European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Holidays 87 what is Christmas by Hal Boyle associated Pressw hat is Christmas it is Iho Lime when people s hearts ring like Bells. And legend says thai oxen Kneel in their slats Al Midnight in memory. Christmas is Tho anniversary of one kind of Faith and selflessness it is the traditional Natal Dale of a lonely jewish Carpenter who in 33 Short years of breath stamped an undying conscience on this world and promised All men like everlasting through belief. He died a Radical upon a Cross for what he taught bleeding slowly to death from the agony of Nail and Spear wounds. Few listened to his message in his Day. He died a minor gadfly to a roman world. One of Many martyrs to Many faiths time has raised Jesus Christ to a Gigantic stature so that today More than 600 million people one Lourah of All Mankind celebrate his memory. Mora men follow him than any Man who Ever lived. In the centuries since his birth he has become the greatest religious figure in history. What is Christmas 11 is his spirit and fits philosophy that it is More blessed to give than to receive today the Celebration of his birth As is his death is crossed with old Pagan ceremonials but his spirit and his example inflame the Day. Sometimes religious leaders get Cross Wilh Santa cjd5 and say he takes the honors thai belong to Jesus Bui no one who has read the Mool Christ could Vei Ink of him As being jealous. Santa is just him Wilha Board on perhaps it Santa Claus pressed his View 365 Days a year As Jesus did he might even in these Oligh Lonciel Days risk a similar persecution. What is Christmas it is the time of tolling go of hidebound prejudices and having the courage to be sentimental and Good. It is the Lime when men Lake Down a cold unfeeling Star from the sky and make in a warm and stirring Beacon on a tree. Mainly the grownups say Christmas is Lor the  but they themselves enjoy it most although of Len they Are oddly ashamed to acknowledge it in december their crust of foolish sophistication the crust they grow to protect themselves from disappointment wears thin. They Light a silent Candle to an old belief that most men really do wish each other Well but Don t know quite what to do about it. What is Christmas is is a season when they can cast away their Mutual doubts and really do something for one another. The jews who regard Jesus As Only a Prophet have their own festival this time of year. It is called hanukkah Tho festival of lights. Ii Las 15 eight Days. On each Day hey Light another Candle give another gift. 1 he other Day a jewish Friend of mine whose children go to a Public school and love the festival of Christmas Lod me the plight of his Young daughter. She came to her father and said daddy i was chosen to be an Angel in our Christmas Pfay but do i have the right to Plavil and her father knowing her problem said Honey be their  i think that is Christmas and America. This article was written by the late a columnist Hal boy loin 1961. Festive but Light Holiday meals by Barbara Kafka new York times n the Middle of the holidays one can grow tired of going Oul tired of All thai heavy food. Here Are a few recipes for Light eating at Home. Fish fillets Are particularly versatile. You can season them As you wish add a spoon of Olive Oil a Little Lemon juice a sprinkling of herbs or Pepper even a portion of Quick cooking vegetables will not change the cooking time. The colors the White of the fish surrounded by the Green of the Broccoli and the Bright red of the peppers give festive fish tit Fels their name. Be sure to wrap the fish lightly overlapping the plastic Al the Edge of he plate. When the humidity and heat Are even in makes a great difference in the cooking of fish. Some Lish can exude moisture in cooking particularly in the meat has been Frozen. While i like the flavor of the fish juice and sometimes use it to moisten Rice to serve with the fish some people find it Loo Messy. If so dab the liquid with a paper Tower. The recipe Lor veal Savarin a sort of Low calorie hamburger illustrates a Point about microwave cooking. Many foods especially meals Cook most evenly when portions Are formed into a Circle so that there is in effect no Middle portion which would Cook More slowly. The carrots Are placed around the veal because they take longer to Cook than Tho meat for a vegetarian dish try the stuffed peppers. Ii