汤圆

前天，一早醒来看到妈妈从马来西亚捎来的短信。那时，我迷迷糊糊，看了也没去多想。后来，逛到一位朋友的部落中，才惊觉冬至将至，是做汤圆的时节。原来，妈妈告诉我，她做了红豆汤圆，很好吃。虽今天才是冬至，不过，星期天弟妹都往外溜，家里提早两天做，一家团团圆圆吃汤圆。

妈吩咐我做汤圆来庆一庆。我随口带过。在外国那么多年，哪记得冬至这回事。虽然，妈妈都会捎来短信，我也是知道就算了。马来西亚的家当然有做汤圆。记得，我每次吃时，妈妈都会来一句，“吃了汤圆就长一岁啦！” 不过，冬至的气氛没过年或中秋的浓厚，只是吃汤圆。不提，我一定不会记得。加上，我这个蛇年出生的，特别‘蛇’，很少帮忙妈妈搓汤圆。不过，我超爱甜食，吃汤圆少不了我的份。

在澳洲，没认识Ed之前，多是自己一个人住。自己一个人吃汤圆，好像更显孤单。加上，日子特忙，所以，我好像从来没在国外庆祝过冬至。

我想，在外国长住，最可惜的是，很多传统很难维持。这可能是千万华裔移民的矛盾。

现在想一想，我真的应该庆祝一下，尤其是在加拿大特别有‘气氛’。这个‘气氛’不是华人‘过冬’过节的气氛，而是，在加拿大，冬天真的正式到来了。‘冬至’，突然变得很有‘身有同感’。冷冷的天气，手上有碗热腾腾的汤圆，多温暖。以前，在马或在澳，这个时候都是炎热当天的。‘冬至’这个字眼对我来说，是没什么意思的。

向Ed提我要做汤圆，他说，我自己吃就好了。他不爱又甜又粘的东西。做了自己一人吃很没趣。加上，考试大过天，我以前也没向妈妈偷师到，真没时间花上大半天来学来找材料来搓来煮。我还是上网看看汤圆图片来庆祝就好了。

以前，有妈妈来维持传统，现在，是我的责任了。不过，我好像不是很称职…

明年吧，明年冬至，我要做汤圆！！

(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation)

昨天星期天，我们留在家里看一场精彩的美国橄榄球赛。

Ed说，两个很棒的橄榄球队（Indianapolis 和 New England）碰头，是今年的压轴大戏。

他也突然心血来潮，买了一大块猪肉来烘烤。

他说，这叫做Sunday Roast，是英式传统。

所以，他一边看橄榄球赛，一边烘猪肉。

我嘛，也不管是橄榄球赛也好， 英式传统也好，有一餐好的吃就高兴啦。

我在还没认识Ed前是对体育新闻没什么兴趣的人。

以前在马住时，对羽球有留意，因为马来西亚队当时很不错。

去了澳洲，忙工作等的，就更没什么时间追看体育新闻。

偶尔闲空，会看看网球赛或世界足球杯。

坦白说，看也可能是娱乐性地看看俊男多过真的看比赛

认识了Ed后，虽也不是变得很有兴趣，

只是Ed很追体育新闻，我没什么事时也会坐下来瞧瞧。

Ed心情好时会解释给我听。

当我问得太多问题时，他就会把我赶走。

无论如何，他什么体育新闻都爱看，我也因此学习了很多。

虽然还是一窍不通，但在Ed的解释下，也开始会欣赏比赛中的战略。

只是，我倒是对现代的体育界很感疑惑。

小时候，老师教导我们伟大的体育精神。

可是，现在的体育界大多都跟金钱，名誉等挂钩。

体育世界背后的黑暗听得多了，到底真正的体育精神是否存在很令人怀疑。

哈！算了，我想太多了。

有好吃的就吃，有精彩的球赛就看吧！

其实，有点伤心Indianapolis输了。

还好，Ed煮的烤肉也真的很好吃 ！:)

