Kueh Tiaw Goreng Basah - minum petang with my boys

Hi all,

Its almost 3pm here in Kuwait and its raining too. Sejak kebelakangan ni, kerap pulak  la hujan. Satu je masalah kalau dah hujan ni, HUJAN + DEBU = LUMPUR. Abis la keta suma kelabu and my condolence goes to our Harris (penjaga bangunan) jenuh la nak mencuci semua kereta penyewa-penyewa di apartment ni. FYI, Harris tu bukannlah nama orang yang dok jaga building ni tapi Harris tu bermakna PENJAGA. So dia la yang take care of the works such as kutip and buang sampah, mop koridor, tukar lampu or any minor report pertaining to all kat apartment ni. We are so lucky I might say, although with the barrier  of communication, still we can communicate and convey any complain (if any) to him. Tapi standard la, ada masa the action taken cepat.. ada masa.. buat sendiri.. lagi cepatttt!!!

In my last entry, Ibu kan a bit moody.. swing mood.. biasa la.. pompuan ada the ups and the downs. Dah Ibu ni pun jenis spisis yang cepat emo. Kat luar je nampak keras ni, tapi kat dalam jiwa halus babe..

So selepas berjaya melepaskan segala tensi dan all the yang terbuku dalam hati ni, alhamdulillah.. reda banyak la jugak. Besides, cooking too I believes help to reduce my tens. Petang ni Ibu masak yang simple-simple je. Just to cater perut anak Bujang Sulong for a few hours. Then dah nak kena masak dinner pulak.

Well, there as shown in the pic, kueh tiaw goreng basah.. A simple dish and so easy to prepare. Just tumis bawang merah and bawang putih. Bila dah naik bau masukkan udang. Later campurkan sikit sos tiram dan  kicap pekat. Masukkan air sedikit dan tutup api. Kemudian terus masukkan sayur sawi (Ibu  tak  suka sayur lembut sangat).  Jangan lupa pulak perasakan dengan garam. Beres..

How you wish to have it.. terpulang la... nak campur extra cili potong ke, bawang goreng ke, perahan asam limau ke.. terpulang la pada tekak masing-masing.

FRIENDSHIP

 Picture credit to Encik Gugel

Assalamuaaikum all,

Friendship.. just how do we actually evaluate the value of friendship. Is it in the matter of how we can "click" with the other party? or how we actually can rely on the value of one friendship itself. It is a matter of a very subjective things, isn't it? Me, I actually prefer to see it as one bond with another person that knows the value of the word itself and the value it carries. One say..a friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are. Nevertheless, a friend too is the roses of life. Pick them carefully and avoid the thorns.

Living here in the Land of Barakah, Kuwait.. I too can't escape from having all sorts of blues among the ones who so called "friends". As I get older I though that I too get wiser. Well, definitely I am not. Now and then I always get caught in the middle or  even worst being a subject of the evil gossiping. Well, is it too typical to relates women with GOSSIP. Don't they have better things to do besides gossiping?? Well, hell.. yeahhhh.. in the gym, in the kitchen, in the park or the nowadays trend.. in the Facebook, there is gossip everywhere.

We, seldom assumed people can understand ourself for actually we are totally wrong. Nobody can have the same way we think. We have to anticipate that not even our husband, childrens, parents or even the ones we called friends can do so. Now and then, we might ended-up having disagreements upon somethings. Nevertheless, only our creator knows best of what we are. And that is actually why only to Him we should rely on our frustration, sadness, happiness and whatnot. And only Allah too can gives us the total comfort.

So for whatever that we experienced between friends, try to forgive even better learn to forget. Start living in a low profile life is one of it too. Saying is much easier than doing it. Hence to recuperate those time, reading good material can helps. Paying less attention to any gossip is one healthy way to start your fresh day. Just ignore those that makes you uncomfortable. Spent within your financial ability. Adapt to things within your own means and within your own way.  Try to think of people especially friends in their best quality. Don't worry too much of what people think of you. What goes around will comes around. Some say, if people stops talking to you, they start talking about you!!! Too bad... just don't give a damn about it.

At the same time, think of the actual and first reason why we are here. Insya'Allah, if we think it is for the best of ourself, our family, our childrens, our future.. things will turn out to be the way how we want it to be. Last but not least, friends too come in handy in this matter. Therefore be more wiser with those who are around you. A bonus I might add if you fall into the hands of those people that know and appreciate the value of your friendship.

Sup ekor & tulang - Pembuka selera untuk tekak orang demam

Good morning all,

I guessed this is the time of the year when Ibu tumbang with annual sakit tekat, sakit kepala, sakit-sakit badan and to mention DEMAM too. Sejak semalam lagi badan ni dah rasa tak sedap. Suma rasa lenguh-lenguh. Suma rasa tak selesa. Tapi dalam pada tu, sempat la jugak Ibu mereneh sup tulang dan ekor ni. Bukan susah sangat nak buat pun, tumis bawang merah, bawang putih dan halia. Bila dah naik bau, masukkan air dan ekor bersama tulang. Campakkan sup bunjut dalam 3-4 bunjut.. setel. Tapi Ibu suka tambah dengan rempah-rempah lain jugak seperti bunga lawang, lada hitam a few others.. kasi kawwww lagi. Then biarlah sup tu masak dalam 3-4 jam. Ibu tak guna pressure-cooker (like my mom) so kena lama la sikit. Tapi ape nak kira, electric sini FREE.. so berapa lama pun nak tenggek periuk tu atas dapur.. its up to you.

