A Beautiful Feeling...

Salam to everyone!

What a beautiful morning! As I sit down to write this piece, I notice the same old cheerful morning is back.
After some grey morning skies, this one sure brings smile to me. My sunshine is back.... and I just had to capture this very moment, before, who knows, the dark clouds loom again.

It brings back the routine I missed so much - writing at this corner, with lots of sunlight streaming in.... a brewing hot coffee at hand....a pleasantly quiet time on my own....and lots of thinking to do too!

Only missing is, the same old buzzing that will signal incoming messages. And if there's one thing I have to learn, then it is this one I must learn to accept and forgo.

Okay, let's not spoil this moment I'm taking in!

My peaceful surroundings... ;-)

Today marks the last day of two thousand ten. I have lost count of how many regrets I have had in the recent years. I keep making mistakes. 2009 especially. But now, after almost one and a half-year of contemplating over my bad experiences, not to mention, with the clear blue skies outside, hahaha, my hard-feelings just vanished! By far, this is already a victory in battling one's soul cleansing feat. Hopefully. Maybe.

To celebrate the welcoming of a new year, and being typical of me of being mushy...hehehe... here's a song I would play over and over again just to reminisce the same good old mornings I used to have...



 ANYONE AT ALL - Carole King

Funny how I feel more myself with you
Than anybody else that I ever knew
I hear it in your voice,see it in your face
You've become a memory I can't erase

You could have been anyone at all
A stranger falling out of the blue
I'm so glad it was you

It wasn't in the plan, not that I could see
Suddenly a miracle came to me
Safe within your arms I can say what's true
Nothing in the world I would keep from you

You could have been anyone at all
An old friend calling out of the blue
I'm so glad it was you

Words can hurt you if you let them
People say them and forget them
Words can promise,words can lie
But your words make me feel like I can fly

You could have been anyone at all
And that's what catches me when I fall
I'm so glad it was you
You could have been...

Note: You can listen to the full version here at Afternoon Delights  

Thank you for the lovely 2010 everyone!

H A P P Y   N E W  Y E A R   2 0 1 1    ;-)

To Market, to market...and Had A Good Laugh!

It's unusually quiet at the market this morning. I don't think I had been early, as it was already 7.30am. I could walk from one stall to another without having to mind my grocery bag nor watching my steps. No queues to line and no waiting for my change. It was a breeze. Still, I wonder. Fresh produce were abundance, so I dismissed that thought first and foremost for the small crowd today.

When I went back for the santan I had ordered earlier when I came, my curiosity became intense. I just had to ask Makcik Jah, (MJ) the stall owner.  (psst...CS, samalah pulok nama MJ ni kan, kan...kan...!)

Me: Apsal sunyi jer pagi ni? Takde berorang...beli ikan kat AhSeng tadi pun tak berebut...

MJ: Nak sekolah gamaknya...orang tak mai beli ... 
(yg ni you all kena baca dalam loghat Penang, tau!)

Oh no! Not that kind of answer I was looking for. What has school to re-open got to do with this? Biar betul MJ ni! And I thought to myself later, since when have I been so kay-poh? The matter was left unsloved...

So, anyway, a funny incident took place at an old man's store selling cooking utensils at this well-organized market. I have been passing this row of shops, but have never bought anything here. But when my eyes caught a round griddle/hot pan perfect for frying roti canai/capati, I talk myself into buying one. Again, being fickle-minded, I did not enter the shop straightaway, instead, I made a few pacing up and down the five-foot way, like a parading model (uhuk, uhuk...a very ugly one at that!!!)... deliberating inside me, 'to buy or not to buy'! I walked away thinking my good reliable non-stick pans are enough for me. But...as I reached my car, I made a detour...

Me: Pakcik, kuali leper ni boleh buat bakar ikan? (dalam hati: Lili, don't be stupid, please...)

PC : Elok sangat eh, anak oi! Cek nak ka? Hat ni pakcik buat kendiri... (in a very soft spoken tone him)

Me: (dalam hati: sabar Lili...don't laugh...don't laugh YET!) Ok, saya ambil yang ni! Berape? (this time with a snicker...any longer now, I'd snort! I had better be calm... hey, I'm not being rude, you know!)

