Jemput-jemput Udang Papai

INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/2 cup of Udang Papai
2 Daun Kunyit (Slice them finely)
2 tablespoons of chilli boh
1 teaspoon of salt
Flour (put it bit by bit)

1. Mix everything together.
2. The flour, you should put it bit by bit. You need to make sure that, when you scoop the mixture
     with your metal scoop, it will drop nicely.
3. Heat up your pan.
4. Pour in the oil.
5. Fry it. Make sure, after a few minutes, turn to the other side.
6. You should eat this with Chilli Sauce.

Soup: Lotus

INGREDIENTS


8 inches of Lotus (peel off the other layer. Cut it about 3 cm thickness.)
1 cup of red dates
1 cereal bowl of chopped chicken
2 buds of garlic (slice them thinly)
Water (not until the brim of the pot though)
Salt

1. Put everything into the pot.
2. Let it boil for at least one hour.
3. Have it while it is hot.

Botok-botok

Point to Ponder

I do not feel in cloud nine today. I have been having this feeling for a couple of days. Could this be the beginning of my menopause? I am feeling edgy and over-sensitive.

A couple of weeks ago, I made a mistake by putting up a message in the FB. The message was to help me release my tension. I was pissed with an individual who I felt treating me like shit.

Usually, I would lock the message so that I would be the only one seeing it. On that unfortunate day, however, I totally forgot. The message was put up in the morning. It was sometime in the afternoon that I received a message from a friend advising me to take it out as it might offend others. Somehow or other I feel that, now, people are ignoring me. I suppose people are angry with me. 

This is what I feel, whenever I do something wrong, I will definitely get punished. People shun me. People really show how much they hate me. But when the others do, other people tend to butter up that people even more.

Perhaps, I was born to be cursed.....this is really sad.  However, if that is the case, let it be only me. Please God. My children and my husband have nothing to do with whatever I have done. Please give them a happier life. Please God, let other people see my children and hubby with empathy and allow them to help my children and hubby so that life for them is not only prosperous but also full of fun and  happiness. If my children or hubby come upon an obstacle in life, do make other people feel happy or even over excited to help them.

INGREDIENTS

Daun Mengkudu

Daun Ubi

Daun kesum dan selasih

Daun kunyit dan daun limau perut

Daun belinjau?? (Not sure. This was suggested by the vendor at the wet market)

Daun Pucuk Ubi.

Different types of leaves ( as shown above. You need to make sure that you wash them thoroughly.
                                           The small creatures are very clever. They can really hide.)
2 Lemon Grass
1 large onion
3 buds of garlic
A very fat thumb-sized ginger
A quite fat thumb-sized galangle
                         (All the above, pound them)
1 teaspoon of Belacan (preferably roasted one.)
2 ladles of chili boh
1 fist-sized of tamarind (get about a cup of tamarind juice)
1 cereal bowl of curry powder
2 teaspoons of salt
1/2 of one grated coconut. 
4 sliced Ikan Tenggiri
Banana leaves (cut out the hard part. Wash and dry them)
Aluminium foil

1. Put the pounded ingredients, chilli boh, curry powder, Belacan , tamarind juice, grated coconut, sliced Daun Limau Perut and salt into a big bowl.Mix them well.
2. Once that is done, get your steamer on the stove. Let the water boil.
3. Meanwhile, cut out the aluminium foil as wide as a rectangular tray.
4. Put banana leaves on the aluminum foil.
5. Cover the centre of the banana leaves with Daun Ubi.
6. Put one slice or two Ikan tenggiri on top of the Daun Ubi.

This is how it should be done.

7. Cover the fish with the mixed ingredients.
8. Then, cover the fish with the other Dauns. Right on top, it should be Daun Ubi again.
9. Then fold it as shown in the picture below:

It is folded like Nasi Lemak.

10. Put Botok-botok into the steamer. Steam it for at least one
      hour. Check the water level every now and then. We do not
      want it to get dry and explode. He He He

MY THOUGHTS

Botok-botok is my husband's favourite dish. We usually eat it with hot rice. Today, we had Lotus Soup and Jemput-jemput Udang Papai.

