supermum

Chicken cheese and onion rolls

2011-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

For the dough:

275 gram hi-protein flour or plain flour
80 ml warm water
1 tsp instant yeast
1 1/2 tsp castor sugar1
tsp milk powder or 1/2 cup fresh milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp bread improver
1 tsp bread softerner

1 egg

1 tbs butter/ margerine

Chicken fillings:

1/2 kg chopped or minced chicken

2 large onions

salt

pepper (I used both white and black pepper)

chopped parsley

Method:

1. Mix all the above dough ingredients in a mixer to form a dough. Cover with a cloth. Rest for 1-2 hrs till the size doubles.

2. Prepare the chicken filling:

3. Stir fry chopped onions, garlic, ginger in a pan, add chopped or minced chicken, salt , pepper, parsley and a bit of cheese. Let it cool down.

4. Flatten the dough, cut into 8 triangles as shown in the photo. Place the fillings and sprinkle some ceddar cheese, then roll upward. Seal both ends of the roll by pressing the edges.

5. Brush the bread rolls with beaten eggs.

6. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for 20- 30 min till they become golden yellow/ brown.

Doughnut ala Carboot

2011-07-10T09:49:00.000-07:00

Bahan

1 kg plain flour

Ibu Roti Brand Mauripan 1 paket (11 gram)
Gula Pasir 7 sudu besar
Garam 1 sudu kecil
Susu Tepung or fresh milk 1 cawan
Marjerin 1 cawan
Telur 2 biji
Serbuk Penaik / Baking Powder 1 sudu kecil
Air secukupnya

Cara Memasak

Isikan ¾ gelas air suam dicampur dengan 1 sudu kecil susu tepung atau gula pasir dan 1 paket yis Mauripan dan dikacau hingga rata. Biar 10 min atau hingga buihnya mengembang naik ke bibir gelas.
Masukkan tepung gandum, gula pasir, garam halus, susu tepung, marjerin, telur, serbuk penaik dan air ibu roti tadi ke dalam besen kecil.
Uli adunan tersebut dengan dituangkan air sedikit demi sedikit sambil menguli adunan hingga menjadi doh selama kira-kira 10 min till tak lekat pada tangan.
Tutup besen dengan kain dan letakkan pada tempat yang hangat supaya ia dapat mengembang dengan cepat dan sempurna. Biar selama kira-kira 1 jam or till the size doubles.
Ambil doh yang telah kembang tersebut dan uli sekali lagi kira-kira 5 minit utk keluarkan udara.
Leperkan doh kira-kira berketebalan 5 mm dan cetak dengan pencetak donut.
Biarkan doh yang telah dicetak itu kira-kira 30~60 minit.
Doh yang telah sedia untuk digoreng akan kelihatan telah mengembang dari bentuk asalnya.
Goreng doh dengan minyak masak yang telah cukup panas. Goreng kira-kira 3~5 minit hingga warna bertukar jadi kuning kecoklatan. Jaga api jgn terlalu besar sebab donut ni cepat kuning.
Biarkan sejuk sedikit, baru golek dlm gula halus.

Fish pie

2011-02-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

Got this recipe from taste.com.au too...

Cooking Time

25 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6)

1.25kg desiree potatoes, peeled, cut into chunks
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, peeled, diced
4 stalks celery, trimmed, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons cornflour
1/2 cup reduced-fat milk
375ml can evaporated milk
3/4 cup grated light tasty cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon English mustard
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
500g ling fillets, bones removed, cut into 3cm cubes
200g smoked cod fillets, trimmed, cut into 3cm cubes
8 cooked small king prawns, peeled, deveined, halved
4 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, quartered
75g baby spinach

Method

Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain. Return to saucepan. Add nutmeg and 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mash until smooth. Cover to keep warm.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add carrot and celery. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until just tender.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 200°C. Place cornflour in a bowl. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly until combined. Add milk mixture and evaporated milk to saucepan. Increase heat to high. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until mixture comes to the boil. Add tasty and parmesan cheeses, mustard, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and parsley. Stir to combine.
Lightly grease a 6cm deep, 10-cup capacity baking dish. Arrange ling, in a single layer in base of dish. Top with cod, prawns, eggs and spinach. Pour over sauce and shake dish gently to allow sauce to run to base of dish. Top with mashed potato. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Serve.

Chicken and pine nut meatloaf

2011-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

Recipe from taste.com.au

Ingredients (serves 6)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/3 cup pine nuts, chopped
750g chicken mince
1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
3/4 cup basil leaves, finely shredded
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 7cm deep, 10cm x 20cm (base) loaf pan.
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and nuts. Cook, stirring, for 8 minutes or until softened. Allow to cool.
Combine mince, breadcrumbs, herbs, egg, onion mixture, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Spoon mixture into pan. Press down. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden.
Stand in pan for 10 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Picnic tip: Wrap cooled loaf in plastic wrap and foil. Refrigerate.

Persian Style Baked Herb Omelette

2011-02-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

Found this recipe from theblendergirl

Preparation time: 5 - 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6 - 8)

2 Tbsp cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
2 large red onions chopped and caramelized
3 cups fresh organic baby spinach washed and chopped
8 large organic eggs
1/4 cup soy milk, hemp milk or almond milk
4 cloves garlic finely chopped
8 spring onions/scallions finely chopped
2 handfuls of cilantro/coriander finely chopped
2 handfuls of continental parsley finely chopped
1 handful fresh chives finely chopped
1 fresh dill sprig chopped
4 fresh mint sprigs chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

Method

Heat the oil and sautee the garlic, and caramelize the onions. Add in the spring onions until just softened.
Add in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted.
Transfer vegetable mixture to a quiche or pie dish, and stir in the fresh herbs and nuts.
Beat eggs and milk in the blender on low for about 3 seconds, add a couple of pinches of Celtic sea salt and cracked pepper, and then pour over the vegetable and herb mixture.
Bake in the oven at 180C/325F for about half an hour, or until set and lightly browned on top.

Baba Ghanoush (aubergine dip)

2011-02-06T04:41:00.000-08:00

2 aubergine
3 garlic
3 onions
1 tbs tahini paste
parsley
1 tsp lemon juice
salt, pepper

Methods:
1. Cut aubergines into half and roast in the oven for 10 min together with garlic and onions.
2. Remove the skin of the aubergines and blend together with other ingredients.

Chicken swiss roll

2011-02-06T03:23:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
6 slices of chicken breast
2 potatoes
1 aubergine
red and green peppers/ capsicum
cheese

Marinade:
1 tbs coriander powder
1 tsp black pepper
3 tbs yogurt
1 tsp lemon juice
4 garlic- crushed
1 inch ginger- crushed
salt

Methods:

1. Slice chicken breast thinly say 1/2 cm thick and 4-5 cm wide. Knock with kitchen hammer and marinade with salt, yogurt, lemon, garlic, ginger, coriander powder, black pepper and keep them in fridge for one day.
2. Cut potatoes into long sticks like french fries. Fry them and put aside. Cut aubergine into long sticks as well (size of french fries).
3. Place the marinated chicken slices on a chopping board and lay 1-2 sticks of fried potatoes, cheese, red and green peppers/ capsicum, aubergine stick and roll the chicken slice. Seal the dges with beaten eggs.
4. Dip the roll into beaten egg and then dip into breadcrumbs and deep fry them till chicken is cooked.
5. Cut into 3-4 slices and serve. This roll will look beautiful with multiple colours of green and red peppers, fries and aubergine and cheese.

Chicken Cheese Tagine

2011-02-06T03:02:00.000-08:00

Tried this many months ago but have forgotten to take the photos. Anyway I have to put in in here so that I won't forget this delicious recipe in future. Again thanks to Afaf for this awesome Libyan recipe.

Baked this again today 6th May 2011. Gave one dish to my dearest Msian neighbour. Finally got the photos today.

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken- I cut it into 4
4 large potatoes-diced into 1/2 inch size
spring onion (daun bawang) or Holland onions- chopped
parsley- chopped
1 cup ceddar cheese
1 cup lavashkari cheese or whatever soft cheese you wish
1 tbs coriander powder
1 tbs karwiya (rupa dia cam jintan manis serbuk)
1 tbs dried/ fresh ginger
1 tbs tomato paste/ puree
1/2 tsp turmeric
4 garlic- finely chopped or crushed
salt
4-5 eggs
2 tbs bread crumbs

Methods:
1. Cut the whole chicken into 4 and boil in water and salt.
2. Once chicken is cooked, separate the flesh from the bone and cut them into 1/2 inch cubes.
3. Fry diced potatoes and place them on the kitchen towel to absorb the adhering oil.
4. Mix the diced chicken, fried diced potatoes with all the spices, spring onion, parsley, tomato paste, salt and cheese together. Save some ceddar cheese for topping. Taste this mixture to make sure you have added enough salt. I also added some white pepper.
5. Place the mixture into a baking dish.
6. Beat 4 eggs lightly with 2 tbs of breadcrumbs and pour onto the chicken potato mix.
7. Sprinkle with ceddar cheese and bake for 40 min or so. Dip in the cake tester stick, once the eggs are not sticking anymore, means the dish is cooked.

My kids ate this tagine with chilli sauce, typical Asian taste buds.

Syarba (Meat in tomato soup)

2011-02-06T02:51:00.000-08:00

This is also a libyan recipe I got from Afaf. Mesti korang dah muak asyik dengar nama Afaf je kan? hehe..Anyway, she served this soup when we went to her place for sahur during the previous Ramadhan. Sedaap soup ni.. I like....Maka apa lagi...minta resepi lah..

Ingredients:
1 Holland onion- chopped
1 cup of chick peas (kacang kuda)
1/2 kg meat -tinly sliced into 1/2 inch size
1 tbs ghee
1 tbs tomato paste/ puree
1 tsp turmeric
tear drop tiny pasta (available in Arab shops in Coventry Road)
dried mint leaves
parsley
1 tbs chilli powder

Methods:
1. Fry onion in ghee, add meat, chick peas and 2 cups of water. Slow cook till meat and chick peas are tender.
2.Add more water, parsley, tomato paste, chilli powder, turmeric powder and pasta and lastly dried mint leaves and salt.
3. Serve as a starter during iftar.

Libyan Lamb Kabsa

2011-02-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

I have tried this recipe a few times and really love it, somehow it never turn out to have the same taste as my good Libyan friend, Afaf's.Don't know what went wrong. Perhaps, I must go to Afaf's kitchen one day and watch how she cooks her version. Anyway, I would like to share with all of you her Libyan kabsa. I plan to cook kabsa for my dear undergraduate sisters who are coming over to my place this Wednesday.

Ingredients:
1 kg lamb
3 Holland onions-finely chopped
1 tbs ginger powder
1 tsp green cardamom powder
4 garlic
2 tbs coriander powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbs karwiya powder(optional)-this is one of Libyan spices Afaf gave me.
3 chopped tomatoes
1 dried black lemon (this gives kabsa the fragrant lemony smell)
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tbs chilli powder
4 tbs tomato paste
1 carrot- grated
2 tbs ghee

Methods:
1. Place lamb/ meat and water in the pressure cooker for 15-20 min or till meat is tender but make sure it is not overcooked. For better taste and smell, add cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves and cardamom.
2. In a pot, fry onion, garlic, ginger in 2 tbs of ghee. Add chilli powder, turmeric, cinnamon powder, coriander powder, karwiya, cardamom powder, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes and salt.
3. Add the cooked meat/ lamb and grated carrot. I will refer this dish as lamb mix afterwards.
4. Meanwhile place 5 cups of rice in the rice cooker and add 5 cups of lamb stock from the pressure cooker into the rice. When rice is half cooked, add half of the lamb mix into the rice cooker and mix and let it cook thoroughly. Remember to toss in the black dried lemon.
5. For the other portion of the lamb mix, place in a casserole in the oven for 20 min before serving with kabsa.

So far, I have served my modified version of kabsa a few times already to my Malaysian friends and they loved it. Happy trying.

Photos coming up soon.

Iftar 10 Ramadhan 1431 H

2010-08-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

Kuih kosui

Sambal terung

Kerutub ayam

Baklava, gift from Souad, my Egyptian good friend.

Pasta bake

Being far away from home where the practice of Islam is so vivid, I have no choice but to provide Islamic education or tarbiyah my kids on my own. Tried to do daily tazkirah with them after Maghrib, 30 minutes a day would be enough as long as it is consistence. What I am trying to practise now is at least in a day, try to read for 30 min, tazkirah 1/2 hr, memorise at least 3 verses of Al_Quran and of course 1 hour of my thesis writing or academic reading. May Allah shower me with strength to istaqamah with this gesture.

Serimuka with gerodok telur topping

2010-08-20T06:55:00.001-07:00

Specially dedicated to my good friend Dr Suhaiza in Manchester...dgn ucapan selamat bertugas..hehe..

Ingredients:
For the base:
3 cawan pulut
3 cawan santan
1/2 tsp salt

Gerodok telur topping:
5 eggs
1 cup palm sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 cloves
1 tsp vanilla essence

For normal pandan topping
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup custard powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 cups coconut milk.
green colouring or pandan flavour or blend 5 pandan leaves with 1/2 cup water

Methods:
1. Mix glutinous rice with coconut milk and salt, place in the microwave for 10 minutes, take it out and stir and continue for another 5 minutes.
2. You can also steam the glutinous rice for about 30 minutes if you do not like microwaving.
3. Press the cooked glutinous rice with a wet spoon.
4. Prepare the topping, mix all te ingredients together and pour onto the rice and steam for 30 minutes.
5. For pandan topping, once ingredients are mixed, stir them on the stove to thicken so that steaming is shorter. Pour the mixture onto the rice once it has thickened.

Fried eggs in soy sauce

2010-08-15T07:26:00.001-07:00

My lamb kerutub

2010-08-15T07:22:00.001-07:00

This is my favourite Kelantanese dish. Thanks to Azzman Nureen of Wolverhampton for the demo in Birmingham. Before this demo, I never get my kerutub to taste right. Kinda expert now..P

Ingredients:

1 kg beef with bones
3 blended Holland onions, 5 garlic, 1 inch ginger, 1 inch galangal-blend coarsely
2 tbs kerutub spice/ powder (from Kelantan).
2 tbs blended red chilis
1 tsp shrimp paste
salt
11/2 cups coconut milk
1 tsp kerisik (optional)
cardamons, cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise
whole green chillies- make a cut in the middle
screw pine leaves (optional)

Methods:
1. Fry onion ginger mix in 3 tbs of oil till fragrant. Add blended red chilli paste.
2. Add kerutub spice and 1/2 cup of water. Add beef and simmer for 1/2 hour, keep on adding a litlle bit of water to prevent it drying.
3. Once the meat is tender, add coconut milk, kerisik and salt and a sprinkle of sugar.
4. For those who love potatoes, you can also add them but the original Kelantanese kerutub doesn't have potatoes in it. I usually add whole green chillies and pandan leaves for their fragrant smell.
5. Once the gravy is thick, serve with white rice or briyani rice. Please note that kerutubs are meant to be thick, not thin like curries.