PC: Ikut-ikut lapan beleh ringgit setengah...tapi ambik kat cek, lapan belas suda lah! Ni baguih ni..tak lekat... elok nak oii!

Me: (already had RM16 in my hand and trying hard not to laugh that I know I'm bursting inside!)
Pakcik, enam belas ringgit, ok tak?

PC: Tu ka? Tambah pi la seringgit lagi...anak kira orang yang mola beli ari ni.

Me: OK.

The deal is done. (perghh, macam orang biznes ler pulok). RM17. The griddle was packed in plastic bag, I started to giggle and when I took it from the old man, he then asked in a very fatherly manner...

PC: Awat yang cek dok gelak? (this time PC pun gelak sama!)

I shook my head and left.

Well, the moment the old man talked, he reminded me so much of a character in P.Ramlee's movie, "Nasib Do Re Me". I recalled the scene where the gergasi (giant) cakap Kedah!  :)) "Awat hangpa lari deraih sangat eh...aku ligan bukan apa, aku nak bagi balik barang hangpa...sat ni hangpa main mozik tak sedap..."


But of course, I did not tell the old man thatlah!

Saja pakcik...saja...saya seronok dapat kuali lepiak! 

 


A note to myself:  
Dah bertahun-tahun duk Penang...belajar-belajarlah cakap Penang... Bukan I tak nak cakap...bila I cakap depa kata bunyi macam Siam! ;p

Cerita dari Blog Sunyi....

Eh, ini blog saya ke? Laa....apsal bersawang jer ni? Laa....lupa ada blog ek! Itulah, asyik sibuk berdesperet jer sampai lupa mengemas menebas bagai.

Actually kan, I went jalan-jalan makan angin obersea, you all. Jangan tak tahu....obersea I dekat jer. Janji jaraknya lebih 25km dari rumah I kira makan anginlah tu. I tak boleh nak pergi obersea macam member kelab I sorang tu. Tu dia...sampai ke seberang tambak! Jalan-jalan U*iversal St*dio lagik. Tapi, I tak jeles, sebab I pong makan angin obersea. :)) Tak caye? Ni hah, gambarnya...

 

Hah, itu baru view from my room kat hotel ni. Gambor camtum-camtum ekor ayam, gitu. Tapikan kan tapi, I malu aahhh nak letak gambor I yang sekarang dah jadi femes kat my 'Kelab Haus'. Hehhee... kalo you all tengok mesti fengsan macam Alauyah Kuih Lompang tengok ukiran muka dia yang Abdul Wahib ukir tu. At least kan, Alauyah tu tengok muka jer.... ni kan, I siap berposing ala-ala Cleopatra versi dugong.  Uiks, bayu laut pong mintak ampun kona hembus lalu aje keliling I.  
Sabor ajelah....

Sesekali ku rasa teringin nak relaks relakskan badan...apa tu bak kata omputih,... rejuvenate? Hah, gedeban! Sejak sekolah cuti ni, tangan tak pernah kering. Asyik masak, makan, masak, makan. Suami I  yang dulu hensem, rambut panjang dah jadi botak  pong baru sedar yang istewinya ni asyik ke dapor jer. Tetiba jer dia rasa nak bercuti. Guilty pong sama dia tu. Last week kita orang nak ikut Adik I pergi holiday kat PD...nak merasa duduk kat Av*llion tu, dia tak boleh nak celuih time ambik leave. Last last, I membawa diwi ke Ipoh bersama Girl. Kesian kami kan, kan, kan? Itu yang kami pergi holiday obersea weekend yang baru lalu tu.

Tapi biasalah I ni. Dah hubby I ok, I pulak ngade-ngade nak duk kat hotel yang belum pernah try kat obersea ni. Memang dah tahu hujung-hujung tahun ramai manusia kat sini memang takde can nak nginap kat H*rd R*ck Hotel. Jadinya, masih setia hubby dengan hotel adik-badik kompeni dia. Dan masih setia derang letak kami kat bilik yang selalu kami inap dari mula kawin sampai dah kertu ni. So suwit (sweet) our suite.... Harga suite kami ni sama dengan standard room  kat HRH atau H*liday Inn atau P*rk R*yal. Hubby I bijak... memang bijak sebab dia pernah minum susu D*mex agaknya!

