[Love of My Life] Kakak

 

Assalamualaikum.
Peace Be Upon You.

 

 

Sembilanbelas haribulan Duabelas, Duaribu Enambelas.

Keputusan PT3 diumumkan.

Alhamdulillah.

Usai mengmbil segala dokumen berkaitan, ambil buku teks untuk Tingkatan 4, kami makan tengahari.

Saya tanya Kakak mahu apa untuk PT3.

Matanya berkelip-kelip. Macam keliru.

Tapi Kakak tak dapat 10As pun?

Kami begitulah.

Raikan apa jua.

Sudah usaha, kan?

Sebanyak mana Allah nak bagi, cuba terima dengan hati terbuka.

Dia kata dia tak tau nak apa.

Dia memang begitu, tak banyak mahunya, tak banyak kerenahnya.

Sederhana dan ringkas.

Apapun,

Tahniah dari Ummi dan Abah.
Terus dan terus majukan diri.

Sayang Ummi dan Abah tak dikira dengan berapa A yang Kakak dapat.
Perjalanan hidup Kakak masih jauh.
Doa Ummi dan Abah, semoga semuanya dipermudahkan Allah buat Kakak.

[Food & Recipe] Tom Yam Ayam

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Tom Yam.

Jarang sangat jumpa orang tak suka makan Tom Yam. My son, Ah Boy is one. The rest of the household would impatiently wait for mealtime kalau buat Yom Yam.

Tom Yam is pretty easy to make. Likewise Kari and Kurma. If you know how to do it, you would tell that to others who don't. But for those who don't, things may seem complicated. Exactly like I felt during my pre Tom Yam, pre Kari, pre Kurma days. If I, yang terkial-kial kat dapur ni can do this, InsyaAllah, so can you.

 

My version would always be Tom Yam Ayam. My other half thinks sotong and udang are much better be on their own, in other kind of cooking. Layan kan aje lah.

 

So, jom I share how I do my Tom Yam Ayam

 

[1]  1 ekor ayam - asingkan bahagian with too much meat, like breast. I normally reserve the meaty parts for deep frying.

[2]  1 1/2 yellow onion - cut into wedges
[3]  4-5 small green chillies - smash
[4]  2-3 stalks lemon grass - smash
[5]  3-4 pieces kaffir lime leaves - tear in half
[6]  3-4 tbsp Tom Yam paste - I use Tai Pee brand
[7]  1 chicken cube - I use Maggi brand

[8]  1 carrot - cut into wedges
[9]  1 packet oyster mushroom - cut into small pieces

[10]  1 1/2 tomatoes - cut into 4 or 6
[11]  2-3 bunch coriander leaves - discard the roots
[12]  1-2 lime - take the juice
[13]  2-3 tbsp fish sauce

Salt and sugar to taste

- Put [1] to [7] in a pot. Pour enough water to submerge everything. Bring to a boil under medium heat.

- When the chicken almost cooked through, add carrot and mushroom. Add salt and sugar. Do not add too much salt as the fish sauce will add some saltiness as well. Cook until carrot is soft.

- Add lime juice and fish sauce. Leave to boil for another 1 or 2 minutes.

- Turn off heat. Add in tomatoes and coriander leaves.

- Leave for about 5 minutes.

- Serve and enjoy!

[L0ve of My Life]

 

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

 

Throwback.

Khamis

17 November 2016

 

Keputusan UPSR 2016 diumumkan.

Terungkailah debaran dan tanda tanya selama beberapa bulan ini, sejak selesai peperiksaan UPSR September lepas.

 

Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah.
Syukur.

 

Sederhana di mata orang lain mungkin.
Hebat di mata kami.

 

Syukran Ya Allah!

 

Bagi anak-anak yang kecewa.
Menangislah.
Cry if you must.
When you're done,

Get up.

Stand up.

And walk on with pride.
There's too many wonderful things waiting for you.
Sometimes we need to fall to know how best we can get up, stand up and walk on.

 

 

 

[Food & Recipe] Vege Omelette

Assalamualaikum.
Peace Be Upon You.

On malas days, or on days I stood staring into the freezer, void of ideas of what to cook, almost always I ended up doing this. Omelette with vege. Masak sekali je dah dapat source of protein (eggs) and vitmins and minerals (vege).

A very simple, easy peasy to make dish. And with minimal cleaning-up lepas masak. Guna satu pan je. Itulah lauk.. itulah jugak sayur. He.. he..

[1]  2 eggs
[2]  Salt & pepper - to taste
[3]  1 or 2 small chillies - sliced thinly
[4]  1 handful bunapi mushroom
[5]  1/2 floret broccoli - cut into small pieces
[6]  1/2 bulb yellow onion - sliced thinly

- Heat oil in a flat pan.
- In a bowl, mix salt, pepper and chillies with egg. Beat until well mixed.
- When the oil in pan is hot enough, fry onion, broccoli and mushroom until onion is translucent and broccoli is soft.
- Pour egg mixture and fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Turn the omelette to the other side and further fry  for another 1-2 minutes.

Sangat sesuai di makan dengan nasi yang panas-panas. For me, takde lauk lain pun dah okay.

Just in case you are wondering apa lah bunapi mushroom tu, tengok gambar kat bawah ni.

Photo credit to Google

Bunapi yang putih belah kiri tu. Seen here with its brown counterpart, Shimeji. Ni hasil siasatan via wiki. Correct me if I am wrong.

I think most of us pernah and biasa Nampak these mushroom kat kedai kan.

I prefer yang putih coz the brown has stronger taste and smell which do not really agree dengan my tekak.

[Food & Recipe] Ayam Noneng

Assalamualaikum.
Peace Be Upon You.

Today is my supposedly the day I report duty back in the office. For some reasons, we (husband and I) decided that I should extend the leave, so here I am today, now, at home.

