甜點初哥 Dessert Beginner

港姐終於有廚房之後，興奮得一直上網看廚具，正所謂先欲善其事，必先利其器，港姐現在毫無興趣買衣服鞋包包，天天看各種鍋，每次西人看到我又再看烹飪視頻或者是鍋的時候，他就會翻白眼🙄說“you are so addicted”，曾經聽到好多人（尤其是年輕人）會問“喂，怎麼可以找到一個讓人非常passionate或者motivated的興趣愛好”，我通常會回應說“喂，真的有興趣，是不需要找，你自然而然就會去做”，就像我停不了看跟烹飪相關的東西，做飯從來不覺得累，早上起床，晚上睡前都在想煮什麼好呢？我真的是addicted。

Since I finally have a kitchen, I have been so excited and kept looking and shopping of all kinds of cookwares and tools online.  I’m no longer interested in buying new clothes, shoes or purse.  Whenever I’m looking at cooking video or shopping for cookware, Mr Large will roll his eyes and say “you are so addicted”.  I’ve heard a lot of people asking about how to find a habit that they will be passionate with.  I honestly don’t know but I strongly believe if there’s something you never get tired with, that’s it.  I know I’m addicted.

西人說廚房就是我的office，說的一點都沒錯，我一天煮三餐不覺得累，還打算給自己幾個挑戰，1）朋友口中的粵式廚師挑戰北方麵食，2）西式材料做中餐，3）掌握更多西式料理，4）做甜點！沒錯，甜點！我從來都不愛甜食，但耐可西人嗜甜如命，每次吃完飯都會問“what’s for dessert?”，既然現在”office”有個大烤箱，甜點材料在西方國家又是如此便宜和容易買到，港姐當然沒有任何藉口，是時候多學多做甜點了。

My kitchen is my office.  This is what Mr Large said.  I never get tired even I need to cook 3 meals a day everyday.  I’m actually giving myself some challenges in my “office”: 1) as a Southern Chinese to master Northern Chinese flour-cooked snacks e.g. dumplings, scallion pancake, etc.; 2) Cooking Chinese food with Western ingredients; 3) Better master western cuisine; 4) Making dessert!  I’m not obsessed of dessert at all.  Yet, Mr Large has super sweet tooth.  He always asks “what’s for dessert” after dinner.  Since now I have a decent oven in my “office” and dessert ingredients are so much cheaper and easily accessible here, I have no excuse not to make more dessert.

西人給我第一個挑戰是用蘋果做甜點，主要原因是之前住酒店時，因為疫情，酒店只發簡單的早餐，而每天的早餐包裡都有一個蘋果…..接到任務時候剛好在facebook看到一個蘋果派餅的食譜，看似非常的簡單，而家裡剛好有所有需要的材料，也造就了初哥第一個甜點的作品。

The first challenge Mr Large has given me is to make dessert with the apples that we’ve got from the hotel breakfast packs in the last 1 month during the lockdown.  It happened that I saw a recipe from facebook of apple galette.  It looks like an easy one and I’ve got all the ingredients.  I then decided that this is going to be my first homework.

作為初哥，我個人認為算是及格，派餅可以再薄一點，但整體味道還是不錯的，雖然賣相嘛….閨蜜看了照片說你的可麗餅可以再改進，可麗餅？我說這不是可麗餅呢….當場無語，哈！

As a beginner of dessert, I would say I pass.  Yet, the pastry could be thinner.  Presentation is what can be much more improved.  One of my girlfriends commented “you can further improve on this crepe”….THIS IS NOT CREPE! Ha!

做法相當的簡單，各位初哥也可以跟我一起嘗試一下。 It’s very simple and easy.  Everyone can try even without much baking experience.

派皮材料 Pastry Ingredients：麵粉 Flour 1 1/4 cup, 糖 Sugar 1 tbsp，鹽 Salt 1/2 tsp，黃油 Butter 113g，蘋果醋 Apple Cider Vinegar 1 tbsp，冰水 Ice cold water 1/4 cup

蘋果餡材料 Fillings Ingredients: 3-4 蘋果 Apple，糖 Sugar 1/3 cup，檸檬汁 Lemon juice 1 tbsp，肉桂粉 Cinnamon 1/4 tsp，黃油 Butter 1 tbsp

做法 Steps：

• 派皮材料混合好，輕輕揉成團，用保鮮膜包好放進冰箱30分鐘 Mix all the pastry ingredients and make a dough.  Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 30 mins
• 蘋果削皮切片，放進鍋裡加入其它材料中慢火煮直到蘋果變軟 Peel the apples and cut into thin slices.  Cook the apple slices with all other ingredients in low medium heat until apples are soft.

• 將派皮麵團分成四份，擀成圓形 Cut the dough into 4 portions.  Roll them into thin round slice

• 放進蘋果餡後，將邊邊輕輕包好 Put the apples and wrap the sides of the pastry
• 在派餅邊涂上蛋液，再撒一點點糖 Put on some egg wash along the sides of the pie and some sugar
• 烤箱425F預熱，烤25分鐘，淋一點蜂蜜和撒上一點肉桂粉裝飾（也可以撒糖分）Pre-heat oven at 425F，bake the pies for around 25 mins.  Serve with some honey and cinnamon (or icing sugar)

這週打算烤曲奇，也算是挺簡單的，再練習一下就挑戰蛋糕！This week’s challenge is cookies.  It’s also very simple.  Need more practice and then I will start baking some cakes!