  Inilah dia B*yview Beach Resort

Resort yang paling hujung kat B*tu F*ringghi ni...

 Malam tu kami dinner dalam hujan yang maha lebat di sini....

 Dah kata pergi obersea, makan pong makanan obersea jugak lah ye.... I makan yang ini....

Mulanya, nak kongsi-kongsi makan nasi beriani kambing ni.... tapi sekali suap, punyalah sedap, I makan sampai licin pinggan. Hikhik...mana tak jadi dugong!

Okaylah, dah nak petang ni. Sawang-sawang kat sini dah pun I keliar (clear)....Nampak macam bertuan sikit rumah I ni. Nak gantung gambar banyak-banyak kang takut ada yang termuntah ijo kuning biru ungu. Baik I gantung kat Kelab Haus I tu. Setuju tak ahli DHW empat orang tu?;=D


Tata!

What December?

December. I read somewhere...someone said, "Disember, biasalah....bulan murung"

Oh, really? I thought I said that.



....Now you're acting strange, how the weather's changed
Now the world don't look so good, it's not so well-arranged  What's happening to the girl I used to know 'cause it wasn't long ago that I caught her hot and taught her how to sing What's happening to the good thing that we had
And say it's going bad - hey hey what's happening?

Pic from Mr Google... ( ya ampun...)

Jom nyanyi ramai-ramai! ;=D

"At your service, hetA!"

Oh dear, it's December already! Where was I? Where the heck was I!

I've been around. Right now, I'm in Ipoh, appointing myself as my mom's cook and part-time baby-sitter to my sister's children. Things are easier when you know how to make use of your 'cheap labours'! Hehehee... my nieces and MyC are my new assistants. They want cakes, I make them bake cakes. They want mee rebus, well, you get me? :))

After four days in Ipoh, I long for my own kitchen. For the first time in my life I have to endure creaming cakes manually. Not a good exercise for my hands and shoulders :( hikhik!  Actually, part yang 'first time in my life' tu sila baca jer ye...percaya jangan!. Like I have not tried making cakes that way... 

Okay, I'll rant later. My assistants are waiting for me to sprawl myself in bed for them to massage! See? Cheap, cheap labour!

Come on girls, Heta sakit kaki! ;-D

Jom Makan E.T.!

I was everywhere today... As usual, Sunday morning breakfast with hubby at our favourite Taman Tun food-court, overlooking the sea lagi! I was famished sebab malam tadi tak makan nasi. Bangun pagi ni, macam hape jer lapornye! So, pekena nasi lemak. But before that we went marketing first. I only bought some essential things for my cooking tomorrow. Sunday, memang jarang masak. Kalau masak tu maknanya I nak makan lauk-pauk style Perak. Kat sini mana ada jual gulai tempoyak ikan sungai, ataupun gulai lemak cili api nangka muda, atau sambal nyiur berupah...uish, kecur air-liur sebut-sebut masakan ni!

Lunch was nasi again, for me, that is. Nampak jer kecik I ni...bab makan - laju! Tapikan, I makan bila lapar sesangat. I'm that type, cepat lapar, cepat kenyang. Thus, I take my meals many times but in small portions. Oh, just so you know, I had my gall-bladder removed years ago, when I was twenty-nine! That could be the reason... hikhik!

Now, where was I? Yes, after lunch it was grocery shopping and we were back home at almost three.

And then kan, this evening, I buat snack that I saw at adik Hana's blog and also at  adik Ayu's blog. 
Thanks ye, adik-adik yang pandai masak ni. I already have all the ingredients needed so, I just whipped up! Kalau ada nak cuba, buatlah... memang sedap. Just get the recipe from their blogs, okay. As for me, I main bancuh jer ikut tangan I...hehe...benda semua ada and as always, I cook without a recipe - just the ingredients needed. But thank you so much, Hana and Ayu, for giving me the idea of using these two mushrooms. Next time, I will try the white jade mushrooms...