 

This means I am forgoing some of the things. But I also gain some of the things, somewhere else. InsyaAllah.

 

Between then and now, there were two weddings. Nephew and niece from husband's side got married. May Allah bestowed them with abundant of happiness.

Anyway. Semalam was too lazy to go groceries shopping. For dinner, I just grabbed whatever there was dalam fridge. And ada some chicken parts in the freezer. Kelentung kelentang kelentung kelentang, and voila! Ayam Noneng (Ayam No Name).

 

Husband said ada rasa macam padprik. I think so too. Maybe because I used serai and daun limau purut.

 

Ingredients

[1]  1/2kg chicken parts (not the meaty ones)

[2]  1 yellow onion - sliced

[3]  4 garlic - crushed

[4]  1 inch ginger - sliced

[5]  2 stalks lemon grass - bruised

[5]  4 pcs kaffir lime leaves - torn

[6]  Small chillies - crushed

[7]  Salt - to taste

[8]  2-3 tbsp. oyster sauce

[9]  1-2 tbsp. caramel sauce

[10]  2 pcs asam keeping

[11]  1/2 carrot - sliced

[12]  1 packet baby corn - cut into small pieces.

 

- Heat 2-3 tbsp cooking oil in a wok.

- Fry garlic, yellow onion, ginger and lemongrass until fragrant and yellow onion a bit burnt, but don't over do it.. hehe

- Add chicken parts and fry a bit for about 5 minutes.

- Add salt and oyster sauce. Mix well, then add about 1/2 cup water.

- Cover the wok and leave to cook for about 10 minutes.

- Add kaffir lime leaves, small chillies, asam keeping, carrot and baby corn.

- Add caramel sauce.

- Cook for another 5 minutes.

- Ready to serve

 

Sedap dimakan dengan nasi panas-panas.

 

Selamat mencuba!

 

 

 

[Thoughts] This?........... or That?

Assalamualaikum.
Peace Be Upon You.

Pejam-celik, pejam celik, dah lebih tujuh bulan I am on leave.

UPSR concluded on 8th September 2016. Alhamdulillah the four days went well albeit it rained really heavy on the third day. Iman had worked really hard, for the past months and I am really proud to see his willingness and enthusiasm. A+ for effort, nothing less. Now that the exam is over, we leave to rest to Allah's mercy.

 

It saddens me to know that this will come to an end really soon. My leave. I feel as if this is the kind of ideal life I had always wanted. This, makes me happier. But being happier alone would not pay your bills. This life is real.

I pray for Allah guidance for I do not know what is best for me. Only Allah Knows that.

 

 

Photo credit to movie FB - Wonderful Life

 

For the past months, this is exactly what I learned. So many, too many things that I learned from these children. How pure, how sincere, how they go about not being judgemental about anything. How they welcome you with open arms, just because you are their mother.

 

 

[Food & Recipe] Apple Puff & Tuna Puff

Assalamualaikum
Peace be upon you

So, the mid-year term break has started! We kicked-off with having Budak Benyek circumcised. Since now Ummi cuti, I think it's a good time coz he's on mid-term break and I can pay full attention during his recovery period. We're doing good, Alhamdulillah.

 

Last week was a puff-kinda week. I had a pack of instant puff pastry sitting in my freezer for quite sometime. I just needed to do the filling only.

 

Mula-mula buat Apple Puff. Guna 2 biji Granny Smith green apple. Buang kulit and biji. Diced. Masak with a little water, sugar and cinnamon powder.

Tadaaaaaa! After 15 minutes in the oven, I am quite pleased on how these turned out. Forgot to egg-wash tho.

 

One sheet of puff pastry yields four parts. I cut the big square of a pastry sheet into four small squares. Spoon the filling and then simply fold them along the edges. Then, using a fork, pressed along edges, making sure betul-betul lekat bahagian tepi tu. Lepas tu, cut off the excess and uneven edges. Actually this step cosmetic saja, but I just couldn't help myself hehe. Snip off or prick to let steam escape while baking. 

 

 

 

See, tiga side yang ada kesan fork tu, and one without. That one without is bahagian tengah-tengah yang kita lipat puff tadi tu. 

 

 

And I also made Tuna Puff. Just mix tuna flakes (in can) with loads of mayo (I use Kewpie - once dah cuba, there's not turning back).

 

This batch, I buat triangle. Just cut the puff sheet into 4 triangle. Spoon the filling and fold. Lagi senang buat triangle shape. To me la. Yang ni ada egg-wash.

 

Easy peasy. Cubalah.  :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Food & Recipe] Nasi Briyani

Assalamualaikum
Peace be upon you

A couple of weeks ago, I made Nasi Briyani. From scratch.

Adapted 90% from original recipe taken from blog Best of Wardah. There's also a link to a video demonstration in that entry.

 

First time tengok ada orang share kat FB. Teruja nak buat coz it doesn't call for premix or instant biryani spices or paste. Kekonon nak challenge diri sendiri laa...

 

I didn't get the color macam dalam video tu. Nevertheless I am still satisfied with the outcome.

 

 

 

Husband oredi oder satu tray nanti nak bawak pegi ofis jamu kawan-kawan dia :-)

 

Resepi ni ada tiga bahagian iaitu

(1) Penyediaan ayam 

(2) Penyediaan nasi  

(3) Menggabungkan ayam + nasi

 

 

(1) PENYEDIAAN AYAM

 

- Panaskan 1/2 cawan minyak dalam kuali.

 

- Tumis bawang besar hingga hampir garing. Awas jangan sampai hangit!

 

- Masukkan pula halia dan bawang putih yang dikisar

 

- Masukkan pula ayam. Biarkan hingga keluar air. Balik-balikkan supaya tak hangus.

 

- Kemudian masukkan rempah ratus - kulit kayu manis, buah pelaga, bunga lawang, bunga cengkih, daun bay dan jintan manis.

 

- Kacau rata, hingga naik bau.