Sup ni (pada Ibu la) sedap dimakan jika telah dibiarkan semalaman. Air sup tu dah mesra dengan daging as well as segala rempah-rempah yang Ibu dah boh tadi pun dah mesra dengan air sup tu. Time tu, cuma tambah bawang goreng, perahkan sikit asam limau, daun sup, cili potong.. perghhhh.. heaven on aerth babe... Only this time Ibu cuma boh bunga kobis, celery and perahan air asam limau.. no chili please.. sakit tekak ni..

Sebenarnya dulu Ibu pun tak makan jugak sup-sup macam ni but Cik Asben memang suka sangat la pulak. So setiap kali Ibu masak, kena rasa la jugak.. at last.. sama naik la pulak dengan dia. Amsyar pulak cuma ambik sup sahaja. Bujang Sulong tu memang kurenggg sikit when it comes to masakan macam ni ei. yang melibatkan daging. Tapi kalau makan "steak" okey pulak dia.. bertuah nyer anak. Kalau Haazem pulak, nasi, sup (sahaja) and ayam goreng.. whereas Si Cinonet, lagi haru.. sup and nasi impit. There, my three boys with three different ways of enjoying their sup ekor and tulang.

 Sup with nasi impit - Arif style

Nevertheless still Ibu enjoy masak, especially bila the boys kata "trima kasih Bu, sedap Ibu masak ari ni" sejukkkkk telinga mendengar and semakin bersemangat pulak lagi Ibu nak memasak. Everything I do.. I do it for U boyssss..

Talhah Fazneen 8th Birthday

Assalamualaikum.. 

Jumaat, 27hb Januari 2012 bersamaan 4 Rabi Al-Awwal 1433 kami sekeluarga telah dijemput oleh Azian dan suami untuk meraikan hari lahir anakanda mereka Talhah Fazneen yang ke-8. Satu lagi jemputan makan-makan, bermakna satu hari lagi Ibu tak payah masak kat umah.. YAHOOOO !!!!! Bukanlah malas sangat nak masak tapi sesekali nak jugak jamu tekak sendiri dengan air tangan masakan orang lain pulak.

Kita orang sampai kat umah Yan dalam pukul 2.00pm, just nice la sebab memandangkan majlis bermula kul 1.30pm. Kalau pi awal sangat nanti orang kata gelojoh sangat (ayat nak cover lewat). Itu pun Cik Asben dah bising-bising nak gerak awal sebab nanti kami nak tumpangkan Amsyar pulak ke kelas karate dengan Kak Elli. 

Food wise, memang banyak.. macam-macam ada. Daging salai masak lemak, sambal tumis udang ngan petai, kerabu mangga, satay, ikan masin goreng, kuih-muih tradisional, mi rebus etc. Rasa macam kat Malaysia je la pulak. Best babe tapi memandangkan perut  ni dah sedikit "berisi", tak berani la hamba nak suka-suki telan itu-ini. Karang OVER LOAD, sendiri jugak yang menanggung.. Rugi besar karang. So SMI la ya..

 Antara juadah yang disediakan oelh Tuan Rumah.. superb..

Picture credit to Capt.Malik FB album

Satu lagi BEST nyer bab majlis-majlis makan macam ni, waktu seperti inilah kebiasaannya kami rakyat Malaysia dapat berkumpul, bertanya khabar antara satu sama lain, update itu-ini dan ape-ape yang patut la. Tho' negara Pasir Berdengung ni tak la sebesar mana pun but still this is an opportunity that should not be missed by all. Bukan senang nak jumpa kawan-kawan serentak at one place. Nak terjah umah orang, harap maklum je la ya. Lain la macam umah Ibu.. sesiapa yang sudi.. ahlan wa'sahlan.. Cuma bagi la notice 1-2 jam awal sikit, boleh la jamu ape yang patut. Otherwise, air teh tarik bujang je la ya.

Birthday girl with mom & friends..

Later, around 3.30pm kami pun gerak la balik.. nak pi kelas karate pulak ni. Tak syok la kalau pi lewat, tambahan pulak Amsyar dah sedia menunggu kat kelas. Bujang Sulong tu penyegan sikit, tambah pulak kalau dia dok sensorang. 

Pada Tuan Rumah (if you're reading this chapter) mintak ampun mintak maaffff... kami balik hari tu tak sempat pun nak mohon dan ucap terima kasih pada Yan dan suami. Jenuh dah mencari, tapi tak jumpa jugak. But nevertheless, from the bottom of our heart.. TERIMA KASIH DAUN KELADI, NANTI JEMPUT LA KAMI LAGI... 

K.Yati, me & K.Elli, picture credit to Capt. Malik's FB album

 Winter, best time of the year.. bunga-bunga pun subur & cantik-cantik.. sejuk mata memandang..
Picture credit to Capt.Malik FB album

Dalca Kambing with Roti Turki

Assalamualaikum all,

Saja nak share satu resepi yang seumur hidup ni baru dua kali je Ibu buat, Dalca daging kambing. Seperti yang di dalam gambar ni Ibu makan dengan roti Turki. Kenyang tahap melampau.. tapi lepas tu, merana la dok mencari Panadol. Faham-faham je la ye.. kambing tu.. To those yang berhajat nak share resepi, sila lihat di bawah ya.