Here they are... Spicy Cheese Enoki mushrooms. And yes, I used grated cheese. It was sedap! ;-)

 If you look closely, my spicy mushrooms resemble a lot like E.T. Hahahaha)))  Takpe, nampak tak cantik, dah makan, cantik!

Jemput makan...

For the Love Of Noodles! (TTBB)!

My no fuss lunch today...

I love noodles. And love them any way they are cooked. Only last week, I had Laksa Johor, and today nothing beats this equally refreshing curry mee. 

The ingredients for the gravy is simple, yet, I still couldn't find one good bowl around my area. Try eating them in Ipoh, and you can never go wrong.... even the road-side hawkers cater better ones than what I found in this town. In fact not many people here prefer curry mee - the Malays, I mean. Living near the sea where seafood are abundant, I guess, mee udang takes pride in most Penangites.

School's out and it is all the reason for me to start cracking my head for varieties in my everyday cooking. Soon, I'll be 'baby-sitting' a couple of nieces and a nephew at my house .... well, it's time to draw the menu! But I'm loving it! ;-)

*TTBB = Tajuk tak boleh blah! ;p

AidilAdha...

Salam semuanya! Lama tak bersiaran sebab sibuk nak sambut Raya Haji. Bestnya!
Tahun ni raya haji di rumah saja. Nak balik Ipoh, cuti sehari, elok ler sesekali raya kat sini. Seronok jugak terima tetamu, which last raya puasa I did not receive sebab demam.

Hari ni baru dapat nak beronline! I've been busy since Monday. Asyik membaking sesaje... Tapikan tapi, nak cerita sikit, betapa sedihnya bila my oven buat ragam. I just realised, all the cakes I baked have no perfect bases. Patutnya kek semua ada 'berkaki' kan, ni atasnya saja cantik, but when I turned them over to cool on the rack, the bases were still soft macam takde 'board'! They were cooked through alright, but it really was so so wrong kalau tak ada crust sikit at the bottom. Rasa macam nak nangis sebab baking membaking ni is my expertise.

Yang feliksnya, my guests semua kata sedap...bestnya...nak tapau lagi! Tapi I tetap kiciwa...oohhh nooo! :'(

So, the oven has to be sent for repairs... Dah siap-siap nak call Mr Botak, taukeh kedai oven tu. Hohoho))

And here is the combo pic of my 'not-so-jadi' carrot cake. My orange cake pun sama...malas nak edit gambornya...but the chocolate cupcakes okay jer...sebab I don't have to turn their 'bont bont', hahahahaha!

You get me? See...how is the cake to 'sit' properly kalau tak ada bont-bont*t! :))

Okay, kita cerita pasal raya pulak.
Subuh-subuh syafi'e lagi I dah masak nasi tomato...wah...kali ni guna beras basmati J*smine PUSA nombor sekian sekian sekian! Thanks to Shidah yang selalu promote beras tu...er...ada dapat komisyen ke, Shidah? And I also used minyak sapi E*rico,  pun macam Shidah syorkan! Nasi tomato dimakan dengan ayam rose, gulai daging kawah...walaupun, taklah dimasak dalam kawah, dan jelatah timun/tomato - kekdahnya, nenas terlupa nak dibeli, hantam letak hirisan tomato... Orang yang paling pertama merasmikan nasi tu seharusnyalah, MyC!
Siap kata, "tak rugi bangun awal pagi ni dapat makan nasi the best ever!" hmmm...kalau pasal bodek,...serah Mysarah!

Lepas zohor baru tetamu mula datang sampailah ke malam... Kali ni juadahnya, laksa johor, my favourite!
Kawan MyC sorang tu sampai tak nak balik-balik sebab nak ulang makan laksa Auntie Lili! :))

So, hari ni nak rehat sungguh-sungguh. Memang penat, tapi happy all the same sebab dapat beraya dengan kawan-kawan yang I tak sempat ke open houses derang masa Raya puasa dulu.

Lunch hari ni nak makan laksa johor lagi...hehe... kuah ada lebih lagi, cuma nak di rebuskan spaghetti and hiris ulam-ulam...tumbuk sambal belacan lagi, (semalam I guna dry blender/miller buat sambal!). Tapikan tapi... tekak rasa nak makan nasi putih. Sambal sardin jadi lauk harus terangkat, kan? :)

Laa...bila nak rest ni?