 

- Masukkan pula cili boh dan serbuk kunyit.

- Masukkan pula yoghurt. Kacau sebati.

 

- Kemudian masukkan air dan didihkan hingga ayam hampir masak.

Ayam is ready! Ketepikan dulu. Kita sediakan nasi pulak..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) PENYEDIAAN NASI

- Rendam beras selama 30 minit. Bersih dan toskan.

 

- Dalam satu periuk, masukkan air dan tambah garam, daun bay, bunga cengkih dan buah pelaga.

 

- Didihkan.

 

- Apabila sudah mendidih, masukkan beras yang ditos tadi. Tanak selama 10 minit.

 

- Toskan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) MENGGABUNGKAN AYAM DAN NASI

- Dalam satu tray, susun ayam. Tuangkan kuahnya.

- Susun pula daun ketumbar, tomato, lemon dan capsicum.

 

- Tuang nasi.

 

- Titiskan sedikit pewarna makanan. Saya guna warna oren.

 

- Dengan mengunakan tangkai sudu atau chopstick, buat lubang-lubang di atas nasi untuk membenarkan stim dari kuah ayam naik ke atas.

 

- Tutup tray dengan aluminium foil.

 

- Masukkan dalam oven selama 30-40 minit, pada suhu 160C

 

Like I have mentioned earlier, I copy 90% from the original recipe coz I couldn't find black cardamom. In fact tak tau pun kewujudan black cardamom. And tak jumpa juga peppercorn. Not whole peppercorn. And not even cracked peppercorn. Selalu ada je kat kedai. Memang ditakdirkan tak berjodohan masa nak buat biryani tu..

Macam complicated kan? But if you see the video demo, it is not that hard actually. And worth trying if you like biryani.

 

Highly recommended.

[Food & Recipe] Honey Biscuit

Assalamualaikum
Peace be upon you

So, how was your weekends? Mine was a productive ones. At least by my standard.

Went to IKEA Cheras. Since I am now in my cookie-mood, I need more cookies jars! And they must be the same like the very one jar I have a home. So, IKEA it was. And of course I had to also buy other things as well :-)

 

In kitchen department, I am an even more happier woman. Tried out two new recipes and both turned out well. Made Briyani for lunch. I gave myself a pat on the back since the recipe doesn't call for premix spices and had to be done from scratch.

 

I also tried Honey Biscuit. Fell in love at first sight masa makan kat Texas Chicken tapi tak sampai hati nak beli banyak-banyak. Mahal!

 

Adapted from original recipe - The Blue Jean Chef - Buttermilk Biscuit

Ingredients
[1]   2 1/3 cups self-raising flour
[2]   4 tbsp castor sugar
[3]   113 gm butter (straight from the fridge)
[4]   1 1/3 cups buttermilk
[5]   2 tbsp honey
[6]   1 tbsp butter (melted), add honey and stir

- In a bowl, mix flour and sugar.
- Grate butter into the flour-sugar mixture, stir until it resembles crumble
- Add buttermilk and honey
- Using a spatula, mix until just combined. The mixture should be very soft and sticky
- Generously dust a tray with flour, scoop the mixture onto the tray. Using both hands, shape and coat the mixture with flour.
- Arrange in a baking tray.
- Bake for 30 minutes, 160C then take it out, drizzle with butter+honey .. no [6]
- Bake for another 10 minutes

Sedap makan panas-panas with mug of kopi panas on rainy night :-)

[Thoughts] Love...

Assalamualaikum
Peace be upon you

Happy weekends!

[Food & Recipe] Kari Ayam

Sebetulnya, that was the first time saya masak Kari Ayam. Husband was away on a work trip. He called and tanya what we were having for dinner.

 

So... kari ayam?
Kari ayam makan kat rumah?
Kari ayam yang masak di rumah?

I sent him this photo.

:-)

 

Masakan yang orang lain mungkin pejam mata pun boleh masak kot. Saya? Kena google resepi dulu.. tanya kawan-kawan.

Hasilnya? Alhamdulillah. Anak-anak suka. Budak Benyek initially protes. Sudahnya dia yang mencedok kuah banyak-banyak kat nasi dia. And I'm glad Ah Boy suka juga. I am trying to cut down his NKT (Nasi + Kicap + Telur) intake. Yes, nothing wrong dengan telur, protein what kan. Saya cuma nak variasikan makanan dia. As for Kakak, she has no problem adjusting her tekak, just like her mother yang makan macam-macam hehe.

 

 Ingredients

[1]    1/2 ekor ayam saiz sedang - potong kecil
[2]    Rempah tumis - kulit kayu manis, bunga lawang, buah pelaga dan bunga cengkih
[3]    5 ulas bawang merah - hiris
[4]    4 ulas bawang putih - hiris
[5]    Halia (sebesar kira-kira ibu jari) - hiris
[6]    2 1/2 sudu besar serbuk kari - tambah sedikit air dan jadikan pes
[7]    3/4 - 1 cawan santan (saya guna santan kotak jenama M&S)
[8]    Garam secukup rasa
[9]    1 sudu the pes asam jawa (saya guna jenama Adabi) - bancuh dengan sedikit air
[9]    3-4 sudu besar minyak masak
[10]  2 1/2 cawan air
[11]  3 biji kentang - potong 4 atau 5

- Panaskan minyak masak dalam kuali atau periuk. Masukkan rempah tumis dan kacau hingga naik bau. Masukkan bawang merah dan bawang putih. Tumis lagi hingga layu dan naik bau.
- Masukkan pes kari. Kacau hingga pecah minyak. Hati-hati supaya tidak hangit.
- Masukkan ayam dan kacau supaya sebati dengan tumisan. Tunggu sehingga ayam keluar airnya sedikit. Masukkan pula kentang.
- Masukkan air dan santan. Biarkan hingga menggelegak seketika.
- Masukkan pula air asam dan garam.
- Didihkan hingga ayam masak dan jika ada kentang, kentangnya empuk.

