Cheat your heart out > II
December 17, 2006
CHRISTMAS CAKE ICE-CREAM WITH WHISKY MINCEMEAT SAUCE
300g Christmas cake (icing and marzipan removed); 1 litre quality vanilla ice-cream, softened; 3 tbsp whisky; 1 large cooking apple, peeled and chopped; 4 tbsp luxury mincemeat; grated zest and juice of 1 orange
Cut the cake into 2cm slices and cut these into small squares. Discarding any crumbs, gently stir the diced cake into the softened ice-cream with one tablespoon of whisky. Stir very gently so that the cake does not end up as a mass of crumbs. Place in the freezer until firm, about one to two hours, or leave overnight.
For the sauce, place the apple and two tablespoons of water in a saucepan and cook for five to ten minutes, until cooked and mushy. Add the mincemeat and the orange zest and juice. Stir well and heat thoroughly. Once piping hot, stir in the remaining two tablespoons of whisky and remove from the heat.
To serve, scoop the ice-cream into sundae glasses and serve with the hot sauce.
Christmas cake > other serving ideas
• Brush the top of an un-iced cake with melted apricot jam and stick whole nuts (brazils, almonds, walnuts) on to it, then carefully brush with more melted jam and leave to set. Wrap a large festive ribbon around the sides.
• If you buy your cake more than a week before Christmas, remove all wrappings and prick it all over with a fork. Every couple of days, douse with a tablespoon or two of brandy or whisky, this will make it more moist and enhance the flavour.
CHOCOLATE TRIFLE
6-8 brownies; 500g raspberries, plus extra to garnish; 4-5 tbsp Drambuie; 200g dark chocolate sauce, warmed; 250g mascarpone; 400g tub custard; 300ml doubl cream
Break the brownies into large pieces and place them in a trifle bowl. Top with raspberries and then slowly drizzle over the Drambuie.
Place the mascarpone and custard in a bowl, whisk together and then slowly add the warmed chocolate sauce, whisking well. Pour this over the brownies and berries.
Whip the cream into soft peaks and spoon over the trifle. Decorate the top with raspberries and chocolate shavings.
Chocolate sauce > other serving ideas
• If the sauce is thick, use it to sandwich together shortbread rounds and serve with ice-cream for a last-minute pudding.
• Or you can thin it down with some cream, then heat it up and serve in a large bowl as a hot chocolate fondue, use bananas, whole strawberries and chunks of fresh pineapple for dipping.
• Split open some fresh figs, grill them and drizzle with the hot chocolate sauce.
Cheat your heart out > I
December 17, 2006
Everyone wants Christmas to be easy, but at the same time we all like to put on a good spread when guests, expected or otherwise, drop by. There are not enough hours in the day to stuff a mushroom at the best of times, and certainly not in December, when there are a million and one more urgent demands on your day. Delis, speciality shops and supermarkets have all the basics you need, whether you’re throwing a drinks party or hosting a full-scale festive dinner. The trick is to enhance the staples with your own creative touches. Here are just a few suggestions for turning shop-bought blinis, tartlet cases, cranberry sauce, Christmas cake and chocolate sauce into something really special.
BLINIS WITH SMOKED SALMON
300ml soured cream; horseradish sauce; a packet of blinis; 400g pack of sliced smoked salmon; chives, cut diagonally; caviare, to garnish
Tip the soured cream into a bowl and season with pepper. Add a heaped teaspoon of horseradish and stir in. Check for seasoning, then chill until ready to serve.
To serve, place three warm blinis on a plate, spoon some soured cream on top and then coil a piece of smoked salmon on each. Garnish with chopped chives and caviare to serve.
Blinis > other serving ideas
• Mix some cream cheese with a little Dijon mustard, then spread it on the blinis and top with a coil of pastrami.
• Mix some crème fraîche with a little horseradish sauce, then spread it on the blinis and top with cold-smoked venison. Garnish with a teaspoon of beetroot chutney on top.
TARTLETS WITH SWEDISH PRAWN SALAD
50ml mayonnaise; 150ml crème fraîche; 1 tsp white wine vinegar; pinch of sugar; 2 tbsp chopped dill, plus extra to garnish; 250g peeled cooked prawns; ready-made tartlet cases
Mix the mayo, crème fraîche, vinegar, sugar and dill together and season well, then add the prawns. Spoon the mixture into the tartlet cases and decorate with more dill.