Bye for now... ;-)

Tea Treats

 

Yeah, you got it right... I too have been bitten by the 'orange-cake-baking-bug'! It seems that most blogs I visited last month had come out with this simple yet gorgeous cake. Credits were given from one cook to another. And my thanks to friends Shidah Sizuka and Somuffins CS for inspiring me to bake again! I have been lazy to bring out the baking utensils for months now...hehe... my very lame reason for reasons!

To tell you the truth, I had been baking this cake before... numerous times, but had no inkling it was a Sicilian Orange cake. My version has always been that humble Orange cake! But there is no harm to go with the flow, considering the comfort, cakes are to our palate. And not to mention, the joy of baking...

Lets have tea! ;-)

Of Tea and Me!

Checked my draft just now - I have more than ten 'hanging' postings! I'm lagging behind because I'm too busy reading other people's blogs and every time I'm done reading, I went to bed with my postings left unfinished!

Before this posting too be well tucked dusty in the draft file, I'll publish it now and leave you with pictures of the herbal tea, Uncle Lee of Canada has recommended me to drink some time ago when I was sick...

My first pack...bought it this afternoon.

Why is it I had the feeling that the remaining 11 teabags

will last me for about a year from today? 

Well, knowing very well, I'm not a tea person! tsk,tsk, tsk...

To counter the strong herbal taste, I adjusted my tea with added lemon and sour plum

Hope this tea will help cleanse my fatty intake tonight. But then again, who's counting the calories and ruining it! I love good food and it is not a sin to indulge once in a while... aaahhhh! ;-)

Note: Apasal gambar chicken chop I tak masuk dalam frame betul-betul? Hehe...macam gambo pinjam pulak... Heyelp me!!!

Just The Way You Are...

I just love listening to this song over and over again....
And watching the vc makes me feel twenty-five again! Hohohoho)))



Now, did anyone of you blush?

Sunday That Was...

My little sister was here in Penang over the weekend for a three-day meeting at the beautiful H****** I**.  And what better way for the big sister to unwind than to tag along! As my Saturday was filled with invites to kenduris, I only managed to join her on Sunday. That was good enough!

I'll let the pictures here do the 'talking'!

Like I said before.... oh, I just love the sea! :)

After bidding goodbye to my sister, we proceeded to Gurney Plaza. Biasalah, Mysarah...ada aje nak membeli...

  

We had a late lunch at none other, Hameediyah Restaurant... 

By the time we reached there, the beriani rice was almost finished but they were making more for the evening crowd. Ada juga lauk yang baru masak, so we had piping hot fish curry and also grilled lamb to go with the lovely beriani. Heaven! :) 

Nasi dah nak habis, sempat kaut dulu!.. wahhh, still warm and setapppp!

They're mine...all mine! (wicked!)

Hmm...I think I'm gaining weight....! ;=D
Tata!

Let There Be Light....

This song may be quite 'old' but when I heard it for the first time I was bowled over by the melody! ;-)

And for some unknown reasons, the animated video game portrayed in this song's video clip, reminds me of a dear friend....

Sebelum Cahaya

Ku teringat hati

Yang bertabur mimpi

Kemana kau pergi cinta

Perjalanan sunyi

Engkau tempuh sendiri 

Kuatkanlah hati cinta

 Ingatkan engkau kepada

Embun pagi bersahaja

Yang menemanimu sebelum cahaya

 Ingatkan engkau kepada

 Angin yang berhembus mesra

Yang kan membelaimu cinta

Kekuatan hati yang berpegang janji

Genggamlah tanganku cinta

Ku tak akan pergi meninggalkanmu sendiri

Temani hatimu cinta

 Ingatkan engkau kepada

Embun pagi bersahaja

Yang menemanimu sebelum cahaya

Ingatkan engkau kepada

Angin yang berhembus mesra

Yang kan membelaimu cinta

Kekuatan hati yang berpegang janji

Genggamlah tanganku cinta

Ku tak akan pergi meninggalkanmu sendiri

Temani hatimu cinta

Ku teringat hati

Yang bertabur mimpi

Kemana kau pergi cinta

Perjalanan sunyi

Engkau tempuh sendiri

Kuatkanlah hati cinta

Have a nice weekend, folks!