Bila masak ada guna santan, sila jangan leka dengan benda lain, terutamanya FB atau IG atau wassap :-)  Kalau dibiarkan lama tak dikacau, ada harapan akan berketul-ketul nanti.

Sejak cuti panjang ni, this is the third recipe I tried doing and Alhamdulillah it turned out okay. The other two recipes are Gulai Ikan Patin (Pahang style) and Asam Pedas. I tried doing guna ikan tilapia and then daging tetel. Alhamdulillah menjadi.

Kari ni pulak, makin diperangatkan, makin sedap. And leftover can be frozen. Same goes to Gulai Ikan Patin and Asam Pedas. So sekali masak boleh masak banyak sikit. Some people mungkin lebih suka makan masakanfresh everytime. But I am okay with this reheat thingy :-)

[Another Year Older] Adam Turns 8!

Assalamualaikum.

Peace be upon you.

 

Alhamdulillah, our youngest turns 8 today.
Still the same manja boy who gives me that big warm hug before entering pagar sekolah and that big wet smooch before bed.

I made this.

When he got home from school and saw this .. he jumped.. clapped his hands.. and said thank you ummi thank you ummi thank you thank you.

Since his birthday this year falls on weekdays, we had an early makan-makan-do (on preceeding weekends) at place of his choice. Food of his choice. But Ummi had to finish them off and clean the plate :-)

So happy with his birthday present that he picked. Did his homework online for few days before deciding on this Lego Minecraft.

Happy 8th Birthday Adam!
We love you loads!

[Food & Recipe] Choco Flakes Cookies

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Salam Sabtu. Selamat berhujung minggu. Siapa yang ada kesempatan, jom cuba kukis ini pulak. Still guna basic recipe dari buku yang saya pernah cerita sebelum ni, di entry ini. Tajuk buku '1 Dough, 100 Cookies'. True to its tittle. Bahan-bahan asas sama je. Yang berbezanya ialah ingredients lain that define the taste and texture.

 

Saya pulak, adjust ikut selera sendiri. Since buku ni written by omputih, ada bahan-bahan yang saya tak jumpa or kalau ada pun, mahal. Hence, ikut kesesuaian.

Ingredients

[1]   225 gm mentega

[2]   140 gm gula castor

[3]   Secubit garam

[4]   1 sudu teh esen vanilla

[5]   1 biji kuning telur

[6]   225 gm tepung

[7]   1 cawan cornflakes (tumbuk kasar)

[8]   6 sudu besar serbuk koko*

 

- Dalam sebuah mangkuk, campurkan mentega, gula castor, garam dan esen vanilla. Gaul sebati menggunakan senduk kayu.

- Masukkan kuning telur dan kacau sebati.

- Masukkan tepung, cornflakes dan serbuk koko. Kacau lagi hingga sebati.

- Bentukkan bulat-bulat menggunakan sudu dan letakkan di atas dulang pembakar. Tekan sedikit untuk meleperkan dengan menggunakan garfu.

- Bakar selama 12 minit, 160C.

*Serbuk koko terpulang kepada selera masing-masing. Saya guna unsweetened. Hasilnya ala-ala bittersweet.

The cornflakes give a bit of crunchiness. Asalnya nak letak chocolate chip, bukak-bukak pintu cabinet, baru teringat stok lama dah buang and belum beli yang baru.

 

Anyway, I think the cookies turned out fine, even without the chocolate chips. Bunyi macam angkat bakul masuk sendiri kan? He.. He..

 

Choco Flakes Cookies ni pun tercalon dalam shortlist biskut raya tahun ni, depending on tahap kerajinan :-)

[Food & Recipe] Oat Cranberry Cookies

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.
Salam Jumaat untuk semua.

Since my first trial, I have made another two batches of Oat Cookies. Ah Boy loves it. Bila anak suka, mak pun happy kan. And nice to have something healthier (comparing to junk food that is!) that stays good on the table for days. The newer batches came with addition of dried cranberry, hence the name - Oat Cranberry Cookies.

Ingredients

[1]   225 gm mentega*

[2]   140 gm gula castor

[3]   Secubit garam

[4]   1 biji kuning telur

[5]   225 gm tepung

[6]   1 sudu teh esen vanilla
[7]   1 cawan dried cranberry, cicang kasar
[8]   55 gm oat**

 

- In a bowl, masukkan mentega, gula kastor dan garam, Gaul sebati dengan senduk kayu. Masukkan pula kuning telur, dan gaul lagi.
- Masukkan tepung, oat dan cranberry. Gaul rata.
- Bentukkan ikut selera masing-masing. I scooped mine into small balls then penyekkan a bit using a fork.
- Bakar 160C, 12 minit.
- Setelah masak, sejukkan di atas redai sebelum disimpan dalam bekas kedap udara.

* My preference is SCS. I tried using Golden Churn tapi SCS juga yang kena kat tekak ni :-)
** Original recipe calls for rolled oat but I used instant oat. Sebab itu aje yang ada kat rumah and comes in small packaging.

InsyaAllah I am gonna bake this for Raya nanti.




 

[Food & Recipe] Kek Belang

 

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Salam Hari Khamis.
Ramai yang tak sabar tunggu hujung minggu ni kan. Sambung cuti, dapat 3 hari straight.

Jom cuba buat Kek Belang ni okay.. Bahan-bahan mudah, cara buat pun ringkas saja.

 

 

Made these (dapat 2 bekas) Apam Belang last week. Actually dah beberapa kali buat, but yang latest was the most glory-est of all :-) Cukup rasa. Very soft. The the color combo was just right. Pardon me for being syok-sendiri hehe. I was so happy with the result.

