New....again

   

  Without you knowing, it's already 2014..The first Muharram already left, and now another indicator of a new year comes again...I started the year as a slave, a daughter, a sister, a nurse, a friend, an enemy; perhaps, and a fiance. I would lie if I say that life comes flowing, gliding..but life comes like a river, sometimes trickling, lapping and sometimes slapping you hard across the face..

     What I've learn so far is that life comes unexpectedly bringing tears and laughter...sadness and joy... and you reap from it is what that is important..I sometimes become a good slave; pious and grateful, and sometimes be rebellious, be against what that been given.

   I ended the previous year still as a slave, a daughter, a nurse, a friend, perhaps still an enemy, and as a new wife.. The other posts, I have experience in them, whether I perceive it badly, or nicely, but, as a wife, its a road that I have just trodden.. on it, I've stepped onto thorn, but I also uncover flowers along the way.. The coming years, insyaAllah, will with my family, friends, co-worker and husband.. 

  Life is bringing more color

mee akochan

Due to the creativity of me and my siblings.. and the serial action drama Jetman, my father's recipe was dubbed as Mee Akochan.. and the name got stuck the recipe that was given to me was very simple 


Ingredient 
1-onions 
2-garlic 
3-red pepper paste 
4-ginger 
5-protein, such as chicken, cut into small pieces 
6-oyster sauce, around 3 tablespoons 
7-soy sauce, around 2 tablespoons 
8-eggs 
9-salt 
10-hot water 
11-dry noodles (i'm not sure what are the registered name, but we called them yee mee) 
12-carrots, cut to small sticks 
13-cabbage, diced 

Methods 
1- saute onion, garlic, ginger and red pepper paste until fragrant 
2- add in the chicken 
3- add in oyster sauce and soy sauce 
4- add in the vegetable 
5- add salt to taste 
6- add hot water and eggs 
7- put in the dry noodles and let it cook until soft

stepping to a new threshold

 

     In my 27 years of life, there were numerous of threshold that I passed through that with it brings a  new phase of life altogether. Phase in Luh Mahfudz, infant, childhood, adolescence.. Now I'm entering to adulthood, and now I have someone to accompany through it before going to old age and hereafter.
    I have to admit, to take the first step toward marriage is heart-wrenching, and I sometime doubt myself if I'll be able to do it..but I'm confident that what ever He gives me is what's the best for me, whether I'm ready or not, whether I like it or not..So I'm leaving to Him my future.. Ya Allah, You know what is best for me, but what ever you gives, may I'll be able to be steadfast on Your path, and be patience when I still don't know the hikmah for the things that happens.
   Anata..
    I can't promise wealth, beauty, and health. I can't even promise an easy road throughout our journey, let alone the world. What I can promise though is that I'll strive to be a better muslim, a better wife and insyaAllah a good mother (if the time comes). Do hold my hand through thick and thin, remind me when I forget and be patience for my short coming.
    This is a poem written by Ustaz Chahaya Takariawan that I've took from http://raudhatulnadwah.blogspot.com/, may this poem be a guide to us all....       

"Pernikahan Adalah"

Pernikahan adalah akad atau ikatan

Akad untuk beribadah

Akad untuk membangun rumah tangga sakinah mawadah wa rahmah. 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk saling mencintai,

akad untuk saling menghormati dan menghargai,

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk saling menguatkan keimanan, 

akad untuk saling meningkatkan ketakwaan, 

akad untuk mengokohkan ketaatan kepada Tuhan, 

akad untuk berjalan pada tuntutan Kenabian. 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk saling menerima apa adanya, 

akad untuk saling membantu dan meringankan beban, 

akad untuk saling menasihati, 

akad untuk setia lepada pasangannya dalam suka dan duka, 

dalam kesulitan dan kesuksesan, dalam sakit dan rehat, 

dalam tawa dan air mata. 

Pernikahan berarti akad untuk meniti hari-hari kebersamaan, 

akad untuk saling melindungi, 

akad untuk saling memberikan rasa aman, 

akad untuk saling mempercayai, 

akad untuk saling menutup aib, 

akad untuk saling mencurahkan perasaan, 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk mudah mengakui kesalahan, 

akad untuk saling meminta maaf, akad untuk saling memaafkan, 

akad untuk tidak menyimpan dendam dan kemarahan,

akad untuk tidak mengungkit-ungkit kelemahan, 

kekurangan dan kesalahan. 

Pernikahan adalah akad atau ikatan. 

Akad untuk tidak melakukan pelanggaran, 

akad untuk meninggalkan kemaksiatan, 

akad untuk tidak saling menyakiti hati dan perasaan, 

akad untuk tidak saling menorehkan luka, 

akad untuk tidak saling menyakiti badan pasangan. 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk mesra dalam perkataan, 

akad untuk santun dalam pergaulan, 

akad untuk indah dalam penampilan,

akad untuk sopan dalam mengungkapkan keinginan, 

akad untuk berlaku lembut kepada pasangan, 

akad untuk memberikan senyum termanis, 

akad untuk berlaku romantis dan selalu berwajah manis. 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk saling mengembangkan potensi diri, 

akad untuk adanya saling keterbukaan yang melegakan, 

akad untuk saling menumpahkan kasih sayang, 

akad untuk saling merindukan, 

akad untuk saling membahagiankan, 

akad untuk tidak adanya pemaksaan kehendak, 

akad untuk tidak saling membiarkan, 

akad untuk tidak saling mengkhianati, 

akad untuk tidak saling meninggalkan, 

akad untuk tidak saling mendiamkan. 

