Hi all,
We, mothers had just celebrated mother's day about two weeks ago. What's there to celebrate? Some attention from the children and that we were being fussed about on that day. Actually,that's what really matters to the many of us. We want them to always keep a little space in their thoughts about us. We want them to be beside us to share their innermost feelings with us. We want them to remain our babies forever even though that was impossible to happen. We saw them grew up right before our eyes and there's nothing we could do about it.
Sitting down alone after a collect call from Sophie a couple of days ago, and listening to her animated voice telling me about her hectic daily (college) schedule, got me thinking how time flies, I mean really flies. It seems like yesterday, when she and my three other kids were just running around playing hide and seek or pulling my hand gently asking for milk or getting excited about their first day of school. Those were the days when we thought why didn't we all have four hands.Two ain't enough! Boy, we hardly had any time to breathe luxuriously, let alone a time for ourselves.
I remembered the first time when I went into labour twenty four years ago with my first child, Ariff. The pain was excruciating. Everyone was saying the same thing. After the labour, you'd swore to never having another baby again, which is partly true but soon after that you started thinking about having another. Since the baby was 2 weeks overdue, the doctors had to induce me (medical term for accelerating the delivery process). I was admitted since 0800hrs and had to lie down on the hospital bed throughout the day. It was quite a smooth process actually. Not too much pain involved. Doctors came and went until about six something in the evening when one of them said I was nearly ready to deliver.The contraction came and went. A male doctor put a strap with a thermometer-like gadget on my belly and started counting. I asked him what was he doing. Counting the baby's heart beat, he said. Then as an afterthought, he asked me if I knew what sex my baby was. I said no I dont. I want it to be a surprise as this was to be my first. He went on again mocking me, if you wish to know your baby's sex, just count the heart beat per minute. If the pace is slower per minute (I can't remember the counting), then it's a boy and if the pace is faster then it's a girl. After he left, I thought what the heck, the baby will arrive very soon anyway, let's try and count. I counted and what do you know. It's a boy! I mean, my instinct was right all along, I even called him his name even though I never knew it would be a boy since I never let the doctor to tell me whenever they did the ultrasound on my belly during my 9 months of pregnancy.
By seven something the pain was starting to get worse but I can still bear it. When I was about ready to deliver, the nurses were looking for the doctor but he wasn't around. Believe it or not, he went back to doctor's quarters to hit the shower. Seriously! They paged for him and other doctors but everyone was busy. I was left in the capable hands of the nurses. I delivered safely a boy at about 7.23pm, that was to be my first son. The story didn't finish there. I started feeling another pain inside but I don't know what. Again the nurses paged for the doctor to hurry over as my placenta was stuck inside and wouldn't come out. By now I was sobbing quietly. The nurses took pity on me and sedate with something and soon I fell asleep while they waited for the doctor to attend to me. I got my consciousness well after 10pm.
My second one was also a boy, Soffian. This time I chose a private maternity clinic as I was still traumatized by the first experience I had at the general hospital. The same process had been applied as I wasn't able to give birth naturally. I had to be induced again. While the drips was taking effect slowly, I brought out a book and started to read. My doctor came and saw me reading. I can see a lopsided grin on his face. I asked why was he smiling. He said, throughout his many years of being an obstetrician, I was the first person doing the reading while in labour. After checking the opening, he said I will be putting away the book in not too long now. True to his words, I started having serious pain after about an hour. I gripped my husband's hand and said to him, you have to be with me when I am about to deliver. He promised me he would.
Soon after,I was wheeled into the labour room with my husband by my side. By now, the pain was out of this world. I was clutching my husband's hand tightly. I closed my eyes and started pushing following the doctor's command.
Then the miracle happened. It was as if out of nowhere the baby appeared. They wiped him and placed him on my chest for a few minutes. I choked on my tears of happiness.
I looked around for my husband but he was nowhere to be seen. I asked Patricia, the head nurse where my husband was. She said he went out sometime ago when he saw blood oozing out. Hemm..who's in pain actually..
Two years later when I got pregnant with Sophie, I was hoping against hope that this time we will get a baby girl. And this time around, I did the sonogram and asked to be told of the baby's sex. It's a girl. But this time I didn't want to deliver the natural way. Reason being, after my two sons were born, I had a bad hemorrhoids. I was bleeding profusely and I can't sleep or walk or sit properly. I was suffering terribly but I was too ashamed to inform the doctors so I kept it to myself and bear with it after each delivery. So, I promised myself that if I were to get pregnant again I would try some other way. I consult with the same obstetrician and he told me to try out the epidural way. They told me that I would be conscious throughout the delivery process but I will be anesthetized from my hips below. Therefore I wouldn't feel any pain. I agreed right away. Silly me. I was to realize later that it doesn't stop the hemorrhoids from recurring since I still need to push the baby out, pain or no pain. The only consolation was that it helped a little with decreasing the labour pain but the hemorrhage won't leave me. It usually subsided and healed after about a year. But the best thing that appeared through all the challenges, came my little princess, Sophie. The pain was nothing when compared to the little creature placed on my chest.
