BE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


It is important for us to be comfortable in our own skins. Do what feels right. Don't force yourself to do what you do not want to do. Remember that! Simplify your life. Just enjoy your life well. In that way, you will no longer have the stress of having to make others pleased whilst you live in so much frustrations. Agree?

BECOME A TIGHTWAD

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


Everyone was so used to see me so happy and cheerful that they didn't even ask if I am feeling great or otherwise. But as it happened, I have been in pain for many days..many months..many years...

Anyway, let's not think too much about that. Just pray and wish for the best, okay? BE POSITIVE, ADEN!

What do I want to share with you today? Read this.

Diligence is the basis of wealth, and thrift the source of riches.
[Chinese Proverbs]

So, since I am on a very tight budget from today onwards, becoming a tightwad is part of the plans. TRIFT IS A VIRTUE. Have you heard of that?

I don't care what others would say about me. To me, I am happy that I don't have any credit cards. I use cash to purchase my stuffs. I am not drowned in debt. So far, Alhamdulillah, I am happy this way. Being a miser, I get to enjoy living my life stress-free. Just like I told one of my soulmates, Razi last week, if you want to buy a house, pay cash if you have enough money. Don't bother taking loans! WHY? Because that's what a miser will do. And that is exactly what I'll do.

Enough of my blabberings for the day. See ya! Maybe, my next entry will contain a recipe for everyone to share. *BIG HUGS*

QADAA'

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


QADAA' refers to the time when things are brought into existence. QADAA' means the implementation of the decree [QADAR].

"...and it is a matter (already) decreed by ALLAH."
[Quran 19:21]

DON'T BE SAD, ADEN...

JUST DO IT!

Nukilan rasa http://duniatanpalagu.blogspot.com/

I wrote this a few months ago :)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
DIVINE WILL & PREDESTINED :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Alhamdulillah :) Berkat Hari Maulidurrasul, both Razi & I received an email bearing GOOD NEWS earlier today. We've been waiting for that particular email since the past 3 weeks. Syukur, Alhamdulillah.

What does my heart say? Did it skip away with a hip..hip..hooray rhythm? NOPE! It ran so fast that I was so afraid it might stop running at all.

But I tried to remind myself. ALLAH has created everything, and has measured it exactly to its due measurement. He has measured preordainments for everything to be blessed or wretched. That includes the email we received earlier today. InsyaALLAH, HE WILL GUIDE US THE RIGHT AS WELL AS THE WRONG PATHS. INSYAALLAH. HAVE FAITH, ADEN. BE STRONG HEARTED. KEEP CALM AND SMILE. Do what you should be doing. Don't look back. Remember that. EVERYTHING HAPPENS BY QADAR, even helplessness and resourcefulness, or resourcefulness and helplessness.
JUST DO IT!!!

To both Razi and Aden, JUST DO IT. Banyakkan istighfar. INGAT SOLAT!!! BANYAKKAN BACA AL-QURAN. KUATKAN KEYAKINAN DI DADA. Always remember, ALLAH, the Almighty has ABSOLUTE POWER. And always know that ALLAH's power IS NOT LACKING IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.

Biarkan apa saja yang orang lain hendak cakap atau lakukan.
JUST DO IT! FOLLOW YOUR HEART. LET ALLAH SHOW YOU THE WAY :)
Labels: Motivating Myself :)

ALMOND BISCUITS

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~




Mini Romanini~ What a perfect biscuit to enjoy with a cup of coffee :) YUMMY




Almond Biscuits ~ Another favourite of mine.

The recipe was from a blog I have been following for quite sometime. CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL RECIPE.

Almond Biscotti:
1 cup (145 grams) blanched whole almonds

1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract



Almond Biscotti: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Toast almonds for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl lightly beat the eggs and extracts together.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer) combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until blended (about 30 seconds). Gradually add the egg mixture and beat until a dough forms, adding almonds about halfway through. On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a log about 14 inches (35 cm) long and 3 - 4 inches (8 - 10 cm) wide. Transfer log to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 - 40 minutes, or until firm to the touch (log will spread during baking). Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Transfer log to a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, cut log into slices 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick on the diagonal. Arrange evenly on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, turn slices over, and bake another 10 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.