Bahan A
1 kg daging (also applicable to daging kambing)
3/4 cup kacang dal
5 ulas bawang putih (ketuk)
1 inci halia (ketuk)
3-4 sudu makan rempah daging
1 sudu teh kunyit serbuk
secukup air untuk merebus
sedikit daun kari

Bahan B
kentang (optional)
1/2 cawan santan pekat
I keping asam keping (boleh ganti air asam jawa, kalu rajin)

Bahan C
2 biji bawang besar, hiris
1 biji buah pelaga
1 batang kayu manis
1 biji bunga lawang (star anise)
1/2 tsp biji sawi (mustard seed)
sedikit daun kari

Sayur-sayuran utk dalca
Lada hijau, Kacang panjang/ buncis, tomato, bunga kobis, lobak merah etc

Caranya
1. Rebus bahan A hingga daging setengah empuk, masukkan bahan B dan teruskan merebus dengan api sederhana/perlahan (slow-cooking)

2. Tumis bahan C dengan sedikit minyak hingga wangi dan bawang garing (light brown), dan tuangkan kesemuanya (dengan minyaknya skali) ke dalam periuk daging. Teruskan merebus hingga dal hancur dan kuah pekat. Bubuh garam sesedap rasa.

Masukkan lada hijau dan sayur-sayuran, bila semua dah cukup masak dan pekat… setel..

Note; utk ayam – sebaiknya rebus kacang dal dulu sbb ayam cepat lembut (xmo nnt ayam hancur sgt)

Just another busy Saturday

Son and dad.. see the resemblance??

Wowwww...

Indeed yesterday was one extremely busy, full of activities and joyfullest Saturday. Our bright Saturday  morning starts with the  kids karate class at 9.30am (which formally ends at 11.00-11.30am) only this time we asked permission from Sensei Yahya to finish the class a bit early because Cik Asben has to be at the Cozmo Bowling at 11.00am. His company got this some sort of employees get together day there. Bukan family day pun and not a tournament as well. Just one time get together..

We arrived there around 11.05am (biasalah knowing my Cik Asben - timing is very important). Not so many of others yang dah sampai pun. My kids, being there bagai pucuk dicita.. bola bowling jadi mangsa. Sempat la dia orang main dua frame. Si Cinonet pun sama sibuk jugak. Walhal bola bowling tu Ibu rasa lagi besar dari kepala dia. Well, together accompanied with Ija's daughters .. the kids was indeed having fun.

Ayuni a.k.a Kak Yang posing with her 6kg bowling ball

Lunch was very simple but yet tasty indeed. Ibu tak tau pun ape yang Ibu makan semalam. Selamber je celah tumpang lunch Ija and Kak Yong. My breakfast was rather a bit heavy yesterday. I had one full tray of hot cakes (lempeng la) at Mac Donald while waiting for Amsyar and Haazem to finish their class. So since its still early, makan lebih kurang saja la dulu. As you can see below, that is just one normal portion of the regular take-away spaghetti and its been shared between me, Ija, Kak Yong and Sofiya. Mujur share empat orang, otherwise.. 

My lunch (actually share hat Ija and Kak Yong)

After lunch we decided to roam around City Center for a while. Tengok-tengok ape yang patut.. baju ke, kasut ke, handbag ke, beli groceries ke.. etc etc etc. One thing nice about the City Center Salmiyah, although its not as fancy as 360 Mall or the Avenues but yet it can cater almost everything  that you want. From foods, games for the kids, accessories for the ladies, gadgets for the guys.. just name it. Price range.. okey la jugak.

At last, after a while we reached our home sweet home just around Asar. Penat weiii.. Tengok tv, tak ada pulak cerita yang best, the boys dah dok layan hal masing-masing la, Cik Asben too already with his "things".. leaving me alone with this perut yang baru mula nak berkeroncong. Nak masak, not so in the mood.. nak tapau from Subway or Great Steak, malas nak turun bawah. Solution.. ajak Cik Asben pi terjah pulak Souk Mubarakiyah maybe for riyash or ikan bakar??

After some ITU and INI between me and the kids, finally we are off to Souk Mubarakiyah pulak. Its almost 8.30pm when our first dish sampai. For dinner we ordered ikan bakar (ikan jenahak kut) and it was very delicious, mix grill and rice. To my surprise, my boys too was enjoying their dinner as much as I am. Maybe sebab dah lapar sangat kut but sincerely, the food was alhamdulillah.. sedapppppp sangat. Even Cik Asben pun kata sedap. Ada peluang datang lagi ni. Selalunya kalau kami pi makan kat Souk Mubarakiyah ni, kami makan riyash je. Tu sebab Haazem tak brape layan sangat tempat ni. Dia kan jenis yang simple but yet a bit selective I might say. Since the food was agreeing with him, senang la kalau nak pi sini lagi.

Bahan bukti exhibit A - sebelum operasi dig in..

Bahan bukti exhibit B - licin babe.. memang berbaloi

Last agenda at Souk Mubarakiyah. Besides riyash, abayah and those sort of middle east things.. we also formally buy our tulang lembu and ekor kat sini. Beli kat sini lagi puas hati.. and the price too, considered a bit cheaper then the normal prices offered at those mall. Pilihan pun banyak, tapi kita orang dah ada favorite shop kat sini. The owner pun dah faham sangat dengan taste kita orang.. senang macam tu kan. And that too ends our Saturday. Balik umah la, penat dah ni. Amsyar pun nak sekolah esok...

 Cik Asben tengah dok pilih tulang lembu

Cik Asben, Amsyar and Haazem with Abdul Salam, the shop owner

My most humble & modest Mi Hailam

Assalamualaikum..

Salam pagi Jumaat yang barakah..