The last was to be Sara. Before her, I had a miscarriage when the baby was about 3 months in my womb. I cried my heart out because I thought she could feel that she wasn't welcome to be with me. I was feeling guilty towards Sophie as she herself was just a baby and I was pregnant with yet another child. I had many things on my mind and my beloved grandmother was dying. I went home to visit her and stayed for two nites but we had to leave as my husband had to be back at work. We came back to Langkawi and the moment we reached home, I felt something watery running down my legs. Pulling up my pants, I saw blood rushing down. I knew then that I had a miscarriage. I also received a news that my grandmother passed away and the first thing that came to my mind was that I can't be at her funeral. The person I loved the most in this whole wide world and I can't be with her to bid my last farewell. I cried for days and not caring about my health. I can feel that every one back at my grandma's home would be talking about me for not presenting myself at least for a while to see her for the last time. How can I be, I am sick myself.
Soon after that I was to have Sara. This time I thought of doing the C-section. I told the same doctor again that I wanted to deliver that way. Why, why, why was all he asked, many times. I said I don't want to have to go through the pain again (not telling him about my hemorrhoids.) He said it will ruin my skin since my skin was without any stretch marks and that I could easily deliver normally. I was adamant about it. So we agreed that I was to deliver my last baby via C-section. I was glad I chose this options. It was painless, and relaxing and just plain great. Only thing is, I was conscious the whole time they were processing on me. I was lying on that clinic bed half naked and a few male doctors with nurses were chatting away about the breakfast they had had that morning. Like, hello guys, I am still here! Does anybody care about me? Then, all of a sudden, when my eyes were wondering wildly across the room, I looked up the ceiling and saw the spotlight( I don't know the actual term name for that light) clear as a glass. It reflected on my belly and they had just cut opened. I nearly panic and breathed heavily. The doctors turned to look at me and asked what was wrong. Was I in pain. I pointed my finger to the light above. They had just realized about it and asked me to look somewhere else while they quickly grabbed a steel bar and placed around me and covered it with a cloth. I was still in shock when a while later they presented me with my last bundle of joy, Sara. I kissed her long and hard and say my gratitude towards Him for bestowing upon me four precious gems that was to bring me joy later in years.
Ladies, who ever says women are weak. We are some kind of heroes that had to battle on our own without fear to bring another human being into this world. That required a great courage and total strength to do what we did. So children, love, care and respect are all that we asked from you. We love you children of the world.
Good nite to moms and courageous women all over the world.
Rose
24th.May '13
ASAM PEDAS
Salam buat anak-anak perempuan dan semua di luar sana!
Dah agak lama mak cik Rose tak update post masakan ni. Bukannya apa, tapi tak mau nak letak sembarangan saja. Selalu masak tapi masak cincai ja bila malas.
Resipi hari ni pun, resipi yang agak malas (bagi mak cik Rose la) iaitu masak asam pedas. Amat ringkas dan cepat di masak, sedap dimakan. Kalau jenis masakan untuk makan dengan nasi, jenis berkuah, masakan ni adalah favourite mak cik Rose.
Resipi ni khas utk anak-anak gadis yg masih baru di dapur.
Jom kita sediakan bahan-bahannya :
Dah agak lama mak cik Rose tak update post masakan ni. Bukannya apa, tapi tak mau nak letak sembarangan saja. Selalu masak tapi masak cincai ja bila malas.
Resipi hari ni pun, resipi yang agak malas (bagi mak cik Rose la) iaitu masak asam pedas. Amat ringkas dan cepat di masak, sedap dimakan. Kalau jenis masakan untuk makan dengan nasi, jenis berkuah, masakan ni adalah favourite mak cik Rose.
Resipi ni khas utk anak-anak gadis yg masih baru di dapur.
Jom kita sediakan bahan-bahannya :
- Ikan kembung atau apa-apa ikan yg anak-anak suka
- 4 sudu cili kisar
- 4 ulas bwg merah ,2 ulas bwg putih dan sebatang serai yg di kisar
- sikit belacan ( dikisar sekali dgn bwg)
- sikit serbuk ketumbar
- Daun kesum
- sikit garam dan gula
- suku cawan air asam jawa
- hirisan buah nenas untuk mendapatkan kemanisan dari buah ni
Kita mulakan dengan menumis bwg merah/bwg putih dan serai yg di kisar tadi bersama dgn belacan.
Lepas tu masukkan cili kisar dan serbuk ketumbar. (Kalau nak bau yg segar boleh campur dan kisar sekali cili kering dan cili merah.)
Masukkan sikit air dulu. Tumis sampai cili masak. (nak tau cili masak, warnanya akan bertukar ke merah gelap)
Sekarang bolehlah ditambah air, kalau nak cair lebihkan air, kalau nak pekat kurangkan air.
Buah nenas yg dihiris tadi bolehlah dimasukkan sekarang bersama dengan daun kesum.
Bila dah mendidih, bolehlah dimasukkan ikan, garam, gula dan air asam jawa.
Tutup periuk dan biar lebih kurang 4 minit atau sehingga ikan dah masak dan kuah mendidih.
Dah siap. Senang kan. Cuba masak kat rumah.
Lepas-lepas ni kita cuba masakan dari negara lain pulak. Tukar selera.
