What Up

I'm a slacker I know. This is so long over due :

Mother in-law is recovering from an operation. A week before Aidil Adha she had a surgery to correct a spinal problem. She now has 2 screws secured on her lower back. She is recovering well and improving daily and is walking. We are so glad.

My son went for camping again (scout thing). Just around the corner here at the council padang but involving a massive number, 2000 participants including 2 groups from Indonesia and Brunei. It was a Pre-Jamboree International in conjunction with 100 years of Sabah Scout existence. Not so glad here. I wish he would drop this activity. My sole reason being he always end up not bathing for days. I hate that. 5 days in the tent and doing chores and doing rock climbing, abseiling and whatever stuffs scouts do, he only bath twice. yikes.  When my daughter and I went to register her at the secondary, she chose to discontinue her Pengakap and change to Pandu Puteri, seconded by me. She doesn't need to get burnt and stink.

Speaking of daughter, her UPSR result was out yesterday. She managed 4A 1B. Ok by me. She came a long way and we're proud of her.

Can you excuse my laziness, this post will be pictureless. I'm not up to loading any.
I hope you are enjoying your holiday. I'm thrilled for my friend Sri, who is away on a London and Paris trip. Already she's posting so many fun and beautiful pictures over there. I can't wait for her story.

See ya!

Sisters Garage Sale

Two weeks ago, while helping my sister move house, the idea was mooted, to hold a garage sale at her place. It makes sense. She's new in the neighbourhood. She wants to make friends and why not clear the junk at the same time. Perfect. Date set on her housewarming party day.
Only we didn't sit down and discuss and plan properly because it was a busy week for everyone. We were still doing the tagging on event day.
We made, or rather my 13 yo niece made flyers advertising the event, that's all the planning we got made.

Planning. But, execution is another thing. Flyers were distributed rather late. And there were no banners.

So after an hour waiting and no one came, we reprinted the flyers, sent out the nieces (with their dad!) to distribute further around the area. And then my sister pulled her creative hat and made a crude banner out of old bedsheet and some spray paint and hung it on the fence. Solved.

And then we waited.

And waited.

For any interested and curious neighbours and passerby. They've got to be curious seeing all this display don't they? And they could read the banner, couldn't they? And all of us here smiling and waving shyly.

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We are still waiting.


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Uhmm..

They probably gone to the church, it's  Sunday you know. If they aren't , they are at some tamu and should be home soon. Or they're not up yet, sleeping it in till brunchtime. Since we've been working hard unloading and laying out the junks, we'd take a break ourselves and get inside to rest. The maid can help us lookout.
And here's our brother with some noodle soup. Wah, ada soto. Let's all sit down, we got a whole day, no worries.
(in the meantime, we made sales between ourselves. my brooch  bought by my brother in-law's sister, my sister took the teapot, my niece bought my son's coinbox,......)

Oh look. Here comes a group. Whispers to sister:who are they? do u know them?... Yes! jiran belakang rumah tu! anak beranak...

So there start the sale. People come after all, albeit slowly. Some ask, 'berapa hari kamu sale ni?'..Oh. just today since tomorrow is work day.
In the end, we left the stuffs there and my sister continued selling for  2 more days. Friends of her friends come during lunch break and after office hours. Poor she, having to mess her new house with the clothes rail and boxes every night.

Home stuffs sells.  I got hairdryer, coffeemaker, toys,  deco, teapot,  frames, accessories all sold. Though I don't mind keeping them actually, I got space for them. It's clothes and shoes that are spilling out of my store room I need to rid of but they don't sell. I cleared 12 pieces or so out of maybe 50 piece clothings I brought.
My sister's baby things like stroller and walker were fast snapped up before I remember to take photos. But she was practically giving them away the price she was asking.
My other sister sold her carpets so cheap I winced. But there it is. The main objective was to clear the junk. On that account, I dare say we scored as most bulky items gotten out of the way before noon.

 

My sister got a LOT of books, going for RM5-10. Mags she sold RM10-15 per bundle. Next day down to RM5 . However reading is not much in our culture or habit. Books don't sell .

And shoes. Nope. Kids shoes sell, yes. Adults no. No matter in great condition. Size mainly the problem.