Hari ni tahap kerajinan terlebih sikit dari biasa. Tapi sebenarnya semangat saja yang kuat. Kalau ikutkan hati, banyak lagi yang boleh dimakan. Cuma kesihan ke anak-anak pulak yang lama dah berhajat nak makan mi kuning. Tak kisah la mi kari ke, mi mamak ke etc. Janji mi kuning. Jalan mudah.. mintak Cik Asben belikan sahaja. Satu tray kecik ada la dlm 500fils. Beratnya pulak maybe dalam 250grams. Untuk anak-beranak makan, at least kena 4 tray. Dah 2KD tu. So dari dok beli yang hat buatan Pinoy, biar la Ibu buat sendiri. Sekilo tepung pun baru 400fils. Buat mi kuning ni tak la susah mana, cuma yang jadi malas tu sebab mula proses dari menguli tepung, mencanai dan menggelek untuk dijadikan mi kuning. Selepas tu nak kena rebus, tos dan akhir sekali dilumur dengan minyak. 

 Bahan bukti - mi kuning 2 kilo.. memang berbaloi..

Setakat nak makan anak-beranak, 250grams tepung sememangnya dah mencukupi tapi dah alang-alang buat sepah didapur ni dengan serdak dan sememeh tepung, biar la Ibu terus buat sekilo sahaja. Dengan sekilo tepung biasanya Ibu boleh dapat dua kali ganda yakni dua kilo mi kuning.

So dengan bantuan Cik Asben dan Arif yang berkobar-kobar nak tolong menggelek tepung, akhirnya selesailah sudah satu tugas. Sekarang bab nak memasak pulak. Yang ni kompom Ibu kena buat sensorang la.

Ibu finally decided to prepare one simple dish, mi hailam. Only this time the mi hailam only consist of prawn and some vege. Ibu tak sempat nak defrost fish cake dan fish ball. Anak-anak suma dah tak sabar nak makan. Its been about four months now since they had their last mi hailam. Itu pun masa dia orang balik cuti summer lepas at my mom's house. Memang berbaloi kalau masak mi hailam di rumah ni, semua boleh makan. Cuma untuk Haazem... no vege please..

As I said earlier, preparing the mi kuning memang sedikit renyah. Tapi dah nak makan.. kena la usaha sikit kan. Living apart from your comfort zone sometimes teaches you many things that you don't and never bother to know off, and learning how to prepare mi kuning is one of it. Ye la, ape susah, tunjuk je brape peket nak.. setel. Okey, enough with the bla bla bla.. got to run now.. its Friday... hari cuti yakni hari BZ BZ BEEEEE..

Daaaa..

Bbq - family treat

The riyash

The butter prawn

Morning all (kat Malaysia dah lepas lunch hour ni)

Actually me and Cik Asben have been planning to do this for the past 2-3 days. Saja suka-suka makan anak-beranak. My Cik Asben is really a "riyash" lovers. He can go all the way up to 10 keping riyash. Crazy huh.. just imagining the cholesterol.. but again.. ubat kan ada.

So yesterday the moment he reaches home, terus tukar baju and keluarkan all the gadgets etc. This time we're lucky to get just a little extra help from Amsyar and Haazem. Seronok jugak bila tengok anak-anak sama sibuk tolong dalam operasi kali ni. But Haazem was only around for a while, lepas tu dia lepak tidur. I'm guessing he's just too tired from one whole day of main, main, mainnnnn lagi. Whereas Amsyar, beyond my expectations, not just so busy helping out his father but also later so occupied with the "makan-makan". Lapar sangat la tu. Again I'm so surprised to see him eating almost 4-5 keping riyash. Memang malam ini dalam sejarah la.Sambil mulut dok mengunyah sambil tu jugak la dok puji riyash prepared his father sedap la, lembut la, secukup rasa.. and the compliments goes on and on and on.

While Arif timing was indeed sangat la bagus because the moment first riyash siap dibakar, dia pun bangun from his sleeps. My Cik Asben sememangnya awal-awal lagi dah reserved 2-3 keping riyash just for Arif. Mau meraung mamat sorang ni nanti tak dapat makan riyash.

Unfortunately Haazem was unable to enjoy all those good foods (macam la dia kisah sangat). Akibat kepenatan yang amat sangat, tertidur kat sofa sampai la later Cik Asben angkut bawak masuk bilik. 

Me, after two pieces of riyash and a butter prawn terus sakit kepala (as expected pun). Ape lagi, telan dua biji panadol and I'm off to sleep. Padan muka to me..

This morning, while dok kemas-kemas barang-barang dari last night bbq, ada la jumpa some leftovers. Confirmed masuk tong sampah la ni. Me.. tak brani la nak cari pasal. Today is Thursday and I have a lot and a lot of things to be done. Okey, I'm going to continue with all the cleaning up.. Until later.. daaaaa..

The leftovers - what a waste...

My kind of books

Hi all,

Are we under the same addictions?

Dulu masa memula sampai sini, memang boring gilos la. Dah la tak ada kawan.. dah tu nak jalan-jalan pulak tengah ngandungkan Arif so memang kena banyak berehat. Nak dok umah jer.. aduhai.. boleh kejung dek kebosanan la. Tapi time tu mujur la ada Zira (wife Aizam). Sesekali jumpa meriah la jugak. Memang dugaan betol la masa tu. Memang most of the time rasa macam nak balik dok Tanah Malaya ajer..

Ada jugak la a few times Cik Asben bawak jalan-jalan pi kedai buku. Tapi most of the books Ibu tak minat nak baca or rasa sangat la tidak berbaloi kalau nak beli. Majalah pun harga banyak yang mengarut. Bukanlah nak berkira sangat tapi waktu tu rasa 2-3KD dah besar sangat la untuk sebuah buku. Infect sampai ke hari ni pun dengan harga yang macam tu.. memang MAHAL!!! 