Salam hormat,
Rose
24th.May '13
Birthdays and Heartaches
Hello everybody,
I haven't had enough time to write lately. I must find a way to juggle time effectively.
Anyway, yesterday, I reached the big five o. Yeap, I turned fifty yesterday. How do I feel? The same, can't say I'd be jumping with joy and elation at the thought of being fifty. I feel birthdays are only for kids, teenagers and young adults. They appreciate and express it better than us, the older group.
When we are at this age, most of us would mellow down a little in everything we do. We became slow in our speech, slower in our strides and slower even with our brains. Not much but noticeable. There were things that we were passionate about years ago that now became of no importance. We were so crazily in love with our spouse back then that nothing else mattered. Now after twenty five years of blissful marriage, we had found a mutual comfort with one another that required nothing but understanding and trust. We don't go berserk when our man were ogling another woman. We don't automatically feel suspicious when our husbands were hanging on the phone longer than five minutes. We don't nag him like we used to. Instead, we feel cozy and content with our lives now. Men are insensitive creatures. I know that but sometimes, we need men to understand how we feel too. Not us only need to try and understand them always.
But, too much coziness and contented life is not good for us, I would say. It will lead any one of us to become static with our lives and productivity .We would also take each other for granted. I believe we should show some appreciation towards our spouse while they are there and still with us. Don't wait until one of us is gone coz by then it will be too late.
Ariff got me a book by my favorite author for my birthday, So did Sara. That was sweet of her! She saved daily and bought me something too. Sophie had gotten me something but she wanted to give it to me in person once she got home for semester break. Soffian totally forgot about it and my husband didn't seem to think birthday is important since both of us are now in our fifties. I felt hurt. I could get all the gifts and presents from everyone but I still look forward to receiving something from him, even a bouquet of flowers or just a wishing card would make my day.
There was once, years ago when both of us were still working, he at one of the hotels on this island and I was with a Japanese travel agency. From inside my office I could see everything that moves outside. So, that day on my birthday, I saw a hotel van parked just outside my office. Then I saw the driver and his colleague pulled out flower bouquet and a cake from the back seat. I thought to myself then, how nice if those were for me. Surprisingly it did. The boys came into my office and straight away looked at me (well, I was the only Malay woman inside there, the rest were Japanese). They were like angels bringing me some pleasant gifts. "Miss, this is from Mr Ismail". I was shocked. That was so sweet of him. I said my thanks to the boys and while on their way out I saw one of them took out his mobile and called someone. Most probably my husband. Minutes later, while my colleague were admiring the bouquet and ogling the cake, I heard the fax ringing. As my colleague and I were about to cut and delve ourselves into the inviting cake, Mariko, shrieked, Rose-san, look at the fax. I took the fax and there written in bold letter was Happy Birthday and enjoy the cake. All of them were clapping with excitement. That was memorable. They were chattering in Japanese excitedly saying how lucky I was to have a thoughtful husband. That was then.
I am not a romantic, well I was years ago but now I am not into this mushy stuff anymore. Though I still need some kind of acknowledgement from him that I matters to him.
We still get along well, we still can communicate with each other but like I said earlier,silently we fell into this static group. We were so well versed with one another that I know precisely what he wants or about to say by the slightest move he makes. Sophie once said to me, "Ma, you are creepy. Can you do that to all of us?"
I said yes so be very careful when any one of you think you can get away when trying to lie to me.
After my mastectomy, as you all know it, I was ashamed of myself and slowly I detached myself from him. After a while I felt sorry for him. So one day, I told him, I am giving him permission to find another wife. I don't want to feel guilty and living in sin by denying him his physical needs. For my non-Muslim readers, in Islam men are allowed to have four wives at any one time PROVIDED they can be fair in every way to their wives and to avoid adultery. Funny though to think I once told him when we were about to be married that if ever,ever he wants to have a second wife, I want him to let me go because I don't like sharing basis. Again in Islam, women cannot ask for a divorce just because we feel like it or lost interest in our husbands. We had to have a solid and good reasons according to syariah law. Thus, I warned him prior to us being husband and wife. Ironically, now, I am giving him a green light to find a second wife. See how mellowed I became.
I know, some women might think I went out of my mind. What? Letting her husband marrying another woman? She must be insane. I'd like to think it this way. The first reason was as per the above. The second reason, I will have some time to myself. I am a loner. I have always like being on my one. Not always but at times. Third reason, by allowing him to marry again, my responsibility was reduced to half. The second wife will take the other fifty percent of responsibility. I don't have to cook when I don't feel like it, I don't have to tidy up the house when don't feel like it and I can be in my pyjamas throughout the day without having to worry what my husband would think. The final reason is, I still have a husband to look and care after me. So what's to not like having your husband on sharing basis. From the way I see it, I am on the winning side.