1 Ramadhan 1431 H

2010-08-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Alhamdulillah Allah has showered us with rahmah to meet another Ramadhan this year. I remembered during previous Ramadhans, my kids were crying and begging from me to break their fast just a few minutes before iftar as sunset was quite late in summer encroaching to almost 9pm. This year supermum has to come up with a strategy to stengthen their inner spirit to withstand the hunger pangs of Ramadhan in summer. So I downloaded a few articles on fasting from the internet and gave a 40 minute tazkirah a week before Ramadhan began. Alhamdulillah, they are very receptive and are a lot more mature this year. So we breezed through 5 days of Ramadhan without much agony. Even on the day when we missed our sahur was not a problem at all. Alhamdullilah, thank you Allah for giving us strength to be a good follower of your deen.

As this is our first day of fasting, thought of cooking something a little special. Made lamb briyani for iftar and sahur. Got this superb recipe from http://resepiraidah.blogspot.com/search/label/Nasi. Love your blog Raidah.

Being a Malay, we can't survive without chillies, so made some Pakistani chicken as well to complete the dish.

Lamb Briyani
1 kg lamb with bones
5 cups basmathi rice~ wash, soak for 30 min and drain
1 cup yogurt

3 Holland onion ~ sliced

2 tomatoes ~ diced

3 bird chillies

1 tsp garlic- crushed

1 tsp ginger- crushed

1/2 tsp garam masala

2 tbs biryani powder
1 tsp turmeric powder

4 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

4 cardamoms

2 bay leaves

1- 2 cawan fried onion

1/2 cawan fried raisins
1/2 cup fried cashew nuts

a pinch of saffron ~ soak in 1/2 cup hot water.

1 cup chopped coriander leaves

2 tbs Ghee

salt, sugar

Method:

Lamb:

1. Fry cinnamon stick, cardamoms, cloves, bay leaves and add blended onion, ginger, garlic.

2. Add biryani spice, garam masala, turmeric powder, tomatoes the oil separates and add lamb and yoghurt. I also a tbs of kurma powder.
3. Simmer till lamb is cooked and add salt and a bit of sugar and coriander leaves. Put aside.

Rice:

~ Boil 5 cups of water, add 1 bay leaf, 1/2 tsp cumin powder dan 1 tbs oil. Add rice and boil till half cooked.

Biryani Rice:

1. Scoop 1/3 portion of rice into the rice cooker, sprinkle some fried onion, fried raisins and saffron water.

2. Scoop the lamb briyani mix on top of the rice and repeat process 1 and 2 till lamb is finished.

3. Cover with the last portion of rice and pour saffron water and coriander leaves.
4. Cover the pot and press start. Cook for 20 minutes.
5. Once the rice is cooked, sprinkle some cashew nuts and mix the rice and lamb together. Ready to be served.

I cooked some vegetable dalca to eat with this delicious briyani rice. Beware of the cholesterol content hihi..Since we have been fasting the whole day, so it is a good excuse to indulge on this rich recipe.

Simple Laksa Johor

2010-07-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

On requests of so many friends and relatives, here is my simple version of laksa johor, I would call it versi perantau, no hassle of having to boil fish and removing all the bones. For me it tastes just as superb.

Ingredients:

3 cans of tuna chunks in brine
4 stalks of lemon grass
1 inch galangal/ lengkuas
1 Holland onion
1 inch ginger
4 tbs fish curry powder
1/2 cup anchovies (ikan bilis)
1/2 cup dried shrimp (udang kering)
3 cans of tuna/ sardine in brine
2 slices asam keping
2 tbs kerisik
1 can of coconut milk (I use Chaokoh)
500 g sphagetti-boil till aldente

Methods:
1. Blend the onion, ginger, galangal, lemon grass with water and fry in 3 tbs of olive oil.
2. Add fish curry powder.
3. Blend tunas, anchovies and dried shrimp and add to the pot once the onion mix is yellow and fragrant.
4. Add 3 cups of water and bring to the boil. Add thick coconut milk.
5. Add asam keping and kerisik.
6. Season with salt and a bit of sugar. Let it simmer for 10-15 min.
7. Serve with spaghetti, sliced lettuce, cucumber, long beans, bean sprouts, sambal belacan and limau kasturi juice.

Curry Puff (Karipap)

2010-06-25T04:19:00.000-07:00

Today is the Czech girls last day in our lab, so we decided to throw another lunch party. Prepared some beef curry puffs for everybody. I think Zumla finished 5 or 6 pieces. She obviously liked it sooo much and Katka finished the last piece. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

For the pastry:

1 kg plain flour

200 g margerine/ butter

2 cups water

1/2 tsp salt

The filling

1/2 kg mince meat

3 tbs curry or korma powder

1/2 Holland onion- chopped

1 Holland onion- diced

3 garlic- crushed

1/2 inch ginger-crushed

salt, white pepper, a dash of sugar

5 potatoes- diced to 1/2 cm small

Methods:

1. Fry the chopped onion, garlic, ginger.

2. Add the curry powder, then add 1/2 cup of water.

3. Add the mince meat, fry for 5 minutes then add the diced potatoes and 1 cup of water.

4. Add diced onion. Cover the pot with a lid and let the potatoes soften.

5. Season with salt and pepper. I also sprinkled some sugar. Set aside to cool down.

6. Mix the flour, butter, salt and water together to form a dough.

7. Flatten the dough to about 3-4 mm thick with a rolling pin.

8. Using a pastry round cutter, make several circles and place the meat and potato filling on each pastry and fold it into two.

9. Press the edges of the pastry firmly to make sure there is no filling leakage.

10. Make a plait at the edges using the tip of your thumb and index finger.

11. Deep fry till the pastry turns brown in colour. Serve hot with tea/ coffee.

Kuih Cara Berlauk (Cara cake with meat filling)

2010-06-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

It was Naheema's 28th birthday on the 8th of June, so we, the Paul Murray Group decided to throw a small party for her. Naheema herself bought some halal BBQ chicken from Costco and she also prepared some salads. Others brought cakes, starters, strawberries, cookies and dips. I wanted to introduce to my lab mates another Malaysian delicacy and after minimal thinking , I thought kuih cara would be the best for a small party like this. Started preparing the meat filling the night before and made the batter in the morning. I would say everyone enjoyed the party and the food of course.

Kuih Cara (Savoury cake with Meat Filling)

Ingredients:
For the fillings:
1/2 kg mince meat
1 Holland onion
3 garlic
1/2 inch ginger
1 carrot- diced
1 celery stick- diced
1 green/ red pepper
1 tsp black pepper
2 tbs curry powder
fried shallots- optional
parsley/ celery leaves- optional

For the batter
2 cups flour
1 cup coconut milk
2 cups water (adjust to get a thin batter)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp salt
1 or 2 eggs

Methods:
1.Place all the ingredients for the batter in the blender and whizzz. Pour the thin batter into a jug.
2. For the meat fillings: Fry onion, garlic, ginger till yellow and add curry powder and 1/2 cup of water.
3. After a few minutes, add the mince meat and fry till meat is cooked then add carrots, celery, green pepper.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Put aside.
5. Place the cara mould on the stove, brush the mould with some oil so the batter will not stick.
6. Once the mould is heated up, pour the batter into it and quickly spoon the meat filling into it.
7. Sprinkle some fried onion and chopped parsley leaves on the fillings.
8. Cover the mould with a lid and cook for 5 minutes.
9. Remove the cakes from the mould and serve. Repeat steps 5 to 8 till the batter is finished.

* I think you can also bake this dish in the oven, but I somehow have never tried it myself.

Libyan Brak (Traditional Libyan rice rolls wrapped in spring cabbage)

2010-05-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

Credit to Afaf for the photo.

This is another Libyan recipe I obtained from my good Libyan friend Afaf. I think it is a healthy way of serving rice in a slightly different manner. Instead of having to cook different other dishes to be served with rice, brak has everything in a roll. Tried this today and it taste really nice.In some countries, vine leaves are used for wrapping.

Ingredients:

Spring cabbage for wrapping
1 cup of meat- cut into 1 cm size
2 cups of rice
4 tbs tomato paste
4 stalks of coriander leaves- chopped
parsley - chopped
dill/ mint(optional) - chopped
4 onions- chopped
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tbs coriander powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
salt
2 tbs oil/ ghee

Method:

1. Wash rice and mix with all the ingredients mentioned above. Put aside for 15 min for the rice to absorb the flavour.
2. Wash the spring greens/ cabbage and soak in hot boiling water for 2 min to soften the leaves.
3. Remove the central stalk and cut the leaves into 2 or 4 or whatever size desired.
4. Put the rice mix onto the leaf and wrap it and close the two ends by pressing the leaves in.
5. Steam the braks for 30 min- 40 min for the rice to be cooked. Serve hot.

Cancer Research UK Relay, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

2010-05-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes

2010-05-07T01:33:00.001-07:00

By Felicia R Mcclinton. Thank you Felicia for your contribution to my blog. Together we promote healthy diet.

You Don’t Have to Be a Greek to Cook these Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes

Anchovies Stuffed

Ingredients

600 grams of Anchovies
2dl of Milk
2 pieces dry sandwiches
100 grams of grated parmesan
50 grams breadcrumbs Salt and Pepper

Anchovy Stuffed recipe makes 6 servings and can be prepared in 80 minutes. It has low calorie content and low fat but full of flavor.

Preparation

Remove the head and backbone of the anchovies and wash them thoroughly. Cut the dry bread into cubes, place them in a bowl and soak in milk. Add the beaten eggs and season with salt and pepper.

Get a separate baking bowl and grease it with oil. Pour a small amount of the mixture into the bowl then place a layer of parmesan cheese and bread crumbs on top. Repeat the layering until the entire mixture has been used. Bake at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. Before serving, add slices of lemon and sprinkle with oregano.

Nutritional Value:

Food	Gr	Kcal	Fat	Carb	Pro	Fib	Water
Anchovy	600	786	29.04	0	122.1	0	440.22
Milk - cow's whole	200	120	6.5	9.04	6.44	0	176.64
White bread 00	150	435	0	102	12	4.5	43.5
Grated Parmesan cheese	100	431	28.61	4.06	38.46	0	20.84
Bread crumbs	50	197.5	2.65	35.99	6.68	2.25	3.26
Salt	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pepper	1	2.55	0.03	0.65	0.11	0.26	0.11
Total	1102	1972.05	66.83	151.74	185.79	7.01	684.57
A head (6)	183.67	328.68	11.14	25.29	30.97	1.17	114.1
Per 100 grams	100	178.95	6.06	13.77	16.86	0.64	62.12

Sicilian Swordfish

Ingredients

600 grams of Swordfish
200 grams of tomatoes

1 piece onion

50 grams of black olives

1 clove garlic

This recipe can make 4 servings and you can prepare it in 25 minutes. Swordfish Sicilian is a typical dish in the southern Italian region. This recipe creates a low fat and low calorie meal.

Preparation

To clean and peel the tomatoes, briefly place them in boiling water. Chop the onion and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan then add the chopped onion and garlic until golden brown. Place the sliced Swordfish in the frying pan and cover it. Put the peeled tomatoes after a few minutes. Cook for at least 10 minutes. Sprinkle chopped parsley and black olives on top before removing the Swordfish from the pan. Serve while still hot.

Nutritional Value:

Food	Gr	Kcal	Fat	Carb	Pro	Fib	Water
Swordfish	600	726	24.06	0	118.8	0	453.72
Ripe tomatoes	200	36	0.4	7.84	1.76	2.4	189
Onions	80	32	0.08	7.47	0.88	1.36	71.29
Black olives	50	117.5	8.25	4.6	5.9	0	29.1
Garlic	10	14.9	0.05	3.31	0.64	0.21	5.86
Total	940	926.4	32.84	23.22	127.98	3.97	748.97
A head (4)	235	231.6	8.21	5.81	32	0.99	187.24
Per 100 grams	100	98.55	3.49	2.47	13.61	0.42	79.68

About the Cooker - Felicia R. Mcclinton writes for the blog healthy mediterranean recipes , her personal hobby blog she uses to help people learn how to make Mediterranean recipes to eat healthy to prevent diseases.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2010-04-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU

Ingredients :

2 pieces of chicken breast

2 sausages

2 pieces sliced cheese

salt

pepper

oyster sauce

flour

egg ~ lightly beaten

bread crumbs

oil for deep frying

Method:

1. Clean chicken breast.

2. Wrap the sausage with the sliced cheese.

3. Make a slit in the middle of the chicken and insert the wrapped sausage.

4. Rub the chicken with salt, pepper and oyster sauce. Marinate for 2 hours.

5. Coat the marinated chicken with flour.

6. Dip in the egg.

7. Roll into the bread crumbs.

8. Fry till golden brown. Serve with mashed potatoes or fries and coleslaw.

Mushroom Black pepper sauce

Ingredients :

2 cups chicken or beef/ chicken stock

1/2 cup fresh milk (I used low fat milk)

crushed black pepper

2 inches celery stick

sliced1/2 onion ~ diced

2 tablespoon sweet soya sauce

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup mushroom ~ sliced

2 tablespoons flour ~ mix with water (as a thickening agent)

salt and sugar ~ if necessary

Method :

1. Pour the chicken/beef stock in a pot. Add fresh milk, diced onion and sliced celery. Let it boil.

2. Remove from heat and put through a sieve. Place it back on the stove.

3. Add black pepper, soya sauce, oyster sauce, butter, button mushroom, salt and sugar. Stir.

4. Last but not least, add in flour mixture to the thickness you desire. Remove from heat.

5. Pour onto the chicken and mashed potato.

Aiman's Rolled bread with chicken and mushroom filling

2010-04-08T09:07:00.001-07:00

After watching Jamie Oliver doing this rolled bread, tried it straight away on the next day. But as usual with some modification in the recipe, apa yang ada kat dapur.... turned to be marvellous anyway. Brought some to Kak Na Abg Wahab's house and she liked it.

Ingredients:
1 kg flour

1 sachet 11g dried yeast

1-2 tspsalt

1 tbs sugar

2 tbs butter/ olive oil

2 cups warm water

Filling:

sliced carrots

sliced green peppers

sliced mushroom

celery

1 tsp thyme

basil leaves

salt, pepper

1 onion

2 garlic

3 pieces chicken breast

2 tbs maggie seasoning

grated ceddar cheese (optional)

Methods:

1. Fry onion and garlic, toss in the chicken slices and thyme.

2. Add the veges and mushroom.

3. Season to taste. Set aside.

4. Make a dough and let it rise for 1 hr.

5. Flatten the dough and spread the chicken filling on top and sprinkle some ceddar cheese.

6. Roll the dough like a swiss role.

7. Attach both ends together by intussuscepting one end into the other.

8. Apply some olive oil to make the bread roll crunchy when it is baked.

9. Sprinkle some crushed nuts on top.

10. Bake for 30 min and cut the rolled bread into slices and serve.

Carrot Som Tam

2010-04-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

This is the last recipe I obtained from Noi Phak Len just before she left for Malaysia for good on 3rd April 2010. Simple and delicious, healthy as well. Thanks Noi, lepas jumpa Noi, terus balik masak tomyam Noi style...hehe...In Thailand, they use papaya instead of carrot to consume with boiled glutinous rice, here in the UK, carrots are sooo.. cheap as compared to papaya. If you use organic carrots, there is no need to peel off the skin.

