Khema Bendi

INTRODUCTION 

Lady Fingers or Bendi had never been my cup of tea as it produces liquid that makes your dish look bad. However, this particular dish seems to dissolve the liquid. 

INGREDIENTS
1 cereal bowl of Bendi / Lady Fingers (slice them about half an inch each)
1 green chilli (slice not so thinly)
1 tomato (cut it into cubes)
5 shallots (slice both the shallots and garlics thinly)
2 garlics
1 lime (squeeze out the juice)
1 tsp corriander
1/2 tsp jintan putih (grind the corriander and jintan putih)
1 tsp chilli powder

Salt

METHOD

1. Put in a little bit of oil onto the wok.
2. Fry the shallots, garlics and chilli.
3. Add in the Bendi, the blended items and chilli powder.
4. Put in the salt.

SERVING SUGGESTION

Of course, this is best served with hot rice. You could also serve it with fish or chicken or meat that is not spicely cooked. 

Macaroni with Tomato Soup

INTRODUCTION

This dish is suitable for women who are in their earlier stage of pregnancy as, in most cases, they tend to feel vomitish. The sourish taste will enable them to fill up their tummy. 

INGREDIENTS

1 packet of macaroni (boil them)
1 cereal bowl full of chicken pieces (cut the chicken flesh to bite size)
3 big tomatoes (scoop out the seeds and slice them. After that, blend the tomatoes with a little bit of water.)
1 tsp of white pepper
3 tsp of chilli boh
1 tsp of black pepper
1 tin of peas
2 large carrots (slice them in circles)
1 small tin of tomato paste
salt
4 litre of water (adjust this as too much water will make it watery and this will effect the taste.)
3 tbsp of butter

METHOD

1. Mix the blended tomato, chicken and white pepper well.
2. Fry the chilli boh with the butter.
3. When the chilli starts to curdle, add in the chicken.
4. Put in the tomato paste, water, salt, carrots and peas.
5. Mix them well.

SERVING SUGGESTION

This is best eaten on its own. It is a rather filling dish. 

Bakso

POINT TO PONDER

INGREDIENTS

For the SOUP:
5 shallots
3 garlics (pound them together with the shallots)
2 lemon grass (bruised)
1 cube beef stock
salt
3 tbsp of white pepper
4 litre of water
RAMLY beef balls (You get this from TESCO)

The Main:
1 packet of Bee Hoon (soak this in hot water)
Spring Onion (slice this thinly)
Parsley / Daun Sup (slice this too thinly)
Cabbage (slice this as well)
Fried shallots

The Sauce:
5 Bird eye chilli
1 red chilli (pound this together with the Bird Eye Chilli)
4 limau kasturi / lime
ABC soya sauce (pour this until you cover the pounded chilli)

MY THOUGHTS

 The first time I made this, the soup turned out so nice. Due to my procrastination attitude, I lost the recipe. My second attempt was not tasty at all. In fact, it tasted weird. The third one seemed to be okay but not as good as the first one.

So the lesson to learn is that we should never procrastinate. If we are meant to write down something, we should do it immediately. Procrastination can lead to forgetfulness.

Nasi Lemak

POINT TO PONDER

The latest hand-phone nowadays, most of us call it smartphone, is really a wonderful gadget. My phone, for instance, it can take photos, keep notes, do screenshot and, the best thing of all, allow you to have access to the internet.

With this new phone, a few other individuals thought of whatsapp, weechat, telegram and many more. These software allows us to keep in touch with all our friends who are staying all over the world.

Initially, I was intrigued by these communication software. I was overwhelmed when people invited me to join their communication groups - well-liked was what I thought of myself.

Then, after awhile, I realised that I became too obsessed with it. Every now and then, I would check what my friends were saying or discussing. When I posted things, I really looked forward to my friends' comments.

When the group was small, it was fun - talking, teasing and laughing - but then, when a few others started to join, things changed. Things became so like the real world. I started to notice that people in the group forming their own group - group within the group. There seemed to be a few unwritten rules. Boycott person A and suck up to person B. To make matter worse, some people think that they are more powerful than others and started to reprimand or harass those, who they think, have broken the unwritten rules.