Banner kami yang hina. Although it did help mind you.

It was  fun. As always when we get together food is a given. We took more tea breaks than we did selling perhaps but its a good activity to keep up. Spring cleaning double up as family day.

Next time kami bikin banner yang bagus sikit la. Hahahahaha.


Nice day all!

I'm here

......right where you left me 3 weeks ago. has it been 3 weeks. oh dear.

the daughter has recovered from the pox. she thinks she did ok in the exam. the brother caught the measle and has since recovered too, only resuming school this week. i suppose i'll just wait for the third child to get his turn and get this all over and done with.

the weather probably caught it too, i mean, it's raining tons every day and such strong angry wind.

while holed up here i have done more bakings and here to show you 3 new tries.

butterfly cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate.

a simple usual cupcake, just fancy it up.

this is a jalur gemilang cake. did this for my childrens' open house, happening on malaysia day. was too tired to snap proper photos.  anyway it was messy and ugly. i just wanted to see if i get the design right. this involved some tedious work. baking one color in 5 pans for 1 recipe. then another color using half recipe. then stacking 3 layers, then cut and mix and stack the remaining 3 layers.

i'm into challenging cakes these days. kunun.

 

 

applying the same technique as the flag cake, this is a checkered chocolate and vanila cake. i took more time with this to get it properly stacked and clean lined. next time (if there is), i'll frost it with chocolate ganache. this one i just wanted to use up my leftover fresh cream.

 

so, until later, happy wet weather. take care.

 

 



Say It Ain't So

I don't believe it. Lagi 9 hari UPSR dan anak aku tiba-tiba dapat chicken pox. Seriously?

She can't go to school and kelas tambahan and tuition for 5 days. FIVE DAYS. Say it ain't so. Mountains of revision to do and she's a last-minute-person (like so many people I know..including self). Not good. Absolutely not ideal.

I got to clear my head and devise alternative revision sessions under quarantine conditions. And hope for the best. Tawakkal saja lah. We shall get through this and try our best.

Wish us luck.

Dua minggu lepas Raya dan Apam Ice Cream

Dua minggu lepas raya, I'm 2 kg heavier. I have no desire to go on diet nor to workout in the gym , but I have every desire to eat and eat and eat.


Balik dari kampung suami, sambung beraya dengan sisters dan anak2 buah.

Grand gathering dengan saudara mara sebelah ibu di Papar.

I'm enjoying baking these days. My daughter hari2 bawa kuih raya ke sekolah, jadi ada kuih yang habis terpaksa buat lagi. Isnin lepas ulang buat biskut mushroom dan tambah kuih siput. Kelmarin buat satu kuih apam yang lama sudah di intai sejak sebelum Raya lagi tapi tak sempat cuba. Bahan-bahannya senang saja dan nampak menarik sebab guna ice cream soda, mesti yummy  kan. Kebetulan , ada beberapa botol air lemonade (laminit) lebihan dari Labuan dalam fridge sekarang maka terhasil lah cubaan APAM ICE CREAM CORNETTO. Itu dia nama resipinya.

Kuih ini memang cantik dan sangat sedap. Tidak picaya tanya anak aku, dia sudah tempah untuk bawa ke sekolah Isnin nanti. Cuba tengok gambar.

Senang saja membuat adunan kuih ni, yang leceh sedikit proses mengkon dan mengukusnya.

Di sini saya ingin share resepinya yang di ambil daripada blog MasamManis.

Terima kasih kepada Azlita di Masam Manis kerana mempost resipi dan step-by-step kuih ini. Minta izin untuk share di sini kerana rugi kalau tak cuba. Kalau malas buat kon, boleh cuba resipi ini untuk kek bentuk biasa atau cupcake kerana, serious, memang sedap.

APAM  ICE CREAM CORNETTO

BAHAN-BAHAN

3 cawan tepung gandum ~ diayak

4 biji telur

1 sudu teh ovalette

2 cawan gula kastor

3/4 cawan air ice cream soda

1 sudu teh esen rose (saya letak perasa berlainan untuk setiap warna)

Pewarna

Kon kertas secukupnya

Coklat masakan secukupnya

Kekacang/ coklat rice / coklat cip atau manik bewarna

CARA-CARA

Sebelum apa-apa siapkan dulu kon ice cream. Boleh gunakan kertas balut burger atau kertas bungkus nasi lemak atau baking paper. Pastikan hujung kon di selotep untuk mengelak adunan menitis keluar.

