Early Christmas presents have arrived: Xmas dinner ingredients delivery!
Delivery and food prices here in Melbourne are definitely not as cheap as prices in China, but most of these items aren't available in China anyway!! Australian Christmas! I have a spectacular 'Noel Internationale' Brunch planned for tomorrow, starting with classic French Coquille St. Jacques, a Vegetarian main I created myself: sweet potato and whipped goat cheese trifle topped with one ginormous flamed marshmallow and caramel balsamic glaze. Dessert? Sicilian Gelo di Melone (watermelon pudding)! Let's hope it all gets done, because there are Mimosas to start! Brocoli Cauliflower Pie Today, I learned the difference between pie, pastie, and roll. These are all small hand-sized meals, I guess an Aussie version of fast food, but baked. Bonus is they are come in vegetarian options. Pies have gravy (and are pie-shaped), pasties don't have gravy (and they're shaped like a half moon), and a roll is exactly what it sounds like: crust and filling rolled into a cylinder. And by the way, pastie is not pronounced with a "long A", but a "short A", as in past tense, not glue paste-- which is why when I asked "What's a pay-stee?", the counter gal answered, "What? Oh, a paaahstie... " FYI, Geelong, a Western suburb of Melbourne, is pronounced "ji' lung" not "gee' long". Sigh... learning Australian is hard... LOL Caramel Walnut Slice
At this point, I'm accustomed to a Solo Christmas. I've spent so many holidays away from family -- and sometimes friends -- that the holidays are just not that big of a deal to me anymore. However, the Holidaze are still contagious: I catch the spirit every year; so it follows, I watch Christmas films and enjoy feasts provided by overseas companions, restaurants, or myself! If I'm able, I buy a colorful, tabletop tree and a Santa Hat, and then proceed to cook myself a fancy Xmas Eve dinner, Xmas Day brunch -- or both. Rinse and repeat for New Year's Day. If I am with traveling companions or local friends, I definitely pull out the card and go all in for a posh dinner with champagne and luxurious foodstuffs. And I always buy myself a few presents to unwrap on the Day! No deers were harmed during the making of this film. http://www.heydeermovie.com/ *Copyright info below... This year, I am finally compiling a list of my Fav Xmastime Films: ones I try to watch every year and many that I haven't seen in decades or since childhood. This year, as I relax in Australia on my own for the Holidaze, I am not working, I don't know anyone, and I am simply working on my writing craft and taking it easy; I have decided to watch as many holiday-themed films as possible. And, knowing me, I will research some international flavours and see if I can find a few new faves along with additional esoteric auteur cinema focused on Christmas, including dysfunctional families, happy ridiculousness, mythic horror, holiday romance, and all the unrealistically saccharine scenes I can discover! Films I Watch Every Xmas (and sometimes Turkey Day!)
**The Ref stands as my favorite holiday film: it never fails to cause laughter, it has a happy ending, it's a comedy yet darkly sardonic, Denis Leary is hilarious, and it exemplifies the effed-upness of family dysfunction. This film is my favorite holiday film because it reminds me of my own family and many insane holidays that were passed off as normal. I've been watching this one, no matter what, every year since its release in 1994! It captures my understanding of "holiday spirit" in this one line: "The spirit of Christmas is either you're good or you're punished and burn in hell". That basically sums up my upbringing! Merry Christmas and Happy 2020! Click "Read more" for additional Holiday-themed films along with what NOT to watch on Christmas! |
Gallivanting Goddess is...... finally exploring DownUnder! Archives
February 2020
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