My children, they have learnt to appreciate this dish.

PIE: Cornish Pie

INGREDIENTS (made for 7 people)

(for pastry, search PASTRY for Cornish Pie in this blog.) 

Chicken (Take the flesh. About half of King ice-cream container. Boil the chicken. Once it is cooked,
               take it out to shred the flesh. The boiled water, do not throw that away. Use it to make
               chicken soup.)

Olive oil (for saute)
2 Purple Onions
1 Yellow Onion (Diced both onions)
Garlic (About two cloves will be enough. Pound them.)
Curry powder (You need about 1/2 of cereal bowl. Add in about 1 1/2 teaspoon of blended chilli. )
Sweet potatoes (Preferably the orange one. You need about slightly more than a half arm length.)
Water (to turn the curry powder into paste)
Oyster sauce (about one tablespoon)
Pepper
Soya Sauce (not to much. Just nice for the colour. No need to add salt as soya sauce is salty enough.)

Two hard boiled eggs (cut this into quarters. Put in one for each pie)

1.  Heat up the oil. Then put in the onions and garlic.
2. Put in the curry. Stir it well. Make sure that it is cooked.
3. Add in sweet potatoes and chicken.
4. Let it simmer for a while before putting in the oyster sauce, pepper and soya sauce. 
5. With the filling is cooked, leave it to cool for a while.
6. Take a fistful of dough and roll it.
7. Place about two tablespoon of filling in the middle of the rolled out dough. Place either one or two
     cut eggs. Then close up the pie.

Look at the picture as in how to close the dough.

8. Put the pie into the oven which of course should be pre-heated at 190. Let the pie bake for 20 - 22 minutes.
9. Glaze the pie with the beaten egg yolk.

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed making the pie. It was not difficult but rather relaxing. It should be served with a bowl of soup and salad.

The pie should be eaten while it is hot.

Mee Siam Berkuah (Bee Hoon with Sauce)

POINT TO PONDER

I made a mistake yesterday. I was angry with someone but then my remark which I upload in one of the social network might have hurt others. However, I consider myself lucky as another friend messaged me with an advice. Reading her message, I quickly posted an apology. After that, I just hid my so-called offensive message.

Thinking back, I should not let others ruin my happiness. If people overacting according to my view, I should simply ignore. Can I actually do this? After much practicing, I suppose I can. It would surely take time before I can get the hold of things.

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups of chilli boh
oil
Toufu (cut it into small pieces. Then, deep fry them. The colour should be light brown.)
1 packet of Bee Hoon (You need to soak it in hot water for a few minutes. It will soften but do not let
                                      it be to soft. It should be less then 5 minutes.)
2 1/2 cups of peeled prawns (can replace this with beef as well. You need to boil it first for at least 1
                                            hour. It need to be tender. In fact, you can use the broth to cook as well.
                                            The meat should be cut into small pieces.)
2 cereal bowls of Beansprouts (peel off the ends)
1/2 cup of soya sauce
1/2 cup of oil

1. Heat up the wok.
2. Pour in the oil.
3. Put in the chilli. Fry it until it curdles. You might want to use the broth to keep on frying the chilli
    boh.
4. Put in the prawn or beef.
5. Then, put in the bee hoon, beansprouts, soya sauce and toufu.
6. Mix them well by fanning them (You need to use two ladles in order to do this)

(Sauce)
1 cup of teochu (make sure it is the fine one. If not, you need to pound it.)
3 cloves of fat garlic (slice it thinly)
2 1/2 bowls of water
1 teaspoon of sugar
2 tablespoons of oil

1. Heat up the pot.
2. Put in the garlic. It should become yellowish or until you can smell it.
3. Pour in the teochu.
4. Pour in the water and add in the sugar.
5. Let it boil.

MY THOUGHTS

My eldest son loves it. However, according to my nephew, it is rather too spicy for him.

Vegetable: Pokaras

POINT TO PONDER

A teenager was reported to be taken by spirits while wondering in an abundant villa. Then, a day after, he was said to have accidentally overslept at a friend's house.

