My New Dream Car

This is my new dream car - MAZDA CX 9.... it's luxury and stylish... 7-seaters SUV ... great huh? Check it out at the retail showroom...

Selamat Tahun Baru - 1430 Hijrah

It's 1 Muharram 1430 H and it's a public holiday. Me just staying at home, trying to sort things out and thinking of going to Tesco in a few minutes.

I have some new resolutions - but I would like to keep them as secrets. Only He knows about it...

Be Delicious - DKNY

Another favorite perfume - Be Delicious by DKNY.

Romance - Ralph Lauren

This is my mostly favorite perfume of all time. It suits my body very well and people think that it smells good everytime i splash some on my body. Love it very much.

Soto Ayam Bayu Puteri

Bahan-bahan Sup

1 ekor ayam
2 batang kulit kayu manis
4 biji buah pelaga
3 biji bunga lawang
5 biji bawang kecil
3 ulas bawang putih
2 inci halia
1 sudu besar jintan manis
1 sudu besar jintan putih
1 sudu besar lada hitam
1 sudu besar biji ketumbar
Minyak masak untuk menumis
Air
Garam

Bahan begedil

10 biji kentang kuning
Isi ayam yang digoreng
Bawang goreng
Garam
Daun ketumbar
Daun bawang
Lada sulah
Lada hitam
Telur

Bahan kicap cili

Cili padi (ikut suka, nak berasap kepala... letakla semangkuk)
Bawang putih
Kicap manis
Cuka
Gula

Bahan lain

Nasi impit
Isi ayam yang digoreng
Su-un
Taugeh
Kacang tanah
Bawang goreng
Daun ketumbar
Daun bawang

Cara memasak

Sup Ayam

Ayam di potong sederhana. Tumbuk hingga lumat bawang, halia dan bawang putih. Asingkan. Tumbuk pula jintan manis, jintan putih, ketumbar dan lada hitam. Dalam stock pot, panaskan minyak untuk menumis. Tumiskan kulit kayu manis, buah pelaga dan bunga lawang. Masukkan bawang yang ditumbuk lumat. Tumis sehingga kekuningan dan wangi. Kemudian masukkan bahan rempah yang ditumbuk. Tumis lagi hingga naik bau rempah.

Tuangkan air, sebanyak mana yang perlu. Untuk soto, kita biasanya perlukan kuah yang banyak. Oleh itu, jumlah air perlulah diletak secukupnya. Masukkan ayam, kacau sup, tutup periuk dan renehkan sup selama 1 jam. Pastikan api gas ditukar kepada tahap rendah (low heat).

Selepas 1 jam, keluarkan ayam dan biarkan sejuk. Pada masa ini, boleh la ditambah garam untuk memberi rasa kepada sup.

Ayam yang dibiarkan sejuk perlu dicarikkan halus-halus. Setelah selesai, masukkan semula tulang-tulang ayam yang berlebihan ke dalam periuk sup. Isi ayam yang telah dicarik ini perlu digoreng sedikit dengan minyak untuk memberikan aroma dan rasa yang lebih enak. Isi ayam perlu dibahagi dua - satu untuk bergedil dan satu untuk bahan soto sendiri.

Begedil Ayam

Kentang di kupas dan di potong menjadi kepingan-kepingan setebal 1/2 inci. Gaulkan dengan garam dan goreng dengan minyak sehingga kentang bertukar kuning keemasan dan separuh garing. Kentang yang selesai digoreng hendaklah ditumbuk hingga hancur dan boleh dikepal. Di dalam mangkuk, campur kan kentang, isi ayam yang telah digoreng, bawang goreng, daun bawang dan daun ketumbar yang dihiris halus. Tambahkan juga garam, lada sulah dan lada hitan untuk perasa. Gaul hingga rata. Pecahkan sebiji telur ke dalam adunan. Kepalkan menjadi begedil yang comel. (Kalau suka besar2.. sukahati ler.. tapi nanti susah goreng).