Note: Can substitute hazelnuts or walnuts for the almonds. If desired, add 1 tablespoon (5 grams) of orange or lemon zest to the egg mixture.

To dip in melted chocolate - Melt 3 ounces (85 grams) of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate and 1 teaspoon (5 grams) vegetable shortening or butter in a small metal bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Dip one end of each biscotti in the melted chocolate and let dry on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Makes about 28 biscotti.

DISAPPOINTMENT AGAIN!

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


No..there is no recipe today. Just some disappointments. Do you know what's the difference between people at large? It is what we call ATTITUDES. RESPONSIBILITY. There is no way that I will be okay with the idiotic attitudes. NEVER EVER! Of course, Razi, Syahrul and I had had our disagreements on certain things but I am pretty sure that both of them will agree with me this time. THE IDIOTIC ATTITUDES IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD NOD TO. NEVER!

KERUTUK DAGING TERENGGANU

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


It is indeed a day to remember. I learnt how to cook a very special dish which originates from a state in the East Coast area of Peninsular Malaysia. It is called KERUTUK DAGING TERENGGANU [Terengganu Kerutuk Beef].

For those of you who are interested in trying out this recipe, please do.



KERUTUK DAGING TERENGGANU
Ingredients:

1kg beef cut across the grain into thin slices
8 Tbsp of oil
1 onion~ sliced finely
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
2 cardamom pods
3 cloves
3 star anise

Grounded Ingredients:

12 shallots
4 cloves garlic
1 inch tumeric root
1/2 inch ginger
9 Tbsp Kerutuk Spice Mix~ dilute with some water to form paste

[The Kerutuk Spice Mix used in this recipe was in pre-packed form under the brand name 'Adabi' (a Malaysian product). It may be possible to find it in the Asian Markets. However, I shall find out more on how to prepare your own Kerutuk Spice, in case it is not that easy to find them overseas. In the meantime, if you cannot find any Adabi Kerutuk Spice Mix at the place where you reside, you may replace it with 2 Tbsp of meat curry powder and 2 Tbsp 'kurma' powder. It'll taste just as great.]

3 cups coconut milk
2 pieces dried tamarind skin
Gula Melaka (palm sugar) [replace this with brown sugar if you cannot find it in your home country]
Salt to taste
4 Tbsp Kerisik [fry dessicated coconut in a pan WITHOUT OIL until it turns brownish. Then, pound it with mortar and pestle until it became oily and smooth (the traditional way) or blend it in a food processor. That is your kerisik]

Method:

1) Heat oil in a wok and fry onions and spices until fragrant.
2) Add in the ground ingredients and fry over moderate heat until fragrant and the oil separates.
3)Then, add in the Kerutuk paste. Fry till it is mixed well with the rest of the grounded ingredients.
4)Add in the beef. Stir well with a wooden spoon, browning all over.
5)Put in the dried tamarind skin.
6)Then, add in the coconut milk.
7)Add in a bit of water (approximately 1 cup) to dilute the above mixtures.
8)Add in a bit of salt to taste. Stir and cover the pot and let it simmer in a medium heat.
9) After approximately 10 minutes of simmering, add in the gula melaka (palm sugar), and stir in the kerisik. Cover the pot again and let it simmer until the meat is tender. (remember to stir ocassionaly after putting the kerisik to prevent it from burning/sticking to the bottom of the pan)
10) Then, you are ready to serve, with white rice or even bread :) ENJOY!

Recipe was duly checked by Razi :)

ORANGE CHIFFON CAKE :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~




I tried baking Orange Chiffon Cake last night but it didn't really turned out that great. However, it still tastes YUMMY! I am going to try the same recipe again next week when my newly bought Kitchen Aid mixer has duly settled down in my cute little kitchen.

