Dead Sea Revisited

Last week my DH had a conference in Jordan. Dead Sea to be precise. So me and DS tagged along for a change of air. I used to travel so much for seven and a half years, and when I'm kinda stuck at one place..am getting a little cuckoo...(yes, it is yet another excuse to leave lol)

We were there for 3 nights, just what I need. Swimming in the sea that has the richest mineral is astounding. I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to embrace the wonderful wonder of Dead Sea. Floating effortlessly, soaking with the goodness of the mineral, lather a thick black mud from the sea bed, the hotel staff can even do it for you if you don't feel like touching the mud yourself. But I did myself of course :) 

It is recommended that one should swim/soak/float in the sea for 10 minutes before lathering the mud. The mud leaves your skin smooth and supple from the rich mineral. Bear in mind though, the mud is NOT for children. It is too harsh/too much mineral for their delicate skin. At first I was unable to digest that, but it does make sense plus i don't see a single child with mud. For adult, the mud is believed to cure skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism and good for the joints. So there I was soaking up the great stuff day in and out. 

After the mud dried and get flaky on the skin, it's time to wash off in the sea. If you have covered on your face, then it is NOT recommended to wash with sea water, instead they have little shower on the shore, feet away from the water to clean up the saltiness. And never ever swallow the overly salty water because you might and will vomit. if it ever gets in your eyes from the splash for any reason. It hurts so bad. Then it's time to get to the shore and wash away with fresh water (hence, the open shower on the shore)

just the three of us

orang minyak

enjoying the sun among olive trees

Karipap Mak Timah

baked version: add a little eggwash

This new face of the blog gets me excited to post something...anything. So, without further ado, I would like to share my mom's puff recipe. Well, it's not really a puffy puff, just a short crust pastry filled with a filling of your choice then either bake or deep fry. I used to sell this at our local stalls when growing up, so this recipe really meant a lot to me and left me with a fond memories.. So here it is: 

yield 15-20 pieces of karipap 

Ingredients for the filling;

1. 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into dice
2. 1 medium chopped onion
3. 1 celery stalk with the leaves
4. 1 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked in water for 10 minutes, drained
5. 3 tbsp meat curry mix (I use pre-packed curry mix, Adabi brand) stir with little water to make a paste
6. 1 cup of water
7. salt and sugar to taste
8. 200g minced meat (optional)
9. 100g fresh shrimp (optional)
10. 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Method:

1. Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat, 
2. Saute dried shrimp until fragrant. 
3. Add curry mix paste. Stir for 2-3 minutes. 
4. Add sweet potatoes, onion and celery. 
5. Add water and cover until the sweet potatoes are tender and cooked through. 
6. Add salt and sugar at the end to taste. Keep aside to cool while you prepare the dough.

NOTE: if using minced meat, brown the meat in the heated wok until the juice from the meat evaporated, this may take up to 10 minutes. Then add shrimp, and continue step 2 onwards.

For the dough;

1. 3 cups all purpose flour
2. 2-3 tbsp margarine or unsalted butter(if using salted butter, omit the salted water)
   
3. 2-3 tbsp salted water, room temp (only water if using salted butter)

Method: For the dough

1. In a big bowl, add the flour.
2. Add margarine and using your fingers, crumble lightly into the flour. Avoid overworking the flour otherwise you'd get a chewy dough-not nice.
3. Add the salted water/or just water little by little (sprinkle if you may) while crumbling the flour/margarine mixture. Keep adding salted water/water until the dough binds together and still crumbly but soft, flour off the sides of the bowl
4. Make into two big balls, DO NOT work on it, just pat together into ball shape lightly.
5. Start rolling with a rolling pin on unfloured surface. Work one at a time.First, make it 1inch flat, then roll into a log, nice and packed. Cut into 1 inch disc and roll into a thin flat disc. If no mould, use your palm to hold the flat dough and scoop 1 tbsp of the filling onto your palm (hence, keeping them cool so it's easy to handle), bring one side of the dough, to make half-round shape and seal it either with fingers or mould. 



which would you prefer? bake vs. fry

6. deep fry or bake until golden color. Enjoy panas panas!