Daripada cubaan saya, lebih baik gunakan kertas yang tebal sedikit seperti kertas bungkus nasi lemak kerana kon akan basah bila dikukus dan jadi lembik dan kon akan tumbang-tumbang dalam kukusan. Kalau tidak ada kertas tebal, gunakan kertas yang ada tapi double kan kon itu. Tindihkan 2 kon untuk satu apam.

Ok sekarang mula buat adunan. Pukul telur dan gula hingga kembang. Masukkan 1 sudu teh ovalette dan esen ros (saya tak letak) dan teruskan memukul  hingga adunan menjadi putih, gebu dan ringan ~ anggaran 10 minit.

Masukkan tepung dan kaup balik hingga rata.
Tambahkan air aiskrim soda dan gaul rata.
Bahagikan adunan kepada beberapa bahagian (contoh 3) dan letakkan pewarna yang berlainan.

Saya bahagi kepada 3 warna dan letakkan perasa yang berlainan untuk setiap warna.

Warna coklat – saya letak 1 sudu makan serbuk koko dan tanpa pewarna tambahan.

Warna pink – saya letak 1 sudu makan jem strawberry dan sedikit pewarna pink.

Warna kuning – saya letak ½ sudu teh esen vanilla dan sedikit pewarna kuning telur.

Masukkan setiap adunan ini kedalam piping bag.

Semasa membahagikan warna, boleh sedia panaskan kukusan. Kukusan yang digunakan ialah yang jenis 3 tingkat. Tingkat bawah untuk air dan 2 tingkat atas yang berlubang-lubang untuk mengukus. Gunakan semua bekas.

Caranya macam ni – bekas bawah kita isi air dan panaskan atas dapur. Bekas kedua biarkan kosong. Bekas ketiga gunakan untuk isi kon dan kukus.

Untuk memudahkan, biarkan bekas berisi air mendidih dahulu dan tutup dengan tudung kukusan yang dibalut dengan tuala bersih untuk mengelak wap menitis, seperti mana biasa.

Bawa bekas kedua dan ketiga ke luar untuk kerja mengisi adunan.

Susun 2 bekas berlubang itu secara bertingkat. Kemudian susun kon yang hendak diisi dalam lubang-lubang kukusan. Pastikan beberapa lubang kukusan dibiarkan kosong (jangan penuhkan semua dengan kon) untuk membolehkan wap mengalir keluar.

Sebelum mula mengisi kon dengan adunan, cuba tutup bekas kukusan itu dengan penutup kukusan, jika kon terlalu tinggi, perlu di potong sedikit atas kon supaya dapat ditutup.

Paipkan lah 3 adunan berwarna secara selang seli. Jangan terlalu penuh kerana apam akan mengembang dan kita perlu sedikit ruang untuk menyalutnya dengan coklat lagi .
Setelah siap mengisi kon, bawa ke dapur dan letak atas bekas yang sudah mendidih.
Kukus dengan api sederhana selama 15-20 minit atau sehingga apam masak.
Bila apam dah masak keluarkan dari kukusan dan biarkan ia sejuk.
Jangan buka kon dahulu sebab kita akan curahkan coklat atasnya dan kita perlu kon itu untuk mengekalkan bentuknya.

Coklat hiasan dimasak dengan kaedah double-boil. Dengan menggunakan sudu kecil, salutkan atas apam dengan coklat dan taburkan dengan kekacang, choc rice atau manik warna-warni mengikut suka. Susun apam ini dalam gelas tinggi dan letak sekejap dalam peti sejuk untuk mengeraskan coklat. Bila dah keras, boleh buka balutan kon dan jadilah apam ice cream cornetto siap untuk di makan.

Selamat mencuba.

biskut comel

Salam. Besok lusa sudah lebaran. Sudah siap semua persiapan, atau tengah kelam kabut ?