Why do I want to be in their league? I am a person with more class and dignity than them. That was when I decided to exit. Now, I am happier.

Whatsapp, sms or even telegram will only be used if I wish to say something and I should be patient with the response. If the person reply, I am lucky. If the person does not, he or she is simply rude...or better still your lost.

INGREDIENT

3 cups of rice (preferably Basmathi)
6 cups of coconut mik
5 shallots (slice them thinly)
3 garlics (slice them as well)
1 thumb-sized ginger (peel off the other layer and then slice it)
1 lemon grass (cut it short and pound it a bit)
2 daun pandan (make a knot)
1 1/2 tsp of Alba
1 1/2 salt


METHOD
1. Wash the rice. Pour it into the rice cooker.
2. Add in the shallot, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, daun pandan (screwpine), salt and alba.
3. Let it cook.

MY THOUGHTS

Love the smell and the taste of it. You should eat the rice with the following:
- wet cuttlefish assam pedas
- otak-otak
-sliced cucumber
-fried peanuts and anchovies

However, you should not eat too much. You can get very sleepy.

Apple Crumble

POINT TO PONDER

A few days ago, my college-mates were complaining about the juniors at their workplaces. The juniors were said to be unreliable, irresponsible and, for some, inconsiderate. I, on the other hand, defended the young ones.

Today, all those characteristics were displayed in a particular junior at my workplace. I am not saying that this person is stupid or lazy. However, the attitude is really challenging. This person is capable but, at times, would really test one's patience.

Every task begins with a list of question. There are always problems or difficulties that this person would encounter in completing the task. However, when commenting about other people's work, you could give this person high score. This person's comment is remarkably well worded and elaborated.

If only my friends know this, they would definitely laugh at me. A lesson to learn here is that never disagree if you are not 100 percent sure.

INGREDIENT

900g of Green Smith Apple (about 10 apples)
     Peel and core the apples. Then, cut them but should neither be too small nor too big.
4 tbsp. of sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder
2 tsp of raisins/sultanas
350g of flour
       Must sieve.
130g of cold butter
      Cut the butter into small pieces.
130g of castor sugar
3 tbsp. of muesli

METHOD

1. Coat the baking bowl with butter.
2. Put the cut apples into the bowl.
3. Add in the sugar, sultanas/raisins  and cinnamon powder.
4. Preheat the oven to 180 celcius for 20 minutes.
5. Get a cooking bowl.
6. Add in the flour, sugar, butter and muesli.
7. Mix them well with your hands.
8. Once they are ready, cover the apples with them.
    NOTE: Make sure the topping is less than half thickness than the apple.
9. Put in the oven and leave it for 30 minutes.
10. Then leave it outside for 5 minutes.
11. The APPLE CRUMBLE can be eaten with ice-cream, custard or whipping cream.

MY THOUGHTS

My hubby and the twins came back just in time for the apple crumble. We ate it hot. Really nice. Do try this. I got the recipe from the internet but, of course, I double the amount.

Chicken Mandy (Arabic Dish)

POINT TO PONDER

Ever since that day, neither me nor that person has made an effort to speak to one another. However, that person did ask my eldest when I would seek for that person's forgiveness.

Am I to do that? Was it my fault? I shall name this person Dee. As far as I could remember, if my memory does not falter, Dee came over for lunch and I served her Mandy Rice. Even though it was something from a box, it was not an instant meal. I spent nearly two hours in the kitchen getting things ready.

Did Dee appreciate my effort? I would say a big no. Though it sounded polite but how could you request to complain. YOU NEVER COMPLAIN WHEN SOMEONE HAD COOKED FOR YOU. Instead, if you have had the experience of cooking the same dish, you should suggest how to improve. It was also my mistake for giving you the permission to complain. Actually, if Dee was a sensitive person, Dee would know that I was being polite too.