Night At Auto-City...

This week has been quite a hectic one when the hubby came up with this silly idea of 'jalan-jalan cari makan'. "Bagi mummy berselera makan semula!" was what he quoted! We ate outside a lot since I started picking up on makan-makan again. So much for manja-manja! Sheeshhh!

Last night we had dinner at a new eating place in Perai, some place called Bangkok Station. The usual Thai fare of Siakap Tiga Rasa, mixed vege, kerabu mangga and tomyam; a so-so rating to my liking...Well, give me Thai food at Siriwan - anytime! Since I was famished, no photos of the food were taken. But I have some pictures of our dinner at Pen-Mutiara a few nights ago... I know you'd be drooling.... :))

Kari Kepala Ikan in a wok

Sotong goreng tepung

So after dinner last night, we went to Juru Auto-City. This is a hip and happening (heh pening!) place to dine and shop. Since dinner was a hearty one, we obviously came here to window-shop. It was MyC's idea and she, as usual had something in mind to buy.

Over all, it was an enjoyable night out - something I have not been doing for a long time! At Juru Auto-City, (where you can find fleets of luxury cars for sale!), this shopping area is also dubbed as Shops in the Park. A very good concept for family outing...

 The one shop selling designer bags...and they're original, mind you!

Got the signal from hubby, - no more Aigner! waaaa))))

 Shop in the Park... fun!

MyC...tak sabar nak shopping!

Have a nice day, y'all! :)

Please excuse me while I cry...What, again?

I declare myself "cengeng"! I cry easily at anything happy or sad. Usually, the sad part wring most tears out of me! But I seldom cry something about me... I cry for others. Take for instance, this morning... as I was 'blog-hopping', and reading Andrea Whatever's posting about her father's demise, my whole body shook, and tears just flow freely. I hate that, you know...the crying.

Sometimes, when I am sad, I try not to play along with my sentiments. But then there is always something, somewhere out there that I'd encounter that render the cengeng-ness in me.

And.... I am sad right now, and writing this is just an excuse for me to :'(

Fever

I had been ill for several days, and if I have not lost count, it is the sixth day today. I am still recovering a bit from a very high fever, followed by a bout of stomach upset and what-not, that just thinking of it feels like a recurring nightmare. 

It was different this time. The fever I mean. All this while, I had never bother much about my little pain here or little pain there - I was always up and about in no time. Like I said, it was different now. One moment I was shivering and the next I was flushing hot. My head was pounding hard and my body just went 'berserk'.

Four days in bed, I was really an invalid. On the first day saw my temperature rising up to 40 degrees C. I was a picture of restlessness. The hubby, was always at my bedside and really took care of me this time - something I would have avoided him from doing before! And I slept and slept and slept like I had never slept before. The appetite was rather poor too and I hardly shoved down even a morsel into my throat. The slightest mention of food made me sick again so much so I had to take my medicines almost without food.  I never knew I was this weak...

This afternoon, for the first time in six days, I began to nibble on some cut fruits. And I'm quite happy with my progress tonight as I already sipping spoonfuls of tomyam soup! No rice just yet, but I'm contented with noodles for now.

Looking in the mirror awhile ago, I almost didn't recognize myself! I am so frail. No wonder my friends who came by today and yesterday commented on how drastically I lost weight. They were right.

Syukur Alhamdulillah... being sick or healthy, I always know there's a blessings behind every condition God has in-stored for us. So, one day at a time... I'll be back on my feet again, insyaallah.

Kisahnya....

Most blogs I visited had already posted about the recent Hari Raya do. I saja yang belum berkesempatan - er, malas pun ya jugak. Dah cerita rayanya sama saja. Nak nak cerita Suddenly, Heta! ni, dah boleh orang agak... masak, masak, masak. Memang Hari Raya hari memasak tak renti-renti. Ada aje benda  yang teringin, dan bagaimana nak dapat sagu kalau tak dipecahkan ruyungnya, ya tak?