Panaskan kuali dengan minyak. Pecahkan telur dalam mangkuk dan kacau telur. Salutkan begedil dengan telur sebelum menggoreng. Goreng hingga kekuningan/masak.

Kicap cili

Cili padi dan bawang putih ditumbuk hingga lumat. Campurkan bahan yang ditumbuk dengan kicap manis, tambahkan sedikit cuka serta gula.

Bahan-bahan lain

Nasi impit seeloknya direbus terlebih awal supaya ianya sejuk dan mudah dipotong. Biasanya kita potong bentuk cube macam nasi impit sate tu. Sukahati la nak potong mcm mana pun. Su-un ni perlu digoreng dengan minyak panas. Kejap je dia dah kembang macam keropok. Tapi harus diingat. Su-un ni tak leh dibasuh. Kalau basuh, sure tak jadi. Ataupun, kalau dibasuh, dikeringkan semula then baru goreng. Taugeh dicelur. Kacang tanah perlu digoreng tanpa minyak. Bawang kecil dihiris nipis dan digoreng - jadi la bawang goreng. Daun-daun ketumbar dan bawang dihiris nipis.

Penyediaan

Biasanya kita makan soto ni dalam mangkuk. So, dalam mangkuk tu, letakkan nasi impit, begedil, isi ayam goreng dan taugeh. Tuangkan kuah dan barulah tabur kacang, bawang goreng, daun ketumbar dan daun sup serta letakkan kicap cili. Hidang panas-panas. ;)

I won something!!

Today is one of my lucky days. I won something just by participating in a quiz on MixFM - Are You Smarter Than a 12-year-old?. That brightens up my day after being stood up last nite. ;)

L.O.V.E

Love is very subjective. It can be love to the parents, siblings, children, friends, spouse, and of course, the ultimate love is to the Mighty Creator (ALLAH) and the Prophet of Muhammad(Rasulullah s.a.w).

When you fall in love, everything seems to be beautiful. You go through each day feeling great and excited. Each time the phone rings, you'll rush to answer hoping that it's from the sweetheart. You'll feel your cheeks rose everytime you talk to him. You can even smile to yourself just by thinking of him. That's how powerful LOVE is. Makes people go insane..

But what about if you don't have love? Or your love has been betrayed? Everything seems to be dark and gloomy. Nothing feels good, even if you are given a first class treatment on any service. You will become annoyed easily and moody. That's how powerful LOVE is. Without it, people can also go insane...

I'm in LOVE. But, i get heartbreaks quite often. So, that's why I'm insane all the time.....

Nasi Minyak Panahan Asmara

This recipe was originated by my father. Thank you Abah for teaching me how to cook this recipe until it become the talk of the town (chewah.. perasan!). But the taste memang sedap. Sampaikan, ada yang minta recipe ni masa raya puasa baru ni. So, I'm sharing with all of you this recipe. Kalau first time buat tak jadi, it's normal. Tapi kalau dah buat selalu, mcm petik api lighter jer....

Recipe for Nasi Minyak (eer... by the way, nama kat atas tu nak glamer jer)

10 cups of Basmati Rice (the best type, otherwise, can use Sunwhite)

1 can of evaporated milk (I use Ideal)

10 cups of hot water

3 table spoon of Pure Ghee

3 table spoon of Cooking Oil

1 table spoon of Tomato Puree

Salt

Raisins

Other ingredients

A

1 stick of cinnamon stick - about 3 inches (kulit kayu manis)

3 seeds of cardamom (buah pelaga)

3 seeds of star anise (bunga lawang)

2 cloves (bunga cengkih)

B

5 red onions

3 cloves of garlic

1 inch of ginger

(Pound these ingredients with pestle and mortar)

C

1 table spoon of cumin seed (jintan manis)

1 table spoon of (jintan putih)

1 table spoon of coriander seeds (ketumbar)

1 teaspoon of black pepper (lada hitam)

(Pound these ingredients with pestle and mortar)

Method:

Preheat your cooking part with Pure Ghee and Cooking Oil. Saute ingredient A until it is fragrant. Add in Ingredient B and saute them until it turns golden in color. Add in ingredient C and further saute until it is fragrant (all together it should not take more than 10 minutes).