Carrot Som Tam Noi

3 sticks of grated carrots / young papayas
1 cup of coarsely crushed peanuts
2 crushed garlic
2-3 crushed bird chillies
2 tbs dried shrimps- crushed
3 tbs Nampla sauce/ fish sauce
2 tbs brown/ demerara sugar
2 tbs lemon juice

Methods:
1. Mix all the ingredients together and serve.

Kaya Balls

2009-12-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

Found this recipe in Rinnchan's blog. So made this balls using kaya Kluang brought by Mak Enn in October which I still kept frozen in my handy freezer. It somehow were oval instead of round as I used the kuih cara mould. Does anyone know where I can get hold of kaya ball mould?

Ingredients:

250gm flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

125 gm butter

75 gm castor sugar

4 eggs

200ml milk

1 tsp vanilla essence

Serikaya

Method:

1. Sieve flour, baking powder and salt.

2. Whisk butter and sugar till fluffy.

3. Add eggs one by one.

4. Add milk and flour alternately.

5. Add vanilla essence.

6. Pipe the thick batter into the mould, add kaya and then cover with more batter.

7. Turn the kaya balls a few times till it is cooked.

Cous cous with beef ghoulash

2009-12-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

Cous cous after adding hot water

Ainsley Cous Cous

The kids were enjoying themselves making snowman and snow girl in the backyard. I was trying to crack my head for a winter warmer recipe and found this, one of my favourites. The kids love it too. Simple , I use Ainsley Cous Cous- bought in Costco for 3.99, sale price, normal price 4.99. Just add hot water into the cous cous and cover for 5 minutes and it is ready. Then prepare the simple tomato soup called hungarian ghoulash. However I have modified it to make it a little more spicy. Omputih mana makan pedas2 kan..

Beef/ Lamb Ghoulash

1/2 kg beef/ lamb

1 onion- chopped

3 garlic

1 inch ginger

1 tbs ground coriander

1 tbs ground cumin

1 tbs chilli powder

1 can tomato soup

chopped veges eg courgettes, carrots, parsnips, celery.

1/2 cup milk (optional)

Method:

1. Fry chopped onion with garlic and ginger.

2. Add chilli, coriander and cumin powder.

3. Add beef/ lamb.

4. Add water/ stock and tomato soup.

5. Add salt and a bit of sugar to taste and all the veges.

6. Serve with cous cous/ garlic bread/ rice.

Cup cake decor

2009-12-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

I have been longing to learn cup cake decoration for a long time. Finally my doa was answered when Yan came to Birmingham. Yan is good at cup cake decor and she had agreed to show me the basic of icing decor. Thanks Yan for the free lesson. I know we had to pay a hefty sum for cup cake decor classes in Malaya.

Here is my first roses on the cup cakes. Not bad uhh?? Cam ni boleh ambil order la pulak..hehe..

Need to order Wilton icing nozzle next.

Basic Butter Cream Icing

250 g butter

250 g vegetable fat/ TREX

5-10 cups of icing sugar (depending on how sweet you want the icing to be)

Method:

1. Whisk the butter till fluffy, add the veg fat.

2. Whisk for about 5-10 min.

3. Add the icing sugar bit by bit.

4. Divide into several bowls and add the desired colourings.

Rolled Mince pie

2009-12-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

It's christmas holiday, school and uni are closed for 2 weeks, grrr what to do in this snowy season? Tummy rumbles every 2 hours due to extreme cold weather, just had my lunch at 12 and at 2 pm I am hungry again. This is what happen in winter....The kids had been requesting choc cake since yesterday but I told them, let's try make Gordon Ramsay's simple rolled mince pie. I searched for the frozen ready made jus roll pastry in my cheest freezer in the garage..alhamdulillah, there is one more box left. It's so easy with this ready made stuff. I know Mr Dentist must like this as he loves raisins so much. According to Tok Bak, his dad used to bring Mr Dentist raisins whenever he visited them when he was small.

Rolled Mince Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup mixed fruits

1/2 cup sultanas

1/2 cup ribena (in replacement of red wine/ brandy)

2 tbs sunquick orange

3 tbs honey/ golden syrup

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsc ground cinnamon

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tbs orange skin

1/2 cup water

Method:

1. Place water in the pan, add raisins and all the above.

2. Simmer till it thickens.

3. Leave to cool.

4. Spread the ready made pastry.

5. Spread the raisin fillings on the pastry. Roll halfway to the middle, then roll the other opposite half to the middle. Tighten the roll and freeze for 30 min.

6. Cut the roll into 1 inch slices.

7. Bake at 180 C for 15-20 min till golden yellow.

Maybe I should try the fillings on bread dough one day, it's just like cinnamon rolls.

Lebanese Magloba (Nasi ayam oregano)

2009-12-16T06:11:00.000-08:00

Got this new recipe from my Libyan friend, Afaf again. Sedaap.....

8 pieces of chicken
4 Holland onion- chopped
potatoes- sliced
carrots- sliced
cauliflower
aubergine- sliced
green peppers- sliced
3 cups of rice
3 tbs Ghee
1 inch ginger
1 tbs oregano

Method:

1. Boil chicken with salt, ginger, oregano and water. Keep about 3 cups of chicken broth.
2. Fry the chicken in butter and set aside.
3. Fry onion in ghee till fragrant and add green peppers.
4. Place the fried onion, layer with potatoes, chicken.
5. Place the aubergine and carrots at the side/ rim of the pot. Pour the rice mixed with more oregano.
6. Pour chicken broth over. Cover the pot.
7. Cook on slow fire for 20 min till the rice is cooked.
8. Once rice is cooked, flip over the content in a big plate and serve. The carrots and aubergine will be seen lining the outer part of the rice.

Libyan Rishda

2009-12-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I brought Afaf a pack of nasi lemak to let her savour Malaysian food. Glad that she loved it. Today, in return, she gave me a tupperware of rishda, a home made pasta dish with salted dried meat sauce. It tastes like curry mee with salted beef. Got this recipe from her.

Libyan Rishda

Ingredients:

2 cups home made pasta( can be replaced with tagliatelle/ spaghetti)

1/2 kg salted dried meat (gargosh)

2 tbs tomato sauce

1 tsp turmeric powder

2 tbs coriander powder

1/2 cup chick peas

1/2 cup fava beans

1 Holland onion

Methods:

1. Fry the sliced salted meat/ lamb with chopped onion.

2. Add 2 tbs tomato sauce.

3. Add chilli , coriander and turmeric powder.

4. Add hot water, chick peas, fava beans.

5. Add the pasta. Serve hot.

Libyan Mbaton

2009-12-09T13:34:00.000-08:00

Have a new lab mate named Afaf, an O & G consultant from Libya, also doing PhD like me. Afaf had recently passed her Part 2 MRCOG exam and had been very generous to bring some food for us the whole lab to celebrate her success. Unfortunately I was off sick on the day of the party, but still could have a taste of Afaf's food as she had some food spared for me in her fridge.

Today I have tried this modified version of Afaf's recipe called mbaton, it's actually potatoes with mince meat filling. The kids and Mr Dentist love it.

Libyan Mbaton (the spelling is kind of weird isn't it?)

1/4 kg mince meat

2 tbs korma powder

1 Holland onion (chopped)

1 tbs garlic & ginger paste

5 big potatoes (peel and slice 1/2 inch thick with a slit in the middle to place the filling)

parsley or coriander leaves

2 eggs- beat lightly

4 tbs KFC flour or any other coating flour

Method:

1. Fry the chopped onion with garlic and ginger.

2. Add mince meat.

3. Add salt, black pepper and white pepper to taste.

4. Add the coriander/ parsley.

5. Fill the slit in the potatoes with mince meat above and dip the potato slices into flour, then egg then flour again before deep frying them till golden yellow. Serve hot.

Merdeka Carnival 15 August 2009

2009-08-23T01:18:00.000-07:00

Among the crowds.

Bouncy castle.

Opened a food stall at Merdeka Carnival in Hertfordshire today. Alhamdulillah, sold 80 pieces (quarter chicken) of ayam percik (Malaysian BBQ chicken in coconut gravy), a cooler box of nasi dagang and a cooler box of nasi kerabu, laksa johor, beef and sardine curry puffs. Thank you Allah for the lovely weather. The kids had nice time too participating in the telematch, musical chairs and all sorts of games.

The white building is the Tun Razak Research Centre and the stage was located strategically in front of our stall.

Setting up the stall and the BBQ grill.

Our share partners, Mat Razak and wife, Fiona in front of their house in Solihull.

Tokey ayam percik in action.

Mama serving the customers and Fiona the cashier.

Wan frying curry puff in the background.

Well, everybody had a fun time. Looking forward for the next Merdeka Carnival in 2010. Come over to celebrate the joyous occassion with your families.

Simple Lamb Kuzi

2009-08-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 kg of lamb
1 tbs crushed ginger
3 tbs blended onion
5 garlic
2 tbs kuzi spice (powder)/ briyani powder
2 tbs tomato sauce
1-2 tbs tomato puree
2 tbs chilli boh (optional)
2 cups milk/ evaporated milk
3 tbs blended fried onion.
salt
2 tbs sugar (this dish is meant to be a bit sweet, but i don't like it too sweet)

Methods
1. Place all ingredients in the pressure cooker and cook for 20 min till the lamb is tender.
2. Turn off the gas, cool the pot under running cold water, open the lid and add salt and sugar to taste.
3. Add fried cashew nuts, almond, sultanas/ raisins. Ready to serve with rice/ bread.
Awaiting photos of lamb kuzi.

Kuih Bakar Durian

2009-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Craving for something sweet after coming back from the lab today. Thinking of what to do with my lempok durian in the freezer. Thanks to my beloved Mum who had taken all the trouble making lempok for me. Alhamdulillah Abe Yoh had succeeded in smuggling it into the land of the queen. Saw this recipe in Kak Nor's blog. It tastes yummy. Better than the normal pandan kuih bakar.

Ingredients:

900 ml coconut milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups plain flour
3/4 cups sugar
100 gram durian (I used lempok)
1/2 tsp salt
yellow colouring
2 tbs butter

1. Put all the ingredients(except the butter) into the blender and blend for a few min.

2. Place butter in a baking tray and heat up in the oven at 180 C till boiling.

3. Pour the batter into the baking tray and bake for 1 hour.

4. Allow it to cool before cutting.

Guests from Plymouth, UK

2009-08-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday 2nd August 2009, 9.50 am, when I was about to perform Solat Dhuha, suddenly felt like having a peep at my handphone, in case I had missed any incoming text messages or any missed calls. True enough, one message was waiting to be answered, it was from a good old friend from Sains Raub Secondary School, a shy but intelligent boy who used to sit behind me in the class for 2 years, in 4 Science 1 and 5 Science 1. The guy who I used to compete in exams. We used to take turns to be the first in class, if i were the first, he would be the second and vice versa. The guy I meant is Azlisham, so many girls had a crush on him, I wonder if he is aware about this fact or not.

The message said 'Asm, r u free today? We are in Manchester now & if u r around may visit u circa noon time or a time that suits u & family. Azlisham, Semesra 87'.

I replied, 'Drop by for lunch, we'll be around'.

So at 1.30 pm, the 6 of them arrived, Azli, his wife and 4 kids. Azli looked the same as before, a bit of weight gain though. The same old shy guy but much more talkative now. His funny chuckle remains. His kids look more like his wife, hardly any Pakistan features of Azli.

Had prepared briyani rice with lamb kuzi and fried tandoori chicken. Alhamdulillah Azli and wife makan bertambah, sedap la kot...Makan sambil borak till almost 4 pm.

Guess my lamb kuzi is the most simple version, just dump everything in the pressure cooker and after 20 min it's ready. Will post the recipe later specially for my good old friend in the faraway land, Farina.

Azli, Ros and their 4 kids with my family and mother in law.

Time to go back to Plymouth. Wished they could a spend a night here.

Banana Walnut Cake

2009-07-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we had two more guests cum relatives from Malaysia. Mr. Dentist called at 2.30 pm while I was in the lab, cracking on my Western blots which had been such a pain to get them working.

'Let's go to down to Gatwick Airport to fetch Awang and Nani. They are arriving tonight at 8 pm', said Mr Dentist.

'What? Now? No, I need to finish my work first, let's go around 5 pm.' I bargained.

' Okay, we'll go to Abe Yoh's house first to send Skin's baby cot and after dinner we'll push off to Gatwick', said Mr Dentist.

So we met Awang and Nani at 9.30 pm at Gatwick and drove them back to Birm. Stopped at one of the services to fill some petrol and at Mac D to get some fries and coffee. Arrived in Birm at 1.30 am. Wan had prepared delicious fried rice with coriander fried chicken.

Saturday morning, brought our guests to Middleton Carboot and then to Maisarah and Amir's Hari Anugerah Sekolah Malaysia Birmingham. They had invited Ustaz Erfino Johari, the MSD officer to give a talk on Educating Children In Islam. An excellent talk indeed. Wished I had recorded his talk on Do's and Don'ts in upbringing the children based on Tarbiyatul Aulad Series.

After lunch, hurriedly drove back home to send the kids and then rushed to Portmeirion, Stoke to beat the closing time. Portmeirion was 400 pounds richer today from our shopping.

Sunday 26th July 2009, another carboot day at Redditch and Studley. Redditch stuffs were of good quality. It was really worth it. Awang got himself a pair of Timberland shoes just for £5, sling bag, shirts and Nani got an exclusive jacket just for £3.

Studley carboot wasn't that huge that day but still finished £20 from my pocket. From the vege and fruit stall, Wan, Nani and myself bought 2 kgs of over ripe banana each, not knowing that each one of us had already bought similar packets of bananas. We ended up having 6 kgs of bananas at home today. So Wan made banana balls (cekodok) and I made banana cake.

Here is the recipe. It always turn out nice especially when biting the crunchy walnuts within.

Banana Walnut Cake

3 ripe bananas- mashed
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 cups of flour/ self raising flour
3/4 cup of vegetable/ corn oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sodium bicarbonate
1/2 cup of roasted walnut- chopped
3 eggs
1/2 tsp salt

Methods:
1. Beat sugar and eggs till fluffy. Add oil, mashed bananas.
2. Fold in the flour (already sieved with baking powder and sodium bicarbonate)
3. Add the chopped roasted walnut.
4. Pour in a greased baking tray.
5. Bake for 45 minutes at 170 C.

