想要说清圣诞节前最大的节上吃些什么,只需掌握这10个词!
一、Feast
feast,意为宴会(a very large meal),也有节会(a special or fun occasion, like a party where you eat lots and lots of food)之意。感恩节(Thanksgiving)就是个feast,尽管类似的场合还有很多。
Example:After the beautiful wedding ceremony, there was a gigantic feast at a very expensive restaurant. (一场漂亮的婚礼之后,在一个奢华的饭店里举行了盛大的晚宴。)
二、Blessing
blessing意为祝福,人们会因为收到祝福而感到幸福满满。而人们经常会在餐前进行祷告,这种祷告也被称为blessing,这种做法对于怀有宗教信仰的人来说尤为普遍,他们都会在餐前祷告,感谢上帝赐予他们这么丰盛的食物。
而在感恩节上,即使是没有宗教信仰的人,也会进行祷告(say a blessing),以此来感谢上帝赐予他们丰美的食物。
餐前的这种祷告有时也被称作 grace,所以如果别人要你“say grace”,你该知道,这是要让你向上帝进行祷告,感谢全能的上帝赐予我们食物。
Example:Before the guests ate the Thanksgiving feast, Jill said a blessing and told everyone that she was happy they could be together. (在客人们开始享用感恩节晚宴之前,吉尔进行了祷告,告诉在座的每一位来宾,自己非常高兴能够和大家共度这个感恩节。)
三、Turkey
上面两个单词虽然与食物相关,但都不能吃,这下到了可以吃的了——turkey(火鸡)。据说美国人每年会吃掉大约2.8亿只火鸡!
有人说,这好像太残忍了,因为据说火鸡其实是一种很敏感的动物。于是乎,就有厂家发现商机了,他们推出了火鸡的替代品——tofurkey(素火鸡),其实就是用小麦蛋白和有机豆腐合成的食品。那么,你吃素吗?
Example:In the past, there were many wild turkeys in America, but now almost all of them are domesticated and kept on farms. (过去,美国有很多的野生火鸡,但如今,几乎大部分火鸡都是农场养殖的。)
四、Gravy
Gravy,即肉汁。看清楚了,不是grave(坟墓)!
肉汁一般是褐色的,因为来自烹饪的肉类汤汁,所以味道就跟肉味一样。 我们在吃西餐时,服务员经常会问我们喜欢哪种肉汁,指的就是这个gravy。
Example:This gravy is delicious, but I have a feeling that it is probably not very healthy. I'll need to do a lot of exercise after dinner! (这个肉汁很美味,不多我觉得这肉汁不太健康。晚饭后,我得多做些运动。)
五、Cranberry / Cranberry Sauce
cranberry,曼越橘,是一种灌木果实。有点像蓝莓,但要更大些,颜色也不一样。
曼越橘很酸,所以如果要做成酱(cranberry sauce),就需要加入白糖一起熬制。曼越橘酱是食用火鸡肉时的必备调料,人们都会在火鸡肉上蘸上曼越橘酱食用。
Example: Some people who have not tried cranberry sauce with meat think it sounds strange, but you should really try it—it's delicious! The combination of sweet and salty flavors is excellent. (有些人认为就着曼越橘酱吃肉听上去很怪,但是他们真应该试试,非常美味!甜咸味相融,妙不可言!)
六、Pumpkin Pie (and Whipped Cream)
所谓pie(馅饼,或者直接被译为“派”),其实就是很像蛋糕的甜品,但是更厚、更扁、更软。所谓pumpkin pie(南瓜派),就是在派里头塞南瓜泥。
南瓜派是感恩节上最受欢迎的甜品,人们经常和鲜奶油(whipped cream)一起食用。
Example:I feel full, but this pumpkin pie is so delicious. Well, you only live once, and it's Thanksgiving—give me another piece, please! And don't forget the whipped cream! (我已经饱了,但这个南瓜派太美味了。好吧,人不就活一回嘛!今天又是感恩节!来,请再给我一个,不要忘了加奶油!)
七、Yams / Sweet Potatoes
Yams(番薯)和sweet potatoes(甘薯)看上去和土豆很像,但都各自不一样。管它呢!反正人们都很喜欢在感恩节上吃这两样东西。
人们往往会把它们先烧熟,然后捣成泥,再加入白糖或棉花糖等调料来食用。
Example:Those yams look tasty, but could you please serve me the part that doesn't have marshmallows? They're too sweet for me. (那些番薯看上去很美味,请你给我来点不放棉花糖的,棉花糖太甜了!)
八、Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes,即土豆泥,人们往往会在土豆泥里加入牛奶、黄油和盐,有人还会再加入薄荷和辣椒等。想起来都想吃了!
Example:For Thanksgiving, people often eat mashed potatoes with gravy on top. (感恩节上,人们经常会吃土豆泥,上面浇了一层肉汁。)
九、Stuffing / Dressing
stuffing,即填料,是指感恩节上人们在烘烤火鸡前,塞进火鸡肚子里的各类调料和食物,有的地方也把这种填料称为dressing。
常见的填料有芹菜、薄荷、面包块等,人们会根据自己口味喜好来选择不同的填料。
不过,也有人认为把火鸡和填料一起烘烤很奇怪,所以会把两种分开烹饪。
Example:There always seems to be a lot of stuffing at Thanksgiving, but never enough gravy. (感恩节上各类填料似乎总是吃不完,但是肉汁却总是显得那么少!)
十、Corn
玉米在感恩节上其实与其说是一种食物,不如说更像是一种象征被保留了下来。因为当初第一批来到美国的移民们,之所以能够幸存下来,就是因为当地印第安人教会了他们种植玉米。
Example:Some families do eat corn for Thanksgiving, but many people are more interested in eating the special foods that are traditionally associated with the holiday. They may just use corn as decoration on the table. (一些家庭感恩节上还是会吃玉米的,但是很多人都对跟这个传统节日相关的其他特别的食物感兴趣。这些人只是把玉米当作餐桌上的装饰而已。)