mass at Dawn observed as a series of nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother Mary. Simbang Gabi is alos known by its famous Spanish name as the Misa de Gallo or “mass of the rooster”. The annual novena starts at December 16 as early as 4 in the morning. It is symbolical to Catholics since it commemorates the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is quite traditional to see the “panuluyan” reenacted during the mass as an effort to show how Joseph and Mary found a birthplace.
“Panuluyan” is best illustrated with a “Belen” or the Nativity Scene that counts as a Filipino Christmas decoration. Ii displays the baby Jesus in a manger with Mother Mary and Saint Joseph. The holy family is surrounded with shepherds and farm animals. A complete set of Belen includes three wise men along with their gifts to infant Jesus and the shining star of Bethlehem guiding them in their journey.
Origin of Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi was born following its roots in Mexico in 1587. It was when the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the covenant of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Mass outdoors during Christmas. The Church then could not accommodate the large number of people who were attending the evening mass. The pre-dawn mass is usually announced by the ringing of the church bells during the old times. While in some rural areas, a brass band plays Christmas carols loud enough to be heard all over the town. It was believed that parish priests would go as far as knocking on doors to wake and call all faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Some farmers also pray for a good harvest when they hear the Gospel before going to the sea and fish.
How Simbang Gabi Changes
Up to this modern age, Simbang Gabi is upholded and celebrated in new ways. It continues to be a part of the tradition of Christmas in the Philippines. Christmas is felt everywhere even at churches where lanterns or parols with colorful lights fill every streets and every window. Christmas songs are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends, lovers and relatives frequent to the nearest local church to attend the nine day novena of Simbang Gabi.
Shortly after the mass, traditional delicacies are sold in stalls outside the church. It is usual to see Filipino favorites like bibingka (rice cake), puto bungbong, suman sa pasko, suman sa ibos served with tea or coffee. Breakfast roll or hot pandesal are also a popular breakfast food among Filipinos. When the last of the nine Misa de Gallo has ended, families hurry home to celebrate Noche Buena and feasts on bountiful Filipino food and delicacies such as queso de bola or edam cheese, tsokolate or hot native chocolate drink jamon en dulce or ham, pancit, barbeque, lechon or suckling pig, Western and native cakes, lumpia, rice among many others.
Importance of Simbang Gabi
Simbang Gabi is more than a mere tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. Simbang Gabi continues to be a significant moment where it strengthens the relationships among family members and a time to restrengthen our faith in God. This is a special time when we feel the loving presence of our Lord and a spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Most Filipino believes a sincere wish granted when the nine series of masses are completed. It does not matter ,however, when one failed to attend the Simbang Gabi from December 16 up to eve of Christmas. The blessings given by the Lord does not depend on the number of masses attended. What really matters is what lies inside the heart and the sincerity and morale o the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.
Technorati Tags: dawn mass, filipino christmas, filipino food, misa de gallo, noche buena, simbang gabi
3 December, 2008 at 9:44 am
Welcome to our first article of our Christmas series where we feature all there is interesting about holidays and festive Filipino food recipes celebrated in the Philippines. Read our first article on our Christmas series here on www.filipino-foods.com.
Philippines is known as the “Land of Fiestas” and is especially true especially during Christmas. This Christian-dominated country has earned the trademark of having the world’s longest and merriest Christmas. As early as September, beaming holiday decorations are hung up in people’s homes and festive Christmas songs plays on the radio and in stores. It formally begins on December 16 as Filipinos usher in attendance at the first of the nine early morning masses and continues until the first Sunday of January called Feast of the Three Kings.
Christmas in the Philippines is mainly influenced by Western and native Filipino traditions blended into one. The belief of Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, singing carols and sending Christmas cards have been adapted from culture of the West. All of these beliefs is adapted to fit the unique personality of Filipinos.
The Philippines is the sole Asian country to be predominated by Christians. Majority of its people are Roman Catholic, making Christmas an important and profoundly honored holiday for most Filipinos. Christmas is a time for family, for giving and sharing and a time for abundant food, fun and friendship. Christmas Eve in the Philippines It is a night without sleep and continuous celebration where Filipino families eagerly wait for the clock to strike 12 midnight. As the dawn of December 24 sets and the last Mass of “Simbang Gabi” is attended, the joyous family feast or Noche Buena takes place after midnight. It is one of the traditions most families celebrate together.
The Noche Buena is an anticipated traditional Christmas Eve feast after the midnight mass. Family, friends, relatives and neighbors drop by to wish “Maligayang Pasko” or Merry Christmas to every family member. Family members dine on Filipino food in abundance often served in buffet style. A traditional Noche Buena fare includes queso de bola or edam cheese, tsokolate or hot native chocolate drink jamon en dulce or ham, pancit, barbeque, lechon or suckling pig, Western and native cakes, lumpia, rice and list goes on and on. There is also plenty of San Miguel beer, wine and liquor to make the celebration quite intoxicating and exciting for some Filipinos. It is no surprise to find a Filipino dining table displaying colorful and delicious gastronomic pleasures of Filipino food given the fact Filipinos love to cook.
The Christmas Eve gathering provides a chance for a reunion of immediate and distant members of a family to spend a cheerful yuletide celebration. To most Filipinos, Christmas is the most awaited fiesta of the year. Blessed with a tropical climate, bountiful harvests, lovely landscape, multitude of culinary delights and most of all hospitable and warm-hearted people with their devotion to family and faith all makes Christmas a holiday celebration honored in true Philippine fiesta tradition.
Technorati Tags: christmas eve, filipino tradition. christmas philippines, noche buena, simbang gabi
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