Mama's Sizzling Yee Mee

2009-07-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Photos by Haji Esa MY

Upon request of Princess Maisarah, I made sizzling yee mee today. Tastes delicious, how I wish I could put in some crushed bird chillies, but for the sake of the kids young tongues, I had to for go the wish.

Ingredients:

4 crushed garlic

1 inch crushed ginger

1 tbs black pepper powder

chicken/ beef/ prawns

shitake or any mushrooms

soy sauce

oyster sauce

leafy green vege (i used brits spinach)

sliced carrots

yee mee ( I used spaghetti)

3 tbs cornflour (mixed with cold water)

3 cups water/ chicken stock

Methods:

1. Stir fry garlic and ginger till yellow.

2. Add chicken/ beef/ prawn.

3. Add carrots, water/ stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, black pepper.

4. Add corn flour mixed with cold water.

5. Season to taste. Put the sauce/ gravy aside once it has thicken.

6. Boil the yee mee and then sieve.

7. Place the mee in a sizzling pan. Pour the gravy on top.

8. Add green veges and one egg. Let is simmer till the egg is cooked.

9. Ready to serve

Sambal taucu ikan bilis

2009-07-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Photo taken by my f.i.l cum photographer Hj Esa Md Yunos

Salam siaran..today I will be posting the recipe of sambal tocong Wan. That is how Wan (my mil) pronounce it. I think is has been over a year since I last ate Wan's sambal tocong cicah pucuk ubi kayu. Since there is no pucuk ubi here, we can replace it with watercress leaves, rockets, spinach or other greens you could find on salad shelves in ASDA, TESCO or Sainsbury's.

Ingredients:

5 shallots- sliced

3 garlic- sliced

1/2 inch of turmeric- sliced

1 inch ginger- sliced

10 bird chillies/ red/ green chillies

1 cup of ikan bilis/ anchovies

1 1/2 cup of coconut milk

1 tbs taucu

1 tbs tamarind juice

Methods:

1. Stir fry all the sliced ingredients in little oil till fragrant.

2. Add the anchovies, coconut milk, taucu and tamarind juice.

3. Simmer for a few minutes and season to taste. May omit salt since the taucu is already salty. Nice to be eaten with steaming hot rice.

Soft Cotton Japanese Cheese Cake again

2009-06-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Today, demonstrated this cheese cake to my mum in law. I know she just loves cheese cakes. Easy peasy, lemon squizy Maisarah said and yummy too. It took only a couple of hours for the whole cake to disappear from the baking tray.

Here is the recipe:

250 g Philadelphia cream cheese (now on sale at Sainsbury's for 75 p per tub of 300g)

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 cup of sugar

2 tbs butter

3 eggs (separate the egg white)

1 tbs lemon juice

1 tbs cornflour

4 tbs self raising flour

1 tsp cream of tartar(tak taruk sebab tak dak)

For the icing:

4 tbs icing sugar

1 tbs cream cheese

2 tbs butter- mix all these ingredients well

* To make it less moist and more spongy, U can increase the flour and reduce the cheese.

Methods:
1. Melt in a double boiler the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice and milk. Let it cool and add egg yelow.

2. Add cornflour and SR flour in the cheesy mix.

3. Whisk egg whites till it forms a soft peak/ stiff , add sugar bit by bit, then fold it gently into the cheese mixture.

4. Bake for 45 min at 160 C in a waterbath (au bain marie).

5. Allow it to cool before putting the icing on.

Knowing your personality type

2009-06-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last 2 weeks I was invited by Majlis Syura Muslimun UK Eire to give a talk on Organising Your Family In A Muslim Perspective. Duh!! What do I talk about? I told the organiser I was not the best person to talk about this issue but they insisted that I would be the most suitable candidate based on my experience. Not to disappoint them, I managed to scrutinize some web pages to gather some points for my talk. Alhamdulillah it went well. I was rather relieved looking at the young naive audience of about 65 people. Hopefully they found my talk useful in some way or another. My talk was scheduled at 2.30 pm followed by my demonstration of making curry puffs. The silent lecture hall turned to be full of giggles and laughter when the boys demonstrated their dodgy curry puffs of all sorts of shapes and finishings.

In order to listen to the morning lecture by a psychologist Dr Isam Ghannam, I came early around 10 am with Cikgu Ju, Madeehah's baby sitter. Obtained some new knowledge on the different types of personality dwelled in us. In summary there are 4 types of personalities:

1. Sanguine- fun and always full of excitement
2. Melancholy- a perfectionist
3. Choleric- a born leader
4. Phlegmatic- too relax, could't be bothered

After the personality test I found myself to be 48% choleric, 30% sanguine, 15% melancholy and 8% phlegmatic. I was quite perplexed but guess that was quite true though. The web says that choleric are usually married to a melanchoy. I think they are right, I am married to a melancholy. Do you agree Mr Dentist?

So for this weekend Majlis Ilmu Wanita Birm I was invited to give a talk on any topics, guess this would be quite an interesting topic to cover, knowing your personality and the people around you. Once you know the personality of a person better, it is easier to deal with the person. So try this website www.oneishy.com and get to know your personality.

Bubur Lambuk Wan

2009-06-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Since my mil is here in Birmingham, I will be posting her recipes. One of our favourites is bubur lambuk. Made this modified version of bubur lambuk for breakfast on Saturday before leaving for St. Mary's carboot sale in Harborne with Mak and Bak while others (the kids and their Papa) were still asleep.

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna in brine

1/2 cup of anchovies

1/2 cup small prawns or dried shrimps-optional

1/2 Holland onion-sliced thinly

1 cup of santan

3 cups of rice

9 cups of water

1/2 packet of fresh British baby spinach

turmeric leaves

kesum leaves

1 tbs black pepper

salt

Methods:

1. Boil rice in water for 20-30 minutes then add onion, blended tuna and anchovies, black pepper, coconut milk.

2. Add spinach, turmeric leaves, kesum leaves and salt to taste before serving. Garnish with fried shallots.

After two months, my kesum has grown quite a bit (despite being plucked so many times for my asam pedas). This shot was taken by Bak just before I plucked the leaves for the bubur lambuk. From 1 vase I managed to grow them into 3 vases already. Currently I am also growing coriander, tomatoes, chives and pumpkins. Jalal's mum taught me how to grow coriander since I am an avid user of coriander leaves.

Lamb steak again

2009-06-27T14:36:00.001-07:00

Everbody seems to love lamb here including Tok Bak. So prepared this dish for our dinner last night and for Wan's iftar. Wan is on her day 3 of Rejab fasting. Baked together with baby potatoes and mushrooms when the lamb is halfway done. For black pepper and rosemary marinade, please see previous grilled lamb recipe. It's the same ingredients. Baked in the oven at 200 C for 1 1/2 hours and the lamb was so succulent and juicy. Emm yummy.....

Kuih kasoi

2009-06-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

Bahan:

1/2 kg tepung gandum
3 cawan air gula merah
3 cawan air
1 tsp garam
1 tsp air kapur

Cara:
1. Masakkan gula merah dalam air untuk hasilkan 3 cawan larutan gula merah.
2. Campurkan tepung dengan 3 cawan air, kemudian masukkan air gula merah, garam dan air kapur.
3. Tapis adunan dan masukkan di dalam dulang. Kukus selama 1/2 jam.
4. Sejukkan dan potong dan golekkan di dalam kelapa parut yang dicampurkan dgn sedikit garam.

Kuih Tako Ibu Mertuaku

2009-06-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Bahan

Utk lapisan bawah (hijau):
1 paket 55 g tpg HanQue
1 1/2 cawan gula
1 cawan santan
3 cawan air
5 biji sengkuang cina/ water chestnut (kat Wing Yip, ada dlm tin)- potong dadu kecil2 5 mm saiz
1 sudu besar esen pandan

Utk lapisan atas (putih):
1/2 cawan tepung jagung
2 cawan santan
2 cawan air
1 tsp garam

Cara:
1. Masukkan tepung HanQue, air, santan, gula, esen pandan ke dalam periuk dan kacau atas api sederhana sehingga pekat atau meletup-letup. Masukkan dalam cawan puding atau takungan daun pandan. Jangan lupa masukkan sengkuang cina yang telah didadu dahulu.
2. Masukkan santan, air, tepung jagung dan garam dan kacau atas api sederhana sehingga pekat. Tuangkan atas lapisan hijau tadi.
3. Sejukkan dalam peti ais hingga sejuk dan hidangkan.

EBV Meeting, Brighton

2009-06-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Attended the Europen EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) Meeting at University of Sussex Medical School in Brighton, South England with 8 other lab members including Paul, my supervisor. Stayed for nights with my Sri Lankan buddy, Zumla as my room mate at The Lanes Hotel right infront of the pebbly beach. The weather was lovely with loads of sunshine. The 2 day meeting was attended from delegates from all over UK and Europe. The talks were very good. Well at least I managed to understand more things about molecular pathology as compared to when I first came 1 and a half year ago. Hehe...Took some shots unfortunately the camera batteries went flat.

On the way back by 1 pm Southern Train to London, stopped over at Oxford Circus station to meet Aunty R, her daughter inlaw, I and daughter Z. Went shopping at Bond Street while waiting for my 7.23 pm Virgin Train to Birm. In and out of Bally, Cartier, Ferragamo, Chanel, LV, Burberry, Mulberry, Gucci and a lot more. Had a nice time though touching all the expensive handbags, shoes etc and then putting them back on the shelves after looking at the price tag, 750 pound for a hand bag? Gulp!! Fof God's sake, I can buy 750 handbags at carboot..haha but not from the same brand lah....who cares? Being a half choleric and half sanguine, handbags and shoes are not my priority. I am the type who sticks to only one handbag and 1 pair of shoes and will only buy another one if the current ones are torn by wear and tear. I hardly use handbags since living in the UK anyway. Shoes?? My Clarks boots are comfie enough, hopefully it will last till the end of my PhD if not longer. Why waste money right, when you have 7 mouths to feed?

Navarin of lamb

2009-06-13T00:48:00.000-07:00

Navarin of Lamb

Ingredients (serves 8)
2kg lamb grilling chops, trimmed
30g butter
2 slender leeks, trimmed, halved, washed
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 1/2 tablespoons plain flour
4 cups beef stock
8 sprigs thyme
3 dried bay leaves
1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
2 bunches baby turnips, peeled, trimmed
1 bunch Dutch carrots, peeled, trimmed
3 small parsnips, peeled, roughly chopped

Method
Cut lamb into 3cm pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Add half the lamb and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until browned. Remove to a plate. Repeat with remaining lamb.
Cut leeks in half crossways. Return lamb and juices to pan. Add leeks and garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add 3 cups stock, thyme, bay leaves and half the parsley. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover surface with 1 sheet baking paper. Cover with lid. Simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes or until lamb tender.
Discard baking paper and bay leaves. Add turnips, carrots, parsnip and remaining stock if required. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining parsley. Serve.

Brussels, Belgium

2009-05-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Arrived at Kak Shikin's mansion at 6 pm. Besonya rumah org kedutaan ni yer...After tea, went straight to Grand Place and Mannekin Pis as the roads around the city will be closed for Brussels Marathon tomorrow.

Infront of Kak Shikin's house

Kak Shikin's backyard

On the wall is the famous Belgian tapestry, beautiful isn't it?

Grand Place at night.

Grand Place just before sunset

Bonjour Paris

2009-05-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Woke up as early as 4 am and started preparing mee hun for our lunch boxes to Paris and Brussels today. Our VW Sharan had a flat tyre so we had to travel to Europe with one car instead of two. Aiman and Anas were quite happy to be left with their cousins Shasya, Rina, Nat and Aqil at Daddy Yoh's place. Journey from Egham to Falkestone took one and a half hours. Alhamdulillah boarded the eurotrain safely on time, we were ahead of time infact. Journey across English Channel took 30 minutes. Arrived at Calais, France at 8.20 am and continued our journey to Paris which took almost 3 hrs plus stopping for mee hun, keropok lekor and sandwich break.

Driving into the eurotrain. Our car was at the back of this car. Fascinated with the smooth system of getting on board.

In the eurotrain.

Stopping for lunch at one of the roadside parks.

City of Paris, crowded with tourists, hot and rather dusty.

Mama, Wan and her 3 grandchildren. Long Qs to go up the Eifel Tower. So went straight to Brussels.

Arc de Triompe, one of the famous tourist attractions in Paris.

3 pm, headed towards Brussels. After 1 hour, had to replace the sleepy driver. Drove all the way to Kak Shikin's place in Brussels. Alhamdulillah for the smooth ride.

Welcome aboard Mak and Bak

2009-05-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

29 th May 2009

Dream finally came through. Mak and Bak arrived at Stansted Airport at 12 midnight with Yazid and family. Tears was dripping on my cheek when I hugged Bak. Never thought that I miss both of them so much. It has been a year since their previous departure. How time flew. Reached Egham at 3 am.

Potato bread

2009-05-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

Peeping into the oven.

Today is history, first time in my life baking potato bread. Was initially rather anxious to see the outcome, but when the bread started to rise in the oven I was so convinced that the recipe worked alhamdulillah, just that I felt I should have added a little bit more sugar to the bread dough. It was so soft with delicate texture. Emm pas ni projek meroti la pulak...hehe.....Recipe from Hana Yappoon. Halal ye Hana.

Potato bread

Bahan-bahan
250 gram tepung roti/tepung high protein
70 gram kentang yang telah direbus dan dilenyek baru ditimbang
120ml susu segar ( klu takde leh ganti dengan air suam ataupun bancuhan susu pekat manis ataupun susu kacang soya.)- masukkan susu skit2 sbb adunan agak lembik klu masuk semua.
2 sudu besar susu tepung
2 sudu besar gula
2 sudu besar marjerin
4 gram yis ( 1 sudu kecil)
1 biji telur (dipukul sedikit)
(untuk bancuhan sos kastard ) 2 sudu besar tepung bird custard
1 cawan susu segar
2 sudu besar gula Cara-cara

1. Buat bancuhan kastard dulu- Campurkan semua bahan sos custard dlm periuk dan kacau hingga pekat, guna api perlahan ye, kacau sentiasa supaya tak bergentel, klu jadi terlalu pekat boleh tambah lagi sedikit susu, sejukkan dan akan di piping atas bun nanti.
2. Kemudian buat doh roti pula, kalau ade BM tu leh lah masukkan semua bahan dan pilih menu Dough dan On je, kalau takde masukkan semua dalam bekas adunan dan uli hingga tak melekat pada tangan. Pastikan Doh betul-betul lembut ye.
3. Kalu guna tangan untuk menguli, tips untuk dapat doh yang lembut, ambil plastic bersih dah letakkkan doh di dalam plastic tu, ramas-ramas beberapa minit, lebih kurang 5 hingga 10 minit, keluarkan dan uli semula dalam bekas adunan, anda akan dapat doh yang elastik.
4. Kemudian perap doh dan tutup bekas adunan dengan plastic wrap dan biar doh naik dua kali ganda. Selepas itu tumbuk-tumbukkan doh bagi mengeluarkan angin. bahagi doh pada 10-12 bahagian kecil dah susun atas dulang pembakar.Biarkan naik sekali lagi, kemudian paipkan sos kastard di atas permukaan bun .
5. Bakar pada suhu 180 darjah selama 25 minit atau sehingga permukaan nye perang. Glis permukaan bun dengan sedikit marjerin supaya berkilat. Anda akan dapat doh yang lembut dan gebu walaupun bun ini tidak menggunakan bread softner, Ok dah siap.