My husband is a very quiet type. He keeps to himself most of the time. He's not the type to go around and throw a pick up lines to any woman. When we were young, he had a few serious flings but it was just a fling and was initialized by the girls not him. Whoa! Hang on, as for me, he came and court me okay. Not the other way round. I was a shy, terribly shy girl, remember, so there was no way I went after him (though he was cute then). Since I am on this topic about him, there was one incident I wish to share. I was furious then when it happened but now it sounded funny. There was this girl, his staff, who's got the hots for him (did I use the right phrase?) Some friends said she resembled me slightly. They would go out together for a drinks or watching football, etc.. I don't bother much since they were working together. But after a while things started to get a wee bit serious. She would call or page for him every now and then and the messages started to get and sound serious. By now I don't find it funny anymore. One evening she called. Quite late, close to eleven pm. We were all asleep. I picked up the phone angrily and said a groggy hello. It was quiet on the other side. I said hello again, still no response. I knew the line was still on because I could hear a weak thumping on the other side. A second later the line went dead. I knew right away it was the girl. I called the hotel and asked to speak to the girl. She came on the line and without any pleasantries I asked why did she call my house number.She denied strongly. I was hundred percent certain it was her. I asked again slowly why did she call? She was angry and said I was crazy to accuse her. I told her I was not stupid. "When the phone rang just now, I can hear a thump on the background. That indicates that the hotel is under renovation. Can you tell me how many hotels are there in Langkawi and how many are under constructions? "
She went quiet. I continued, "Next time if you wish to speak to him just say so not just hanging up the phone. That's very rude and you're intruding our privacy ". What she didn't know was that I got the instinct of Mac Taylor and the head of Sherlock Holmes. I placed down the phone and went back to sleep.
At times, I am tired of trying to please people. You can be chirpy and nice and go all your way out to make them feel good (especially those close to you) but they never seemed to appreciate what we are giving. It's like I want more and more and more but I won't give. I am the type of person who'd give and give and when I see and feel that it's not worth my time and not appreciated, I would turn myself cold towards that person. By then, it's too late. Yes I will still be nice but my heart was not in it anymore. I hated it when I turned that way.
Well, that's about it then. Heartache comes and goes. Like days and nights. We live and take things one at a time. Have a great weekend everybody.
Lots of love,
Rose
18th.May '13
I haven't had enough time to write lately. I must find a way to juggle time effectively.
Anyway, yesterday, I reached the big five o. Yeap, I turned fifty yesterday. How do I feel? The same, can't say I'd be jumping with joy and elation at the thought of being fifty. I feel birthdays are only for kids, teenagers and young adults. They appreciate and express it better than us, the older group.
When we are at this age, most of us would mellow down a little in everything we do. We became slow in our speech, slower in our strides and slower even with our brains. Not much but noticeable. There were things that we were passionate about years ago that now became of no importance. We were so crazily in love with our spouse back then that nothing else mattered. Now after twenty five years of blissful marriage, we had found a mutual comfort with one another that required nothing but understanding and trust. We don't go berserk when our man were ogling another woman. We don't automatically feel suspicious when our husbands were hanging on the phone longer than five minutes. We don't nag him like we used to. Instead, we feel cozy and content with our lives now. Men are insensitive creatures. I know that but sometimes, we need men to understand how we feel too. Not us only need to try and understand them always.
But, too much coziness and contented life is not good for us, I would say. It will lead any one of us to become static with our lives and productivity .We would also take each other for granted. I believe we should show some appreciation towards our spouse while they are there and still with us. Don't wait until one of us is gone coz by then it will be too late.
Ariff got me a book by my favorite author for my birthday, So did Sara. That was sweet of her! She saved daily and bought me something too. Sophie had gotten me something but she wanted to give it to me in person once she got home for semester break. Soffian totally forgot about it and my husband didn't seem to think birthday is important since both of us are now in our fifties. I felt hurt. I could get all the gifts and presents from everyone but I still look forward to receiving something from him, even a bouquet of flowers or just a wishing card would make my day.
There was once, years ago when both of us were still working, he at one of the hotels on this island and I was with a Japanese travel agency. From inside my office I could see everything that moves outside. So, that day on my birthday, I saw a hotel van parked just outside my office. Then I saw the driver and his colleague pulled out flower bouquet and a cake from the back seat. I thought to myself then, how nice if those were for me. Surprisingly it did. The boys came into my office and straight away looked at me (well, I was the only Malay woman inside there, the rest were Japanese). They were like angels bringing me some pleasant gifts. "Miss, this is from Mr Ismail". I was shocked. That was so sweet of him. I said my thanks to the boys and while on their way out I saw one of them took out his mobile and called someone. Most probably my husband. Minutes later, while my colleague were admiring the bouquet and ogling the cake, I heard the fax ringing. As my colleague and I were about to cut and delve ourselves into the inviting cake, Mariko, shrieked, Rose-san, look at the fax. I took the fax and there written in bold letter was Happy Birthday and enjoy the cake. All of them were clapping with excitement. That was memorable. They were chattering in Japanese excitedly saying how lucky I was to have a thoughtful husband. That was then.
I am not a romantic, well I was years ago but now I am not into this mushy stuff anymore. Though I still need some kind of acknowledgement from him that I matters to him.
We still get along well, we still can communicate with each other but like I said earlier,silently we fell into this static group. We were so well versed with one another that I know precisely what he wants or about to say by the slightest move he makes. Sophie once said to me, "Ma, you are creepy. Can you do that to all of us?"
I said yes so be very careful when any one of you think you can get away when trying to lie to me.
