DADDY’S CHRISTMAS CHECKLIST

Daddy’s Christmas checklist

By: Enrico Macaraig Claro

Imagine having just weeks to go before the celebration of the birth of Christ and your wife has just given birth to your own little bundle of joy, now it is up to you to make a perfect Christmas for everyone in the house.  Up to the task? Stop imagining, this looks like a job for Super Dad! With a few days to go before Christmas let’s make things easier for every dad by making daddy’s checklist for Christmas to survive the holidays with some flair.

Though mommy is recuperating from childbirth and your newborn baby is mainly sleeping all the time, a new baby definitely changes the Christmas celebration for mom and dad.  It is just different (and better) to sit by the tree together with your child... And for babies even just a few months old, the tree, the lights, the beautiful presents, food, the music and much more can be very exciting! Here is a quick checklist to help out dads out there to make Christmas special.

So to start off, here are some points to consider:

        Look for those old Christmas decors and start decorating with family! –Decorating is always a great and enjoyable moment to do with the family. There is nothing like a decorated Christmas tree and the twinkle of Christmas lights to set the mood right.  This is one event the family will cherish for years to come.

        Make a Christmas wish list for your children and wife and post it in a conspicuous place! – Looking for Christmas presents at this stage could be frustrating.  But by making a wish list you hit two birds with one stone with this idea… first you won’t need to think of what to buy and save time in the process and second is you will be assured that they will love your presents!

        Plan a quick and easy yuletide meal taken from past events and occasions – Now that Mom can’t do the cooking tasks, then it’s up Dad to hold the fort.  Looking for good take-out food for the holidays isn’t a bad idea nowadays because some restaurants offer good bang for the buck meals without the hassles of preparation. Cooking is definitely not a specialty of all dads but there is always a saying that men cook better than women… well now is the time to put it to the test! Here is a simple dish and dessert that you could easily prepare in no time.

Paprika Pork Spareribs with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

14 to 16 pieces                  pork spareribs, about 3 kilo grams.Can substitute for pork chops

2/3 cup                                 Tomato Ketchup

2 tablespoons                    Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons                    White or Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 teaspoon                     Hot Pepper Sauce or more

1/2 cup                                 Mayonnaise

4 tablespoons                    Garlic, minced

1 large                                   Onion, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons            Sweet Spanish paprika

2 tablespoons                    Soy sauce or more

2 tablespoons                    Sugar or more

3 cups                                   water

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Place pork spareribs, Worcestershire Sauce, Tomato Ketchup, Hot Pepper   Sauce, White or Apple Cider Vinegar and the rest of the ingredients in a pot. Place over high heat and bring to a boil.

2. Cover pot with a lid and lower heat to a simmer.

3. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes, or until meat is fork-tender.

4. Remove lid and simmer for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the sauce is slightly thickened.   Season with salt and pepper

3. Transfer the spareribs to a serving platter. Serve hot.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
cooking time: 40 to 50 minutes

Tip: The dish can be prepared 1 day in advance and tastes better when served the next day!

Buco Pandan Jelly

Ingredients:
7 pieces                                                Pandan leaves
5 pieces                                                Buko young coconut grated
8 cups                                                   Water from 5 Buko
2 bars                                                    Green Gulaman
3 small cans                                        All purpose Cream
1 medium can                                    Condensed Milk
1 1/2 Cups                                           Sugar (adjust to taste)

Directions

1. Boil buko water with the 7 pandan leaves. Twist each pandan leaf so juice can   easily be extracted. Simmer for 20 minutes.

2. When you smell the aromatic pandan, remove from fire and discard leaves.

3. Check if the remaining coconut water is equal to 8 cups since 1 bar of gulaman is good for 4 cups of liquid.

4. Add gulaman to the remaining coconut water and stir well to dissolve the gulaman. Add sugar while mixing. Continue doing so for at least 5 minutes.

5. Strain the mixture and place in cooling tray so gulaman mixture can cool and set. When cool, refrigerate.

6. Mix the cream, sugar and condensed milk with the grated buko. Set aside.

7. Get chilled gulaman from the refrigerator and cut into 1 cm cubes.

8. Mix well with buko mixture. Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

        Set the Christmas mood with good music – There is nothing like good Christmas music to experience the yuletide season with the family.  Look for old and new compilations familiar to you and set up your sound system or make a playlist in your portable media player for easy playback of songs.  There’s always a different and nostalgic feeling when you hear Christmas songs playing in the background when doing Christmas activities because it puts a cheer into anyone’s heart.

        A picture is worth a thousand words – To help preserve your Christmas memories you should be sure to take lots of pictures and videos.  Ready your trusty camera or video recorder so you’re sure not to miss those precious moments.  This way you’ll have something to pass down and share with other family members through the years, not to mention proof of your valiant efforts this holiday season!

        Lastly, Enjoy each others company – There is nothing more heartwarming this Christmas than being with your loved ones and spreading joy and laughter together.  After all you have done to make things perfect it’s always nice to have someone to share it with.  Whatever the outcome it may be the spirit of Christmas is love and giving the whole year through.

With this in hand, you are now prepared to face the holiday season with confidence. With the help of family and friends there is no doubt that this Christmas will be a night to remember for everyone. It is also the time to give back to all the moms that have gone through all the pains and pangs of childbirth by taking charge of the household once in a while in this glorious occasion.  Let us always remember that the emphasis of the season is not by material gifts, elaborate parties or exorbitant spending but is centered to Jesus Christ and selfless love to others.  Happy holidays!