that seems Loo tight As a main course think of the peppers As a first course or As an accompaniment. Veal Savarin preparation time 12 minutes cooking Lime s minutes i Pound mushrooms trimmed and quartered 2 Tablespoons Parsley leaves preferably italian Flat Leal 4 shallots peeled i Teaspoon Iresh Lemon juice 1/j Pound ground veal 1vi Teaspoons Salt i Teaspoon paprika freshly ground Black Pepper to taste 2 carrots 5 to 6 ounces raped end thinly sliced on the Diagonal or . Put mushrooms Parsley shallots and Lemon juice in Page 16 the stars and stripes the bowl of a food processor. Process by pulsing on and Oti until finely chopped. Scrape chopped vegetables into a mixing bowl. Add ground veal Salt paprika and Pepper. Stir Well to Combine. Divide mixture in half and shape into two doughnuts place each in the Center of a dinner Plale. Arrange carrots around veal. Cover tightly Wilh microwave plastic wrap. Using a rack Cook simultaneously for 5 minutes switching plates from top to Bottom alter 2 minutes 30 seconds. Pierce plastic on each plate Wilh the lip of a knife to release steam. Uncover and serve immediately variation to serve one person halve All ingredients proceed As above. Cover tightly Wilh microwave plastic wrap and Cook for 2 minutes 45 seconds. Pierce plastic As above to release steam before serving. Low wattage variation Cook iwo Servings a above using a rack for 7 minutes 30 seconds. Switch plates from top to Bottom after 4 minutes. For one serving Cook a minutes yield 2 Servings. Festive fish fillets preparation time 15 minutes cooking Ante 3 minutes 2 6-ounce fish fillets i Inch thick flounder sole or similar fish i Teaspoon fresh Lemon juice 1 cup diced red Bell Pepper about 8 ounces 2 Tablespoons snipped chives Pinch hoi red Pepper flakes 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Cilantro optional 4 ounces Broccoli to Cut into very Small piece about 11nch in diameter Salt. Put one fish fillet in the Center of each dinner plate. Sprinkle its with Lemon juice. Stir together red Bell Pepper chives red Pepper flakes and Cilantro. Place half of the Pepper mix lure in a Stripe Down me Center of each fillet. Arrange Broccoli on either Side of tils cts cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap using a rack Cook Lor 3 minutes switching plates from top to Bottom alter 1 minute 30 seconds. Pierce plastic wrap on each plate. Remove wrap. Wipe up liquid if desired. Serve immediately. Variation to serve one As a main course halve All monday december 21,1sb7 i s it Jirva 4, Ivy if 5al 1 in a i Tuii n r i Fly hrs $ so of. A Vik 5 n of  ingredients. Cook As above 2 minutes 15 seconds. Low wattage variation Cook iwo Servings for 5 minutes switching plates from top to Bottom after 2 minutes 30 seconds for one serving Cook 3 minutes 15 seconds. Yield 2 Servings. Stuffed peppers preparation Tim 1s minutes cooking time 13 minutes it Pound miss Hoo a Cut into quarters i Pound Onu med peeled and Cut into quarters 2 cloves garlic peeled and smashed 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil i cup packed coarsely chopped watercress vac Prastina 3 Tablespoons water 2 red Bell peppers Cut in Hall crosswise and seeded sell freshly ground Black Pepper optional. Place mushrooms onions and Garlijo in bowl of food processor. Process until finely chopped. Place Oil in 9-Inch pie plate or quiche dish and add chopped vegetables. Cook uncovered Al 100 percent for 3 minutes. Stir in watercress Pas Lina and 1 Tablespoon water fill peppers with shutting mounding lightly. Arrange peppers around Edge of pie plate. Pour remaining water in Bottom of dish Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook is 100 percent for 10 minutes. Pierce plastic wrap with the tip of a knife to release steam unwrap Caret utly serve within 5 mules. Also Good cold variation to serve two As a first course and one As a main course halve All ingredients and reduce water to 1 Tablespoon plus 2 Teaspoons proceed As above cooking vegetables for 2 minutes add remaining ingredients and 1 Tablespoon of the water. Fin peppers and return to dish pour remaining water in Bollom of dish Cook As above 5 to 6 minutes. Low wattage variation for tour Servings Cook vegetables 5 minutes As above Cook stuffed peppers is minutes for two Servings Cook vegetables 3 minutes 30 seconds and stuffed peppers 9 to 10 minutes yield 4 Servings As a first course 3 As a Mam course