After my mastectomy, as you all know it, I was ashamed of myself and slowly I detached myself from him. After a while I felt sorry for him. So one day, I told him, I am giving him permission to find another wife. I don't want to feel guilty and living in sin by denying him his physical needs. For my non-Muslim readers, in Islam men are allowed to have four wives at any one time PROVIDED they can be fair in every way to their wives and to avoid adultery. Funny though to think I once told him when we were about to be married that if ever,ever he wants to have a second wife, I want him to let me go because I don't like sharing basis. Again in Islam, women cannot ask for a divorce just because we feel like it or lost interest in our husbands. We had to have a solid and good reasons according to syariah law. Thus, I warned him prior to us being husband and wife. Ironically, now, I am giving him a green light to find a second wife. See how mellowed I became.
I know, some women might think I went out of my mind. What? Letting her husband marrying another woman? She must be insane. I'd like to think it this way. The first reason was as per the above. The second reason, I will have some time to myself. I am a loner. I have always like being on my one. Not always but at times. Third reason, by allowing him to marry again, my responsibility was reduced to half. The second wife will take the other fifty percent of responsibility. I don't have to cook when I don't feel like it, I don't have to tidy up the house when don't feel like it and I can be in my pyjamas throughout the day without having to worry what my husband would think. The final reason is, I still have a husband to look and care after me. So what's to not like having your husband on sharing basis. From the way I see it, I am on the winning side.
My husband is a very quiet type. He keeps to himself most of the time. He's not the type to go around and throw a pick up lines to any woman. When we were young, he had a few serious flings but it was just a fling and was initialized by the girls not him. Whoa! Hang on, as for me, he came and court me okay. Not the other way round. I was a shy, terribly shy girl, remember, so there was no way I went after him (though he was cute then). Since I am on this topic about him, there was one incident I wish to share. I was furious then when it happened but now it sounded funny. There was this girl, his staff, who's got the hots for him (did I use the right phrase?) Some friends said she resembled me slightly. They would go out together for a drinks or watching football, etc.. I don't bother much since they were working together. But after a while things started to get a wee bit serious. She would call or page for him every now and then and the messages started to get and sound serious. By now I don't find it funny anymore. One evening she called. Quite late, close to eleven pm. We were all asleep. I picked up the phone angrily and said a groggy hello. It was quiet on the other side. I said hello again, still no response. I knew the line was still on because I could hear a weak thumping on the other side. A second later the line went dead. I knew right away it was the girl. I called the hotel and asked to speak to the girl. She came on the line and without any pleasantries I asked why did she call my house number.She denied strongly. I was hundred percent certain it was her. I asked again slowly why did she call? She was angry and said I was crazy to accuse her. I told her I was not stupid. "When the phone rang just now, I can hear a thump on the background. That indicates that the hotel is under renovation. Can you tell me how many hotels are there in Langkawi and how many are under constructions? "
She went quiet. I continued, "Next time if you wish to speak to him just say so not just hanging up the phone. That's very rude and you're intruding our privacy ". What she didn't know was that I got the instinct of Mac Taylor and the head of Sherlock Holmes. I placed down the phone and went back to sleep.
At times, I am tired of trying to please people. You can be chirpy and nice and go all your way out to make them feel good (especially those close to you) but they never seemed to appreciate what we are giving. It's like I want more and more and more but I won't give. I am the type of person who'd give and give and when I see and feel that it's not worth my time and not appreciated, I would turn myself cold towards that person. By then, it's too late. Yes I will still be nice but my heart was not in it anymore. I hated it when I turned that way.
Well, that's about it then. Heartache comes and goes. Like days and nights. We live and take things one at a time. Have a great weekend everybody.
Lots of love,
Rose
18th.May '13
Sambal Tumis Sotong Special
Salam sekali lagi buat semua,
Hari ni mak cik Rose nak ajak buat sambal tumis special sikit. Tak banyak specialnya, sikit ja. Sambal tumis memang kegemaran orang melayu kan? Jadi walaupun semua orang tahu macam mana nak buat sambal tumis, mak cik Rose turunkan juga resipi dia, mana tau anak anak gadis kita yang baru nak mencuba2 di dapur.
Sambal tumis sotong kita buat hari ni. Ikut selera masing-masing lah nak masukkan jenis nya, ayam ke, udang ke, ikan ke atau apa-apapun.
Jom kita mulakan :
Sotong ( ikut banyak mana yg kita inginkan)
6 sudu besar cili kering yang dah dikisar
Bwg merah/ Bwg putih/ Sikit belacan ( semua di kisar sekali)
Sikit garam
1 sudu besar gula merah
1 sudu besar air asam jawa
Untuk hiasan:
Bwg besar di potong bulat dan daun bawang
Cara memasak :
1) Tumiskan bahan-bahan yg dikisar tadi
2) Bila dah agak kuning, masukkan cili dengan sikit air (dalam suku cawan dulu). Masak biar lama supaya
cili masak elok.
Separuh orang letakkan sikit rempah utk aromanya. Yg tu ikut hati kita.
3) Okay, bila cili dah masak elok, baru masukkan sotong. Jangan tak tau kalau dimasukkan terlalu awal ia
akan menjadi agak liat pulak.