Pernikahan adalah akad untuk menebarkan kebajikan, 

akad untuk mencari rezeki yang halal dan thayib, 

akad untuk menjaga hubungan kekeluargaan, 

akad untuk berbakti kepada orang tua dan mertua, 

akad untuk mencetak generasi berkualitas, 

akad untuk siap menjadi bapak dan ibu bagi anak-anak, 

akad untuk membangun peradaban masa depan. 

Pernikahan adalah untuk segala

 yang bernama kebaikan!"

Dipetik dari buku Di Jalan Dakwah Kugapai Sakinah

BUTTERSCOTCH CAKE

 Ingredients
250g Butter
1 tsp Vanilla essence
1 cup Brown sugar, lightly packed
2 Eggs, separated
1 tbsp Golden syrup
1 cup Self-raising flour
½ cup Plain flour
½ tsp Cinnamon powder
½ cup Milk
 Caramel Icing
60g Butter
 ½ cup Brown sugar, lightly packed
 ¾ cup Icing sugar
¼ cup Milk
 Method
1. Cream butter, vanilla and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in egg yolk and golden syrup, beat until well combined.
3. Fold in sifted flour and cinnamon alternately with milk.
4. Beat egg whites until soft peak forms, fold gently into mixture.
5. Spread mixture into greased deep 20cm (8 in) round cake tin which has base lined with greased greaseproof paper.
6. Bake in moderate oven 50 – 60 minutes. Turn onto wire rack to cool.
7. When cake is cold, top with caramel icing.
 Caramel Icing
1. Melt butter in saucepan, add sugar, stir over medium heat 3 minutes, gradually add milk.
2. Stir until sauce boils. Remove from heat, leave to become cold.
3. Gradually add sifted icing sugar, beat until thick and spreadable.

Cinnamon rolls

Ingredients

 Dough:
 • 1/4-ounce package yeast
 • 1/2 cup warm water
 • 1/2 cup scalded milk
 • 1/4 cup sugar
 • 1/3 cup butter or shortening
 • 1 teaspoon salt
 • 1 egg
 • 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

 Filling:
 • 1/2 cup melted butter, plus more for pan
 • 3/4 cup sugar, plus more for pan
 • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
 • 3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans, optional

 Glaze:
 • 4 tablespoons butter
 • 2 cups powdered sugar
 • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 • 3 to 6 tablespoons hot water

 Directions 
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
 In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside.
 In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg.
Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth.
Add yeast mixture.
Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle.
 Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes.
 Place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

 When doubled in size, punch down dough.
 Roll out on a floured surface into a 15 by 9-inch rectangle
 Spread melted butter all over dough. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough.
 Sprinkle with walnuts, pecans, or raisins if desired.
 Beginning at the 15-inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal.
 Cut into 12 to 15 slices.
 Coat the bottom of baking pan with butter and sprinkle with sugar.
 Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake for about 30 minutes or until nicely browned.

Meanwhile, mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches desired consistency.
Spread over slightly cooled rolls.

Another year have pass

2012 is leaving us... and bringging 2013 to take it's place..however you see it, year 2012 is another year that you need to look at and learn from it.. and take the lesson to bring to the following year.. Allah extended our life each day last year so that we may become a better person this year.. so, let us to not waste the oppurtunity given by Him and muhasabah so we become a better person, if not today, then next year...

Sweedish meatballs

Even people who don't know much about Swedish food will probably at least have heard of, or tried, the great dish that is Swedish meatballs – especially since Ikea took over the world (I've been told they sell loads of these in their cafeterias). Paired with mash and warm lingon berry sauce, they make a perfect meal: tasty, comforting, with a hint of sweetness.

 For the meatballs:
• a handful of mixed fresh herbs, such as dill, flat-leaf parsley or chives, roughly chopped
• 600g minced beef, or you may try 300g of beef and 300g of lamb
• 1 large egg • 100ml milk
• 75g dried breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• olive oil
For the sauce
• juice of ½ a lemon
• 300ml beef stock, (if using a stock cube, ½ is enough)
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 60ml double cream
• 1 x 200g jar of lingon berry, cranberry, blackberry or blackcurrant jam, to serve

 Methods:
 1) Set aside a few of the herbs, then put the rest into a large bowl with the beef, egg, milk, breadcrumbs and allspice.
 2) Add a good pinch of salt and pepper,
 3) Then scrunch and mix it well.
 4) Wet your hands and roll little balls. Keep wetting your hands as you go so you get nice round elegant meatballs
5) Fry in your largest pan. Fry gently for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing occasionally, until they are golden brown. 6) Transfer the meatballs to a large plate.
7) Spoon away any excess fat from the pan, then add the lemon juice, a splash of stock, the flour, the cream, a heaped tablespoon of lingon berry or berry jam and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
8) Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and reduce until you have a nice consistency that will cling to the meatballs
9) Return the meatballs to the pan and move them around so they get coated in the sauce.
10) They'll go brilliantly next to mashed or crispy potatoes.