Chitosan vs. exercise & proper diet???

Sometimes all one need is a boost for everything. Be it trying to pursue something in life or just a mere  trying out to loose weight and sometimes one can go all the way up there to make things work. I couldn't stop myself thinking about shedding a few extra weight I've been carrying since the pre-pregnancy and until now seem very reluctant on leaving.  I've even considered pushing my dear husband KB on getting me an elliptical machine so i don't have to join a local gym. Hmmm..tempting. If I play the depression card, I'm pretty sure I'll get one. 

OR I can look the other way and take a supplement and start from there. If I see any improvement, then might as well stick with it until few unwanted kgs disappear and continue with healthy diet and exercise like I always been when I still had that trolley dolley job. What's the problem then? I identified the problem, know how to solve it and all i need to do is gather as much determination as possible to stick with the plan. Sounds easy eh?? NOT QUITE! 

So, this supplement...over the counter pills one has to take, it's not cheap, but does it really work? I've taken loads of them in the past (that was when I am not someone's mother or wife). But now, do I want to take a risk when it involves people I love and one of them counting on me to live and nurtured. How far can one go to shed those stubborn extra kilos?! 

Some friends said keep a healthy regular exercise and dear KB even said eat less! I know!! The thing is I cook, and when I cook I got to eat it, perhaps its a test-run new recipes from friends or cravings for homeland food, and I worked so hard to make them, so I eat, and eat, and eat...gosh there's always an excuse, isn't it! So, are we saying I should stop cooking MY food? 

Back to the topic, I've done research online about this chitosan supplement, it's been said that it would absorb fat and carbs when taking before main meals. But some article I read says that it could also absorb those nutrients from the food one eat. And no studies made with a positive result about how it could affect breastfeeding moms. And the side effects? Maybe there are maybe there's none since it's derives from shellfish, so it could be good in a way and could be bad with other chemicals added to make it work. I don't know.  I tried taking some yesterday and it kept me awake. I slept a couple of hours and then bing! I couldn't sleep anymore. It could be just a coincidence or it might be the supplements doing its job. Raising metabolic rate so the body gets busy, or could be the side effect too. Arrgh! Why is life so hard???

Itchy Hand

People say when your hand gets itchy, either palm or the whole hand, left or right, something's up. I had this itch for days now without even thinking nor talked about it. One fine day the itch was gone...and what did i get in return?? KitchenAid Food Processor with mini bowl, Empire Red who has been in my dreams for a while now. I was just walking about in a mall with little nugget (more like chasing him around, though) looking for a mandoline, yeah mandoline...not the musical instrument kind, but the cooking gadget kind *wink* for me to make my own potato crisp.. then there sort of a glowing light at the corner of my eyes, calling me to look at it, and then there she is...the beauty. I said to me-self : "I got to have HER!, today!"

Then some metal hit my head really hard. Bang!! I gotta ask KB first..coz I made this promise to tell him if I need to make a big purchase(with my spending loon background). Ouch! He for sure gonna ask do i need it? What's wrong with the one I already have? hmmm....computer says no...*cough* but but but...this is WHAT I always wanted! The one I have-I had use my airmiles to get it, BECAUSE I was hoping to get THIS one one day from THAT certain someone. Nope. Didn't happen.

This one have that mini bowl nestled inside..which make perfect sense since it's only 3 of us (2 1/2 really) so if i need to make a smaller portions of sauces or pesto or whatever it is that I need to so, there it is, the mini bowl. Ready to use.

But I'm not that all selfish, I said I will give the one I have (he-who-shall-not-be-named) to my mom when I go home next. She surely need one coz her's was broken years ago.