Sekarang bolehlah masukkan gula merah (atau gula putih), garam dan air asam jawa.
Tips untuk sambal tumis yang lebih ummph nya . Kita boleh buat sambal tumis sotong kering (mungkin seminggu atau dua minggu sebelum tu) untuk di jadikan stok buat sambal tumis yang lain. Caranya, sambal tumis sotong kering tu, kita kisar semua sekali gus kemudian kita simpan di dalam chiller/freezer kita. Bila kita buat sambal tumis, contohnya sambal tumis sotong seperti diatas, bolehlah kita ambil dalam dua atau tiga sudu stok sambal sotong kering itu tadi dan dicampurkan kedalam sambal tumis kita hari ni. Rasanya memang sedap.
Dah siap sambal tumis sotong kita. Tak sampai lima belas minit pun nak masak dia.
Selamat mencuba and enjoy your lunch!
Salam,
Rose
10th.May '13
Hari ni mak cik Rose nak ajak buat sambal tumis special sikit. Tak banyak specialnya, sikit ja. Sambal tumis memang kegemaran orang melayu kan? Jadi walaupun semua orang tahu macam mana nak buat sambal tumis, mak cik Rose turunkan juga resipi dia, mana tau anak anak gadis kita yang baru nak mencuba2 di dapur.
Sambal tumis sotong kita buat hari ni. Ikut selera masing-masing lah nak masukkan jenis nya, ayam ke, udang ke, ikan ke atau apa-apapun.
Jom kita mulakan :
Sotong ( ikut banyak mana yg kita inginkan)
6 sudu besar cili kering yang dah dikisar
Bwg merah/ Bwg putih/ Sikit belacan ( semua di kisar sekali)
Sikit garam
1 sudu besar gula merah
1 sudu besar air asam jawa
Untuk hiasan:
Bwg besar di potong bulat dan daun bawang
Cara memasak :
1) Tumiskan bahan-bahan yg dikisar tadi
2) Bila dah agak kuning, masukkan cili dengan sikit air (dalam suku cawan dulu). Masak biar lama supaya
cili masak elok.
Separuh orang letakkan sikit rempah utk aromanya. Yg tu ikut hati kita.
3) Okay, bila cili dah masak elok, baru masukkan sotong. Jangan tak tau kalau dimasukkan terlalu awal ia
akan menjadi agak liat pulak.
Sekarang bolehlah masukkan gula merah (atau gula putih), garam dan air asam jawa.
Tips untuk sambal tumis yang lebih ummph nya . Kita boleh buat sambal tumis sotong kering (mungkin seminggu atau dua minggu sebelum tu) untuk di jadikan stok buat sambal tumis yang lain. Caranya, sambal tumis sotong kering tu, kita kisar semua sekali gus kemudian kita simpan di dalam chiller/freezer kita. Bila kita buat sambal tumis, contohnya sambal tumis sotong seperti diatas, bolehlah kita ambil dalam dua atau tiga sudu stok sambal sotong kering itu tadi dan dicampurkan kedalam sambal tumis kita hari ni. Rasanya memang sedap.
Dah siap sambal tumis sotong kita. Tak sampai lima belas minit pun nak masak dia.
Selamat mencuba and enjoy your lunch!
Salam,
Rose
10th.May '13
Thinking Of Holiday..But
Working hard the whole year round and it's time for a holiday. First thing that came to our mind was, where is the best destination and will the whole family agreed unanimously. The next most crucial question is, do we have enough funds or extra budget for a trip of, let say 5 nights. For an everyday people like us, who worked days and nights just to pay up the mounting bills, school expenses, cars maintenance and installment , house-hold expenses and lots and lots of other things, holiday is the last thing on our mind. But then, everybody needs a little time away. Away from it all. Thus, holidaying is the best therapy for our body and soul.
Now, how can we plan a trip for a family of six (that's us). We can't afford to go overseas like most of other people nowadays did. What we can do is, we picked a destination within the country that has the most interesting places to visit and do. Sarawak came to mind. By the way, we did this three years ago.
Sophie and I put this into plan. We checked daily the low fare airline (Air Asia) and fixed the date where everyone is free from work. We agreed to go in December. First week of December. Now we have to purchase the tickets for all of us but we were always short on cash. So, what we did was, we surfed the airline website every now and then and watch the price religiously. One day we hit the jackpot. There were tickets available at Rm 22.00 per way (Langkawi ~ Penang). Great! We purchased it straight away without wanting to wait another moment. Total for this route (Langkawi ~Penang~ Langkawi) was RM 264.00. One task completed. Next, we need to book from Penang to Kuching and return.
In the mean time, we browsed through the website for a decent hotel room in Kuching. Finally we found something we liked. Somerset serviced apartment. It was about RM 280.00 per nite. All six of us can crash in, include breakfast for all. There were 2 huge bedrooms with a little kitchenette and 2 bathrooms. There was even a washing machine and dryer too! What more can you ask?
Right, now a transportation to fetch us from airport to the hotel. That was easy. We booked directly with the hotel. Done! The hotel had given us an ample time for payment so we had some time to raise the money for all the arrangements.