Then later Cik Asben bagi tau kat bawah opis dia ada satu kedai buku ni yang dia sendiri pun tak penah masuk pun. So on one fine day, Ibu pun pi la terjah. Best babe.. Godek punya godek, macam-macam ada. Even my Mills & Boon pun ada. Rasa macam "pucuk dicita.. buku yang dapat". Besides selling those books, kedai ni jugak ada buy back policy. So kalau rasa-rasa buku yang dibeli tu tak berbaloi dibuat koleksi persendirian, boleh je dipulangkan semula. Kira macam sewa la. Setakat ni buku-buku yang Ibu dah baca, memang buat reta terus la. Even ada yang dah dihantar balik ke Tanah Malaya pun. Mana la nak simpan buku-buku tu kat rumah ni. Tempat terhad.

The owner, Mr Jacob.. memang peramah ya amat la. Dengan keadaan kedai yang comel yet tersusun.. memang rasa selesa sangat nak melepak kat sana even 2-3 jam sekali pun. Tapi pandai-pandai la bawak diri. Ini kedai jual/sewa buku bukannya perpustakaan. 

Satu je masalah kalau Ibu dah mula pegang buku-buku ni.. tak reti nak berhenti. Ada masa sampai lebih dari time tidur, terlajak sampai ke suboh pun selalu. Dulu masa ngandungkan Arif, memang selalu sangat la terlajak sampai Cik Asben dah nak pi kerja, baru la nak berhenti. Sekarang with Amsyar and Haazem dah masuk sekolah, tak berani la nak buat macam tu lagi. Sia-sia je anak-anak tak pi sekolah karang sebab Ibu terlajak tidur.

Tho anak-anak Ibu bukanlah jenis yang boleh melekap kusyuk ngadap buku, but still dia orang seronok lepak kat kedai tu sebab dia orang jumpa a few reading material yang kena dengan taste masing-masing. Here I would like to share some pictures taken during our last visit there.

My department a.k.a my little sanctuary

Sila abaikan tajuk buku yang terpampang.. ini hanya untuk tujuan sessi promosi semata-mata

Bende goreng berlada

Hi all,

Ini saje nak tunjuk plus share satu lagi dish yang Ibu sangat suka makan. Dah la simple nak masak, sedap pulak tu.. Aceh ceh cehhhh.. motip puji diri sendiri kan kan kan..

Kalau ada sesiapa yang rasa nak share resepi.. okey, sila rujuk dibawah ni ya..

Bahan-bahan;
Cili api secukupnya
Bawang besar separuh
Bawang putih 4-5 ulas
Ikan bilis
** 1/4 digunakan utkm menumis
** 3/4 digunakan utk digoreng garing

Cara-cara penyediaan;
Goreng sehingga garing portion 3/4 ikan bilis - ketepikan
Blend bawang besar, bawang putih, cili api dan ikan bilis (hat 1/4)
Tumiskan sehingga naik bau
Kemudian masukkan bende yang telah dipotong serong dan ikan bilis yang telah digoreng garing tadi.
Gaulkan bersama sehingga sebati dan perasakan dengan garam
Beresssss...

Gulai daging salai ngan mangga

Assalamualaikum,

Hari ni Ibu nak share satu resepi orang kampung yang tersangat la common tapi wajib di Negeri Sembilan. Gulai daging salai.. and kali ni masa masak tu Ibu campur dengan mangga as sidekicks. Otherwise kalau takde ape-ape yang masam, boleh je letak serai. Setel.

Daging salai ni memang Ibu bawak dari Malaysia. Pernah jugak bakar dalam oven, tapi hasilnya jadi la pulak daging bakar yang mana daging tu tak ada bau macam daging disalai pun. Kelainan daging salai ni dari daging bakar.. sebab ia disalai dengan sabut kelapa dan tempurung. So bau "disalai" tu terbit dari asap tempurung dan sabut kelapa tu la. Tapi kalau bakar dalam oven, lain la pulak baunya kan. Bau asap tu jugaklah yang menjadikan "authentic" daging  salai ni hingga harganya boleh mencecah RM40.00 sekilo. Tapi make sure original la. Kebanyakkan yang dijual ari ni suma fake ie. dibakar, dah tu nak keja mudah and cepat. Lagi pun dulu sabut kelapa and tempurung FREE, ari ni kena beli babe. I said so sebab I know la.. Masa balik summer tu ari sempatlah jugak berniaga daging salai ni. Dapat $$ memang seronok, yang tak seronok masa nak menyalai daging tu la.. sengsara babe.. kalau tak betul cara, mau cecah sampai 5-6 jam jugak la.

Lagi pun masa menyalai daging ni, api kena kecik (sebab kita nak ASAP saja kan). Then kena rajin balik-balikkan daging tu, kalau malas nanti daging tu tak kering sekata pulak. Then kalau daging tak cukup kering, nanti daging cepat rosak atau busuk.

Daging yang hendak disalai, siap dikelar-kelar

Menyalai daging the "traditional way"

Beginilah keadaan & rupa daging yang hampir siap disalai

Daging salai ni okey je kalau disimpan dalam tempoh yang lama dalam freezer. Provided masa disalai tu, daging cukup kering. Kalau daging separa kering (lembab), kurang cantik la masa dimasak tu. Daging yang tidak cukup kering ni pun cepat rosak walaupun disimpan di tempat beku. Dah masuk ais kan, so bila defrost tu, daging jadi cepat hancur. Ini "petua" dari pengalaman Ibu sendiri. Rugi 2-3kg daging salai. Mujur tak nangis.. ye la, dah la penat, muka pun jadi lebam sebab lama sangat main api.