Spaghetti with White Sauce

2009-05-23T08:28:00.001-07:00

My kids love this. Usually made this for breakfast.

White sauce

1. Stir fry chopped Holland onion and garlic.

2. Add chicken pieces, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery.

3. Add 3 tbs flour and fry till yellow.

4. Add milk and lastly cornflour to thicken the gravy, salt and pepper.

5. Serve with spaghetti or any othe types of pasta.

Cheeky Monkey Pancake

2009-05-23T08:18:00.001-07:00

Had this pancake in London last few weeks, it's yummy, so made some for the kids's breakfast and lunch boxes. They love it.

Ingredients:

4 cups plain flour

2 cups fresh milk

1 cup water

1 tsb salt

2 tbs melted butter

2 egg

Fillings can be choc spread, peanut butter, jam, honey, kaya, golden syrup and lemon.

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients together and blend till smooth.

2. Place a tbs of butter onto a non stick pan and pour about a ladle of batter.

3. Swing the pan around to form a pancake.

4. Brush some chocolate spread on the pancake and slice some bananas on the choc spread.

5. Fold the pancake into half and then into quarter. Done.

Moist chocolate cake/ muffin

2009-05-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE (from Mamafami's fp)

Ingredients :

250 g butter

2 cups castor sugar

2 3/4 cups flour

4 eggs

1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 cup cocoa powder (I add 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 cup milo + 1 tbs nescafe)

1 1/2 cup warm water to mix with cocoa powder

Chocolate coating

1/2 can condensed milk

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tbs melted butter/ corn oil

Method :

1. Mix cocoa powder with water and set aside.

2. Sift flour and bicarbonate of soda 3 times and set aside.

3. Cream butter and sugar.

4. Beat egg till fluffy.

5. Pour the eggs into the creamed mixture a bit at a time.

6. Add in vanilla essence.

7. Fold in the sifted dry ingredients into the mixture.

8. Pour in the cocoa mixture and keep folding.

9. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or till done.

10. Allow the cake to cool before applying the chocolate coating.

Pandan Chicken

2009-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Indonesian Pandan Chicken

Ingredients:

500gm chicken fillet

1 tsp cumin powder (jintan manis)

1 tsp fennel powder(jintan putih)

thumbsize galangal (lengkuas)

1 stick of lemon grass

3 cloves of garlics

salt

sugar

Thai Pandan Chicken

Ingredients:

500gm chicken fillet, cut approx 3cmx3cm

1 tbs thick soy sauce

1 tbs golden syrup/sugar
1 tbs chilli paste

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tbs oyster sauce

4 cloves of garlics

1 shallot

1 tsp white pepper

screwpine leaves

thumbsize ginger

2 buah keras

1 tbs brown sugar

Method:

1. Wet blend garlic, shallot, buah keras, lemon grass, galangal, ginger and brown sugar.

2. In a large bowl mix the above ingredients with chicken, cumin and fennel powder.

3. Marinate for one hour or more.

4. Wrap chicken with screwpine leaves and deep fry until cooked.

Mum's Cottage Pie

2009-05-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Aisay blurr pulak...

The mince..

After being topped with mashed potatoes and cheese.

After baking..

Potatoes are quite cheap here in the UK, everytime I shop for potatoes at my favourite East and West Grocery, I would always buy the 5 kg pack for better value of money. Today suddenly felt like eating cottage pie.

Here is the recipe:

5 big potatoes

1/2 kg mince meat

2 tbs kurma powder

salt, pepper

1 cup green peas

close cup mushrooms

3 carrots- cubed

2 celery sticks- cubed

1 Holland onion

1 inch ginger

3 garlic

2 tbs butter

1/2 cup fresh milk

grated ceddar cheese

Methods:

1. Peel the potatoes, cut into cubes and boil till soft (about 10-15 min).

2. Drain the water, mash the potatoes and add salt, pepper, butter and milk.

3. Stir fry the chopped onion, crushed ginger and garlic.

4. Add the kurma powder, mince meat and simmer for 1o min, then add carrots, celery and abit of water to soften the veges.

5. Add the green peas, mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste.

6. Scoop out the mince and spread into a baking dish, top with the mashed potatoes.

7. Sprinkle grated ceddar cheese and bake for 30 min at 180 C till the cheese turns golden yellow.

Tazkirah Jumaat

2009-05-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

This week I have been reading a motivational book entitled Life Is An Open Secret- You, Me and We, second book by Sis Zabrina. Finished her first book weeks ago. What amazed me the most was a chapter about how much we care about our family and close relatives. Just to share with you the gist of it.

Riwayat Bukhari Muslim ' Whoever would like to have his provision increased or his lifespan extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship'.

Another hadith is' Whoever believes in Allah and the last day should maintain good relation with his kindred'.

Kindred here means family and close relatives- brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandparents, uncles, aunties and their children from both of our parents side.

After reading these hadiths, I asked myself how much have I shown my love to my kindred? What did I do to maintain my ties with them? When was the last time I visited them? What did I do to help my relatives who are in real need? It realy touched me deep down.

Another hadith from Bukhari Muslim, ' If one gives in charity that equals one date-fruit from money that is earned in lawful manner, and Allah only accepts what is lawful, Allah shall take it in His right (hand) and then enlarges its reward for that person just like any of you who brings up his baby horse, so much so that it (the charity) becomes as big as the mountain.

So the formula is..work..earn..charity...wealth..work..earn..charity..wealth. Got what I mean? Allah akan gandakan setiap apa yg kita sedekahkan sebesar gunung just by giving a date...

Upon reading this, last Friday I immediately did some transfer of sadaqah of only 20 pounds on line, saja nak ambil berkat hari Jumaat. Guess what, three days later, I received some good news that a reward of more than 1000 pounds is in the pipeline, alhamdulillah. That goes well with the quote 'Earning is not yours in control but spending is'. Maybe it is just a coincidence but we have to bear in mind that Allah always keeps his promise.

Last hadith from Bukhari muslim 'If anyone fulfills his brother's needs, Allah will fulfill his needs, if one relieves a muslim of his troubles, Allah will relieve his trouble on the day of resurrection'.

Well hope that is enough to inspire us to continue giving charity especially to our kindred.

Caesar salad

2009-05-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1 small head of Romaine lettuce, torn into small bits
Garlic croutons
3 large cloves of Garlic
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon of Lemon juice
1/4 cup Olive oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Egg yolk
2 fillets of anchovies

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, except for lettuce and croutons, in a blender.
Blend to an even consistency.
Combine lettuce and croutons in a large clean salad bowl.
Add bacon bits if desired.
Add dressing and mix well.
Add pepper to taste.

Chicken Jalfrezi

2009-05-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

30 ml vegetable oil
1 onion, grated
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 kg boneless skinless chicken thighs/ breasts, dice
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chili powder or 2 fresh red/ green chillies
1 can peeled and diced tomatoes ( 4-5 fresh tomatoes would be fine)
30 ml ghee (clarified butter) optional
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp garam masala
1 inch grated fresh ginger root
a handful of chopped coriander leaves

1 tsp sugar

1 red pepper

1 green pepper

salt

Methods:

1. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, ginger, garlic, green chilli and cook for about 2 minutes.

2. Add the chicken, and season with turmeric, chili powder and salt. Fry gently, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently and turning the chicken.
3. Pour in the tomatoes with their juice, cover the pan, and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Uncover, and simmer for another 10 minutes to let the excess liquid evaporate.
4. Add cumin powder, garam masala, ground coriander and simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes. Add green and red peppers and onion wedges. Sprinkle the fresh coriander leaves. Add salt and sugar to taste.

5. Serve with rice or naan bread.

Capati with Chicken Jalfrezi

2009-05-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1/2 kg capati flour

1 glass of warm water( agak2 la ni)

1 tsp salt

Methods:

1. Place capati flour in a bowl and pour warm water admixed with salt in the middle and start kneading till it forms a soft consistency (just like making the pizza dough). Adjust the amount of water accordingly.

2. Make into small balsl as big as the fist.

3. Flatten the ball with a rolling pin (Madeehah's favourite task)

4. Take a round plate and place it on the flattened capati. Trace the shape of the plate with a knife.

5. Fry the capati in a hot pan (without oil) till it turns slightly brown. Remove the capati from the pan and place it directly on the fire for a few seconds till it swells (menggelembung).

6. Serve with curry. I serve them with chicken jalfrezi.

Pandan soft cotton cheese cake

2009-05-13T09:24:00.001-07:00

The recipe is similar to my previous entry of Japanese soft cotton cheese, just add the pandan juice, that's all.

250 g Philadelphia cream cheese (ASDA sale £1/ box of 250g)
1 cup of milk
1 cup of sugar
4 tbs butter
4 eggs (separate the egg white)
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs cornflour
4 tbs self raising flour
1 tsp cream of tartar(tak taruk sebab tak dak)
3 tbs of pandan extract/ pandan emulco (maybe 1 tbs je kot)

Methods:

1. Melt in a double boiler the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, pandan juice and 2 tsp of green colouring and milk. Let it cool.
2. Add egg yellow, cornflour and SR flour in the cheesy mix.
3. Whisk egg whites till it forms a soft peak/ stiff (tonggeng tak tumpah), add sugar bit by bit, then add to the above mixture.
4. Bake for 1 hour at 160 C in a waterbath (au bain marie).

Ayam goreng kurma

2009-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Found this recipe at Inahar's blog, tried it straight away since it looked so tempting. Emm memang sedap but I added some green peas to make it more inviting. Ampun yer Inahar kita copy paste heheh..

INGREDIENTS:

8 pieces Chicken

1-2 Potato - cut wedges

1 Tomato - diced

4 tbsp Kurma powder - mix with some water

1 tbsp Kerisik

3 Shallots*

2 cloves Garlic*

1" Ginger*

1 Green Chilli* (*blender)

1 Big Onion - sliced thinly

1 Kasturi LimeSalt & MSG ( I added some sugar as well)

3 tbs green peas

METHOD:

1. Rub chicken with salt & turmeric powder & deep fry.

2. Deep fry potato wedges until cooked.

3. Heat up oil & fry sliced onions until golden & dish up.Stir fry the blended ingredients until fragrant.

4. Add in Kurma paste & stir until fragrant.

5. Add in kerisik, chicken, potato, tomato & fried onions.Stir until well mixed.

6. Dish up & serve with rice.

Daging masak hitam

2009-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Pulut kuning served with daging masak hitamSedap dimakan dgn nasi or pulut kuning. Recipe improvised from Shima Fadhil of BBP. Used to cook this recipe at Surau At-Toyyibah for annual Qurban.Gambar masakan ni yg display atas pulut kuning tu ye...

Ingredients:

1 kg beef
3 onions-blend
10 dried chillies- fry with oil and blend(Mama tak fry pun, malas)
1 tbs coriander powder
1 tbs cumin powder
1 tsb black pepper
1 tbs vinegar
curry leaves- a handful
sweet soy sauce

Methods:

1. Fry onions till golden yellow. Add curry leaves, blended chillies and fry till fragrant(I added some garlic and ginger)
2. Add beef, coriander powder, cumin powder, black pepper.
3. Once beef is tender, add sweet soy sauce and lastly vinegar.
4. Add sugar or salt to taste.

Pulut kuning instant

2009-05-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

Pulut kuning served with daging masak hitam

Bahan-bahan ( 5-6 org makan )
2 cawan beras pulut
1 cawan santan pekat + 1 cawan air panas
1 sdt garam
1 helai daun pandan
1 sdb minyak masak
Sedikit serbuk kunyit

Cara-cara:
Cuci beras pulut hingga bersih..masukkan semua bahan2 kedalam rice cooker
Setelah mendidih..gaul pulut supaya x berkerak..kemudian biarkan hingga masak.

Happy Birthday Papa

2009-05-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's 11th May again, how supersonically fast time flies. Birthday sapa ye ari ni..emmm ..Mama's big baby kata cik somuffins..so what's cooking? Nothing much just some pulut kuning and another chocolate cake. Look's like I have been baking choc cake every week without fail. Jangan kena kencing manis sudah..nauzubillah.

Prepared the cake yesterday evening before going off to Selly Park for Papa's and the kids' football games. Just shoved the baking tray into the oven and set the timer to 1 hour 15 min. Balik2 tengok cake hampir rentung, coz it was left in the oven for 1 hour after the timer went off, so got to skin off the surface and pakaikan tudung coklat tebal2. Alhamdulillah it turned out to be fine, well at least nobody realised that the cake was slightly burnt. Not even the birthday boy..ha.ha...Luckily the interior was unaffected. Just the external coating turned out to be a bit hard.

This morning, cooked pulut kuning in the rice cooker and daging masak hitam. Blimey, it took only 10 minutes to cook the pulut. Found this resepi at As NZ's blog. TQ AS. Recipe kita copy paste yer, ampuunnn...

To my dearest hubby, happy XX birthday. Emm..tua dah..rambut pun dah banyak uban tu...Anyway, thank you for beeing my other half for 13 years, sharing every sweet and bitter moments together. Thank you for beeing a great hubby. Moga hidup dilimpahi rahmat Allah sentiasa. Amin.

Kuay teow goreng basah

2009-05-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Made this for breakfast and lunch boxes of Mama, Papa and Aiman today. Others do not bring their lunch boxes as they have been begging Mama to pay for school dinner today. Why Friday? Cos Friday is pizza day in school. So Mama had to dig out 5.25 pounds from my purse. Sekali sekala bagi can kan. Boring jugak hari2 makan makanan sejuk kan? At times when I get bored with my own cooking, I would sneak out to Birm U Medical School Cafe for Halal Jerk Chicken or chicken curry. Well I can tell you the chef is quite good. Perhaps one day I can bring you kids for lunch there but this is not a promise yea.

Resepi from Kak Asmah Juri of Dawlish Road. Thanks Kak Asmah, terima kasih daun keladi, lain kali jemput lagi..hehe...

Methods:
1. Fry 10 crushed garlic(memang pakai banyak garlic), then add chilli powder.
2. Add beef and fry till tender. Add water/ beef stock. Add kuay teow and prawns.
3. Add kicap manis, oyster sauce, a bit of garam.
4. Add eggs, taugeh, done.

Fish, spinach and potato gratin

2009-05-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry a bit blurry. Camera tak canggih cam camera Papa.