I notice that parents nowadays are too understanding until they let their children go wherever and whenever they please. It is no longer like my younger days where parents often controlled the children whereabouts. Some people believe that it is good to give freedom to the children. Only a handful do not share the same view.

A few weeks ago, a teenager was reported to steal two cars. I cannot remember the whole story though. The first car he took was with passengers including a baby. He crashed that car in which the baby is now in coma while the other passengers are injured.

This incident surely proves that too much freedom is not good for children. They just simply do not know their boundaries - what is right and what is wrong. It is the parents vital role to show or guide the children as in how to behave in the society. I know that it is not an easy task as parents too are busy working so as to provide the children with comfortable living. That is why, at times or rather most of the time, we need the community to help us as the community could be the parents' eyes and ears whenever they are not at home. (At the same time, can we really trust the community?)

Children should not be let lose like the cows. It is not necessary for the children to be let lose in the field to graze the grass. If they have to graze the grass, then the parents should monitor or at least set the time when they can go to the field to graze the grass. There should be curfew time in which by ten at night, they should already be in their respective barns. By doing this, parents are teaching time management. Time management is vitally important once the children have grown into adults. Fail to understand the concept, they might not be able to succeed in life.

Personally I believe that it is the parents' responsibility to mould the children to become good citizens. How busy we are, we as parents should make time to have, at least, dinner with them. Family quality time helps with not only one's confident and self-esteem but also understanding of the norm which is culturally accepted and definitely not against the religion .

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup of chick-pea flour
1/4 cup of raising flour
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1/2 teaspoon of chilli powder
a pinch of salt
water (just enough to make a thick batter)
cauliflower (cut it into bite size)
Oil (a lot as you need to deep fry) 

1. Pour in the chick-pea flour, raising flour, garam masala, chilli powder and salt into a bowl.
2. Add in water to make a thick batter. Pour in a little at a time.
3. Put in the cauliflower, Mix in well
4. Deep fry it.

POINT TO PONDER

 It tastes a little bit like seaweed. I like it. My parents seem to enjoy it. I serve it as a side dish to fried noodles.

Beef: Daging Masak Kicap with Curry

POINT TO PONDER

Lately, I have been very lazy. I do not wish to do anything except lying in bed and watch television. I know it is not good but I keep on doing it.

If I listen to myself talking, I would be very embarassed to admit that I will never achieve whatever I have declared to do. The spirit of hardworking seems to have evaporated. I do not seem to have the drive to do anything except laying in bed and watch television. Books do not interest me anymore.

I have been thinking of doing my PhD at the end of 2014. I have this dream of coaching my three sons - making sure their results for 2014 are good enough for boarding schools. Then, with God's will, my husband will try to get them a place. Having the boys in the boarding school and my girls in the universities, I could definitely concentrate on my studies.

That is a wonderful dream, one would say but can it be materialised as the lazy part of me seems to overpowering my goal, my dream. What am I to do? No one could tell me what to do unless I really push myself to do it.

Dear God, please give the Will to study, the Will to help my sons to excel, the Will to make sure my life...every single one of my children succeed in their lives.

INGREDIENTS

1 kg of beef (cut into bite size)
1 teaspoon of tomato paste
3 tablespoon of curry powder
1 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 cup of soya sauce
2 teaspoons of tamarind.
2 carrots
1 large onion (sliced it thinly)
2 cloves of garlic (sliced it thinly)
1 thumb-sized of ginger (pound it)
2 cups of water
1 teaspoon of vinegar
3 tablespoons of oil

1.Mix the beef with tomato paste,  tamarind juice and pepper. Leave it for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the pot and then pour the oil into the pot.
3. Put in onion and garlic. When you can actually smell the garlic, ....
4. Add in the beef.
5. Pour in the water. Leave it until the beef is tender.
6. Then add in the carrot and vinegar.

MY THOUGHTS

This dish is better eaten with salted fish and hot rice. The gravy should be quite thick. Only then, it will taste good.