Actually, I referred to the recipe from a book I bought from the Post Office last week. And this morning, I tried to google for the same receipe and found a video of the same. Perhaps, you would like to have a look and try on the recipe, too. CLICK HERE!

To all students, always remember not to give up easily in life. Baking taught me the importance of patience.

NEOPOLITAN COOKIES

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


I plan to make this tonight, refrigerate it overnight and bake it tomorrow. Sounds like fun, huh? I need to de-stress myself. I am so frustrated with the people around me. The negative vibes is too strong. I need to motivate myself.





I'll put up the picture of my Neopolitan Cookies once it is ready :) Have a great week ahead, mates! *SMILES*

JAKARTA POST

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

14-3-2010~
Ohh..I MISS JAKARTA SO MUCH :) Bilalah nak pergi ke JAKARTA lagi? I read JAKARTA POST earlier this morning. And when I read this article, I remembered what both Razi & Syahrul told me about the ceramah they attended at Masjid Istiqlal about smoking.

March 14, 2010
Dessy Sagita & Anita Rachman


A cigarette vendor smoking beside his booth in Jakarta. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma WIjaya)

Indonesian Clerics Join Smoking Fatwa Row
A growing debate in the religious arena over smoking intensified on Sunday, with senior officials from the country’s largest Muslim organization and its top council of clerics deriding a recent fatwa issued against the habit.

Officials from Nahdlatul Ulama and the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) both took issue with Muhammadiyah, the nation’s second-largest Muslim organization, issuing the religious edict last week, saying it went too far. Both organizations maintained their positions that smoking cigarettes was not haram, or forbidden in Islam.

“It’s not that easy declaring something as haram. There are many considerations that should be taken into account,” Masdar F Mas’udi, an NU deputy chairman, told the Jakarta Globe. “Nahdlatul Ulama still considers smoking as makruh [undesirable], and we have no plan to change that in the near future.”

Masdar said a full ban on cigarettes would adversely affect the tobacco industry, which directly employs 600,000 workers, as well as 3.5 million tobacco and clove farmers.

Masdar said there were more sensible ways to curb smoking, such as better awareness campaigns, enforcing smoking regulations in public places and raising taxes on cigarettes.

Aminudin Yakub, vice secretary of the MUI’s fatwa body, said that while the council supported fatwas issued by other Muslim organizations, the MUI would also stick to its makruh ruling.

Muhammadiyah issued the fatwa on Tuesday, comparing smoking to suicide, which is prohibited in Islam. The next day, the organization and antitobacco campaigners jointly targeted cigarette advertising as one of the main culprits behind a spike in underage smokers.

Over the weekend, however, Muhammadiyah found itself on the defensive, denying that the fatwa was related to a grant it received from a US-based antitobacco organization. The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, funded by New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, lists a November 2009 grant to Muhammadiyah worth $393,234 on its Web site.

Among the grant’s stated purposes is “the issuance and dissemination of religious advice on the dangers of tobacco use.”

At a press conference on Sunday, Muhammadiyah’s central executive chairman, Sudibyo Markus, denied any connection between the grant and fatwa. He defended the ruling that smoking was haram, saying that half measures were useless given the health impacts of smoking.

A 2008 study by the World Health Organization found that more than 20 percent of all deaths here, or about 400,000 Indonesians a year, were the result of tobacco-related illnesses. “It is very dangerous for our health and, considering its impacts, we are certain that we should ban it,” Sudibyo said. “We started this process years ago. We’re just renewing our stance after conducting further study.”

In January 2009, a limited fatwa on tobacco use by the MUI, banning smoking in public places and prohibiting children and pregnant women from taking up the habit, prompted the Ministry of Finance to warn that its excise revenue from tobacco could fall below its expected Rp 48.24 trillion ($5.26 billion) target for 2010.

Seto Mulyadi, chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA), however, said a ban on cigarettes would save the government trillions of rupiah on health spending.