Made this dish for dinner last night, fish, spinach and potato gratin, actually you can just toss in any vege you like or even substitute the fish with chicken breast. I added green peas petit pois as my kids love it. Can be eaten with garlic bread as well.

Ingredients

6 potatoes- mash and add 1 tbs butter, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of milk

2 slices of white fish/ dory/ haddock- cut into small cubes

spinach/ green peas/ carrots

1 onion- chopped

3 garlic- crushed

salt & pepper

single/ double cream- 1 glass

grated ceddar cheese

Methods:

1. Fry onion and garlic till yellow. Add fish, carrots, spinach, green peas, salt & pepper.

2. Pour these fish vege mix into a baking casserole.

3. Pour 1 glass of single cream.

4. Spread the mashed potato on top, then sprinkle some ceddar cheese and bread crumbs (optional).

5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C for 30 min or till the cheese turns golden yellow.

Lab Bonding Trip to London

2009-05-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Today the whole lab went on a trip to the Hunterian Museum in London as a gesture to tighten group bonding. All 14 of us took the Virgin train at 9.50 am and reached Houston Station at 11.15 am. Paul could't make it at the very last minute as his son was called for laryngoscopy today. First let me introduce you the members of my lab....

In black shirt is our gorgeous Kate, a year 3 PhD student from Chec Republic, next to her is Petra also from Chec, spending 3 months of attachment in our lab.

The ever caring year 2 PhD, Zumla, a British born Sri Lankan, showing her white teeth off. Next to her is Shikha, a post doc from North India but has been working in UK for many years already. Tengoh kelebek gapo dale beg tu mokcik??

In blue shirt, Naheema our new lab technician, and Zuzanna, year 3 PhD from Chec too. Just happen to be here for a week. Terus kena tangkap pi London trip. She was here with us for 3 months before.

In striped shirt was Jennifer, my office mate and Martina from Germany, our lab leader.

Our experienced post doc, also my teacher Karl and his best friend Gary from IBR.

Mama sitting with Aishah, a British born Pakistani, year 1 PhD.

Our lab entertainer, humourous Shelly with Kai, a consultant physician from China but now a lab technician. Kes macam Papa la ni......

Spent 3 hours at the Hunterian Medical Museum, very amazed with Dr. John Hunter who started collecting medical specimens since the 1800s. Wow this man was full of vision. His collections had contributed a lot to the advancement of medicine. What amazed me the most was the skeleton of a man (couldn't remember his name) with gigantism secondary to Growth Hormone secretion from a pituitary tumour. He was as tall as the ceiling. This man was actually aware that Dr. John Hunter had been wanting his corpse when he died. When the man died, John Hunter eventually succeeded in buying the man's corpse for 130 pounds and displayed the skeleton in his museum.

After 3 hours in the museum, started to feel faint. Come on guys, time for food and shopping. So we walked to Covent Garden Market and spent 2 hours there. Treated myself with a huge pancake with nutella and banana filling, then felt guilty after consuming it thinking of the amount of calories I have swallowed. Emm sekali sekala......

Covent Garden, the atmosphere here made me feel like beeing in Europe rather than in UK

Enjoying the huge nutella banana pancake called cheeky monkey, pas tu guilty...........

After jalan2, then makan lagi at a South Indian Restaurant exactly behind University College London. Paul had recommended this restaurant. The food was delicious indeed. Had rice with prawn masala and jadi DBKL tolong Zuzanna habiskan her King Prawn Briyani yang teramat yummy. Habis diet Mama ari ni..heheh.

Mama's rice with prawn masala.

By 8 pm I was dead exhausted, my feet were aching of 7 hours walk today. Train to Birm was at 8.03 pm, arrived Birm at 9.25 pm. Slept all the way in the train. Sorry girls just cannot open my eyes and join your chatting. Thank you Jia (Kai's wife) for the ride back to Harborne from Birm New Street Train Station.

On arriving home, I was shocked looking at the chaotic kitchen. This is what happen when male spouse took charge. Lunch boxes were scattered everywhere. Piles of dishes stacked in the sink, unwashed. Long deep sigh................what to do....I eventually doze off at 12.30 am after cleaning up. On the next day, went to school feeling so groggy. Now, how I wish I have a house maid.

Singgang Daging Mama (Kelantan sour beef stew)

2009-05-04T08:47:00.001-07:00

1 kg beef/ lamb
5 garlic
1 1/2 inch ginger
1 inch galangal (lengkuas)
8 bird chillies/ 2 tbs blended red chillies
4 slices of asam keping
2 tbs coriander powder

Methods:
1. Place everything in a pressure cooker, add water just to cover the beef/ lamb.
2. Boil for 20 min till beef is tender. Add salt, sliced bird chillies.
3. Ready to serve with rice.

Tetamu dari Belgium

2009-05-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

30 April 2009, jam 1.30 pagi tibalah tetamu yang dinanti-nanti, Dr. A and family from Ghent, Belgium. Inilah tetamu yang rumah mereka kami nak ziarah masa ke Europe ari tu tapi tak kesampaian sebab kereta rosak kat Holland. Makanya kami ditemukan di bumi Birmingham.

Ah and family took a train at 10.43 pm and arrived at Birm New Street at 1.00 am, pukul 1.30 pagi dapat phone call and bila jenguk kat keluar tingkap nampak taxi depan rumah. Akhirnya sampai juga mereka setelah 2 hari di London. Rupanya meke tersalah beli tiket Midland train yang slow tu, so depa kena tahan tak bagi naik Virgin train yang laju itu, tapi Allah nak tolong, supervisor tu cepat2 suruh meke naik virgin train tu sebelum train tu jalan.

Dah lama tak jumpa maka sampai 3 pagi kami berborak sambil temankan Ah and wife makan mee bandung kow Mama (perasan lagik, sori ye) and chocolate cake kow Mama. Anak2 Ah, Hilmiyah and Hilman dah lama lena.

Mama's moist choc cake, taruk horlicks

On Friday 1 st May 209, brought them to Queen Anne, then to Portmeirion and Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent. Emm 2 kotak nak kena shipping nih, boleh tahan jugak surgeon kita ni shopping. Mama pun tumpang shopping jugak, tambak koleksi Portmeirion yang dah sedia ada. Beli..... jangan tak beli cik kiah time sale ni, nanti nyosal. Balik dari Stoke which was about 1 hour drive, berjoget lagi kat dapur, masak untuk tamu dinner pulak. Invited Dr. Mimi who is also Ah's friend in USM Medical School. Papa invited Azli and family for dinner as well. Cooked asam pedas sea bass, sea bass masak kicap, sayur campur and ikan masin.

2nd May: After a dose of nasi lemak, Papa brought them to Lea Marston Carboot (tempat Mama kena pickpocket tu...). Mama dok umah jaga budak2 sambil prepare the ingredients for singgang kambing for Birm Malaysian Community Summer BBQ at Cannock tomorrow. We were invited for lunch at Dr.Mimi's house in Aston. Then to ASDA and East and West supermarket, tempat Mama beli halal meat and chicken. Mak oii, harga ayam naik lagi dari 2.89 pounds per kilo to 3.29. Cam mana nak business ni??

3rd May, patutnya bawak Ah pi Studley Carboot, the biggest Carboot in West Midlands tapi ingatkan hujan takut pulak carboot tutup. Anyway Ah and co have got to catch their train to London this morning as their flight to Malaysia is tonight. Sempatlah jamu nasi dage with chicken curry and gulai udang kat kawan baik Mama ni. Tapaukan Mummy Izan and Daddy Yoh of Egham some nasi dage and singge kambing (p.s: See you guys there end of May insyallah).

Ah and Na, this is the carboot sale that U have missed. Lain kali kena datang lagi ni...

Ada 15 lane you, so 30 row sumernya...lenguh kaki berjalan cam nak pitam pun ada...

Breakfast today, nasi dage

Mama's chicken curry, masih berasap lagi, baru turun dapur.

Mama's gulai lengkuas kunyit udang, pucat pulak rupa dia...tapi rasa kow. Opps perasan lagi..masuk bakul

3 families posing, Ah's, Mimi's and Mama's. Family Azli/ Nita dah balik.

Tetamu Malaya lagi....

2009-04-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

At 8 pm, got a call from Papa who was at work, asking whether I received any call from his cousin Syed M. Papa said Syed M and family will be arriving at our house anytime tonight. So biasalah kan..supermum mana boleh tak hidang nasi kan, ni pulak sepupu nak datang anak beranak. So berjogetlah masak nasi briyani with Rogan Josh lamb curry, tandoori fried chicken and lettuce and tomato salad. At 10.30 pm after sosat 1/2 jam sampailah family Arab ni. Emm lupa lak nak amik gambo menu dinner kami dgn meke...

The next day brought them to Thinktank Millenium, Science Centre lah lebih kurang. Balik tu dropped them at Bullring for shopping. At 8 pm, visited by Juri and Kak Asmah. kak Asmah brought some kuey teow yg kow-kow.

After 2 nights in Birmingham, they continued their journey to West Midlands Safari Park then to Cardiff.

Madeehah and her second cousin Sh. Munirah.

Main ayo...
Madeehah nak jadi macam Mama ke cam Papa?

Kak Asmah and hubby, Juri temankan Made and Hanim makan kuey teow. Sharifah Mahani and Sharifah Maisarah, heheh..

All smiles.................

Tiramisu Birmingham

2009-04-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

The ingredients.................

Oppss dah kena colek baru teringat nak ambik gambo............

Tiramisu Birmingham

1 can of ASDA ready made custard (ni promote ASDA ni)/ whipping cream

1 container of Mascarpone cheese (about 250g) or other types of cream cheese like Philadelphia

2 packets of Sponge fingers

1 tbs Cocoa powder(untuk sprinkle atas aje)

3 cawan air nescafe "o" pekat(or any instant coffee, tak payah buh gula cos sponge fingers tu dah manis)

Cara-cara:

1. Campur mascarpone cheese dengan ready made custard, pukul sehingga sebati dan tak berketul.

2. Celup sponge fingers dalam air nescafe dan susun dalam bekas/ mangkuk kaca.

3. Layer sponge fingers with custard and cheese mix.

4. Ulang langkah 2 dan 3 till finished.

5. Tapis cocoa powder on the top most layer.

6. Simpan semalaman dalam peti sejuk sebelum dihidangkan. Tak sampai semalaman pun sebab the kids asyik bukak fridge nak makan.

Emm sodapnya, kalori pun banyak woo.....Anyway an easy to prepare dessert.

Guests from UPM

2009-04-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Had been very busy these past 2 weeks, visited by 3 Malaysian families one after another, each family spent 2 nights at our place. Seronok sungguh...

The first couple was Dr. Z , my UPM Medic colleague with her sporting hubby. Since they love market place, Friday morning 24th April brought them to Bullring outdoor and indoor markets. Then Saturday to Birmingham Whole sale market. Bought a crate of Sea bass, half Salmon and a crate of prawns. Then shot off to Middleton Carboot. Nak bawak gi Stoke-on-Trent yang famous dgn pinggan mangkuk tu tak sempat. Saturday afternoon, brought Dr. Z to Majlis Ilmu Wanita Birmingham. Sampai2 Yasin dan tazkirah dah abis, hanya sempat tengok demo Tiramisu by Zatil. Lovely couple at Bullring shopping complex

Dr Z, Mama and Madeehah belakang Bullring.

Just to prove to you people that we were at Bullring. Can you see the angry bull????

Shopping for fruits and veges at outdoor market

Jangan tak caya Cik Kiah, buah sukon pun ada you...makanya petang tu our tea menu was fried sukon with sambal kicap and cili api..emm yummy...yang bosar tu ubi keladi ye cik kiah....ubi kayu pun ada..ubi badak pun ada.

Mama's first kek lapis

2009-04-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

The idea of baking a 'kek lapis' had been toying in my mind for quite sometime. But the fact that it needs 25 eggs for a cake makes me shiver. Can't help but calculating the amount of cholesterol in it. Got this recipe from Kak Pah Sherry of Sheffield which uses only 7 eggs instead. So tried it yesterday and reduced the sugar. Alhamdulillah, my first attempt of baking a layered cake was fruitful. Brought some for my labmates, complimented by everybody including Paul, my lovely and ever supportive and understanding supervisor. Paul said after returning from his trip to Msia last 2 weeks. ' Mai, your country is so beautiful, nice people, nice food, Malaysian food is the best food ever. What are you doing here Mai?' Dalam hati jawab 'PhD, Paul'.

Kek Lapis Seroja

450 g low fat butter

150 g caster sugar

300 g superfine flour (I use MacDouglas sebab malas nak sieve)

7 eggs

1tsp baking powder

1 tsp sodium bicarbonate

1 tsp vanilla

4 tbs horlicks

1/2 can condensed milk

2 tbs cocoa powder

pandan flavour/ pandan juice

1 cup of mixed fruits (ikut suka)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C ( Top fire only). Beat butter and sugar till fluffy and add eggs one by one. Then add flour, horlicks, vanilla, condensed milk.

2. Divide the batter into 3- add cocoa powder in one, pandan flavour in another and one is plain.

3. Grease the cake tin. Start layering with 3 tbs of chocolate batter 1st. Bake for 3 minutes.

4. Layer with green batter, bake for 3 min, then layer with plain batter and sprinkle the mixed fruits and bake for 3 min (3 tbs each layer). Reduce the oven temp after 1 hr to avoid cake from becoming too dry.

5. Continue till all the batter is finished. Wrap the tin with an aluminium foil(optional) and bake for another 15 minutes (top and bottom fire). Done.

Lamb BBQ

2009-04-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Errgh..another 2 days of holidays left. Bercintanya nak masuk lab balik Monday ni. Keje bukan main banyak lagi menunggu. Got to present to the whole institute again in 6 months time and be assessed. Yikes! Thinking about it makes me feel so miserable. The agony of going into the viva again and get fired by the professors. Urgh.. Sapa soh buat PhD kan? Nasib la....

Tak pelah, in every dark cloud there must be a silver lining right? Anyhow masak tetap kena masak. Breakfast today nasi goreng daging. Weekend lunch or dinner is usually a family dinner awaited by everybody. Today Mama cooked lamb BBQ with black pepper sauce. Had forgotten to marinade the lamb last nite, so it turn out a bit tough but still tasty though.

After marinating the lamb, open up Mama's saloon. Cut Aiman's hair after googling up you tube on 'how to cut man's hair'. The video was very helpful.

Aiman, before the haircut.

The barber in action.

Jeng jeng jeng, after the haircut, cam tak de beza jer..

This the lamb BBQ recipe. First make the black pepper sauce.

Ingredients:

3 cloves of garlic

1 tsp fine black pepper

1 tsp coarse black pepper

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp mustard

1 tsp plum sauce (optional)

1 tsp paprika (can add more for better colour and spicier flavour)

beef stock

3 tbs oyster sauce

1 tbs cornflour

Method:

1. Fry garlic till yellow and add beef stock. Add paprika, oyster sauce, black pepper, rosemary, mustard (add little by little and taste, as it is quite sour).