[1]   4 biji (saya guna 5 sebab telur kecik)

[2]   2 sudu teh ekstrak vanilla

[3]   1 sudu besar ovalette

[4]   200 gm gula kastor

[5]   250 ml susu segar

[6]   300 gm tepung naik sendiri

[7]   Emulco (saya guna perisa strawberry dan coklat)

- Masukkan telur, ekstrak vanilla, ovalette dan gula kastor di dalam mangkuk. Pukul bahan-bahan hingga benar-benar kembang. (Gunakan pemukul bentuk belon)

- Tuang susu segar sedikit demi sedikit dan teruskan mengadun hingga sebati.

- Masukkan pula tepung dan gaul sebati.

- Bahagikan adunan kepada tiga bahagian. Bahagian pertama di campur emulco strawberry. Bahagian kedua dengan emulco coklat. Bahagian ketiga tidak dicampurkan dengan apa-apa.

- Sendukkan bahagian pertama ke dalam bekas pengukus. Diikuti bahagian kedua dan ketiga, Ulang sehingga adunan habis.

- Kukus selama 30 minit

 

My personal preference - kombo perisa plain+coklat+strawberry yang paling sedap. Diikuti dengan plain+orange. Tried blueberry tapi it could not make it to my favourite list :-)

Some recipes call for pewarna instead of emulco. Well, it is up to masing-masing punya tastebud. I like the color and flavour when using emulco.

 

Potongan bersememeh. Not IG worthy at all hehe. Adunan as per recipe saya share di atas, yields 2 bekas. I use 9-inch springform. If guna springform, make sure to line with paper baking sheet. We don't want the mixture to seep kat tepi-tepi tu.

 

And cover penutup kukusan dengan teatowel untuk elakkan air kukusan jatuh atas adunan. Like I did. Nampak tengah-tengah tu (gambar kedua) ada corak hampir-hampir serupa telinga Mickey Mouse sbb air penutup kukusan jatuh atas tu.

Dah tau tapi buat jugak. Degil kan.

 

[Another Year Older] Happy 42nd!

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Husband, turned 42 14th April 2016. That was like two Thursdays till now right? I baked him Jelly Blueberry Cheesecake. At 5:30pm he texted me telling that he was gonna be late from work. So me and the kids celebrated without him. Meaning, we started eating the cake without him! Lucky thing I divided and baked the cakes in small foil containers.

We had a small celebration at Nando's IOI City Mall the following Saturday. Just makan-makan. Round-round kejap then went back home.

Happy 42nd Yang! 

[Thoughts] [Ramblings] Life Lessons.. (Termalu Sendiri)

 

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

 

 

Minggu lepas - Jumaat.

Keluar rumah jam 12 tengahari untuk jemput Ah Boy dan Kakak balik sekolah. Tunggu di pagar sekolah rendah. Tak lama kemudian datang brother aiskrim naik motor. Saya belikan Adam satu aiskrim. Kemudian datang pulak brother aiskrim Malaysia, bawak satu tong aiskrim, satu tong nasi lemak untuk jualan. Ada tiga anak ikut sekali. Yang paling besar pun mungkin tadika (judging dari seragam tadika yang dipakai), yang paling kecik mungkin dalam dua tahun. Seluar baju agak lusuh, tapi bersih dan kemas. Dalam hati berkira-kira nak belikan budak-budak tu aiskrim yang scoop tu. Tapi dalam hati terpikir bimbang ayahnya terasa. Atau apa pulak orang lain cakap nanti. Tau-tau dalam saya dok berkira-kira, brother aiskrim motor tu dah bagi budak-budak tu aiskrim sorang satu. Bukan satu scoop, tapi tiga scoop. Suka budak-budak tu. Saya termalu sendiri.

Semalam - Selasa

 

Keluar dari AEON Big lepas beli groceries rumah. Didatangi wanita separuh umur, kiri kanan tangan ada plastik besar berisi keropok untuk jualan. Saya angkat tangan sambil senyum dan geleng kepala. Dia cuba lagi tapi saya tetap tak mau. Sebab di rumah pun ada keropok. Ah Boy teragak-agak. Jalan sambil tertoleh-toleh. Kemudian dia berhenti dan tanya kenapa saya tak beli.

Ummi tak belilah. Kat rumah pun ada keropok.
Tapi dia nampak macam orang susah Ummi.
Kita kena beli.
Dia pandang saya, seakan mengharap.
Pada akhirnya, duit RM4.00 bertukar tangan.
Ah Boy masuk kereta dengan sebungkus keropok di tangan.

 

Itulah sekolah paling hebat.

Tak perlu pakaian seragam.

Tak perlu buku-buku.

Tiada yuran apa pun.

It's called life.

Dan gurunya mungkin siapa saja..

Seorang brother perjual aiskrim bermotor yang saban hari berpanas (dan kadang-kadang berhujan) menjual aiskrim

Atau ..

Seorang anak berusia 12 tahun yang baru mengenal bunga-bunga kehidupan.

 

 

[Food & Recipe] Oat Cookies [Love of My Life] Unwell

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

It's been a while (again).

Hemm... the following two weeks after cuti sekolah, husband and the boys took turn tak sihat. Fever, batuk and selsema. Numerous trips to clinic with the boys, and days of MC. And finally Ummi caught the bug too. On one of those my unwell days, I texted husband to come back early coz I really need to lie down and sleep. Mine was not of so much fever, but throbbing headache and nausea.

 

And Alhamdulillah, Kakak and Adam si Budak Benyek Benyek got good results for their Fasa 1 exams. Ah Boy showed improvements and naik kelas. I had so much worries (I am a mother, worrying is one of my daily tasks hehe) that he can't take the heat. True that, the first day in new class, he came back with loads of homework and loads of catching up to do. Mak nya kena la support him during the transition and help him with his homework and see him do extra exercises for him to catch up.

 

Well, that explain the hiatus.