The Best Feeling

I want to share something, which happened all the time, all this while since he knows I'm who I am. My dear son who is almost 19 months now always have separation anxiety since he was 9 months old, I remember taking a shower while he waited outside the bathtub, he'd cry and scream and wail as if I'm going to vanish behind the shower curtain. He can't walk yet at that time, so all he did was pull himself up to the tub, stand by it and scream. Poor child... so the only way not to stress him up is waited until his nap time arrives, then only I go and take my quick shower.

Now, he understand that mommy is just behind the curtain washing up, and he can wait on the couch and be happy to see me when I finished shower. The best feeling is that the moment he woke up in the morning, the moment he sees me coming in to pick him or his dad brought him while I was in the bed, kitchen or bathroom..is.. that genuine smile on his face as if I am the only person in the world he cares about. He would run towards me and gives me a big bear hug. Never fails unless he woke up crying in the morning, but still when I pick him up from his cot, he would hold me tight. That's the best feeling.

Nowadays, when KB is home early, they would play and laugh and tickle each other, but for the winding down time, he wants his mom to do his milk, feed, bathe and put him to bed. Many times KB would ask to put him to bed instead of me, I sort of encourage it because I want them to bond, and it was always ends up with a little cry and resistance. I used to be so mad because I need a time off. But now when I think about it, why not? He's going to grow up ever so fast and he may not want me anymore. So while he's still wants me...I'm all his. It's the best feeling.

Recipe Rendang Mak Timah

This entry I want to share my mom's rendang recipe. Been trying and testing the recipe but never up to her standard-all-time-same-taste(mine taste not as great as hers). But never give up. maybe it's the beef cut? Maybe it's the pot (kuali), I don't know. So, here's the hundredth time I'm making it. According to KB, he loves it.. awww that's sweet. BUt to my personal satisfaction, it need to be improvised. So, here it is:

Ingredients, serve 4-6:

(A)

• 10 dried chillies (seeds removed, soaked in hot water)
• 20 small shallots (peeled)
• 10 stalks lemongrass (small chopped)
• 4-5 roots of galangal (small chopped)
• 3 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 2 inch ginger (sliced)
• (A) TO BE BLEND WITH 2 cups of water(more or less) to get runny paste consistency

(B)

• 2 cans of coconut milk (I use Arroy-D) milk from fresh coconut have even better taste.
• 400g of coconut paste (recipe follows)
• 800g beef (cubed, rib-eye cut is good example, for the fat content, we want moist meat, not
  
• drying up in the cooking process, as this is going to take at least 3-5 hours slow cooking)

• salt to taste, add at the end.
• few kaffir lime leaves if you don't have turmeric leaf

Method:

Mix ingredients the blended (A) and (B) into a big saucepan/wok/ Dutch oven/cast-iron pot and bring to boil, reduce the heat to a low-simmer for 3-4 hours until all the sauce has reduced significantly. Ensure to stir once in a while so the bottom of the pan does not burn. And if you using Dutch oven/cast-iron pot, after the sauce has mostly gone,finish the cooking in the oven covered for the last hour or so. Add salt to taste.
The result: You'd have a beautiful, succulent meat-fall-apart melt in your mouth beef rendang. Good luck!


For the coconut paste recipe:
stove-fry grated coconut (from 3 coconuts, grate white part only) in a shallow pan/wok without oil on low-medium heat. Keep stirring all over until the coconut turns golden brown. Once it get to this point, the coconut can easily be burnt, so watch carefully. immediately remove the coconut from the pan and keep it slightly cool on a baking sheet and spread out evenly to minimise further cooking. Once it is cooled to handle, shove it in a dry blender/food processor and blitz until it turns into a paste. make a big batch and use them according to the recipe.


How to store coconut paste: In pantry and freezer:

Pantry:
Store in airtight container. Add one piece of dried tamarind(asam keping) for longer shelf-life. Put in a cool dark place.

Freezer:
Store in numerous sealable plastic bags. No need to add dried tamarind, put in freezer, before use, just thaw the invidual bags in hot water for 20-30 minutes and use as the recipe recalls.