Tahun ni macam tiada mood. Kenapa? Entah lah.

Tidak payah layan mood down aku, jom kita share kuih raya.

Tajuk post Biskut Comel. Memang malas buat kuih tahun ni, tapi tiada hati juga mau beli. Jadi mau nda mau terpaksa buat sikit. Itu pun baru start minggu ni. Selepas buat 1 kuih - London Almond, terasa mau cari kuih-kuih lain yang tidak pernah dicuba dan kalau boleh tiada dijual dikedai. Waah..camana tu..misi kelainan sungguh.

Setelah beberapa lama blog walking, jumpa lah biskut raya yang sangat cute ini. Sumber carian dari blog MasamManis. Best blog ni, macam2 resipi kuih yang cantik2. Cuba la aku jumpa awal2.  Ini tinggal 4 hari lagi. Anyway, yang pertama aku try, Biskut Cendawan. Bukan berinti cendawan atau berperisa cendawan tapi shape cendawan dengan dot-dot colourful.  Walaupun lambat siap sebab adunannya lembut dan mesti berhati-hati, lepas tu icing mau dibahagi banyak color  tapi bila siap memang puas hati dengan kecomelannya. Mari tengok gambar.

Kan? comel ka tidak ? Rasa dia pun sedap. I wish I doubled the recipe. Sekarang ni malas la mau ulang buat balik. (Tapi macam nda cukup mau bagi 2, bawa ke kampung.) Hishh.

Dan seterusnya, biskut kedua - Biskut Donut.
Ini biskut shape donut, lepas bakar , glaze dengan melted chocolate dan hiaslah ikut suka . Excited nih tengok gambar. Aku mau buat macam AppleDonut punya rupa. Buat cantik-cantik. TETAPI. Kalau yang pertama tadi lembut, ini lagi lah RAPUH. Sangat-sangat susah untuk dicanai dan diterap. Dan aku pula sudah awal2 sukat double recipe. Aiyaaaa..mencabar jiwa dan kesabaran. Sebenarnya aku tidak ikut pun resipi asal. Resipi asalnya biskut butter biasa, tapi aku memandai-mandai pakai almond cornflakes cookie punya adunan sebab dulu anak-anak suka sangat crunchy. Nah, crunchy la sekarang. Pinggang aku yang crunchy ni. Baru, adunan tu bila kasi double, dia off. Tidak jadi, berderai saja, macam mana mau canai? Terpaksa adjust. Macam buat balik oh, tambah tepung, nda mau juga di shape , tambah lagi banyak2 tepung mungkin cornflakes terlebih, tambah butter, tambah la gula sikit sebab sudah banyak taruh tepung. Oh Tuhan. Sudah jadi triple. Dan entah apa rasa dia sudah terlampau banyak renovation. Nasib baik, jumlah untuk diterap tidaklah begitu banyak sebab pakai donut cutter jadi biskut ni besar sikit dari biskut-biskut biasa. Ok, mari lihat gambar.

Betul-betul macam donut kan? Dan rasa dia alhamdulillah, sedap. Rangup dan sedap.

Kalau mau cuba, pergi la mengintai blog tu dan salin resipi nya ok.

Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf zahir dan batin.

Double Loss

Every Ramadhan we tend to think of lost ones, walk down the memory lane and brace the sadness of missing them as we pepare to celebrate Eid. As I get older, one of the things I dread is losing more relatives around this time.
You'd think it'd get easier, that you'd get hardened and detach yourself emotionally because that's the fact of life. But sometimes the barrier wall comes down. As did yesterday.

Both my aunt and uncle passed away yesterday morning. The shock numbed us for a second. One is buried in Kota Belud and another is buried in Papar. The whole day was spent basically on the road trying to get from one to another opposite end to attend the burial. It became possible due to fact that uncle's body was arriving from Lahad Datu and only arrived Papar after maghrib. But add the bad traffic , especially Papar highway, we made it just in time. I have been having iftar at home since the start, yesterday was the first on the road. It's also the first time I attend night burial.

Al-fatihah to the souls of my last living maternal aunt and my last living paternal uncle. There isn't regret. Both had long productive lives. May they rest in peace. Amin.