Last but not least, although sedemikian renyahnya nak menyalai daging ni, Ibu tetap suka.. actually kena dayakan jugak la kan.. Sebab nak makan.. Ingat senang ke nak sedap.. Okey.. chiow for now..

Pulut kuning with sambal tumis udang ngan petai

 Assalamualaikum,

Hampir sama tapi tak serupa pun. Semalam nasi lemak sambal tumis udang. Hari ni, pulut kuning ngan sambal tumis udang ngan petai.

Yang sebetulnya last night Ibu ada jemput few friends to come to the house for a small gathering over dinner. Lauk-pauk.. well. there are gulai daging salai ngan mangga, sambal tumis udang berpetai and last but not least, sayur rampai. Unfortunately, non of it have survived any of picture sessions. I was totally screwed up. Jemput tetamu pukul 8pm and only by 7.55pm baru la semua siap. From cuci toilet, cuci dapur, vacuum rumah, buang sampah.. not to mention those miscellaneous. All caused by Arif Si Cinonet. Please believed me when I tell you that I was so distracted dengan kerenah-kerenah dia. Nak itu, nak ini, nak makan itu, nak makan ini.. and the list goes on and on and on forever. I just don't know what got into him. Kalau tak dilayan.. mula la buat peil  lain pulak. But alhamdulillah.. everything was going perfectly as plan. Accept for the "gosok baju" which I only managed to do later that night.

The dinner was adjured around 10.30pm, school night kan and furthermore some of them got an early morning shift tomorrow and the kids needs their sleep as well. Lain la dengan my kids, they can last until 12 midnite (petang dah tidur). 

Only then I realized there are some leftovers of sambal tumis udang. So.. ape lagi.. terus rendam pulut la. The process of soaking the glutinous rice actually is about a few hours only but I prefer to do it over night. It shall make the glutinous rice softer and easier to be steamed. End result, the "pulut kuning" shall be more softer and stickier. The kids loves it especially Arif.

So this very morning, Ibu pun kukuskan pulut kuning tu. It only took me about 25-30 minutes.. and while waiting for my glutinous rice to ready, Ibu masak sedikit santan which later shall be applied to my pulut kuning. This will make the pulut kuning even more softer and extra delicious (well that what my mom thought me to do so).

  

So there you have it, pulut kuning with sambal tumis udang ngan petai.. btw, I'm sure gonna have a  BIG problem cleaning up again my toilet tomorrow... hurmmmm...

Happy 13th Anniversary.. sayang..

Sayang...

Another year being your wife.. another year of being so happy..
Together, we make it through the hard days..

the easy days..

the crazy days..

the funny days..

There's nothing that can stop us as long as we have each other..

as long as I have you to love.

So on this very day, I just wanted you to know how thankful I am to be sharing life with you.
You're a wonderful husband and a best friend I'll ever have..

Happy anniversary dear. It has been 13 wonderful years and still counting.

Nasi lemak sambal tumis udang..

 

Assalamualaikum all,

It's such a wonderful and bright day today, tho' the temperature is clearly showing 0 degree. I'm guessing somebody is already "off" with the swing mood today. Cukup-cukup la seminggu Ibu dok moody, abis suma keja terbengkalai, itu ini suma tak kena.. nak masak-masak pun takda mood. Reason.. my good old sister came for a monthly visit only this time she brought along all the stress, tiredness and not to forget Miss Sengugut. Adoiiiii...

So to start with my routine on this  joy and bless day, Ibu belanja Cik Asben breakfast dulu la. Selain dari sebagai sarapan, nasi lemak dengan sambal tumis udang ni jugak bertindak sebagai bekal untuk dibawa ke opis. Kesian la jugak ke Cik Asben nak meredah angin sejuk kat luar tu. Dah la sejak dari semalam asyik terbersin ajerrrr.. Karang kalau dah sakit, sapa yang susah?? Ibuuuuu jugak. Jadinya lepas hantar Haazem ke sekolah, tanpa membuang waktu dan tanpa menjengah ke wall "the regulars" Ibu terus berperang dengan udang, cili blend, bawang merah, timun, telur, ikan bilis.. and not to forget BELACAN.. yang mana adalah antara ramuan untuk menjayakan projek "nasi lemak sambal tumis udang" Ibu.

Sebenarnya tak lama mana pun nak masak juadah ni. Dengan syarat No Peeking into your FB, or start baca online news. Otherwise.. tak cukup masa la. Alhamdulillah, everything was agreeing with me this morning. Cukup masa, Cik Asben siap keluar bilik, sarapan pun dah terhidang atas meja. Huh.. kind of a good signal to start my day today... and I hope it shall last until I go to sleep toninght.. Insya'Allah..

Again.. a day for the kids..