Anyway, dalam sibuk-sibuk memasak dan melayan tetamu yang datang, sempat jugak curi masa yang agak panjang sebelah petang hingga membawa ke malam dengan beraya ke rumah sepupu arwah bapak. Dan, bukan tahap beraya lagi, sempat berkaunseling-kaunseling dengan second cousin yang dalam proses menjadi single parent. Sedih. 


Selepas Maghrib, kami beransur ke rumah Ayah Mat pulak. Dia ni asyik beli rumah sesajor...rumah last year kita orang beraya pun tak sempat nak lepak-lepak sepenuhnya, dah pindah rumah baru. Cerita beraya di rumah Ayah Mat boleh baca sini.


Here are some photos yang sebenarnya keberatan nak upload...hikhik! :

Juadah di rumah Wan Chik Faridah di Rapat Jaya, Ipoh...

Rendang Dinding yang yummy! :)

Kek lapis strawberry yang mabeles! :))

Gadis-gadis yang pantang nampak kamera...

Rumah Ayah Mat rasanya yang paling meriah...siap dengan bunga api bagai! Nasib kami baik, sampai kat rumah dia sebelum another 'clan' datang. Apalagi, kami 'pau' dulu hidangan nasi dan lauk pauk yang sedap-sedap... hehe! When we were about to leave, tu dia...bergerabak sanak saudara yang sampai. Ada yang kenal, ada jugak yang jarang-jarang sekali ketemu. Memang best raya kat sini. Ramai dan tersangat MERIAH!

 

My nephew, Ahmad Mukhlis main bunga api dengan...

oops...sowi, terlupa namanya!

An uncle, third cousins yg tak pernah jumpa,

and my two bros-in-law...

The host, Wan Chik Asiah with one of her cucu-sedaras...(great-niece!)

...some of my third cousins at Ayah Mat's house in Park Lane, Klebang...

now, which one of you is Wan Nabilah? ;p

Semoga panjang umur, kita berjumpa lagi di tahun-tahun akan datang, insyaAllah.  ;-D

  

Photograph

Tonight, as I sit listening to the songs in my playlists, I could not help thinking of my good friend I visited this morning. Like a week before Raya recently, she is still the same... hugging me the moment I greeted her and crying shamelessly on my shoulder - beating her chest now and then as though she is releasing a monster out of her wasted self. And her words kept ringing in my ears...'sakit lili, sakit...' in between her wails. Yes, she wailed.

Thus is a peril of a broken-hearted friend whose husband, assuring her that nothing has changed even though he has taken another wife, fails to see the once cheerful being she was has become almost a zombie.

I hate to elaborate...

... still, I don't know why I have chosen this song... :(

My Belated Raya Wishes!

Salam Lebaran Minal Aidil Walfaizin everyone!

I know, I've been away too long from my blogging world and also 'effbeeing'. There's so much going on around me during Ramadan. Some I handled just fine, but one or two did not seem to leave my mind. It is like watching a video clip over and over again. But then again, like the saying goes, 'berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul'. 

Alright, let's put some sad things behind for now... It's the festive season again and let's be joyous!

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI

MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN

Salam Dunia...

 Salam everyone...  :)
A beautiful song for your easy listening...
I love this singer SONG so much and I think it is the best Hari Raya song of all! (bias, bias...)

SALAM DUNIA - M. NASIR

Suara tangis yang kau dengar
Memecah hari kudus ini
Adalah aku
Mengenang Pemilikmu

Kita pohon kemenangan
Meroboh kota keakuan
Ini saatnya
Yang kunanti-nanti

Mereka yang dilanda derita
Redhalah harimu kan tiba
Cahaya kekasih yang benar
Menghapus segala api kemarahan

Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya
Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya

Inilah hari kita
Tiada lagi rasa ketakutan

Mereka yang dilanda derita
Redhalah harimu kan tiba
Cahaya kekasih yang benar
Menghapus segala api kemarahan

Inilah hari kita
Tiada lagi rasa ketakutan

Inilah hari kita oh...

Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya
Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya

Ateh's Day Out! (TTBB!)

It was a pretty misty morning yesterday, as I drove MyC to school. Since hubby was not feeling well and decided to stay home, I had to send her; a task normally done by hubby. I hate driving in the morning rush where I have to pass six other schools before I reach MyC's.

But as the light was about to break, I couldn't help feeling the warmth of the cool misty morning when I stopped for some photo shots of the sea and sky scape just away from MyC's school...

 Morning has broken....

.... like the first morning....

Later in the afternoon, under the torrid sun, I managed another 'round of waiting' for the day's catch at the seaside of a fishing village nearby my house. Fancy, having a place quite urbane one side and very quaint and rustic on the other! Muahaha! While waiting for the boats to come in, I took some pictures away from the crowd of people...

the unkempt jetty... 

notice the mangroves surrounding this area,

they were planted after the tsunami washed away 

all the boats to the road side...that far, you know!

Now the waves can only reach where the mangroves are...

..the open sea ahead...

it was so windy that I had a busy time 

keeping my tudung in place! :))

After much waiting I got myself some very succulent prawns and cooked them for iftar:

Hot and spicy sweet sour prawns! 

Mmmm...love them pineapple in the sauce!

* hari ni nak cuti masak...tak pun nak buat spaghetti jer...ok kot! Daaaaa..... ;)

* TTBB - tajuk tak boleh blah! hikhik!

Of Roaring Pre-dawn...and Iftar

My alarm clock is not the only means for my wake-up call for sahur. For the past few days, the roaring engine of the jet fighters in this godly hours has been my other alarm clock! Not that I'm not used to to the deafening sound, but it keeps me wondering why in the world would they need to be training at this time. Why won't they settle for for their meals first and train later when the day is bright and shine and everybody is already busy with their lives! Phew!

Sometimes I also wonder, how do the people in a small village tucked in the middle of nowhere, near the runaway of the air force base, are coping with these noise. But then again, I was told it wouldn't be named "Kampung Pekak" for nothing! Muahahaha! Bless those people of Kg. Pekak. And here I am, living 6km down the base, screaming each time the jets pass across the sky above my roof! Okay, I exaggerate a bit....hikhik! Anyway... my entry today is not going to be on the screaming jet planes nor of Kg. Pekak, but to feature my meals for iftar yesterday.

After almost two weeks, I couldn't think of anything else to cook so I made gulai tempoyak and udang halia... for a change...

Gulai tempoyak ikan siakap...

Siakap tastes almost like fresh-water fishes

Udang goreng halia with long beans...

I love the crunchiness of the beans

The udang kertas was worth my wait yesterday

afternoon in the scorching sun for the firshermen

to come ashore with their catch...

 And for sahur I made Rendang Kelampung/Lampung (paru)....but it was too good to resist that I dished out some for iftar too!

Bye for now! ;)

When the Said Is Not In the Done!

 When you've been cooking for too long, there comes a time at one point of your life, you feel like 'quitting'! But there's no way you could possibly think of wiping your hands and walk away... ha ha ha!

As usual, I slept after Subuh but later to wake up feeling all lost and lonely suddenly, yesterday. After my mid-morning prayer, I still couldn't ward off that 'funny' feeling within me. I knew I must be a bit tired. No. I was very tired indeed! So, out of the blue, I declared to free myself from doing housework and cooking. Altogether. Yeah!

At 5pm yesterday, I saw myself at a mini-market nearby my house.... and.... by seven, everything was ready for our iftar:

... the simmering gravy...

w

who needs the mamak stall when 

I know I make good mee kuah!

...the last minute concoction,

and always with love...  ahaks!

k

 ...kasi close-up lagik! hikhik

(click to enlarge...aha!)

.... my messy plate of mee kuah...

bukan mee rebus tau...tapi takut mee kembang, 

buat style mee rebus juga. Masa makan baru 

assemble all ingredients lepas tu curah kuah kat atas.

Okaylah, let's name it Mee kuah cheating! :))

Well, this is ME after all... things I said are not always the things I do. It is in me that has ingrained through years of minding my household...my life, even. I'm glad, I've chosen the right profession! Yabadabadooo!