What I did was, I placed a few empty envelopes aside. One envelope was marked as hotel, the other envelope marked as flight tickets, the third envelop for food and car rental while the last one for shopping. Whenever I received any payments from my supplier, I paid all my creditors first. The balance will be placed
in any one of the envelopes. Sara did her part too. She kept a little envelope and will take some money daily from my purse secretly.
We started planning in March. By May, we got lucky again. We saw tickets from Penang to Kuching at RM 98.00 (if I'm not mistaken) per way. But we don't have enough to buy for all. Ariff, my eldest son will buy his own tickets. Soffian had only a little savings so it seems I had to pay the difference. Then, we came up with this idea. I can only come up with three tickets first. So, at random, I placed a booking for Sara, Soffian and my husband. That left only Sophie, Ariff and me.
In August, we finally able to purchase all the tickets for the whole routes. Phew! That worked out quite well.
The girls were starting to get excited about it. It's not because the holiday itself but rather the whole family would be travelling together.
We still need to pay for accommodation, car rental and airport transfer. But at least, we had secure our seats with the airlines and at a very good price too.
I think by September, we finally came up with enough savings to pay up for our accommodation and transportation arrangements. Yeay.. we did it! We are ready for the holiday!
Now, we only need to have some extra cash for shopping purposes and sight seeings. Even entrance tickets at some of the interesting places had been stashed away in the little envelope. How smart can we be...
The day arrived. We took the flight from Langkawi to Penang and spent overnight there. The next day, we went to Penang airport and watched Sara, Pian and my husband left first as their flight was earlier than us. We, Sophie, Ariff & I followed suit after the few flight intervals.
Even though we had to plan one year ahead (because of the lack of funds), I believe we traveled in style or at least I think so.
When Sara, Pian and my hubby arrived at Kuching airport, they waited until our arrivals. Once we arrived, all of us when inside a luxury Toyota Alphard that was waiting for us to take us to the hotel.
The hotel wasn't a disappointment either. It was cosy and warmth.
The next day, our rented MPV arrived and we drove anywhere our hearts desired. No worries as everything was paid upfront. All we need to do was enjoy ourselves. Needless to say, the children brighten up the day and you all must have guessed it, yep, they did the bed jumping and rolling like a five year old did. I don't know what's with them and the hotel beds. Maybe the fluffiness of the beds and pillows that attracted them to do that. And to think that they can even have children of their own at that age. Pian even did a Calvin Klein boxer shorts model for us to admire.
Some days we cooked in the apartment. There was one evening, we went out to a famous nite baazar called Pasar Satok and guess what I bought. Fresh tiger prawns. I told them lets cook tonight and everybody agreed wholeheartedly. We got back at the apartment at about 6.30pm and I started cooking our dinner, sweet and sour prawns, fried pompret and some mixed vegetables. They ate like they've never seen food for months. Maybe it's the change of environment and it almost felt like home.
We had a great time there and a great memories too. It has been quite some time since we traveled together. We're planning next to visit one of the Asian countries next. Most probably The Philippines or Vietnam.
So people, plan your holiday, don't worry too much about the money. Save it any way you can or just do like we did. It sounded silly but it worked. We truly need to get away from everything to revive ourselves mentally and physically.
Until next time, have a great day and be happy!
Love,
Rose
1st.May '13
PATTIES KACANG KUDA / CHICK PEAS PATTIES
Hari ni jom kita buat snack untuk makan petang. Patties kacang kuda. Yang ni senang jugak nak buat dia dan rasa nya pun lebih kurang macam masalodeh.
Kita perlukan :
1 1/2 cawan kacang kuda
(rendam terlebih dulu kemudian rebus sehingga empuk, selepas tu dikisar jangan terlalu halus)
1 cawan serbuk roti
(kita buat sendiri. Potong kerak roti dan kisarkan. Senang saja. Mcm gambar diatas)
 |
| separuh drp bahan-bahan utk buat patties |
1/2 sudu besar serbuk cili (terpulang kepada kita sendiri, kalau nak pedas lebihkan)
1/2 sudu serbuk jintan manis
1/2 sudu serbuk ketumbar
1 biji bwg besar (yang dicincang),
Sedikit daun ketumbar
1 biji telur
1 cawan yogurt (hari tu tak ada yogurt biasa, mak cik rose pakai yogurt perisa buah)
2 sudu besar rempah daging
sikit garam
(Bahan-bahan nya nampak macam banyak sangat tapi benda ni semua, selalunya ada di dapur kita jadi tak payah susah-susah nak cari)
Okay, sekarang gaulkan kcg kuda,serbuk roti, serbuk cili, jintan manis, serbuk ketumbar, bwg besar dan yogurt. Pecahkan telur dan sekarang masukkan dan gaul sekali bersama dengan daun ketumbar yang di cincang tadi. Jgn lupa garam secukup rasa.
Guna tangan dan uli bulat dan leperkan.
Pasang api yang sederhana, masukkan sikit minyak masak dan sekarang bolehlah di goreng di dalam minyak yang sikit tadi. Biarkan sehingga agak garing, alihkan dan bolehlah diangkat.
 |
| Yang nampak macam jem tu lah chutney. Ia agak manis2 pedas. |
 |
| Gambar oleh Ahmad Ariff |
Tengok dah siap pun. Makanan ni boleh di golongkan dalam golongan health food. Jadi utk sesapa yg nak jaga pemakanan dan cepat kenyang, eloklah cuba snack ni.