Assalamualaikum,

Uhhhh, what a day again today. Pagi-pagi lagi dah menggoreng nasi. Perencah.. telur, fillet ayam, kobis and semestinya PODEH. Hajat nak bawak pi ke kelas karate. Sementara tunggu anak-anak abis kelas karate, boleh la the parents memanaskan perut pulak. Lagi pun keadaan cuaca di luar yang tersangat la sejuknyer, tak sanggup la Ibu nak meredah angin ke Mc Donald (seperti kebiasaannyer). The rest of the gangs, bawak jugak la macam-macam.. ada yang tapau pau goreng, kuih flat a.k.a kuih lapis, roti cheese, teh-O, buah limau dan buah  anggur.. Tapi masih jugak tak mampu nak menampung kesejukan cuaca yang sememangnya telah diramalkan sejak dari minggu lepas lagi (walaupun setelah sessi memanaskan perut selesai). Nasib baik la, Sukan Rakyat semalam cuaca tak sesejuk hari ni otherwise.. ramai yang rela berpeluk tubuh disebabkan kesejukan yang amatttt.. Btw, managed to snap a picture of my nasi goreng sempoi before its being taken away to karate class.

Selepas kelas karate, jemaah bersetuju berkonvoi the Souk Al-Kabir pulak. Ape lagi kalau bukan acara menempah baju jersi anak-anak. Ibu pun terjebak sama jugak. Kesian bebudak ni asyik pakai jersi yang sama saja. Lagi pun buatan dari "the said shop", boleh kira.. secukup rasa jugak la.. Dibawah adalah koleksi gambar lama Ibu.. and as you can see, the kids are all so excited every time they visited the shop. Reason... sure dapat baju baru la..

Last but not least.. its lunch time.. perut pun dah lapar... especially the kids la. They haven't eaten anything since they've ended their karate session today. Dia orang ni bab makan bukan kira sangat kat mana-mana pun sebab mana-mana dia orang pergi, they sure have their "favorite" there. Maka, HALO-HALO tempat dituju. Its not an easy tasks managing a group of kids when they are just so hungry. Boleh panic mak-mak kat situ. The dads, selamber jerrrr... Here is one of my old collection, a picture of us having Halo-Halo (ABC)... and actually that is the main reason we visited the shop. 

Ohhhh.. what a day, today..

Assalamualaikum all, 

Ohhhh... what a day like today. If only I could lay  down heavenly like nothing bothers me.. If only.. My day today starts as early as 6.15am. We got this Sukan Rakyat organized by MAK at Ahmadi Park. The event was initially planned to start on 9.00am. Tapi biasa la kan.. janji Melayu.. Bangun je pagi.. terus bukak lappy. Sempat pulak ym dengan Angah Norlin.. ada gossip terbaru.. which I'm not interested to share it here. Tak berapa menarik punnn.. 

Later, sambil-sambil masak gulai ikan talapia ngan peria tu, sempat la jugak skodeng wall a few of "the regulars".. but I guessed it's "hari Jumaat" and semua busy dok kejar masa sebab nak habiskan kerja before signing off for the weekend. So less communication with "the regulars" la. Then all the sudden.. ALAMAK.. dah pukul 7.45am.. baru la kelam kabut nak masak nasi, nak siapkan anak-anak, nak mandi, nak itu, nak ini.. etc etc etc..

On arriving at the park, another ALAMAK.. ada road block pulak.. My Cik Asben mana ada lesen kereta yang sah.. guna lesen AGUNG je ni.. yakni.. lesen antarabangsa la. Once you already entitled for a Civil ID, the Lesen Agong is no longer VALID. But as usual la, my Cik Asben calm and relax.. reason being.. kalau ada bawak family, the Pak Polisi here macam tak kisah sangat.. Okey, so setel satu bahagian.

Sampai kat park, masih ramai yang belum SAMPAI (macam biasa la) even its already showing 9.30am. So we settled down, susun barang and later joined the rest for breakfast. Jamuan.. ape lagi.. nasi goreng, nasi lemak, mihun goreng, mi goreng and all sorts of yummylicious kueh-kueh Melayu. Me.. semua rasa serba-sikit.

Then, gradually yang lain pun mulai sampai. Agenda laga-laga pipi pun bermula. Macam la lama sangat dah tak jumpa.. tapi dah biasa macam tu, dah macam culture la pulak. Whereas my kids.. those three macam dah kenyang sebab nak pi main terus.. Rugi babe..

Seterusnya, maka bermula la agenda Sukan Rakyat ke-2.. But to my most sincere opinion.. last  year punya Sukan Rakyat was even more gempak and best gilos.. no offense ya.. that just me..

Here, are some pictures taken during the event.. including my gulai ikan talapia with peria.

A game called "teng-teng".. credit to Azura's fb album

(Zura.. mintak halal akak cilok gambar ni ya)

This is the only picture I have featuring Amsyar in it.. susah dah nak ajak bergambar Bujang Sulong ni.

The event was later officiall declared "bersurai" on 3.00pm. Me.. memang tak ada mood sangat la nak join all the games.. sebabnya my Cinonet asyik nak berkepittt jer.. hatta, nak main satu game pun tak sempat. Hurmmm..

On the way back, kami singgah kejap di HRC at Gulf Road. Me.. nak beli a few HRC magnets for my exchange project as well as ada Malaysian collectors yang berkirim for it. Later, Cik Asben pulak sambung dia nyer projek lensa and here are two pictures taken during the evening.

Then, at last.. sampai kat rumah dah almost 5.30pm.. PENAT !!!!! But perut pulak lapar.. but the kids pulak are all still with their lazy moods and mengantuk. So we let them sambung their sleep for another hour. But at the very last hour.. me.. just can't stand the hungriness and I just don't  have the energy to cook for dinner. Solution... dine out la. So O.C la tempat dituju. At last.. I closed today's diary with some of the very fine super delicious dishes pictures but unfortunately when you're just too tired, all those food can't just fit the stomach very well. My portion was Kueh Tiaw Ratna. On any one fine day, I formally can easily finishes all the portion, but not tonight. Just my bad.. So, the moment I paste these two last pictures, I just hope I can happily go straight to sleep..