Tartlets > other serving ideas
• Combine some coriander pesto with crème fraîche, top with a twirl of smoked beef and garnish with a fresh coriander leaf.
• Heat some haggis until it is piping hot, spoon into each pastry case and then top with a dollop of red-onion marmalade or chutney.
CRANBERRY SAUCE STUFFING
500g sausagemeat; 3-4 tbsp cranberry sauce
Combine the sausagemeat with enough cranberry sauce to give a good colour. Then you can use it in the usual way, stuffed into your turkey or baked alongside it.
Cranberry sauce > other serving ideas
• Zap it with grated orange zest and a scant grinding of cloves.
• Zap it with some brandy and finely chopped stem ginger.
‘Nativity Story’ a lifeless look at birth of Christ
December 17, 2006
Mary and Joseph (Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac) cross to Bethlehem before Christ’s birth. “The Nativity Story” features striking scenery, with Morocco standing in for the Mideast.
The Nativity Story > The story of Mary and Joseph, culminating in their departure from Nazareth and their 100-mile journey to Bethlehem to birth Jesus
If her name weren’t atop the credits, you’d never believe Catherine Hardwicke directed “The Nativity Story.” Gone is the vibrant energy of her 2005 skateboarding adventure, “Lords of Dogtown,” as is the visceral intensity of her debut film, the junior-high drama “thirteen.”
Hardwicke depicts the birth of Christ in such a lifeless, suffocatingly earnest manner, you’d swear she made the movie specifically for Sunday school classes.
It is an innovative approach, though, to portray Mary and Joseph (Keisha Castle-Hughes of “Whale Rider” and Oscar Isaac) as a confused, newly married couple trying to comprehend that they’re about to become parents of the Messiah. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke address Christ’s infancy, but little has been known, or shown, about Mary and Joseph before that night in the manger. Most in the audience will walk away feeling that they’ve learned a thing or two.
Hardwicke’s history as a production designer is evident in the attention to detail. But on a larger scale, her tone is too often didactic and just downright boring.
“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,” Shohreh Aghdashloo says in an example of the film’s clunky, literal dialogue as Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin.
Both are surprised to learn in visits from the angel Gabriel (Alexander Siddig) that they’re pregnant: Elizabeth had seemed too old and Mary had just become Joseph’s wife in an arranged marriage, and had made a vow of chastity for their first year together.
While Mary is hiding out for a while with Elizabeth, King Herod (Ciaran Hinds, singularly evil and scheming) has begun his paranoid search for the Messiah, based on an Old Testament prophecy. He instructs his troops to kill anyone who might be this child, but he also hopes to find him through the Roman census, which forces citizens to return to their birthplaces.
Having returned to Nazareth obviously pregnant, Mary has been ostracized by nearly everyone, except Joseph. She willingly agrees to accompany him to his hometown of Bethlehem on a donkey, across the desert, on the verge of giving birth. And, of course, once they arrive, there’s no room at the inn.
Crossing through the desert at the same time are the three Magi, who ostensibly were meant to provide a touch of comic relief with their banter about the stars and planets aligning.
In their silken robes, the wise men, like everyone else in “The Nativity Story”, feel like participants in an elaborate high school production, one that looks authentic but has no soul.
The Nativity Story > PG some violent content. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke. 93 minutes.
To the Angels among us
December 17, 2006
A quick study of Angels finds these heavenly messengers in some form in nearly all religions of the world.
The word Angel comes from the Greek word Angelos which means messenger. The Ancient Greeks had Hermes and Eros, better known as Cupid, sending messages between gods and men.
In tribal societies, Shamans take wing to search for the souls of those they help. Buddhists have bodhisattvas helping others in their path to enlightenment. Hinduism have devas who act like angels. Angels abound in Jewish texts. In Islam, angels are mentioned in the Qur’an as “walking about in peace and quiet.”
Of course, many of us are familiar with the Christian Angels including the multifaith Angel, Gabriel, who let Mary know of the Christ child’s arrival at Christmas. It’s fair to say that human beings find comfort in these otherworldly guides who choose to come among us and guide us towards the right path.
Many people can share stories of beings who have come to guide or save them when they were in jeopardy, a rescuer in an accident, a warm hug after a tragedy, a sign when we couldn’t see out of the darkness.
Whether it be the Holy messenger Angels of one’s faith or the ordinary angels of daily life, these beings all work to make our world a better place and inspire us to goodness. So during this Christmas Season, I wish everyone much Peace, Joy, and Happiness. May there be many angels in your life.