Yesterday, we stayed home to watch NFL. Just like most guys, Ed is a sport addict. The match between the two unbeaten teams (Indianapolis and New England) yesterday, of course, was something he would not miss. He was also in a mood to cook. He bought a big chunk of pork and wanted to make an English traditional Sunday roast. As for me, someone who is not really too interested in sport, so it did not really matter to me if it was a can’t-be-missed game, I was already very satisfied with a delicious meal and the fact that I did not have to cook

Before I met Ed, I was a girl who knew nothing about sports. When I was living in Malaysia, I did pay some attention to badminton games because Malaysia had a strong team then. After I had started to work in Australia, I was just too busy to have anytime to watch sport games. Once in while, I might watch one or two tennis games or one or two World Cup games. Frankly, I think it was more or less to check out the good looking athletes, more than real interest in the games

After I met Ed, although I am still not a fan of sports, yet I would watch some (or any) games with him when I am free. When he is in good mood, he may try to explain to me about the rules and tactics in the games. However, of course, most times he is quite annnoyed by my bombardment of questions and just simply kicks me out of the coach. Nonetheless, I have benefited much from Ed’s patient explanation and started to learn to appreciate sports more, especially some of the tactics they used in the games. I find them fascinating. However, I do have lots of doubts in sports, especially in these modern days when most sports are all got to do with money and fame. I wonder if sportsmanship still exists, especially after hearing so many news of fraud or drug use.

Well, I think I think too much. Why not just simply enjoy the good game and the good food. Frankly, I was a little upset that Indianapolis team lost the game, thankfully, Ed’s roast pork was pretty amazing, so that’s make up for it !

爸爸很爱热闹，尤其喜欢一家共聚的气氛。

难得劳动节（五月一日）公共假期，我又在马，就邀了二舅母和堂弟妹们来我们店铺开大吃会。

[嘻嘻！ 抱歉，我爱吃，我爸爱吃，我男朋友爱吃 ：）写了那么多篇有关美食的贴字，还是要写，而且会继续吃，继续写 ：）]

爸爸早在几天前已想好要煮什么。

当天一早去甲洞菜市场 （巴刹）买材料。

回到家就大显身手做大厨，誓要煮出一顿人人举起大姆指赞好的美肴不可。

我也不多说了，贴上几张照片，让你们评， 也让你们羡慕吧！：P

坦白说，老爸煮的咖哩好吃过我的 ！ 姜是老的辣 ！也难怪，在马买得到新鲜的椰浆和好的咖哩浆。（给自己找藉口：）

还有， 二舅母的甜麦粥加蜀粒， 妈妈的红豆沙……甜品，我的最爱！

哦！ 有一件事要提，妈妈和二舅母说，咖哩鸡是不加pandan叶的 ，咖哩叶已够了。原来，是我自作聪明（见生日和饯行晚餐）:p 。我被揪出狐狸尾，推搪说多伦多买不到咖哩叶！ 这倒是真的。只是，不好意思，误导大家。 抱歉。

可是，当我读到，在劳动节当天，美国，澳门和泰国都有劳工为争取一些权益游行示威。我们却只是快快乐乐吃了一天 (看我的堂弟们吃得多开心），而感到一点点的内疚。

My father loves family gathering. As a Chinese, family gathering is important, not only to strengthen bonds as a family and frequent gathering also signifies a harmonious family.

On Labour Day (1st May), my father has invited my aunt and my cousins for lunch in our shop. Partly because it was a public holiday, partly also because for them to see me.

My father started to plan for the menu a few days ahead and woke up very early to go to Kepong ‘pasar’ (it is a Malay word refers to street market) to buy ingredients on that day.

He wanted to cook for everyone and he did not disappoint us ! I won’t say much here but posted the photos for your comments

Well, I think his curry chicken was tastier than mine but my excuses were we could buy better and fresher ingredients in KL

My aunt and mother had cooked my favourite desserts – red bean soup and chiinese sticky barley soup.

Look how happy my cousins were !

One thing I have to mention here is – my mother and aunt told me that we normally do not add pandan leaves but only curry leaves to curry chicken ! Opps ! So, adding pandan leaves as mentioned in previous post was only my own creation but not authentic style. My apology to the readers if I mislead you in anyway !