Alhamdulillah, now everyone is back on their feet. Except for husband who still has a bit of coughing. And Alhamdulillah, Ah Boy is catching up and adjusting.

Anyway.

Adam, my benyek-benyek boy, of late, is cultivating creativity. The other day, he made us went to Midvalley coz he needed to get Elmer's glue and borax for his slime project. Days prior to that, he went checking my baking supplies and insisted to do some dough-y thingy using corn-starch. Of course Ummi had to do the cleaning afterwards.

And last Sunday, he decided we needed to bake some oat-based cookies.

Sebab Adam nak makan cookies oat.

Banyak cantik. Dia ingat pling pling pling magic wand terus jadi cookies kot. Thinking that I'd better utilise the time while I am still on long leave.. why not? Makanya, menjadilah projek oat cookies nya. Of course he was very busy helping out.

Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak tuang!
Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak kacau! Nak kacau!

Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak cedok!
Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak buat! Nak buat!
Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak letak dalam oven!

He didn't want some ingredients such as raisin and hazelnut (Dalam resepi asal) Thank Godness, sebab dedua bahan tu memang takde kat rumah. I tried to persuade him to add some dried cranberries. Declined. Just oat, he said.

 

Fine.

 

 

Recipe taken from this book that I bought way back in 2010. Baru test dua resepi kot from this book. Sebenarnya saya tak berapa rajin nak buat cookies coz of the leceh-ness. Nak terap or nak kena shape kan. Unlike cakes, boleh tuang je semua into baking pan.

 

After tweaking it, here's the recipe that we did..

 

Ingredients

[1]   225 gm mentega

[2]   140 gm gula castor

[3]   Secubit garam

[4]   1 biji kuning telur

[5]   225 gm tepung

[6]   50 gm oat

[7]   1 sudu teh esen vanilla

 

 - Dalam sebuah mangkuk, campurkan mentega, gula castor, garam dan esen vanilla. Gaul sebati menggunakan senduk kayu.

- Masukkan kuning telur dan kacau sebati.

- Masukkan tepung dan oat. Kacau lagi hingga sebati.

- Bentukkan bulat-bulat menggunakan sudu dan letakkan di atas dulang pembakar. Tekan sedikit untuk meleperkan dengan menggunakan garfu.

- Bakar di dalam oven pada 160C, api atas bawah, fan on selama 10-12 minit.

- Setelah masak, keluarkan dan alih cookies ke atas redai untuk menyejukkan.

- Simpan di dalam bekas kedap udara.

 

Kids love it. Terubat hati Ummi dok basuh besen-besen lepas buat cookies.

 

 

 

 

 

[Love of My Life] Different Perspective

What if Ummi just quit working and stay home?
Husband asked Kakak.

Her answer was totally unexpected.

Noooo.
Kakak suka Ummi kerja.
Kakak bangga ada mak yang bekerja.
I am proud of it.

You know Kakak,
Whichever person I choose to be, there will always be the good and the lesser good
We just need to keep the balance.

But...
Whichever person that I choose to be, I always love my children all the same.
We just need to remember that.

Nevertheless,
She made my day.

[Rambling] Assalamualaikum..

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Alhamdulillah, semua baik-baik saja. Of course ada hari extra gembira, ada hari tak berapa ceria, ada hari terlebih ketawa. But to sum them all up - semua baik-baik saja.

I'll be back writing.
InsyaAllah

[Love of My Life] More Than Just a Special Child

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Takdir Allah kami dikurniakan anak istimewa.
Pernah satu ketika, dia tanya..
Anak istimewa itu apa?
Saya tak tahu macamana nak cakap.
Saya menangis dalam hati.

Dia anak yang lurus. Tulus.
Dalam hati tiada prasangka buruk.

Dia juga anak yang 'manis'
'Sweet'.. bak kata orang sekarang.

Diajar usah sakiti orang lain, itu salah.
Biarpun disakiti, dikata macam-macam dek kawan-kawan.
Dia tak melawan.
Itu salah, sakiti orang lain.
Itu salah, berkata buruk pada orang lain.
Habis-habis pun, dia menangis.

Kalau makan, dia tinggalkan sebahagian untuk saya, ummi nya.
Kalau dah tinggal sikit, dia tanya apa saya masih mahu.
Like any mothers, ofkos saya kata taknak.
Dia tetap tinggalkan sedikit untuk saya.

Hari ini dia dibuli (lagi).
Hati saya panas. Jiwa kacau.
Kalau tadi saya berjumpa dengan si pembuli, mungkin dah create a scene.
Alhamdulillah tak jumpa.

Bawa pergi makan cendol. Saya cakap bagi Abang calm down.
Tapi sebenarnya saya sendiri wanted to calm myself down.
Order cendol 2. Rojak 1.
Dalam rojak ada telur sebelah.
Ummi nak telur?
Taknak. Abang makanlah.
Dia tinggalkan juga secuit telur merah.

Saya tolak keropok-keropok dalam rojak.
Ni sedap. Abang makan lah.
Dia makan. Tinggalkan sedikit untuk saya.
Abang makanlah semua. Ummi tak mau.
Ummi kan tadi kata ni sedap. Ummi makanlah.

Hati saya tersentuh.
Tadi rasa jiwa panas.
Tiba-tiba sejuk.

Allah kurniakan dia kepada saya untuk saya belajar banyak perkara.
Hal urusan hidup dan kasih sayang.
Alhamdulillah.


Ditaip dengan linangan airmata.

[Rambling] Windy Day & [Edu-Aid] Bukit Bundar

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Hari ni agak berangin di kawasan kejiranan saya. Ada dahan-dahan pokok patah. Pasu tumbang. Daun-daun kering bersepah-sepah.

 

Setakat ni, usai menghantar Budak Benyek ke sekolah. Kakak dan Ah Boi pun dah dijemput balik ke rumah. Ummi sakit kepala hari ni, jadinya tadi singgah makan nasi ayam saja.

