The Aftermath in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

We usually wait until Three King’s Day (Jan.6) to take down our tree and decorations but I decided to take it down yesterday as today was garbage pick up. We have had our tree since November and I knew if I left it for one more day it would be a naked trunk with a pile of pine needles at the bottom.

Taking down the tree is not as joyous putting it up. Putting all the brightly colored ornaments back in their boxes, only breaking two or three, and making sure our treasured Elvis ornament is carefully back in its place is not a happy chore. Taking down the tinsel, candy canes, strings of lights and our revered snowman which has adored the top of our tree for over 30 years is sobering indeed. Putting away all the candles and assorted other Christmas knick knacks is not our favorite thing to do. Sweeping out all the afore-mentioned pine needles is not fun and, of course, you never get them all.

However, after all of this is completed and the last box is stored away until Christmas 2009 you look around and see how bright and airy your house is once again and you remember how thankful you are for all of your blessings.

The situation between Israel and Gaza is horrible and innocent people are dying every day. No one is ever right when innocent children are dying.

President Elect Obama has a monumental job ahead of him with the economy, two wars, health care, foreign relations, homeland security and a myriad of other immediate priorities that would daunt a lesser man.

The weather is still awful in most of the US and Canada. Here we are in paradise with the sun shining and the flowers blooming. We are so lucky to have found Ajijic, Lake Chapala and we wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2009.

Christmas Brunch in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

I thought I would share my family’s favorite Christmas Brunch recipes with you.

When we first moved to Ajijic, Lake Chapala we were invited to a beautiful home in Upper Chula Vista, Ajijic for a lovely brunch party. The recipe for Stuffed French Toast was given to me (with a great deal of cajoling) after that brunch and we have made it every Christmas since.

We start with Winter Fruit Salad with Citrus Yogurt Sauce which serves 8.

This refreshing fruit salad and creamy sauce both benefit from being made ahead of time.

1 lemon
3 oranges
¾ cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tb orange liqueur (optional)
1 pink grapefruit
2 winter pears
2 red delicious apples
2 cups seedless grapes

Citrus Yogurt Sauce:

1 cup plain yogurt
2 Tb sour cream
2 Tb brown sugar
1 tsp. finely grated orange rind
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Grate I tsp. rind from 1 orange and set aside for the sauce. Squeeze juice from this orange and the lemon into small saucepan. Add water and sugar. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Cool. Add liqueur. Peel remaining oranges and grapefruit, removing outside membrane. Holding fruit over large bowl remove segments between connecting membrane with a sharp knife. Place fruit in bowl and squeeze membranes to extract all juice. Remove pits. Peel and slice kiwi, unpeeled pears and apples into bowl. Cut grapes in half and add. Pour syrup over top and toss fruit gently to mix. Cover and refrigerate fruit overnight, tossing together once or twice. Stir together yogurt, sour cream, brown sugar, orange rind and vanilla in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving time up to 5 days.

Stuffed French Toast

1 loaf egg bread – unsliced
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 pkg. cream cheese

Use 3” deep baking dish rather than a shallow as it will dry out.

Serves 10

Cut crust off bread and slice in 1” thick slices and cut in cubes 1-1/2”. Butter a baking dish, spread ½ of the bread cubes on bottom add cubed cream cheese, then the other ½ of the bread. Beat eggs, milk an syrup until completely blended. Pour over bread and cheese. Cover with saran wrap and squish down bread a little into egg mixture. Refrigerate overnight.. Bake at 350 degrees in center of oven for 45 minutes to an hour until golden brown. Serve with warm maple syrup, your favorite breakfast sausages and a large pitcher of Mimosas.

Buen Provecho.

The Nutcracker in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

When our children were going to Oak Hill School they participated in this wonderful production in various roles ranging from dancing snowflakes to besotted grandfathers.

Attending this show in the Auditorium in La Floresta is a great way to mark the beginning of the traditional enjoyments of the holiday season.

The production is very exciting when your children are cast in various roles but we find it is still most enjoyable when accompanied by our now adult children.

All the traditional numbers are represented by smiling little faces dancing across the stage in full costume with beautiful music and twinkling lights.

One of my favorites is the prince tossing little Clara into the air but the dancing Chinese are a close second and who could not love the white snowflakes in their little tutus.

This year the Nutcracker is Tuesday, December 16th with two performances at 5:00pm an 6:30pm. Tickets are available at the box office in front of the Auditorium.

I know you will enjoy this production as we have for many years. We have made it a part of our most special celebration of Navidad in this most special of countries.

Christmas in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

My favorites are those of lonely children who have house pets like a donkey or wolverine and through the magic of the season discover the true meaning of Christmas. They always end with the gruff but hard working father, who has been a real schmuck to this point, saying “I guess I was wrong about your wolverine Johnny. That reward money for saving the town has made this the best Christmas ever. If your mom was alive to see this she’d be very proud of you.” Hugs all around.

Bells on the roof and faint Ho Ho Ho and I’m a bag o’mush. There is something magical about Christmas that goes deeper than receiving a Silex Salad Shooter but what is it? And can you really get that warm feeling here without snow? To me, like most Christians, Christmas Eve is a roast goose for supper bundling up an going to church tucking the children into bed, turning the Alistair Sim’s version of “A Christmas Carol” poring a cognac, setting a fire. Trying to assemble toys that have an instruction booklet written by either electrical engineers from MIT or some factory guy with the communication skills of a fern (i.e. … then turn the left cuff screw clockwise ‘til you hear a click as seen in fig. 762) Not only do I not know what a left wing cuff screw is but fig. 762 looks, to me, like instructions on a deboning a sparrow. But it is part of Christmas and I love it.

I’m worried thatthere in Mexico things will be different. I hate different when it comes to Christmas. Instead of roasting chestnuts on an open fire will I be at the coffee table cutting earwigs in half with the TV Guide? Jack Frost is replaced with Juan Sunstroke. And what about the food? Do they have egg nog here or is it called huevos revoltus nog? How do you say Ho HO Ho in Spanish? Plum pudding with hard salsa sounds weird. And I can just see the kids’ faces light up when they get an orange in their stocking. “Wow” they say, “ now we don’t have to go the garden and pick one ourselves”

Maybe I should just accept the fact that it will be different. Change can be good. Being open to new things can enrich our lives. But we have been here for four months now and between the fiestas de Octubre and Noviembre, the Kimono Fashion Show, parades and celebrating various Virgins, I’m enriched enough.

What I really want is to go to Sears and rumble with some old ladies over the last of the Mighty Power Rangers Action Figures. :Eat elbow old women. It’s mine and I saw it first. Get your terminally ill grandson something else.” Let’s face it. Scenes like this embody the holiday season. Old fashioned peace on earth good will toward Mastercard. Stuff that you just don’t see enough of down here.

Deep in my heart I know that ChristmasNavidad here will be fantastic. Church will be beautiful. I’ll cry when I watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” I’ll eat too much and I’ll get just as excited watching the kids open presents. Not so different really Now I just have to learn how to say Ho Ho Ho in Spanish. Cheers.