“Every year, Indonesia spends more than Rp 100 trillion on tobacco-related health problems, three times more than the income from tobacco revenues,” he said.

PRACTISE EXUBERANCE :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


I have not been feeling that great in my heart since 2 days ago. There's a lump deep inside and I don't know what that is. So, this morning, I started my day with a cup of Nescafe and a few pieces of biscuits. Then, I read this~ EXUBERANCE IS BEAUTY. How simple a statement but yet it is not that easy to achieve. BEAUTY. Beauty to me is not only what you see from the outside but what is more important is the beauty inside.

The book said that IT IS OKAY TO MAKE A FOOL OF OURSELVES AND LAUGH UNTIL THE TEARS RUN DOWN OUR CHEEKS. It is okay to hug and kiss your mother without a reason but I don't have my mother with me here. In fact, I was brought up in a culture where children don't kiss their mothers without a reason. My mother didn't even kissed me on my birthdays when I was young. But that should not stop me from having some fun now. So, why don't we start with singing our heart out? What's your favourite song? Sing it out loud.

Don't hold back. Holding back your exuberance makes you old before your time. And sometimes, I think it does make one sick. EXPRESS YOUR JOY OPENLY. You are free to jump, laugh, cry and be joyful. SMILE and the whole world will smile at you.

SPAGETTHI :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~






Above was Tasty Cheese bought from the COLES Supermarket. It's really tasty.

My beloved soulmate cooked the above dish for me 2 days ago. That was what I had for dinner. When I asked him for the recipe to be shared with my darling blog readers, he said,"I think you should not put that recipe up yet. I want to try again and improvise it."

Okay...so you guys out there have to wait a while for the recipe, yeah?

*BIG HUGS*

COOKING WITH LOVE :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


I was in one of the cutest cafe in Prahran last week. They not only served lovely coffee, but have a huge choice of magazines and cook books. I happened to read O Magazine and found this beautiful cooking link. CLICK HERE. Tuesdays with Dorie. That's what it is called. And you know what? I think that I am going to try all the recipes in the website ;) Have fun cooking & baking mates! *BIG HUGS*

White Chocolate And Macadamia Cookies :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~




The above picture was taken last week. Yup, I had that for tea :) Nice, huh? Would you like to try the recipe?

Here's the recipe :) Have a go with it. To all overseas students, have fun baking! Smile and be happy when you bake because your cookies will tastes much better when you bake with love. Trust me :)



WHITE CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA COOKIES RECIPE :)

120 gram plain flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
100 gram butter
100 gram caster sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla beans/ vanilla extract
200 gram macademia (You may also use oats)
100 gram white chocolate, coursely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Methods:

1) Preheat oven to 180C and line a baking sheet. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

2) Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until incorporated.

3) Add flour mixture and mix until almost combined. Add macadamia /oats and chopped white chocolate. Stir until incorporated.

4) Divide dough into 1 teaspoon balls. Place on baking sheet and flatten a bit. Sprinkle with sea salt.

5) Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool on pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to wire rack.

BE HAPPY :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~




Time to go shopping at COLES *naughty winks* One thing that I must buy is WHITE BREAD. I can have them with some chicken curry. How great a dish that'll be? *Big Hugs**

Live Healthily :)

MOTIVATION CORNER :)




:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

You don't get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live. NOW. Live a good life!

It has been a while since I last updated this humble blog of mine. I'm too busy lately. I've not been baking for a few days. Maybe, I can start baking and cooking again once I am done with the cleaning job. Wait up!

FRENCH FRIES :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~


I don't really know why it's called french fries when you can have it anywhere and everywhere. Does it originate from France? Please let me know. I'm a bit blur on that part.



That is a must-know-how-to do-dish. FRESH FRIES. It is so easy. I have been doing it all by myself since I was in school. I usually buy the ones sold in the supermarket, deep fry them and sprinkle some salt on it. Grab a bottle of chilli sauce or tomato sauce. And tada...stomach filled. That's the easiest thing any student could do.