Jom tengok bahan-bahannya untuk 1 cawan kecil chutney:
1 biji mangga masak
1 cawan gula putih dan 2 sudu gula perang
sedikit halia yang dirincik halus
1 biji bwg (di rincik)
1 ulas bwg putih di rincik halus
3 sudu besar cuka
3/4 cawan air
1 sudu teh serbuk cili (serbuk kasar)
sikit buah pelaga
sikit kulit kayu manis
sikit serbuk jintan manis
Cara nak buatnya :
Masak air dan gula dulu sehingga gula hancur. Masukkan bwg putih dan halia.
Sekarang masukkan pula buah pelaga, k.kayu manis, serbuk cili dan serbuk jintan manis
Kemudian dimasukkan mangga yang dipotong kiub seperti gambar diatas dan juga cuka.
Kalau selalu dan biarkan sehingga betul betul pekat. Buah mangga itu akan hancur dengan sendirinya.
Kalau buat dalam kuantiti yang lebih banyak, masa yang diambil utk masak dalam 2 jam tapi sebab mak cik Rose buat sikit nak tunjuk caranya saja, masa yang diambil tak lama sangat dalam 45 min.
Chutney ni boleh disimpan lama kalau disejukkan dan boleh dimakan bersama dengan ayam panggang atau daging. Buat cicahan ataupun dengan patties seperti resipi diatas.
Agak-agak susah dak nak buat? Tak susah mana pun. Nampak macam susah tapi sebenarnya tak. Mesti cuba.
Salam hormat,
Rose
22nd.Oct '13
Chocolate chips Peanut Butter
Salam pagi Ahad semua,
Mohon maaf Mak Cik Rose dah lama tak update post untuk masakan ni. Agak sibuk sikit kebelakangan ni.
Apa pun hari ni jom kita buat cookies yang amat senang dan sedap di makan. Anak-anak atau sesapa pun suka makan cookies ni.
Bahan-bahan yang kita perlukan pun tak banyak. Sila tengok:
250gm gula icing
250gm mentega kacang (peanut butter)
220gm minyak jagung
chocolate chips (ikut hati nak masukan sebanyak mana)
500gm tepung kek ( dalam separuh plastik tepung yg selalu kita beli tu)
Tu saja bahan bahan dia. Senang dak?
Mak Cik Rose tak payah tunjuk step by step nak buat cookies ni sebab semua bahan tadi dicampur dan di adun sekali harung (bahasa kampung).
Bila dah elok adunan nya, kita guna tangan untuk membentuk cookies ni. Ikut hati masing-masing nak buat macam mana.
Nak bagi cantik, taburkan sikit keatas cookies tadi cokelat chips dalam 2 ~ 3 butir. Dah pun ready nak di bakar.
Pasang oven 170 degree dan biarkan panas sekejap. Selepas tu bolehlah dibakar cookies kita dalam jangkamasa lebih kurang 15 ~ 20min.
Cubalah. Kalau sedap boleh puji mak cik Rose, kalau tak salahkan anak mak cik Rose, Ariff sebab resipi ni dari dia. Dia commis chef dalam pastry kitchen.
Selamat mencuba..
Ini lah hasilnya. Senang kan.
Salam,
Rose
21hb.April '13
Mohon maaf Mak Cik Rose dah lama tak update post untuk masakan ni. Agak sibuk sikit kebelakangan ni.
Apa pun hari ni jom kita buat cookies yang amat senang dan sedap di makan. Anak-anak atau sesapa pun suka makan cookies ni.
Bahan-bahan yang kita perlukan pun tak banyak. Sila tengok:
250gm gula icing
250gm mentega kacang (peanut butter)
220gm minyak jagung
chocolate chips (ikut hati nak masukan sebanyak mana)
500gm tepung kek ( dalam separuh plastik tepung yg selalu kita beli tu)
Tu saja bahan bahan dia. Senang dak?
Mak Cik Rose tak payah tunjuk step by step nak buat cookies ni sebab semua bahan tadi dicampur dan di adun sekali harung (bahasa kampung).
Bila dah elok adunan nya, kita guna tangan untuk membentuk cookies ni. Ikut hati masing-masing nak buat macam mana.
Nak bagi cantik, taburkan sikit keatas cookies tadi cokelat chips dalam 2 ~ 3 butir. Dah pun ready nak di bakar.
Pasang oven 170 degree dan biarkan panas sekejap. Selepas tu bolehlah dibakar cookies kita dalam jangkamasa lebih kurang 15 ~ 20min.
Cubalah. Kalau sedap boleh puji mak cik Rose, kalau tak salahkan anak mak cik Rose, Ariff sebab resipi ni dari dia. Dia commis chef dalam pastry kitchen.
Selamat mencuba..
 |
| Gambar di ambil oleh anak mak cik Rose, Ariff |
 |
| Picture taken by my son, Ariff |
Ini lah hasilnya. Senang kan.
Salam,
Rose
21hb.April '13
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