After the meal, thinking that Dee was a rationale person, I asked if Dee could help me out. The outcome of my request was something that I was so surprised. Out of the blue, Dee said that Dee, in reality, did not want to come over because of the hatred that Dee had for my children. I was obviously shocked. Dee said my children did something dreadful to Dee. Hearing that, I thought that Dee had an argument with my children while I was in the kitchen and I was so curious to know what.

With high tone, Dee began Dee's story with 'in 2012'. In 2012? You got to be kidding me. This is 2014. Dee said that she did not want to tell me but, now, she had to.

I am very sorry Dee. If you had the intention of ensuring the well-being of children, you would have told me the story in 2012. You would not wait until 2014. To me, it was just your way of saying that you did not want to help me.

Dee, news flash, you are definitely an irrational person and, let me tell you this, I cannot stand you. You like to treat people as if they are rubbish. You want people to put you on a pedestal but you do not know how to respect others. Worst still, when you called my children bad, you have successfully made the whole family dislike you. Congratulations!!!!!!

Outside my house, you shouted that you had done a lot for me. Perhaps you did and I did not realise it because, all these while, I could only remember that you refuse to go extra miles for me. When I was sick after giving birth, it was obvious that you were not enjoying helping me. A few times, you snorted. At one time, you even chased me back to my house. You also get a kick to humiliate me in front my children and friends.

Would I seek your forgiveness? I will not do such a thing. It was definitely not my fault. It was yours and your terrible behaviour. I am not sure who has pampered you but you are really spoilt. If you are a child, I would spank you. You need to wake up.

THE INGREDIENTS

Basmathi rice  (it is about 2 1/2 cup)
Special Mandy Grounded Spice
One whole CHICKEN
5 shallots
One large onions
10 garlics
2 green chillies
Tomato puree
Salt

METHOD 1 - preparing for the chicken

1. Cut the chicken into small pieces.
2. Marinate the chicken with 1 1/2 Special Mandy Grounded Spice, 5 blended garlics, 2 tsp salt,
    2 tbsp. oil and 2 tbsp. tomato puree.
3. Leave it for awhile.
4. Preheat the oven to 180 celcius.
5. Arrange the chicken on the rack in which you place the rack on the oven tray. The oven tray
    should  e lined with aluminium foil. This will be helpful later when you wish to collect the oil.
6. Put the chicken into the oven for ONE HOUR.
7. After 30 minutes, collect the chicken oil and turn the chicken.
8. At the end of the ONE hour, take out the chicken.

METHOD 2 - cooking the rice

1. Soak the Basmathi rice for 20 minutes.
2. Get 600ml water ready.
3. Blend 5 garlics, 5 shallots and one large onion. (use a little bit of the 600ml water to blend the
    ingredients)
4. Heat up the rice cooker.
5. Put in a bit of cooking oil.
6. Once it is heated, put in 5cm cinnamon stick, 5 pelaga, 3 cengkih and 1 lumi.
7. Then, add in the blended ingredients and the rest of the special mandy spice.
8. Lastly, add in 2 tbsp. tomato puree.
9. Then, pour in the rest of the water together with the rice.
10. Put in 1 1/2 tsp of salt and 2 green chillies.
11. When the rice is 80% cooked, add in the chicken oil.

METHOD 3 - making the sauce

1. Blend the following without using water at all:
    2 tomatoes, 2 garlics, 1 tsp lemon juice, 5 stalks of coriander leave, 5 cili padi, one red chilli and
    1 tsp of salt


METHOD 4 - making the Arabic Salad

1. Dice 2 tomatoes and 1 cucumber (get rid of the centre first)
2. Slice thinly 1 large onion and 3 stalks of cucumber leave.
3. Put everything in a bowl and mix them up with 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of black pepper (the grind
    one.)

MY THOUGHTS

My family really love the dish. If you have gone to Hadratulmaut, you would like it too. You need to do all those above to really have the authentic taste.

How long does it take? Be prepared to be really really tired.