Merry Christmas! I'm not afraid to say it, 'cuz it means Happy Holidays.

I made scones again this year. Maple Oat Scones. I made enough to feed an army. I made them to take to parties. I made them for friends and I made them for neighbors. I feel pretty good right now. Just don't offer me a scone. I have had my fill!

But hopefully you haven't because I have attached a video of me making said scones. Don't I look happy making them? Fa la la la la, la la la la?

So make the jump to the next page and watch my annual scone making tradition for yourself.

Speaking of traditions, where I live, there is a traveling Christmas Carol Caravan. You can see it in the video. It goes all around the streets of Toluca Lake. It's smaltzty, it's a bit tacky, it is far too garish. But Gosh Dern if I don't love it! You must have something similar in your neighborhood. I hope you enjoy it and enjoy your neighbors at the same time. Scream and moan about their crappy parking abilities the rest of the year, or roll your eyes at their pushy in-laws some other time, go ahead and wish they were quieter on Sunday mornings next week. But today, tonight, and tomorrow...get out there and say Happy Holidays to each and every one of them. I know I will. 'Cuz it means Merry Christmas. GREG

You didn't think I'd forget America did you?

Well of course not! I may be a worldly bon vivant. But let's face it– even after a week of pancakes from across the globe, when I say pancake you still think of Sunday morning. Because steaming stacks of hotcakes dripping with syrup and melted butter does indeed conjure up comfortable memories of hearth and home.

So to properly end this series I bring you the classic buttermilk pancake of your childhood.  Except when I say classic. I really mean an updated (slightly) more healthy version of this breakfast staple. That’s because these are Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes with a touch of wheat germ. They are still light and fluffy, but they have a more complex, slightly nutty flavor that I enjoy.

The key to good pancakes is the heating surface you choose. It must conduct and retain heat very well, and (most importantly) very evenly.  Whether it be a pan, a skillet, or a griddle I suggest cast iron. But there are some very good non-stick pans on the market too.

I am off tonight for an overnight flight to Panama. I will be leading a cooking demonstration for a group called Boquete Gourmet, highlighting 6 recipes from 6 legendary restaurants of Hollywood. It’s an exciting honor to be asked and I am ready for this adventure!

And an adventure is exactly what this is going to be. We arrive in Panama City Christmas morning, where (hopefully) a rental car will be waiting for us. Then we will drive the entire length of the country (8 hours by car) from the lowlands near the canal– all the way up to the Volcan Barú, the country's highest elevation, near the Costa Rican Border. This is where the beautiful village of Boquete lies and this is where I will be showing off my culinary razzmatazz!

In the meantime, it’s Christmas Eve and I am still in Los Angeles surrounded by my friends. As a holiday gesture I am making a big bunch of scones so that the poor suckers I am leaving behind will have something to remember me by come Christmas morning.