Dominican Popular Bank presents a ‘Christmas Miracle’
December 17, 2006
The Popular Bank of the Dominican Republic last night launched its traditional show ‘A Christmas Miracle,’ full of colorful scenarios, in which 43 actors and 30 choreographers participated.
Hundreds of persons, mainly children, were present yesterday evening at the Popular Tower front grounds, to enjoy the show that recreates the birth of ‘Baby Jesus’. The activity that began at 7:30 last night, will again be staged on the 17th and 25th of December at the same place.
“During fifteen consecutive years, the Popular Bank has been presenting this spiritual gift for the enjoyment of children and adults, with a view to integrate families in love and confraternity,” according to a communiqué issued by the financial entity.
This year, the scenery presents new colors, sound effects and lights that simulate the starred night when Jesus was born. The stage is impressive, measuring 104 feet, wide with eleven levels.
Before the show, the public was treated to the traditional ginger tea, and at the end, a formidable fireworks presentation ensued.
Lights on for Palace Christmas tree
December 17, 2006
President Leonel Fernández switched on the Christmas lights at the National Palace yesterday, in the company of hundreds of children, sons and daughters of employees and government officials, who attended the ceremony. The Melodía children’s choir, conducted by Carolina Hernández, sang several seasonal themed songs on the steps leading up to the Palace’s main entrance.
Also present were VP Rafael Alburquerque and his wife Martha de Alburquerque, Administrative Secretary Luis Manuel Bonnetti and his wife Escelina de Bonnetti, Armed Forces Minister, Lieutenant General Ramón Aquino García and Presidential Technical Secretary, Temístocles Montás.
Juan Diego and his sister Sofía de Moya handed the light switch to the President, who lit up the Christmas decorations.
The Administrative Secretariat had given instructions for neighboring residents and their children to be allowed in, so that they could enjoy the show.
Fernández, VP Alburquerque, Bonneti and their wives then went into the Palace to switch the Christmas tree lights on.
The decorations were set up by Decoradora De Flora, the scenery by Jesús Feris, and the Palace show was produced by Ana Rivas.
Quick and easy ways to create Christmas cheer
December 17, 2006
Holiday decorating would be a snap if only we all had some combination of the following >
> Infinite free time
> The skills of a floral designer
> A couple of crates of family heirloom ornaments
> The budget and staff to help
Most of us are lacking some or all of the above. But that’s still no excuse for a home whose only nod to the Christmas Season, decor-wise, is one of those inflatables on the lawn. Adding a few festive touches can be simple and easy. Holiday decorating should not be a big, overwhelming chore, and simple doesn’t mean you can’t have a rich, elegant look.
Provided you make use of these tips >
* Gather clear glass vases, pitchers and hurricanes of different sizes and fill them with assorted round ornaments. Arrange them on a dining table, a mantel or windowsill.
* Set pillar candles inside small wreaths, real or fake, and use them as centerpieces or on a mantel.
* Dress up a grouping of framed pictures on a wall by tying small sprigs of greenery with narrow red ribbon and attaching them to the frames.
* Decorate a window with ornaments hung on ribbons.
* Pile candy canes into a clear glass vase or a silver bowl and add some sprigs of greenery.
* Make a “candlescape” using five holiday-hued pillar candles, all the same color, but in different sizes. Arrange on a platter or cake plate with sprigs of holly or other greenery. Or arrange white taper candles in holders of different height for a dramatic look.
* Instead of buying or making a wreath, dress up your front door by filling a small but deep basket with different types of greenery, pinecones and berries. Attach a wide piece of ribbon to the basket and secure it to the top of the door.
* Lack a Christmas tablecloth? Make a runner out of three pieces of wide ribbon spaced 3 inches apart. Anchor by placing candles on top.
* If you want to go on record this Christmas Season giving people permission to light those candles, then go to people’s houses, you will notice they have all these candles and none of them are lit. Yet candlelight creates such a beautiful ambience.
* Follow the advice of your Home Safety Council, though, which points out that home fires caused by candles peak during the holiday season. Keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and away from draperies, and never leave burning candles unattended, even for a short time.
* Finally, don’t forget to use your backyard as a decorating resource. Cut tall branches, both bare and evergreen, to arrange in a vase you can tie with a ribbon.
* Use a section of bare branch to make a “twig tree” decorated with miniature ornaments.
* Or gather pinecones or sprigs of holly to enhance your store-bought wreaths and garland.