2. Add cornflour and boil for a few minutes. Done

Use half of this black pepper sauce to marinade the lamb. The remaining half is used as the sauce when serving.

Mama's lamb BBQ..emm yummy....last feast before starting on low carb diet with Aiman next week.

Everbody enjoying the lamb, Madeehah, missing in action.

The black pepper sauce on the stove still.

Nasi goreng daging for breakfast.

Laksa Penang

2009-04-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of baby sitting, apa nak masak to feed 2 adults and 8 children (5 anak kandung, 3 anak angkat) today ye? Felt like eating laksa, so checked my dry cabinet and found a packet of rice vermicelli from Wing Yip Supermarket bought many months ago. Used three cans of tuna for the kuah.

Ni la laksa Mama.
Out of the packaging. Cantik je jam jerami padi style ikatan dia.
Terliur tak? Podas jang, berair idung nak perabis semangkuk ni tau.

Satu soalan cepu mas, biasanya orang kata buang yang keruh ambil yang jernih tapi apa dia kita buang yang jernih, ambil yang keruh? Haa..cepat2 siapa dapat jawab dapat hadiah....he..he....

So had breakfast with laksa penang la today, initially thought of making laksa kelate but thinking of triglyceride (TG) in the santan, cancel la plan A. Got to save the TG for lunch. Cooked chicken curry with fried chicken and sambal belacan berulamkan timun sebab sayur dah abis stok. Plus saki baki my frozen rendang daging prepared for Holland trip.

It was raining the whole morning till noon today, alhamdulillah by 3 pm, the rain finally stopped and out came the sunshine. So projek badminton and basketball lah, apalagi. Felt like duplicating myself into 4 as everybody wants Mama to play badminton with them, last2 as usual ada la yg merajuk tak puas hati. So what i did, 15 minutes each per person playing single with Mama. Just before Maisarah's turn to play, the shuttle decided to take a tour into Kate's garden, got to knock on her door to tell her to throw the shuttle back into our side.

Madeehah fell asleep on Amir's lap.

OOO som! To determine who's playing 1st with Mama and who's the last.

Had to carry Amir to take the shutle which landed on Kate's tree, unfortunately it dropped when Anas tickled his bum. Ha.ha...

Waiting for their turn to play badminton with Mama.
Madeehah feasting on her milk while waiting for Mama and Maisarah to finish the game.

After all the games, everybody felt hungry and started digging my freezer for whatever that's available. Anas found some roti canai and burger, fried 2 rotis and 1 burger for himself, one for Papa who just came back from work and Amir and Maisarah fried one each roti canai for themselves. After the roti canai, Anas was still hungry, had to dig out for the last few drops of kuah laksa for him. Kuatnya makan Mat Anas ni..jgn tembun cam Abang dah la..teruk Mama nak mendietkan dia.

Maisarah frying her roti canai/ paratha beli kat kedai Bangla.
Amir's turn pulak.

Weather forecast shows that it will be sunny tomorrow and Sunday, ada can la gi Carboot terbesar 30 lanes in Studley, wait ahhh....I tayang what I buy aaa...

Baby sitting lagi

2009-04-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Ari ni hari kedua baby sitting, yesterday evening, Shakir, Iffa's eldest boy fell down at my backyard and injured his knee quite badly. Got a rather deep laceration wound of about 3 cm in length and 0.8 cm in depth. Dalam tu..luckily I kept some bandage at home and managed to stop the bleeding by bandaging. Pakkal jer tak de jarum, local anasthesia and catgut, kalu tak Mama jahit je sendiri. Told Saiful to bring Shakir to Children's Hospital for suturing. Today he came at 11 am with a smile telling us that he received 6 sutures on his knee. Nasib baik bukan kat muka.

Menu ari ni breakfast mee goreng mamak jer...pas tu buat koleh kacang but without taik minyak sebab tak de santan kelapa ori, kalu tak ori tak jadi taik minyak dia, dah test dah.. Pas buat koleh kacang, sat with Aiman, drilling and grilling him for his SAT exam which is due on the 12th May 2009. By 12 noon, perut dah main muzik balik sebab ari nih hujan satu hari, so tersangatlah sejuknya.

Lunch, rice with labu air masak air with su hun, daging masak sambal with a tinge of kicap and telur goreng.

Dinner, made garlic Naan with lamb jalfrezi. As usual helped by Madeehah and Maisarah. Used Patak's Jalfrezi, sedap jugak. Actually rempah Jalfrezi ni boleh buat sendiri..saja jer try Patak punya as a bench mark, to make sure yg home made punya is of the same taste.

Madeehah sibuk mencanai Naan, kalau Tok Bak tengok ni he will say hey..tak makan la Tok Bak....Amir tengah santap burger yg dia goreng sendiri. My kids are all very independent I tell you...dah pandai goreng roti canai and burger sendiri Mr Amir kita ni...but supervised of course.

Maisarah applying some butter on the naan before putting them into the oven.

Naan, after 15-20 min of baking.

Garlic naan served with lamb Jalfrezi, lamb pun dah naik harga nak masuk summer ni..dulu 2.20 jer sekilo (kalau beli half sheep), now ni dah 3.50 sekilo. Half sheep beli last week cost me 40 pounds. Biasanya around 30 jer..hopefully tahan sebulan tu.

Mama's naan recipe

4 cups of flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup of warm milk

1 tbs of crushed garlic

chopped coriander

1 sachet of yeast

1 tbs of butter/ margarine

1 tsp of sugar

1 tsp of salt or secukup rasa

1 egg (optional)

Method.

1. Stir yeast in warm water, add sugar and salt and leave till it bubbles.

2. Palce the flour and baking powder in a bowl, make a well and add the yeast solution. Knead for 10-15 min. Add butter and 1 egg (optional).

3. Leave the dough in a warm place for 2 hours till it doubles its size.

4. Form 8 small balls and roll them into oval shaped naan. Pull them to make it oval.

5. Bake in the oven at 180 c for 15-20 min. Ready to serve with currys etc.

Dessert, moist choc cake on Amir's request, sejak dari semalam dok nak makan choc cake.

Easter Holidays

2009-04-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

4-19 April 2009, Easter break for the kids and Mum, so off we went on Holland hols, nak tengok gambo boleh jalan2 kat Mr Dentease punya blog yer http://www.dentistandme.blogspot.com/
These tulips are for my blog readers yea...

Holland was beautiful, wish to go there again and tour Brussels and Germany as well. We were just unfortunate that our VW Sharan broke down in Holland, so tak sampailah ke Brussels, Ghent and Cologne, Germany. Well hope there will be next time, insyaAllah.

Somuffins, semalam kita masak nasi ayam, ari ni nasi kerabu pulak...ari ni i jadi baby sitter, Iffah Saiful belakang rumah tumpangkan anak2 sebab sekolah masih cuti minggu ni.

Nasi ayam Mama...

Menu ari ni..nasi kerabu with ayam goreng, sori nasinya lupa nak tayang..haha...

Dessert..puding jagung. Resepinya teramatlah sonang jang. Thank you Dr .Fuziah Coventry for the lovely and simple recipe.

Puding jagung

1 cawan tepung kastad
1 cawan jagung dlm tin
1 cawan air
1 cawan susu segar
1 1/2 cawan santan
4 sudu besar gula
secubit garam

Larutkan tepung kastad dgn air, then add milk,santan and jagung.Kacau atas api till pekat and meletup-letup. Tuang dalam mangkuk/ loyang and sejukkan.

Anas is the happiest person today as his basketball hoop ordered from the internet arrived safely in the early morning drizzle. So, taught them how to shoot and do some lay up today. Too bad the backyard isn't that big, well just have to make do with what we have, guys! It costs Mama and Papa quite a fortune though. Sigh....

Projek musin bunga..menyemai tulip bulbs bought at Keukenhof Garden, Holland. Letak kat dalam rumah dulu takut tiba2 frost pulak, habis tulipku...nauzubillah. Macam tanam bawang jer rupanya..

and semai pokok daun kesum supaya gulai asam pedas Mama ada umph... Thank you Jo Ayee Ireland for the petua nak jadikan kesum ni kesum gajah.. Nanti dah jadi kesum gajah kita tayang lagi.

Mama's beef pot roast

2009-03-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

Anas enjoying Mama's pot roast sampai tak hingat dunia....

Found this recipe while googling video jug today..but as usual simplified by Mama..instead of 3 hours in the pot, Mama only took 30 min to get it served on the plate. Just on time to feed hungry Papa when he got back from work last night.Here is the recipe..

Mama's Beef Pot Roast

1. Slice the beef into steak size. Season with salt and black pepper. Dip in corn or plain flour on both sides.
2. Heat a little butter/ olive oil in a pan and fry the steak slice. Flip over to brown both sides. Then put them aside.
3. In the same pan, stir fry chopped onion, add 2-3 tbs flour depending on how thick you want the gravy to be. Then add beef stock(For Mexican version, stir fry some cumin seed with the onion).
4. Place the beef and the stock in a pressure cooker and cook for 20 min or till the meat is tender. For ordinary pots, U may need 2-3 hrs slow cooking.
5. Add cubed carrots, celery and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Can add some thyme and rosemary as well. For Mexican version, add tomato paste and black beans.
6. Serve on a bed of mashed potatoes with steamed veges. Nice to be eaten with garlic bread.

Mama's Nasi Briyani Udang

2009-03-23T12:23:00.001-07:00

Recipe recon from http://www.sajionline.com.my/

10 ekor udang
3 labu bawang besar (hiris nipis)
6 ulas bawang putih
4 biji tomato (cincang)
6 biji buah pelaga
1 sudu besar jintan manis
8 kuntum bunga cengkih
1 sudu besar garam
1/2 kecil besar lada hitam
1 sudu kecil serbuk buah pala
1 sudu kecil serbuk buah keras
2 tangkai cili hijau
1 biji lemon (perah)
1/2 cawan minyak
Saffron
5 cawan beras basmati
1 cawan yogurt
2 keping daun bay
4 cm halia
1 sudu besar serbuk ketumbar
1/4 cawan minyak sapi

CARA MENYEDIAKAN:
1) Panaskan minyak dalam periuk,tumis bawang besar hingga naik bau dan
kuning, angkat dan ketepikan.
2) Masukkan udang dan biarkan separuh masak
3) Kisar yogurt,separuh daripada bawang goreng,halia dan bawang putih.
4) Kisar bahan tersebut halus dan tuangkan ke dalam periuk yang berisi ayam
5) Tumis hingga naik bau
6) Masukkan tomato, buah pelaga,cengkih, lada hitam, jintan manis,bay dan kulit
kayu manis.
7) Kemudian masukkan serbuk ketumbar dan garam
8) Biarkan tumisan dimasak selama setengah jam.
9) Setelah air udang kering, masukkan serbuk buah keras dan buah pala.Matikan api
10) Tanak nasi separuh masak bersama sedikit garam.Ketepikan.
11) Dalam periuk lain,ceduk tumisan ayam di dalam periuk, kemudian ceduk nasi
separuh masak tadi.Ulang hingga dapat 2 lapis nasi lauk dan 2 lapik nasi.
12) Setiap lapik hendaklah dituanglan perahan air limau, lebihan bawang goreng,
dan patahkan cili hijau.
13) Di lapisan terakhir tuangkan ¼ cawan minyak sapi, dan renjisan saffron.

Garlic and butter giant tiger prawn

2009-03-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Look at the Algerian Tiger Prawn, huge like lobsters.. so juicy..yummy...

Sambal tumis udang and sup sayur

Aunty K's deep fried garupa, dah tinggal suku baru teringat nak amik gambo.....

Today is the last day for Aunty Kathy's to be in Birm. Uncle Apa wanted to experience being in Birm Whole Sale Wet Market. So at 5.30 am in the morning, Papa drove Uncle Apa and Aunty Kathy to the so called Pasar Borong Birm. Guess what they brought home...a box of huge 10 tiger prawn from Algeria, two garupas, 3 red snappers (ikan kerisi kot..), 20 kg of Holland onions, 2 kg of medium sized prawns, 3 kgs of baby ikan tamban (donno what Brits call this), 1 huge green cabbage and a cauliflower. Looks like Papa doesn't have to go fishing for a month. Alhamdulillah rezeki.....

So Aunty K cooked deep fried garupa with soy sauce, deep fried baby tamban and sambal udang. I grilled the huge tiger prawn with butter and garlic and made some vegetable soup. So lunch today was more than a king..kind of....

Makan punya makan, last2 the whole family missed the 2 pm coach to London, so got to buy other tickets, kesian....

Anyway, it was great to have relatives staying for a few days at our place. Really cheered the kids up. Thank you Aunty Kathy, Uncle Apa, Ezyana and Ewanina for visiting us. Jangan serik utk datang lagi.....boleh shopping lagi 7 kotak or even more..ha..ha...

This is how Mama cut and clean the huge tiger prawns, photos snapped by Aiman........

Cut the back and devein the prawns.......
Cut into half and season with salt, pepper and garlic and glaze with butter, grill for 20 min in the oven at 180 C.

Queen Anne Silverware

2009-03-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today brought Aunty Kathy and family to Queen Anne factory in Wednesbury, near Ikea. Paul, the owner of the factory rewarded me with 3 gifts for bringing my aunty who shopped 2 boxes of QA silverware, not seconds but first quality ones.

First quality ma.....I think the value of these items are around 30 pounds or more. Should bring more people in future, to get more free gifts from Paul..he..he..

Mama's Thai Green Curry

2009-03-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Now I've got a competitor in my food business, so got to be creative and try to cook something a little bit more extraordinary. Tried this menu and wallah, sold out 16 packs in a day. Alhamdulillah......

Made my own green curry paste:
4 green chillis
1 Holland onion
6 shallots
2 cm ginger
2 sticks of lemon grass
1 tsp of shrimp paste/ belace
2 tbs coriander powder
2 tbs cumin powder
1 tbs white pepper
2 kaffir lime leaves (daun limau purut)
4 coriander roots

Methods:
1. Blend all the above ingredients, stir fry them till fragrant and add coconut milk, then add chicken.
2. Add salt and sugar, asam keping and whatever veges that U wish eg aubergine, terung pipit, bamboo shoots etc. Done. Simple isn't it? Serve with white rice.

Spaghetti Carbonara

2009-03-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

This morning's breakfast is spag carbonara, heavynyer cam dinner Omputih, well, eat breakfast like a king right, but the problem is we eat dinner also like a king. Anyway layan....

Got a text message from Aunty Katy to inform us that she is in London (with Uncle Apar and their 2 kids) and planning to come to Birm tomorrow. Today they are on a tour to Windsor Castle (dekat rumah my brother), Stonehenge and Bath.

Car boot

2009-03-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

Today the weather is lovely, felt like summer already though spring is just beginning. Flowers are starting to bloom by the roadside and in the parks. So apalagi projek musim panas..he..he..carboot.....