Add in the rice. Mix the rice with the sauteed ingredients. Do this for about 5 minutes. Make sure the heat is medium-low. Once the rice is all mixed up, pour in the hot water followed by one can of evaporated milk. Add in the salt (not too much as the ghee is already salty) and also the tomato puree.

This is the crucial part. Make sure heat is turned to be at medium-high. You need to stir the rice in the liquid until the amount of liquid is reduced, just like how you want to cook rice in the traditional way on stove. Once you see the liquid has been absorbed mostly by the rice, turned down the heat to low, put on the lid and let it cooked. I would put something heavy on top of the lid and cover the edge of the pot with towels to make sure the steam remains in the pot and that makes the cooking perferct. Most of the times, I would let it cook for about 30 minutes.

After the 30 minutes, check it out whether the rice has cooked and for tasting. Once it is ready, pour in the raisins (mixed the yellow and brown). Serve it while it's hot and garnish with fried shallots and sprinkle with some chopped coriander leaves and spring onions.

Baked Chicken

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiafoots/

Recipe

2 pieces of chicken thigh (leave skin on as this will preserve the tenderness of the chicken)
4 table spoon of dark soy sauce
2 table spoon of Mixed Herb (or you can mix on ur own - rosemary, thyme, dill, etc)
1 table spoon of Cajun Seasoning
2 table spoon of Pure Honey
1 table spoon of Sunflower Oil (any oil will do, if you have Olive Oil, much better)

Method:

Mix all ingredients including the chicken into a ziplock bag and marinate for at least 2 hours. Then, preheat your normal skillet (non-stick frying pan or better still the griddle) with very minimal amount of oil. Just to grease your skillet litely. Place the two thighs on the skillet, cover it with a lid. Slow cook the chicken for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. You'll have a perfect baked chicken ready for two.

Once the chicken is ready, remove the skin before serving unless you love to torture your heart with cardiovascular disease! Served best while it's hot. The recommended side dishes would be steamed brocoli and baby carrots and mashed potatoes.

Happy cooking :)

Body Massage

My whole body is aching. Maybe because I have not pampered my self for quite sometimes. I have not even gone to do facials for God knows how long. So, I was telling my self maybe it's about time to go for a body massage. The question is WHEN?

As usual, I'm thinking of hopping into Thai Oddysey. So far, it's the best spa I've ever experienced. So, Thai Oddysey... here I come.....

Back in the office

Today, I'm back to the office after a one-week holiday in my hometown. I got back to my place yesterday evening and reached home around 6 pm. It was kinda sad to leave mak and abah home alone. But it would not be for too long as they will be coming here on Friday evening.

Anyway, I'm already in the office and there are many things to be done. Will continue to write later...

Saving All My Love For You

A few stolen moments is all that we share
You've got your family and they need you there
Though I've tried to resist being last on your list
But no other man's gonna do
So I'm saving all my love for you

It's not very easy living all alone
My friends try and tell me find a man of my own
But each time I try I just break down and cry
'Cause I'd rather be home feeling blue
So I'm saving all my love for you

You used to tell me we'd run away together
Love gives you the right to be free
You said be patient just wait a little longer
But that's just an old fantasy

I've got to get ready just a few minutes more
Gonna get that old feeling when you walk through that door
'Cause tonight is the night for I feeling all right
We'll be making love the whole night through
So I'm saving all my love for you
Yes I'm saving all my love
Yes I'm saving all my love for you

No other woman is gonna love you more
'Cause tonight is the night that I feeling all right
We'll be making love the whole night through
So I'm saving all my love for you
Yeah 'm saving all my lovin'
Yes I'm saving all my love for you , for you

Always

Girl you are to me
All that a woman should be
And I dedicate my life
To you always

