耶誕快樂! 這是老何 (Andy)成家後的第一個聖誕節, 老何很慎重地準備了一個有濃濃家鄉味的耶誕大餐.
耶誕節前夕, 老何堅持要準備傳統耶誕應景甜點 - 酒漬什錦派, 不管步驟多複雜, 不考慮自己從來沒做過, 秉持著只許成功, 不許失敗的信念, 照著網路上找來的食譜, 仔細斟酌食材, 照單操課, 在缺少派餅模具, 天氣熱, 派皮鬆軟不好塑型的各種難關中, 突破窘境, 花了整整二十個小時 (包括前置做業時間), 老何把酒漬什錦派完成了. 酒漬水果乾雖然不是我的菜, 但在吃完耶誕大餐飽肚的狀態下, 竟能連拼兩個, 不能厚著臉皮, 違背良心說不好吃, 辛苦塑型的派皮很酥脆, 花了一晚醃漬的水果乾濕潤, 不甜膩.
完成應景甜點後, 老何才如吃了定心丸般地開始準備耶誕餐, 老何家的第一個耶誕大餐菜單是: 煙燻鳟魚冷盤, 蜂蜜芥末烤火腿配馬鈴薯, 義式培根高麗菜芽, 巧克力耶誕布丁佐白蘭地奶油 (英式傳統耶誕主菜是烤火雞, 但老何一家只有兩口, 實在消化不了七, 八公斤的火雞, 所以準備了半隻份量的烤火腿), 一個下午, 兩人一道一道吃完後, 唯一能做的事就是攤在沙發上聽耶誕音樂發呆.
傍晚, 老何延續何家傳統 - 吃完耶誕餐後到村子附近走走, 開車到雪梨港灣邊的 Blues Point Reserve, 延著岸邊散步, 經過 Lavender Bay 走到 Luna Park, 邊走邊欣賞坐擁港灣美景房舍的耶誕佈置, 並分享偶爾從屋內傳出的酒杯碰撞聲和笑聲.
耶誕節傍晚, 雪梨港寧靜, 涼爽, 天邊一抹淡橘色彩霞, 伴著岸邊幾個延續耶誕野餐的家庭, 老何在夜幕低垂後返家, 點上燭火, 在電視轉播的耶誕聖歌演唱中交換禮物.
What did Family H. in Australia have for Christmas? Apparently on top of the list were "Mince Pies". By ignoring all food preparation for the main meal, Andy paid all his attention in making mince pies. Despite a long list of ingredients and long hours to prepare, regardless of the lack of experience, after 20 hours of preparation, 20 gorgious mince pies came out from the oven with a delicious smell. (After a big meal, Kelly couldn't resist and had 2 mince pies, you could tell how nice these mince pies were.)
After the mince pies were done, Family H. started the Christmas meal preparation,.The menu was: smoked trout with cucumber, mango, avocardo salad / honey mustard glazed ham with roast potato, Panchetta with Brussels sprouts and squash / Triple chocolate Christmas pudding with brandy butter / mince pies.
After finishing the big meal, the only thing Family H. could do was sit on the sofa and listen to Carols on the TV.
In the late afternoon, Family H. went down to Sydney harbour, strolling from North Sydney to Luna Park. The houses by the harbour shared their Christmas joy through their decorations, a few families were still carrying on their Christmas picnic on the water front. Christmas Day in Sydney was definately not a warm and cosy atmosphere; in the evening the sky was blue with a touch of orange when the sun was setting. It was quiet and peaceful and the Family H. enjoyed the harbour walk with a cool breeze.
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| 專心做派的老何 / the pastry chef in Family H. |
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| 送進烤箱前做最後裝飾 Brushing mincd pies with egg mixture before putting into oven |
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| 香噴噴, 甜滋滋的什錦派 voila! the tasty mince pies are done! |
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| 煙燻鳟魚配小黃瓜, 芒果, 酪梨沙拉 Smoked trout with cucumber slices, mango and avocado salad |
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| 24日到城中看聖瑪莉教堂的聲光秀之一 The Light of Christmas at St.Mary's Cathedral in downtown Sydney |
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| 生動的動畫影像從遠方精確地投射在教堂立面, 讓人目不轉睛 the images or animations projected precisely on church wall from distance |
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| 莊嚴的教堂化身各式美麗建築, 耶誕樹, 美麗夢境... through the images, St.Mary Cathedral transformed into various beautiful buildings, Christmas trees, sweet dreams... |
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