上星期五是復活节假期。邀请了几个好朋友来我们家做客, 也算是为我庆祝生日和饯行。

On Good Friday, we have invited a few friends over for dinner. It was for my birthday and farewell dinner.

我们决定大展厨艺，为朋友们煮一餐马来西亚和广东晚餐。菜单很丰富，菜肴有：

We decided to cook something different, a Malaysian and Cantonese dinner for our friends consisting of the following courses:

1. 叉烧包 BBQ pork buns as appetitzer (store bought）
2. 马来西亚的咖哩鸡 Malaysian Curry Chicken （homemade）
3. 醉鸡 Drunken Chicken （homemade）
4. 蒜蓉豆豉炒蚶 Fried Clams with Garlic and Black Bean Sauce（homemade）
5. 卤胡罗卜牛腩 Turnip and Beef Brisket in Chinese Marinade （homemade）
6. 蠔油芥兰 Fried Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce （homemade）
7. 鲜虾炒碗豆 Fried Snowpeas with Prawn(homemade）
8. 斋拼盘 Cantonese style Vegetarian Platter （store bought）
9. 烧鸭 Roast Duck （store bought）
10. 黑白巧可力蛋糕 Black and White Chocolate Mousse Cake （from Loblaws）
11. 还有很多的白，红酒，其中一瓶是Ed收藏了八年很贵的澳洲红酒 and lots and lots of white & red wine, including a fancy bottle of Australian red Ed was saving for eight years.

在多伦多，马来西亚餐馆屈指可数。Ed没遇到我之前，从没尝试过马来西亚美食。所以，在这里不普遍的马来西亚的咖哩鸡对他们来说是蛮特别的。不难煮，因为这里买得到马来西亚的咖哩粉，更令我振奋的是， 我竟买得到pandan叶！ 我从未在墨尔本见过。所以，煮出来的咖哩很香，还算可以见人。我和Ed的厨艺加起来还算不错，所以客人们吃得开胃又开心，所有菜肴都被吃得几乎美人照镜。我和Ed 也自豪

There are only a few Malaysian restaurants in Toronto. Malaysian food is not common in Toronto, therefore the Malaysian curry chicken dish was something new for our guests. It was not too hard to cook because I can get authentic Malaysian curry powder here. What really surprised me was I found pandan leaves here ! I never saw it in Melbourne. It helped to sweeten the flavour of the curry. Ed and I are ok cooks, and our guests enjoyed our food so much that we did not have much leftover!

煮到一半， 那时一切还好。 正当要加上海面时，我看了看那上海面，似乎有些粉。

正犹疑 要不要先用水分开煮一煮， 才与其他材料一齐炒。

照常理， 我通常都会如此做。

可是， 昨晚不知是一时想偷懒，还是在发白日梦，没过水，就把上海面丢进去炒。

结果是当然是不堪设想 ！

还以为可以为Ｅｄ准备爱心午餐。

难怪他常取笑我－烹饪没他棒，清洗没他勤，家居修理当然不是他那家。

算了，让他都做完，我享受，也正合我心意。

他说，要我这个女友有何用。

我的女性朋友说我“拾到宝”。:D

Last night, I decided to cook Shanghainess Fried Noodles. This was my first to try this dish. I had read the recipe before but it was a while ago.

Everything went well until adding the noodles. I looked at the noddles, noticed they were quite powdery.

I hesitated if I should boil the noodles separately before adding to other ingredients.

Usually, I would do so. I did not know what happened last night, possibly was my lazy nature playing its full role, or I was daydreaming. Without boiling them first, I just added in to fry with other ingredients.

Of course, I created a mess and a disaster !

My initial thoughtful plan to prepare for Ed’s lunch was completely destroyed !

No wonder, he always teases me – I can not cook as good as him, I am not as hard working in housework compare to him, I definitely do not know how to maintain the house.

Well, I give up, he can do them all, I am happy to take it easy and enjoy it.

He said, what I am good for as a girlfriend.

My female friends said, I am a lucky girl who can find such a good man who does housework and cook