Guam Daily News from Agana Heights, Guam • 9

TERRITORIAL SUN SUNDAY DECEMBER II RAGE 9 Guamanians Prepare for Yule Feasts A YOUNG Guamanian housewife Mrs Marie Leon Guerrero Cameron of Tamuning peels a dago in preparation for making traditional bonelos to celebrate Noche Buena This dago came from Mrs parents ranch in Barrigada VIRGINIA and Carol Cameron watch as their mother Marie grates the yam into a bowl After only a few minutes of grating the dago forms a sticky dough She then adds a little flour and enough water to mold the dough into small fritters (Daily News Photos by Jesus Manalisay) Chamorro women mold their Hard boiled eggs chopped Spanish olives chopped Soak palmetto in boiling water for 15 minutes then rice on a platter like a hill and decorate with colorful vegetables CHAMORRO SALAD good for leftover turkey Shredded cooked chicken or turkey Diced sweet peppers String beans cut in bite sizes Small shrimps Diced palmetto or heart of palm Bamboo shoots in small slices CHICKEN KELAGUEN 1 medium chicken 1 small onion 1 grated coconut 2 hot peppers 3 to 4 limes 1 tablespoon salt Simmer chicken and remove meat from bones Shred into small pieces Mince onion Squeeze limes and add to chicken Mix with grated coconut salt and onion mixing and pressing Add hot chopped peppers mix Let stand one-half hour or longer to season Afte the bonelo is brown remove from fat and drain The fritter will be bland alone but is sweetened by dipping in syrup Originally bonelos were dipped in tuba syrup but today's busy housewives substitute cane syrup On Christmas day tables inside homes or outside in yards are heaped with a variety of foods which might include vension shrimp or chicken kelaguen fresh tortillas taro root simmeredin coconut milk Chamorro Spa- cool Mix other ingredient and add mayonnaise enough to a pieces together Place in refrigerator until ready to serve Decorate with pimento and serve on a lettuce leaf BY JANET GO On Guam Christinas is a time of novena 8 candles special feasts and happiness Although the word Christmas was introduced to the Chamorros by the Americans the spirit of the Noche Buena J- as old as Spanish civilization in the Marianas Noche Buena (the good night) is Christmas Eve Dec 24 Christmas Day is called Pascua and is observed by going to church refraining from work and feasting For Noche Buena preparations begin during the first week of December In early and late masses at church candles are burned for departed souls for good intentions for help from St Anthony and other solaces In homes shrines are decorated with delicate ferns palm fronds and candles in preparation for the holiday novenas Children construct "Little Bethlehem similar to the description of the Child in die Manger in the Bible Novenas attended by both young and old are held in homes and churches The devout sing carols-at midnight Mass on Noche Buena "Adestis Fidelis" 1s sung and recite prayers in adoration of the coming of the infant Jesus Christ TRADITIONS Although today in some homes mangers are replaced by Christmas trees cards and presents some traditions live on-fas ting on Noche Buena and eating esco-beche and sampling bonelos after midnight Mass Christmas is a day of feasting and joyousness Early on the morning of Noche Buena children distribute to neighbors and relatives baskets of taro esco-bech shell fish coconut crabs and bonelos Escobeche is an entree of fried fish with vegetables eaten on meatless Noche Buena To prepare escobeche fry fish in hot oil then drain off party of the grease Fry Chinese cabbage and local green beans with chopped green onions in the same pan Add finely mashed fresh ginger and garlic clove for flavor Serve vegetables over the fish After midnight Mass bonelos are traditionally eaten Bonelos yam doughnuts or fritters are made from dagos or yams which are available at the Farmer's Market in Agana Perhaps also a neighbor grows dagos on his ranch Before starting to make bonelos grease hands thoroughly with cooking oil to prevent irritation and itching Peel the dago then grate finely into a bowl Gradually the yam will become sticky When finished grating add a cup or so of flour and no more than pne-half cup of water-just enough to mold the dough DROP GENTLY When deep fat is hot in frying pan form round fritters of dough in your hands and drop gently into grease Be very careful putting dough into the fat slide it An gently because dago has a tendency to explode and splatter the hot fat nish rice and breadfruit i CHAMORRO SPANISH RICE cut in LOOK and LOOK AGAIN! 4 slices bacon small pieces 2 cups rice 3 Spanish sausages in small pieces 1 medium onion slide thin 4 tablespoons achote (red coloring or tomato sauce) Ismail can peas drained 1 teaspoon salt Melt lard or fry bacon in saucepan-'an electric skillet is ideal Add onions and sausages cook five minutes Add one-half cup water to achote and work color out Strain into pan with onions Repeat this until you have used one and a half cups water over the achote Add two cups more water and mix together Measure and wash rice Add rice to water mixture It is not necessary to have water boiling before adding rice Stir while adding Cook until rice is done cooked in coconut mulk Also there may be barbecued spare ribs roast chicken turkey or perhaps a young roast pig all served with finedeni a hot spicy sauce FANIHI Perhaps fanihi will be offered- the fruit bat of Guam resembling a flying squirrel This bat is simply boiled in salted water or for variety simmered in coconut milk Fanihi has a strong odor when cooking but is a delicacy to eat Hearty persons devour skin and all but others are satisfied with the succulent inside meat For desert there might be rice cakes breadfruit or banana doughnuts coconut candy balls papaya candy or ice cream Some popular fiesta recipes are presented below to prepare a Guamanian Christmas feast Iff amazing but truel Your savings can earn this higher dividend rate starting immediately whether you have a new account or a long-established onel Skylane 182 Cessna Apache and Twinbeech available for rentals to QUALIFIED PILOTS Current Rate Per Annum on fullyjjaid Investment Certificate (Hit a in Rjjttrga LOAN ASSOCIATION CSLA Building Agana Tel: 726-860 or 726-704 FUfbUUw xuotfiiin Pan Aa Terminal Agana Telephones: Quttin tAnltux 6s 726-559.