A love like yours is rare
It must have been sent from upabove
And I know you'll stay this way
For always

And we both know
That our love will grow
And forever it will be
You and me

Ooh you're like the sun
Chasing all of the rain away
When you come around
You bring brighter days

You're the perfect one
For me and you forever will be
And I will love you so
For always

Come with me my sweet
Let's go make a family
They will bring us joy
For always

Ooh boy I love you so
I can't find enough ways
To let you know
But you can be sure I'm yours
For always

Spring Cleaning

Today is my last day at home as I will be going back to Bandar Puteri tomorrow. Back to the office on Monday, as usual. So, after days of delayed plan, I forced my self to clean up the maid's room. My goodness. Things were everywhere and it was left undone. It took me some times to figure out what I should do first.

I rearranged the beds, threw old stuff, vacuumed the floor, and many others. I should have asked her to clean up during last raya break but I guess, I forgot totally about it. Anyway, the room is all neat now. And I'm having my sinus!!

Maid

My parents maid has gone back to her home country after finishing her two years contract. So now, my parents are having no helper and moi, being the nicest child of the family (chewah!!) offered myself to help them out while I'm on leave. In a way, I'm glad that the maid has gone back. She was a bit of a nuisance to us.

She lied about her age when she applied for the job. She was 50 by the time she went back. In many instances, she had done damages to our property without the courtesy of telling us how it happened. She gave too many excuses when we asked about something. And since she's 50, she thought that she could boss me around too!!

All we are asking from the new maid is her sincerity in doing her job as we are paying quite handsomely to them despite the limited amount of work that they have to do.

So, until the new maid arrives, I am the official MAID at my parent's place... hehehehe....

I Drive Myself Crazy

Lying in your arms, so close together

Didn't know just what I had

Now I toss and turn, 'cause I'm without you

How I'm missing you so bad

Where was my head, where was my heart

Now I cry alone in the dark

I lie awake, I drive myself crazy

Drive myself crazy thinking of you

Made a mistake when I let you go baby

I drive myself crazy

Wanting you the way that I do

Wanting you the way that I do

I was such a fool, I couldn't see it

Just how good you were to me, oh yes

You confessed your love, undying devotion

I confessed my need to be free

And now I'm left with all this pain

I've only got myself to blame, no

I lie awake, I drive myself crazy

Drive myself crazy thinking of you

Made a mistake, let you go baby

I drive myself crazy

Wanting you the way that I do

Wanting you the way that I do

Why didn't I know it

(How much I loved you baby)

Why couldn't I show it

(If I had only told you)

When I had the chance

Oh I had the chance, oh
I drive myself crazy

Oh so crazy, oh...

Moist Chocolate Cake

I'm sharing my chocolate cake recipe - using steamer.

Ingredients :

250g flour

250g castor sugar

250g salted butter (room temperature)

5 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup cocoa powder

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup plain water

Method :

In a pan, heat water, cocoa powder and sugar and let it boil for a while until the mixture becomes solvent and thick. Turn off the heat and let it cool.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar. Add in eggs one at a time. Add in the sifted flour and baking powder. Finally add in the cooled chocolate mixture.

Steam in a round baking pan and you need to cover the pan with aluminium foil. Tie up the baking pan so that the water from steamer would not get into the pan. I would steam this cake for about 4 hours.

Chocolate Topping

50g Salted Butter

100g Cream/Double Cream

250g Cooking Chocolate

Preferably if could use a double boiler. Boil the cream in a pan. Put in the chocolate (broken into small pieces). Turn off heat and stir chocolate until melt. Spread this ganache onto the cooled cake.

Super Poke!!!

It was a long time ago since I last wrote in this blog. As usual, I have had so many things to be done in the past couple of months. Anyway, yesterday I accidentally poked myself with a pair of scissors. On my thigh!

I bleed and I had to have it covered with a plaster. Kelakar la jugak.. sampai tercucuk diri sendiri ngan gunting. I have to be more careful next time.