Signing off for now.. and I'm off to ZZzzZZzzZZzzZZzz land..

 

My 2 version of Chicken Chop

This shall be my last entry for tonight. Nak cerita jugak pasal my two version chicken chop ni (macam dah tak sempat nak tunggu esok je dah).

Kalau tengok balik both pictures macam tak ada banyak beza pun kan, tapi sebenarnya IMPAK MAKSIMA jugak nih. Gambar hat pertama tu, ayam tu salut dengan bread crumbs, gravy pulak Ibu try buat brown sauce. While the other dish.. ayam tu salut dengan tepung biasa jer tapi sos resepi asal dari my mom. Ibu buat both dishes dalam malam yang sama jugak.. 

Kisah nyer... anak-anak and even The Sir of the house takmo makan the first dish... kalau makan pun dengan muka tak sepenuh hati. Kununnya.. chicken chop tu rasa tak sama "macam dulu". Dulu masa dok Malaysia selalu la jugak buat chicken chop ni. Can be considered as "favorite dish" jugak la ni. Kadang-kadang kalau terlebih rajin tu, siap panggil kawan-kawan datang umah.. testing chicken chop nih. Memang kawan-kawan tak pernah bagi bad comment lagi la. Tu sebab makin rajin buat makan-makan and jemput kawan-kawan datang melepak kat umah. Tapi malam tu Ibu punya la SEDIH bila Cik Asben and anak-anak layan my chicken chop dengan muka "terpaksa". Memang dah nangis dah time tu.

Tapi Bonda selalu pesan, kalau kita IKHLAS, insya'Allah hasil mesti bagus.. so selepas masing-masing dok bagi MUKA TOYA, Ibu gigihkan jugak masak but with the original recipe. Alhamdulillah.. senyum kenyang masing-masing lepas tu. Baru la nampak senyum kat muka Amsyar, siap kata "sedap Bu.. terima kasih bagi abang makan.." Cik Asben.. biasa la.. kalau tak tanya, takkan bagi respon pun.. But being his wife for many years now.. tau la respon dalam hati dia tu (cehhh.. beli jiwa sendri...) 

Later that night, lepas abis kemas dapur.. baru la Ibu boleh masuk tidur dengan aman.. tapi time masak tu.. memang sedih giloss la.. memang rasa nak menjerit dah.. Eiiii !!!! Memang Ibu frust sangat dah time tu. Ye la, ingat nak bagi sikit "pembaharuan" but then dah Cik Asben and anak-anak still suka the old version.. nak buat macam mana kan.. Conclusion.. jangan ingat semua yang baru tu BAGUS.. Ada kalanya.. hat yang lama tu jugak orang mencari..

Sekian... chiow...

Sambal telur ngan ikan bilis

Assalamualaikum all,

Here, is another one of my kids favourite, especially Amsyar. Hatta kalau buat setiap hari pun kompom tak ada masalah. Tapi masalahnya, kalau stok cili blend ada, okey la boleh proceed. Otherwise.. jadi resepi lain la pulak nanti.

Ibu pun bukannya boleh buat selalu dish ni.. sebabnya.. stok ikan bilis terhad babe. Ikan bilis kat umah ni masuk dalam kategori barang kawalan. Nak beli local stocks.. boleh aje.. Tapi nanti kalau rasa lain, saiz pulak gedabak then keras kejung.. jangan salahkan Ibu pulak.

Resepi ni asalnya Ibu accidentally nampak kat wall Mizi. Orang bujang yang sorang ni memang rajin masuk dapur. Jangan terkejut kalau tetiba jumpa sambal ikan sardin ngan petai la, sambal telur ngan kicap la.. macam-macam boleh keluar dari dapur orang bujang sorang ni. Okey, pada sesiapa yang berhajat, sila semak resepi dibawah... Chiowww..

Sambal telur ngan ikan bilis

Bahan-bahannya;

Ikan bilis secukupnya

Bawang besar, dimayang
Cili blend - sepedas yang dihajati

Telur - suka hati la nak brape biji pun

Cara menyediakan;
Goreng ikan bilis hingga garing - ketepikan
Goreng bawang yang telah dimayang - ketepikan
Tumiskan cili blend hingga garing
Gorengkan telur (kuantiti ikut suka) dan masukkan sekali ikan bilis dan bawang tadi
Perasakan dgn garam
Setel..

Parcel dari Kak Noriza

 Hi all, 

Punya la suka semalam sebab dapat pearcel dari Kak Noriza. Memang lama jugak tunggu ni. Suma best.. dari HRC, maps & mini plate. Itu pun punya laaaa berdoa.. takut jugak kalau GHAIB macam a few parcels yang sebelum ni. Kak Noriza ni memang dah OTAI la dalam area exchange magnets ni. From her jugaklah Ibu belajar how to distinguish good quality magnets, especially ceramics.

Then there are maps magnets, dulu Ibu main ikut suka jer, as long as MAPS.. okey dah. Rupanya, there are metal map magnets, contour magnets, 3D magnets, macam-macam la pulak. Tapi yang paling famous metal contour map magnets. But other collectors prefer to exchange contour metal map mangnets with the same material jugak. Most of the collectors are from Europe and dia orang memang a bit particular when it comes to this. Tu sebab dia orang punya collections.. superb.. 

Cuma satu sahaja advise dari Kak Noriza.. SABAR.. otherwise the end-result won't be a win-win situation.