松露巧克力《聖誕甜點》Chocolate Truffles《Christmas Sweet Treats》

前幾天我正在計劃著我的聖誕購物單時, 接到一個電話, 是住在附近的羅老太太打來的。她說她的孫女兒安麗放期中假, 目前來探望並住在他們家; 小女孩說想來我家看狗兒 Josh, 羅老太問我可以帶她過來嗎?

As I was writing my Christmas shopping list the other day, I got a phone call from one of my neighbours Mrs R.  She said their grand-daughter Annie is visiting and is staying with them now during the half-term; the little girl has asked to come and see our dog Josh, Mrs R. asked if she can bring her over?

自從安麗的父母離異後, 上次她來探我, 距今已有一年了。我不時都會想念她。

掛上電話後, 我便開始安排等會她來時我們應做些甚麼事情。

反正我在打算做松露巧克力, 心想不如和安麗一起做好了, 還可以讓她帶些回去給媽媽。

I haven't seen Annie since her visit a year ago after her parents split up, and have thought of her often.

After hanging up the phone, I was thinking about what we should do when she gets here.

As I was going to make chocolate truffles,  I thought why don't we make them together, and she can take some back to her mum as well.

小安麗長得高了點和瘦了點, 像比以前沉默了些。

Annie has grown taller and thinner, perhaps a little quieter .

但當我們把松露巧克力做好, 排放在碟上; 我點亮了洋燭和扯了幼絲帶時, 看到她的小臉蛋發亮得有如小天使。

她開心得用力拍掌地呼叫: 「這不像你自己的巧克力糖果店嗎? 太好玩了!」

But as soon as we finished making the truffles, and started to put them on trays; I lit up the candles and pulled the ribbons, and her little face brighten up like a little angel.

She clapped her hands and cried out happily, " It's like having your own chocolate sweet shop, how fun is that?"

我告訴小安麗她也可以回家和媽媽一起做, 聖誕節期間還可以幫媽媽佈置起來招呼朋友; 她聽後非常開心。

我們一起把資料寫下, 我又跟她講解清楚各個步驟。她問我可不可以再給她幾個蛋糕食譜好讓她聖誕時做。我對她說由現在到聖誕期間我都會做很多應節食品; 叫她去我 blog 處找自己喜歡的便行, 因為我現在同時用中英文書寫, 她可以看得明的。

I told her she can make them at home with her mum too, and can help her to set it up at Christmas for visitors.  She was very happy.

We wrote down the recipe together and were going through what she has to do; she asked if I can give her some more recipes for cakes to make at Christmas.  I told her to check on my blog, as I write it in both Chinese and English now so she can read them and finds what she wants from there; I will be posting quite a lot of Christmas food recipes from now on.

她微笑地對我說她想學煮東西。

我知道這主意真是最好不過!  因為最清楚烹飪可以給煮食者和他們身邊的人帶來的樂趣和幸福。

我告訴安麗, 媽媽永遠是世上最棒的烹飪老師; 如果媽媽忙和沒空時, 她可以隨時給我電話、電郵或短詢。

She smiled at me and said she would like to learn how to cook.

I know it would be a brilliant idea for her!  Knowing how much joy and happiness cooking can bring to people and those around them.

I told Annie, her mummy is always the best cooking teacher in the world; but when mum's busy, she can ring, email or text me anytime.

松露巧克力《聖誕甜點》

Chocolate Truffles《Christmas Sweet Treats》

材料:

• 半脂肪的雙忌廉 127ml / 4 1/2 floz ( half fat double cream eg Elmlea),  當然用 full fat 的 double cream 也可以
• 黑巧克力 255g / 9 oz, 剁碎
• 喜歡的烈酒 2 湯匙
• 可可粉 2 湯匙
• 用完即棄飲食業用手套一對

Ingredients:

• 127 ml / 4 1/2 fl oz half fat double cream ( eg Elmlea )
• 255g / 9 oz plain chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp liqueur of your choice
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 pair disposable catering gloves

做法:

1.  將忌廉置小煲上用小火煮至剛沸便熄火移開, 把巧克力碎塊加進拌至完全融化.  加入烈酒拌
     勻,   將巧克力混合物刮進碟內用保鮮紙蓋著, 放冰箱( 雪櫃 fridge ) 內 15 分鐘至略為硬化.

2.  可可粉置小碟上, 穿上手套, 並在手套雙掌面抹上可可粉. 用茶匙取起一塊巧克力混合物, 快
     手按搓成小球狀, 然後放進心愛的甜料去翻滾裹密, 輕輕掉進小紙杯上便成.

Method :

1.   Place the cream in a small saucepan, bring just to the boil then remove from the heat.  Stir the chocolate

      into the cream until melted.  Stir in the liqueur and transfer to a bowl, covered with cling film and chill in
      the fridge for about 15 minutes until quite firm.

2.   Put the cocoa powder onto a small plate, put on the gloves.  Dust the palms of your gloves with the 

      cocoa, take a teaspoon of the chocolate mixture and roll into a small ball, then roll in the sweet coatings

      of your choice. Place them gently on the little paper cups to serve.

       

做好的松露巧克力用容器封密, 可在冰箱內存放一星期以內.

是聖誕佳節期間用來招呼訪客的理想下午茶或飯後甜點.

The truffles will last up to a week in the fridge if being kept in covered container.

They make a wonderful sweet treat for tea or coffee at tea-time or after dinner during the festive season.