 

Rutinnya di sebelah petang hari persekolahan, balik ke rumah - mandi, makan tengahari, solat dan rehat. Homework dan KUMON bermula jam 3:30 petang. Ah Boi kadang-kadang insist nak start homework right away lepas selesai mandi, makan dan solat. Ummi insist dia rehat dulu so nanti nak start homework, mindanya lebih segar dan relaks. Lagipun, Ummi nak duduk-duduk tengok tivi jugek hehe.

 

Jam 4:30, saya start semak their books and bagi extra exercise. Kiranya itulah kelas tusyen Cikgu Ummi, where no one can escape. Untuk Budak Benyek tu, kelas tusyen Cikgu Ummi kira-kira jam 9:30 pagi.

 

Like I said, to teach, one must learn. Last week saya found out my two boys tak berapa faham konsep bundar. Well, sebab saya pun tak berapa nak faham, makanya google la jawabnya kan. Ada beberapa cara but I am most comfortable with the concept of BUKIT BUNDAR. Maaf saya tak ingat di page mana yang saya tengok but, many many thanks kepada yang share konsep ni.

 

First and foremost, kita lukis BUKIT BUNDAR dulu. And plant this image in mind.

 

Bukit ni ada dua bahagian iaitu kiri dan kanan.
KIRI - nombor 1, 2, 3 dan 4. Bawah bukit kita letak +0, sebabnya kalau ikut hukum matematik, jika 1, 2, 3 dan 4 adalah nombor selepas nilai tempat yang hendak dibundarkan, kita tak perlu tambah apa-apa.
KANAN - nombor 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Bawah bukit pula +1. Sebabnya nilai tempat yang dibundarkan akan di tambah 1 jika nombor berikutnya ialah 5, 6, 7, 8 dan 9

 

Contoh 1

Bundarkan 843 kepada puluh terdekat.

 

Step 1 - kenal pasti nilai tempat yang hendak dibundarkan.
Dalam contoh ini, rumah PULUH. Tandakan nombor tu.
8 4 3

 

Step 2 - lihat nombor di kanan nya.
Dalam contoh ini, sebelah kanan ialah SA dan nilainya ialah 3.
8 4 3

 

Step 3 - Ingat BUKIT BUNDAR kita!

3 berada di sebelah KIRI BUKIT BUNDAR, maka nya +0 pada tempat yang hendak dibundarkan, iaitu 4 +0 ( =4)

Step 4 - letak 0 pada rumah-rumah di sebelah KANAN nombor yang dibundarkan itu.

Maka jawapannya 840

 

 

Contoh 2

Bundarkan 875 kepada ratus terdekat.

 

Step 1 - kenal pasti nilai tempat yang hendak dibundarkan.
Dalam contoh ini, rumah RATUS. Tandakan nombor tu.
8 7 5

 

Step 2 - lihat nombor di kanan nya.
Dalam contoh ini, sebelah kanan ialah PULUH dan nilainya ialah 7.
8 7 5

 

Step 3 - Ingat BUKIT BUNDAR kita!

 7 berada di sebelah KANAN BUKIT BUNDAR, maka nya +1 pada tempat yang hendak dibundarkan, iaitu 8 +1 ( =9)

 

Step 4 - letak 0 pada rumah-rumah di sebelah KANAN nombor yang dibundarkan itu.

Maka jawapannya 900

 

 

Kalau dalam konsep PERPULUHAN pun, ada penggunaan konsep BUNDAR ni. Contohnya kalau soalan - BERIKAN JAWAPAN DALAM TIGA TITIK PERPULUHAN. Katakan lepas dah kira-kira.. jawapan kita ambil hingga empat titik perpuluhan..  3.1468.

 

Mula-mula kita tengok nombor ke-tiga perpuluhan tu. Dalam contoh ni ialah 6 (3.1468).

 

Lepas tu kita tengok nombor di kanannya. Dalam contoh ni.. 8 (3.1468)

 

Kemudian, ingat BUKIT BUNDAR kita - 8 berada di sebelah KANAN BUKIT BUNDAR, jadi 6 perlu +1 ..

 

Jawapan 3.147

Ini cara that I am comfortable with and I think my kids senang nak faham this way. Just to supplement apa yang guru-guru dah ajar di sekolah. 

 

So, inilah perkongsian Cikgu Ummi hari ni.

 

 

 

 

 

[Thoughts] [Rambling] With Every Hardship, There is Relief

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

 

Day 24.
Of leave.

Slowly coping with all these. Indeed, the grass is always greener on the other side. After 24 days, I conclude that this is not as easy peasy breezy as I thought.

 

For one thing, when situation changes, expectation changes. When a mom stays home, expectation is that - breakfast, lunch and dinner on the table. And the table is at home. No more Mt St Laundry to scale on weekends. I kid you not. I barely cope! I can't even remember the last time I slap on face moisturiser.

And the weather is super-hawt on most days. Imagine how the kids are tolerating the hot weather going to and coming back from school (and vice-versa) at noon. Personal experience, the moment you step out from the comfort of your air-conditioned car, a rush of hotness greets you. Almost like opening the door of an oven while standing right in front of it!

 

The sendings and fetchings.. homework assisting.. house chores..

Yes, these,.. can tire you out.

 

But the strange thing about motherhood and being mom is that, all these, the things that tire you out, are the ones that make you happy and satisfied.

 

I am slowly tutoring my kids. These days I am up to ... learning! To teach, one must learn. Agree? I flip on text books, checking for information on the internet, join virtual groups with the word 'UPSR' or 'KSSR' or 'PT3' in the name.

 

Over tak? He he. But that is the objective of me leaving the office.

To be where and with whom I am most needed.
 

May Allah bless everyone.
May Allah ease our journey in nurturing our children.

