November 23, 2023
Christmas is in the air! Indeed it is. As the frosty air creeps in, my anticipation for the upcoming joyous holiday grows faster. The cheerful melodies of Christmas carols fill the air, and I can already hear them in some malls and stores. However, I feel a sense of happiness and sadness. It is sad with the fact that my father is no longer with us this Christmas. But I know he wouldn't want to see us sad. So as much as possible, I want to stay happy and look forward to welcoming positive days ahead for myself and my family.
When I read about the LOH161 Contest by this week's judge 
EVERYBODY does selfies, right? You will need to go out someplace where the Christmas decorations are in full swing; whether it's a local department store or your favorite restaurant, someone's home, or wherever the spot may be. You will need to dress festively and hit me with your best shot of Christmas selfie cheer! Be creative; be humorous; be extravagant and over the top! It's early yet (not really) but let's see how to do a serious Christmas selfie!
Christmas in Hong Kong is always grand, transforming some establishments into a magical wonderland. Apart from the Christmas celebration, I look forward to seeing grand Christmas displays. Shimmering lights and colorful decorations light up the spirit of Christmas in my heart, which has changed ever since I worked abroad. This is only the season where I feel excitement while reminiscing about good old Christmas days with loved ones.
Sometimes I wish my family was with me because Christmas isn't just about enjoyment and wandering but also about reunion and family bonding. What makes it special for me is when I celebrate with loved ones. It'll be seven years of spending Christmas abroad alone. So grand decorations alone aren't enough to make me feel complete on Christmas. I hope my wish to be with my family at Christmas will come true someday.
That was a wonderful day that I spent exploring different places. I started my Christmas day with some delicious cuisine. I placed an order for a steak, salad, dessert, and takeout order for pizza. They were a lot for me to have, and that only occurs on extraordinary occasions. It was followed by going to the local church for mass and then wandering around the city. I made a decision to end my day at Tsim Sha Tsui Harbor, in order to see the Symphony of Lights and visit Christmas displays along the harbor.
At this moment, I'm reminiscing about the good old days with my family on Christmas. This includes holiday preparation and shopping. Back when I was in the Philippines, I used to prepare desserts for special occasions like Christmas and the New Year. That's the least I can do in the kitchen since I don't know how to cook main dishes. I give that work to my mom and brothers, lol.
My favorite dessert during Christmas and the New Year is a mango float. It isn't just me, but my family as well. I bet many Filipinos like this dessert because it originated in the Philippines and is now known in other countries. This Filipino dessert is present on almost all kinds of occasions. You might taste some coffee too, since we use diluted coffee to soften the crackers. All flavors complement each other, which makes this dessert one of the best.
Using a few ingredients, one can make this delicious dessert. It is more like a layered Graham cream cake made with Graham crackers and topped with mango slices. We use cream and sweet milk for the fillings. You can imagine the sweetness of it mixed with the unique flavor of graham biscuit.
Well, I have no photos of the preparations, but it is so easy to make mango float. You just need to mix the refrigerated cream with a mixer (if you have one) until it thickens, then gradually add sweet milk. Some use gelatine to give a smooth, firm, and gelato texture to the cream. I tried this before, and it was perfect. After making the cream, it's time to layer the Graham crackers. The crackers must be soaked in diluted coffee with water to soften them. Some use milk. Although it is optional, the grain is perfect when crackers are softened. Pour the cream on the crackers, then top with mango slices. Repeat the process until you make a layer. For the final toppings, you can top more mangoes, then sprinkle with crushed Graham crackers.
There are different versions of mango float nowadays. You can check out this video to learn the process easily.
Now that we are talking about food, this makes me crave Filipino Christmas dishes. I badly missed them.
Anyway, we have a few more weeks before Christmas. What are your plans and preparations? Let's wish for a merry Yuletide season!
Thanks for your time.
(All photos are mine)
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