So after a heavy breakfast of nasi dage with chicken and prawn curry and telur rebus and acar karot, off we went to Lea Marston carboot, took 40 min instead of 20 min cos Papa got into the wrong exit as a result of chatting with mama while driving..Alhamdulillah sampai jugak. Ramainya orang mak datuk, dah lama tak gi carboot. Got another nice pasta cookbook for 50p, a few pants for Madeehah, 50p each, 3 tennis rackets for the kids(50p-1.25 pounds each), my lap top mouse for 50p. Hubby bought Madeehah a mini playhouse for 4 pd and a nice Royal Albert tableware for Mama. Thanks Papa lap u....

Found beras nasi dagang kat kedai Bangla sebelah East and West, tempat kami beli halal meat, 1.99 je per packet of 1 kg..so tak yahlah nak import from Msia. Rasa sama jer cam beras Msia.

Amir and Madeehah at Lea Marston carboot

My new pasta cookbook, a lot of nice recipes to try in here...

Royal Albert tableware for 1 pound

Tennis rackets for the kids, kalau tak asyik berebut je yg 2 btg kat rumah tu...

Single quilt cover with a pillow case for 2 pds. Berbaloi kan, Next week ingat nak pi Carboot Cannock pulak, then singgah rumah anak sedare Che Cik kat sana, insyallah.

Baked lemon and garlic salmon

2009-03-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

After wanting to eat salmon for quite sometimes, Anas's dream finally comes true when Papa and Selly Oak clan went fishing at Pasar Borong Birm yesterday morning. They call it op tangkap and bayar. Tangkap ikan kat pasar jelah....Papa bought 1 kg of salmon, 2 kg of fresh prawns and mackerels.

So made baked lemon and garlic salmon today.

Method

1. Season salmon with salt, pepper, lemon and garlic.
2. Wrap in kitchen foil and bake at 190 C for 30 min.
3. Fry crushed garlic, add 2 tbs of flour and fry till light brown.
4. Slowly add fesh single/ double.(Can add mustard to make the colour a bit yellowish).
5. Add salt, pepper and chopped parsley. Serve with baby potatoes, baby carrots and steamed broccoli.

Business or busyness?

2009-03-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Daily routine... wake up at 6 am, prepare 10-16 packs of rice with chicken(lauk tukar2 ikut hari)for Muslim students of Birm U...prepare 7 lunch boxes for the kids, my hubby and myself, prepare breakfast and also lunch for everybody. Amazing isn't it, how I can do all these in 2 and a half hours. By 8.30 am off to the kids school and then send Madeehah to Ju's house. Well, as the Malay proverb says, alah bisa tegal biasa kan.....

My nasi lemaks, ready to be delivered to BU........

My lunch box, lagu mano la nok kuruh lagu nih...tapi meal cam ni sekali semiggu je, hari lain salad je for lunch..he.he...

Dalca kambing istana

2009-03-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

Teringat masa bulan Ramadhan lalu, Kak Na Abg Wahab tapaukan sedikit dalca kambing with roti canai semasa Papa balik from Tadarus kat rumah dia. Sedapnya hingga menjilat jari..So had asked from her the recipe which she obtained from the chef of one of the istanas in Msia.

terlebih hancur pulak dal nya

Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
1 kg lamb/ chicken/ beef
1 cup of dhal/ lentils
1/4 spoon tumeric powder
2 tbs curry powder (any brands)
rempah tumis:star anise, cardamon pods, cinnamon sticks
1 tbs ghee
onion, ginger- blend
curry leaves
aubergine, okra, potatoes
2 tomatoes (belah 4)

Methods:
1. Boil lamb till tender.
2. In a separate pot, boil lentil with tumeric powder on a slow fire. Stir occassionally. Add to the pot of lamb once soften.
3. Fry onion and ginger in ghee till fragrant and add curry powder. Add to the pot of lamb.
4. Add potatoes, okra, aubergine.
5. Fry in another pan sliced onion, curry leaves, rempah tumis. Add to the pot of lamb. Add salt to taste and the quartered tomatoes. Done.

Lasagne

2009-03-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

Aiman had requested for lasagna last night, so while I am still in the cooking mood, baked one for everybody.

Mama's lasagna (Filled with veges so that the kids have no excuse but to eat them)

Ingredients:
Lasagna sheets
Ragu tomato paste
Carrots
Onion
Mushroom
Broccoli
Cauliflower
1/2 kg minced beef
1 tbs Chilli powder (optional)
3 tbs chilli sauce
1 tsp oregano

White sauce:4 tbs plain flour, 2 cups ,milk, salt and pepper, nutmeg powder,3 tbs soft cheese

Methods:
1. Fry garlic and chopped onion.
2. Add minced meat/ chicken. Add the veges.
3. Add tomato paste, chilli sauce, oregano, salt and pepper. Season to taste.

White sauce:
1. Heat olive oil and add flour, milk salt, soft cheese, nutmeg powder & pepper. Stir till a bit concentrated. Add water if it is too thick. Then whiz the whole thing in a blender.
2. Layer the lasagna sheets, then put on the red sauce followed by white sauce alternately. Repeat till the whole lasagna sheets and the fillings are finished.
3. Sprinkle some cheese on the top most layer. Bake for 40 min at 200 C. Done.

Coventry

2009-03-11T02:50:00.000-07:00

Got an invitation from D for lunch at her place in Coventry. So on Sunday after Zohor, off we went in Papa's old, messy but sturdy VW Sharan. Alhamdulillah D had also invited Dr. Fauziah Paimin ( and family) who is my 10 yrs senior in MU Medical School. Had nasi briyani with lamb briyani, fried chicken and acar timun+ karot. Yummy..thanks D for the great hospitality. The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves so much, playing football in a small empty ground just next to D's house. After lunch, walked across the road to Kak Fauziah's house for solah Asar.

Never been to Coventry before, looks like a nice place. Much quieter than Birm. Less congestion. Too bad, forgotten to snap any photos.

Madeehah, so happy masa make up before going to Coventry

Today bumped into http://www.fuadlatip.com/
Quite an inspiring blog, a lot to learn...

Finally finished reading Prof Muhd Kamil's 'Travelog Haji' , it was indeed a turning point. Felt how much we lack in performing our doa. This book really touches me deep down. It brings back all the sweet memories while performing our Hajj in Dec 2006, the same pilgrimage year as Prof Kamil. Felt write writing a book out of it, but I guess nobody will buy hah..ha..

Bought 10 books of Sis Zabrina's 'Life is an open secret' from D for my Birm colleagues and myself. Can't wait to read these books. Life is an Open Secret has 2 volumes, Book 1 has a green cover, Book 2 is pink. Guess I will be sleep deprived the whole of this week. After putting Madeehah to bed, will be lighting up the bedside lamp and read till I doze off. Wiil be updating about the books soon, insyaAllah.

25th February,Happy Birthday to me and Happy Anniversary

2009-03-02T04:35:00.000-08:00

Actually I have forgotten about this date till mummy Izan gave me a bell a day before, asking tak buat kenduri ke??Kenduri? Emm..birthday cake pun tak de cik mummy ooi...supermum is so busy and has very severe backache which alleviated all the desire for cakes what more celebrations.

Anyway got a birthday wish (and kisses from some) from my kids and hubby. For me, birthday is nothing so very special, just getting one year older. Not to mention, yesterday Amir found another grey hair on my head, he was rather astonished and managed to pull the grey hair off. Amir.....Amir....a day will never pass without having to listen to him crying, usually after being bullied by other siblings due to his extra cheeky behaviour.

Anyway Happy Birthday to me and Happy 13th Anniversary. Moga sentiasa diberi kekuatan oleh Allah untuk terus istiqamah dalam mencari keredhaanNya.

Meeting a celebrity, guess who?

2009-02-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Got a text message from someone at 10.39 am this morning asking whether I still want to have the book 'Travelog Haji' by Muhd Kamil Ibrahim. I only noticed the text at 1.30 pm before taking my shower and quickly replied, yes indeed I still want the book and gave her my address. Alhamdulillah she was already in Birm and promised to drop by after spending a day out with her fantastic four at Tink Tank Millenium.

At 4.30 pm, my door bell rang, there she stood with her 4 beautiful kids. Alhamdulillah, this is the moment I have been waiting for, to meet the author of pause to reflect in person, Miss or Mrs D. She is such a lovely person, warm, beautiful and cheerful. Thank you Khalil and Ida for getting my mobile no from my brother in Egham and passed it to D.

D stayed till almost 7 pm, I hurriedly cooked laksa johor and prepared some rice as well. By the time they arrived, everything was ready on the dining table.

D and me, can't help but recalling the moment when I first bump into her blog in Sept 2007 before we flew to Britain, when her Mr D was terminally ill. Everytime I read her blog, tears will be dwelling in my eyes. Alhamdulillah, glad to see that she is well composed now and in the acceptance phase.

Pau kacang

2009-02-22T01:14:00.000-08:00

Madeehah, as usual, always eager to help sampai naik dok atas meja.................

Anas has been requesting to eat pau, so kenalah start menguli, though I have just bought the kenwood chef master mix, it is so heavy to carry from the top of the fridge to my workstation which is the dining table, end up, exercising the small muscles of my fingers and wrist, a handmade dough was made, the balance of the dough(after running out of red bean fillings), managed to turn it into a mini pizza with sausage topping.

My work station

2009-02-22T00:49:00.000-08:00

My work station

Tuna quiche, after baking Before baking

It's school holiday again. Papa was on leave on Monday and Tuesday, so mama had to take leave on Wed till Friday, sakit pinggang dok umah nih..anyway managed to bake a tuna quiche. Had to call mummy Izan for the short crust recipe. Easy peasy to remember..

TUNA QUICHE

Shortcrust

200 g plain flour

5o g margerine/ butter

50 g vegetable fat, used TREX

Intinya: segala yg boleh masuk

tuna, carrots, peas, celery etc

Snow blast

2009-02-06T06:52:00.000-08:00

Starting from Monday Britain had a snow blast which lasted 5 days already. Roads were icy and treacherous. The kids were off school on Wednesday as a result I had to take leave and work from home. Somehow working from home turned out to be baking, cooking, washing and cleaning which left me with a backache by night time. Anyway the kids loved the cotton cheese cake I baked them yesterday morning. Aiman said to Amir, 'I don't think mum baked this because it's so yummy, she must have bought it!'. What a downgrading statement! You think yr mum can't bake aah??? Anyway here is the recipe in case you want yr wife to make this cheese cake for you in future Aiman..ha..ha...

Japanese cotton cheese cake

250 g Philadelphia cream cheese (ASDA sale £1/ box of 250g), borong banyak2 masa sale..
1 cup of milk
1 cup of sugar
4 tbs butter
4 eggs (separate the egg white)
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs cornflour
4 tbs self raising flour
1 tsp cream of tartar(tak taruk sebab tak dak)

Methods:

1. Melt in a double boiler the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice and milk. Let it cool.
2. Add cornflour and SR flour in the cheesy mix.
3. Whisk egg whites till it forms a soft peak/ stiff (tonggeng tak tumpah), add sugar bit by bit, then add to the above mixture.
4. Bake for 1 hour at 160 C in a waterbath (au bain marie).

Easy peasy..ni Aiman pun boleh buat, come on Reena try la..can post some to Birm.He..he..

Balti Chicken

2009-01-30T07:15:00.001-08:00

Due to request from Cikgu Ju, here is the recipe for Balti chicken @ kari bangla which I learnt from Jalal's mum (my son, Aiman's best friend at Raddlebarn School) a year ago when we first came to the land of Britain. We were invited for lunch at their house at Cherrington Rd, and wallah, her mum was indeed a good cook. Really enjoyed the meal. Later I brought a kg of lamb and requested her to show me how to cook this recipe.

For Ju,

Kari bangla

Ayam 1 ekor/ lamb/ beef
2tbs serbuk jintan manis (Cumin)
1 1/2 tbs ketumbar serbuk
1 tbs chilli powder
1 tsp tumeric powder
2 tomatoes- chopped
1 green pepper/ capsicum- cut into cubes
coriander leaves
2 onions- chopped
3 garlic
1 inch ginger
2 bay leaves
rempah kasar( cardamon pods, star anise, cinnamon sticks)

Methods:
1. Fry the onions, garlic and ginger.
2. Add chilli powder, cumin, tumeric and coriander powder.
3. Add the chicken, salt and 1 or 2 cups of water, let it simmer.
4. Once the chicken is cooked, add green peppers, chopped tomatoes and coriander leaves.
5. Ready to be served with rice/ naan bread.

Ayam Serai Wangi Chef Wan

2009-01-17T05:11:00.000-08:00

Tengah menyapu-nyapu kat rumah bro tadi, terpandang buku resepi Chef Wan Sedapnya...hah..I have always been wanting to cilok some recipes from here as I had left mine back home in Malaysia..nak cari resepi ayam seri awngi, the last one I tasted was the one cooked by Kak Anna, our efficient maid in Puchong many years back. I had taught her how to do it and then I myself had forgotten how to cook it .ha..ha...

Here's the recipe, nanti dah masak I postlah gambo dia yer

Ayam Serai Wangi

Bahan2:
4 keping dada ayam (skinless)-tak mau kolestrol woo..
2 batang serai-mayang halus
1 kuntum bunga kantan-mayang halus..mana nak cari kat birm nih?
10 biji cili api- mayang
2 tbs rempah tomyam (I use Nona)
1/4 cawan air
1 tsp madu
11/2 tbs mayonis
3 helai daun limau purut

Bahan perap:
2 tbs sos tiram
garam
1 biji telur
3 tbs tpg jagung

Cara:
1. Gaul ayam dgn bahan perap for 15 min.
2. Deep fry ayam tadi. Angkat dan toskan.
3. Tumis serai, bunga kantan, cili api, rempah tomyam till wangi.
4.Masukkan air, madu, ayam dan kacau rata.
5. Angkat dan tambah mayonis, daun limau purut dan kacau. Sedia utk dihidang dgn nasi panas!!Kow!!!Kalori ..emmmmlepas ni kena jogging 10 batu.kek..keh...

My first data of this year

2009-01-17T03:05:00.001-08:00

Alhamdulillah... after wanting to have my own blog for a long time, my dream comes true in Egham when Rina helped me set up my own blog. How IT illiterate her auntie is..he..he...

So here I am..we are Egham to welcome Erry, Sakinah and Aqil from Malaysia. Skin is here to pursue her PhD in Clinical Medicine Research (Epidemiology, Public Health and PrimaryCare) at Imperial College. Waa. cayalah world class uni tu....tabik spring sis.

Alhamdulillah too ..after 2 weeks of lab work, I managed to get my first data in year 2.My first proliferation assay worked. After treating the Hodgkin cancer cells with a drug, the proliferation rate of the cells dropped markedly. A good start for this new year. My new year resolution is to get loads of data which would give benefits to our poor cancer patients. May Allah will always be with me and ease my path all along....insyallah.