 

InsyaAllah, so verily, with every hardship, there is relief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ramblings] [Food & Recipe] Too Much Love & Bubur Jagung

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Kids are either unwell or lethargic these days. Husband asked if too much love can make one sick :-)  Maybe Ummi should go back to work. All geleng kepala.

 

Kids! Please remember that this is only temporary.

 

I blame it on the hot weather and for the insufficient plain water my kids take. And that is partly my fault. A mom sure has a lot on her plate.

 

Anyway, last weekend beli jagung. Cadangnya nak buat bubur. Well, my plan did took off but very-very much later. Semalam baru lah jagung sudah menjadi bubur he he.  

 

 

Bahan-bahan
[1]   3 tongkol jagung
[2]   1 keping nisan kelapa
[3]   2 sudu besar gula
[4]   1 sudu teh garam
[5]   200 ml santan (saya guna santan kotak)
[6]   1 helai daun pandan
[7]   2 sudu besar sagu

-   Hiris isi jagung dari tongkolnya. Masukkan dalam periuk.

-   Masukkan tiga cawan gelas air ke dalam periuk berisi jagung. Masukkan juga nisan kelapa dan sagu dan daun pandan.

-   Masak di atas api sederhana hingga mendidih. Biarkan mendidih kira-kira 10 minit atau sagu separa jernih.

-   Perisakan dengan gula dan garam.

-   Masukkan santan. Didihkan kira-kira 5 hingga 10 minit. Sentiasa kacau supaya tidak berketul dan pecah minyak.

-   Sedap dimakan panas atau sejuk.

 

Mine was a little starchy and thick from the sagu. I am okay with that as I can make lollies out of the leftover later.

 

Salt in bubur manis will enhance the flavour and so the bubur will not taste plain sweet.

 

Ah Boi loves this. He normally drink hot chocolate every night after coming back from tuition. He gave an exception last night and ate this instead.

 

So that is our dessert for the week. I told kids that I am only going to make a cake or jelly or bubur on weekly basis. Let's see how long we will stick to this ;-)

 

 

[Love of My Life] [Rambling] Trust in Allah, Tie Your Camel

Assalamualaikum.
Peace be upon you.

Hari ni hantar Budak Benyek2 ke sekolah then fetched Ah Boi and Kakak. Ah Boi sits for a 3-days diagnostic exam starting today.

Hari ni paper Bahasa Malaysia 1, Bahasa Malaysia 2 and Math 1.

Bahasa Malaysia 1 okay katanya.
Bahasa Malaysia 2 pun okay.
Math susah.

 

I was never good in Math. In fact, with anything that deals with number. Funny thing is, when it comes to sales discount, my little brain makes an exception. Laju je mengira :-)

Few years back, the year that Kakak sat for UPSR, about three months before the actual exam, she still flunk her Math papers or dapat markah cukup-cukup makan. Not saying that I am better than anyone else but when it comes to certain things, mother knows how best to tackle things. So I tutored her. The mak-rimau mak-singa style. Memang mengaum la. Kadang-kadang sampai nangis si Kakak. I went checking her text-books, belajar balik cara jawab exam these days.

And she got an A for Math in UPSR.

So now I am tutoring Ah Boi pulak. With him I cannot use mak-rimau mak singa style. I am aware of his limitations. While I push him, bend him, I need to make sure I don't break him. Delicate? Yes. But InsyaAllah.

As a quote goes - Trust in Allah but always tie your camel.

 

Usaha. Kemudian baru berserah pada Allah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Food & Recipe] Cranberry Cream Cheese Buns & Tuna Mayo Rolls (with eggs)

Meroti lagi!

 

Tuna Mayo are the ones that resemble ladam kuda terlebih zat. Gemoks!

Kali ni guna telur. Unlike last time that I did not use eggs. This time, still buat Cranberry Cream Cheese buns. Ada lebihan tuna from our sushi adventure two days back.. I made Tuna Mayo rolls as well.

 

Here's sharing the dough recipe.

[1]   3 3/4 cup bread flour
[2]   1/4 cup multi purpose flour
[3]   1/2 cup sugar
[4]   1/2 cup milk powder
[5]   2 eggs
[6]   60 gm butter
[7]   200 ml fresh milk
[8]   11 gm yeast

Just put everything in mixer bowl and let the dough hook do its magic. Alternatively, you can hand knead.. for about ten minutes till the dough is elastic. Cover the bowl with tea towel and give it a good rest till it doubles the size.

The fillings. Tuna mayo (L) and Cream Cheese (R)

 

 

There's many other ways, like putting the yeast in sugar water till it bubbles, then only add it up to other ingredients. Or leaving the milk and eggs at room temperature.

I just pour in cold milk, eggs straight from the fridge, cold butter. Everything together at one go. Alhamdulillah, my dough still turned out well. It may take longer time to proof but I am okay with that. Sambil-sambil tunggu tu boleh la buat benda-benda lain kan.

 

Just do whatever method that suits you best.

The inside of Cranberry Cream Cheese Buns

I love the way it is elastic and soft at the same time.

The inside of Tuna Mayo Rolls.

I rolled the dough flat then line it up with tuna mayo, leaving about 1 inch allowance along the edge.

Pastu gulung.








Dulu masa belajar SRT (Sains Rumahtangga) dari form one sampai form three, circa 1987-1989, for benda-benda manis, hidang dalam pinggan or piring bulat, while the savouries (salty and/or spicy) go into oval plate. Tea is served in teko rendah and coffee in teko tinggi. Everything has its own way of making and presenting. I had almost always tak berapa gemar SRT classes. Years gone by and I realized betapa bertuahnya dapat belajar SRT dulu-dulu.

But tengoklah ni, ex student SRT...  Semua naik atas dining table.. cutting board.. baking tin.

Obviously I need to have my home-science skills reassessed. Well, some part of it la. Hidang makanan dalam kuali is such a hip these days.. apalah sangat baking tin tu kan :-)