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Nasi Impit ala moi

Just want to share a story, few weeks ago, I made beef rendang(Malaysian dish similar to Thai massaman curry) for my good friend from Denmark who's visiting Dubai (she used to live here), she just love rendang. So i made a big batch. Turns out fabulous (as always, if I may say so) coz KB also loves rendang. Beef in particular. My mom taught me from our family recipe apart from many others. So, as soon as the rendang was ready, there I was searching for the 'nasi impit' to eat it with. Alamak! Nasi impit dah habis! How can this be possible? I always have them stocked up somewhere in the cupboard, but not this time. So I quickly call mom(she was about to go to the mosque for prayer), said sorry and ask her to help. I'm in a deep **** situation. So she tells me...

Boil the rice as I would normally, add tiny bit more water so it would be a little wet and soggy and then, IMPIT lah! okkay...so this what I did: I dont have proper 'loyang' so i just use my pie dish and 'impit' with a plate and topped up with my mortar.

At the end, it wasn't quite as nasi impit, but okay lah...it's edible. haha!

lined with plastic film so it doesn't stick

then put on banana leaf for aroma

last but not least time to 'impit'

Masak Masak

Last December I got this☝as a Christmas present which I LOVE so much! Thank you darling hubby for understanding my passion for cooking gadgets. Not much of a cook, I love cooking gadgets although I should try do do more cooking and baking now that I have these helpers. I shall call it Mak Long (penolong setia) I would love to call it Mak Ngah (as in merah sangat la mak Ngah, because it IS red) but it was taken by a good friend of mine. So, Mak Long it is. First thing I did was polish it nice and shiny because it's going to be on top of my counter for display. Doesn't take many days to just be a display, I made my best cheese cake with it where I normally do with a hand mixer, but not anymore. I do feel a little guilty to the hand mixer although it wasn't really mine (well, I didn't bought nor got it) it was my MIL's. She have all these appliances at her son's (before we met and get together and married). Coffee machine for example, although my hubby doesn't drink coffee OR tea for that matter, its for her use when she visit him :) nice touch..heh...

So all these gadgets were already there when I moved in with KB. How convenient is that? Let's cut to the chase, the cheese cake turned out fantastic, if not better! It doesn't require any baking though, so i can't really praise Mak Long too much.

BUT, when i did cake batters and muffins and cupcakes, they tend to be a little dense. Maybe I didn't do it right with the speed perhaps. I'm still in the testing-phase. I did some breads also. KB was so impressed and he didn't believe I did it with Mak Long. haha!

Hopefully i'll master Mak Long in the future.

TADAAAA!!

After all these times, I'm trying to get it(myself) together, deactivate Facebook account, but found myself creating yet another one. And have at least few more social networking site. Can't live with 'em, also can't live without 'em... what shall i do..what shall i do?? I don't hate them(oh boy, do i?) but don't like them around either...brutal truth huh?! bipolar disorder? trying too much to be liked? crazy? perhaps all of the above... OR maybe I need to get a job! Oh wait, I do have a job 24/7 job that doesn't pay and no time off or holiday. What worse than that can it be?

Well...I start cooking again, that relaxes me. It's just that the downside to it is... I gained more weight! Post-delivery weight still hasn't shed, and now piling up even more. *sigh* (I can see the great depression on my way) Plus, it's that time of the year again--->SUMMER<--- Most people around the globe love summer months, but I'm not most people ha! 10 years in this heat I still couldn't get use to it. Scorching 45-50 degrees centigrade..let me tell you, it ain't funny. It hurts

So sad to say goodbye to the nice cool(-ish) months. A lot of activities outdoor (although this season we didn't do camping AT ALL!) Every weekend(s) it's either too cold, smacked by sandstorms and/or no friends available to venture out to the desert or wadis. Pity.

But quite productive in terms of keeping the little one busy outdoors. A sandpit in our backyard built by his dad and grandpa, roadtrips to the East and North, trips to local parks almost every other day and playdates of course. I'm happy, kinda..