Eid 2015

It's Eid. This year celebration is merrier than the previous two years. We have more Malay families at our so called "Kampung Melayu Yiewsley" thus, the "kunjung mengunjung tradisi" is as what we have back home in Malaysia.

Eid starts with the "sunat eid" prayer at our nearby mosque .. Mommy went for the 1st session prayer which was something different from last year eid prayer. We had three salams ... Still could not find the answer to that.

Well, the ketupat rendang of course is the normal thing we have, but the special dish for this year is "gulai itik" (duck curry) that mommy craved so much. the gulai is best paired with mommy's version of ketupat pulut which mommy baked in loyang and then cut them in triangles just like the normal ketupat pulut or ketupat palas, of course the "Alor Janggus" version of ketupat pulut comes with the soy bean in it and not to forget the gulai daging for the menu.

"gulai itik"

Ketupat loyang

Ketupat loyang with gulai daging

And of course our Eid photo to add colors.
Happy Eid.

What's in 2012?

A lot of thing happen..moving on with new life..moving to a new home..the kids are now going to a new phase..'Aqilah is in her university's year..taking up Diploma in Mass Communication, 'Ariff is now at a boarding school (SASER), and we are moving to take up the new challenge for a betterment in life..alhamdulillah..though there is an upside down in few things..it's the challenge that we have to face to move on..

Be strong...

It has been so long...for more than a year..without publishing anything on the blog.. need to get up on my feet.. La tahzan..Allah is always by your side...

Al Fatihah to our Superb Bapak / Amazing Atok

Tuan Haji Hambali bin Haji Abdul Salam, was a great man.

A superb dad who loved his sons and daughter dearly, a great grandfather who is fun to be with and loved his grandchildren amazingly. He could sing and dance with his grandchildren. He is loved by the grandchildren for his amazing talent. " okay, atok sing and you dance ok..."..He will sing and play his gambus and his flute while his grandchildren will dance around him..till at one time "atok, we are tired of dancing, now..why don't atok dance and we sing..."..without hesitation he got up from his chair and started to dance while his grandchildren sing..they will laugh into tears. Baby called him Atok Pingu..as he was so good at imitating Pingu's voice. "Atok..buat suara Pingu la atok..."..and he started to act again and again until all of them get tired..and he will said..."Atok penat la..atok tidur dulu..nanti kita main lagi, lepas tu kita makan.."

Having a great father like him is heaven. At time, even after I got married and have my own children, I will still put my head on his lap, ask him to cuddle me. If he wants to eat anything, he will call me and ask me to cook for him, he said..I am best at cooking though he also considered me as a very tough girl who act like a boy... Even two days before he left us, he still asked me to cook a dish that I have never prepared before. In his weak voice (he was not well back then) he gave me the recipe and asked me to cook it for him. Luckily I managed to prepare the dish for the last time for him to taste my cooking.

Being a pious and religious man, he never forced us to do this and that. Though at time we were also being scolded and got our punishment of wasp from his belt, we know that it're all because he loved us so much. We know by ourselves what should be done and what should be left to lead a life as good muslims. Seeing a living example of a good Muslim like him, who was so into Alquran and AsSunnah, show us the best direction of Islam as the way of life. His wisdom is the best guidance and education he left for us to practice it.

20/4/2011 at 4.20 p.m, he left us to meet his creator, Allah s.w.t. May Allah s.w.t blessed him with His blessings and granted him Jannatul Firdaus.

Bapak / Atok we love you so much.

AlFatihah.

New Uniform and Big Year of 2011

The new school session has started. 'Aliah is going to her secondary years, Baby has become a senior in her afternoon session primary year. New uniform for them, 'Aliah with her navy blue long skirt and white baju kurung, she was so used with her prefect uniform in her primary years before this, so seeing her in a white and navy blue uniform is a little awkward to her mommy. Baby being appointed as a prefect is having a new look with a yellow and brown uniform. She was so excited on her first day to school, and looked cute in her new uniform, though the vest is quite big for her..

'Aliah n Baby in their new uniform

Baby the prefect

'Aliah on her orientation day

'Aqilah being appointed as a prefect too..is also having a new light blue and dark blue uniform..'Ariff the handsome boy looks good in his white and green uniform

All the best my kids...Strive for success. 'Aqilah and 'Ariff, you're having your big exam this year.. Mommy knows both of you can excel, but no matter how smart you are..you need to put your effort into everything you do and tawakkal to Allah.

2011

The New Year 2011. Any new resolution? Getting better, healthier, richer and everything with the "er"...

On the New Year Night..I was watching television with my daughter, watching the here and there celebrations of the New Year..I was so surprised when my 8-years old daughter asked me.."mommy, why must we celebrate new year?..everybody seems so excited ..they stay up late..be in the crowd just to wait for the clock struck 12.00 at mid-nite and shouted "Happy New Year".." I was thinking about the same thing..and watching the celebration in one of the local television channel..looking at how a 5 year old kid (to be precise - a small n young actress)..staying up late in the middle of the celebration, being interviewed on her latest debut of acting ... how can some parents.. (in general) take out their kids (even some of them are babies)..going out for a new year celebration..got stuck in the traffic..exposing the kids with all sorts of negative exposures..having fun in their own way.. why must we celebrate everything with concerts? formal and informal hangout gathering???.. and etc...???

It is not wrong to have a new year resolution..but to start something good with "bad" things and actions..is it worthwhile..???

Spring Potato

What's the current most popular snack in Malaysia?..at almost every "Pasar Malam", "Pasar Tani", carnivals, fiestas, expos, tourist attraction spots, mini market, shopping complex and almost any where when there're food stalls..you can see it..it has become a phenomena..

Uneven size (I used big potatoes which I cut into 2, 4 and even 6 pieces)

With some chilly sauce

Chilly sauce and mayonnaise

What is that?...SPRING POTATO.. yup..potatoes that are being cut into spiral and stick through a bamboo or any wooden stick, deep in tempura or frying flour and deep fried. Put onto it some mayonnaise and chilly sauce... crunchy, yummy and a mouth watering snack that everyones seemto patiently wait in queue to grab a stick of Spring Potato flavours of their own choices, that may cost you RM2.50 to RM3.50 per stick.

After reading an entry in my friend's blog Pinatbate Alwan about her homemade Spring Potato.. I've decided to take up the challange and do it on my own for my kids to taste...Wow! Such a marvelous experience..I've made it on my first attempt..If I can do it..you can do it too...

Happy Trying and Happy Cooking!!!

Baby loves it...