Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

HELLO SUMMER!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

HELLO SUMMER!

Imagine lying on the wet sand while the waves crashed ;) 

DON'T QUIT!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

SAY this: I AM NOT A QUITTER. The harder it is, the easier it is for me. Nothing comes easy. remember that! GET STARTED!

SUCCESS IS YOURS!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

SUCCESS is 10% INSPIRATION and 90% PERSPIRATION. So, don't be lazy. KEEP GOING! STAY POSITIVE!

STAY POSITIVE!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

One universal truths in life is "How you do anything is how you do everything. It is time to stop holding yourself back and just go for the gold. DRESS FOR SUCCESS! BE BRAVE!

COCONUT MILK RICE / NASI LEMAK

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I know most of you out there have visited Malaysian, Singaporean or even Indonesian Restaurants serving Nasi Lemak. And I bet most of you loved the taste of the fragrant rice. Here's the recipe for you to try at home. It's worth the effort. Enjoy it with your loves ones.

NASI LEMAK RECIPE

Ingredients:

Rice                                    500g
Coconut Milk                      100ml
Pandan leaves                      2 nos.

Water                                  1200ml
Salt                                      to taste

For sambal

Tamarind paste                     30g
Red onion                             1-2 nos. (depending on size)
Dried anchovies                    200g
Garlic                                   20g
Shallot                                  50g
Dried Chilli                           50g
Belacan (prawn paste)          10g
Salt                                        5g (or to taste)
Sugar                                    15g (or to taste)

Method:-

1. Using a rice cooker: Wash and drain rice. Add to rice cooker bowl. Add coconut milk, water, pandan leaves tied into a knot and season with salt to taste. Cover and press the 'cook' button.
2. Using a saucepan: add all the aforementioned ingredients into the saucepan. Cover and steam on medium heat until water evaporates/rice cooks. Fluff with a fork and dish out.
3. To cook the sambal, rinse dried anchovies and drain water. Fry in sufficient amount of out until lightly browned and set aside on a paper towel to rain excess oil.
4. Soak dried chilli in lukewarm water for 20 mins (or blanch in a pot on medium heat until soften). *Cut dried chilli into half with a scissors to remove seeds prior to soaking/blanching to reduce spiciness, if desired).
5. Toast belacan on open fire (use your stovetop) evenly on all sides (or fry in a small pan/wok without oil).
6. Blend or pound soften dried chilli, belacan, shallot, garlic into a paste.
7. Soak tamarind paste in about 1 cup of water and squeeze to extract juice. Remove and discard pulp.
8.  Slice red onion into rings.
9. Heat oil in a wok or pan and saute spice paste until fragrant and chilli is cooked (about 7-10 mins)
10. Add onion rings and fry. Then, add the fried anchovies and fry.
11. Add tamarind juice and season with salt and sugar. Simmer until sauce thickens a little.Dish out.
12. Serve rice with sambal on the side together with condiments: sliced cucumber, halved hard boiled egg, toasted peanuts and additional dishes such as fried chicken (if desired).

*For the sambal, fried anchovies may be replaced with shrimp or omitted entirely.
 

An Evening By The Beach :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful::: ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

MISTAKES ~A WAY TO LEARN ;)

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

No man ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes. 

~WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE (Former Prime Minister of Great Britain).

Stay Positive!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

It's been a while since I last posted something in this humble blog of mine. I've been quite busy lately. Anyway, here's something worth sharing. It's always easy to think small but you get better results when you THINK BIG. Stay Positive, mates!
.

Sharing More Pictures With You :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful::: ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~ Dearest silent readers, I have been facing a lot of problems lately with blogger. I'm unable to upload pics nor write an entry easily. The last entry with the picture of my collection of books took me almost an hour to get done. I've been struggling not to give up. Anyway, just in case I'll face the same problem in a week time, I might create a new blog. I'll try to get another 'SONGS OF MY HEART' address. To keep in touch, you may email to me at: mapleblooms@hotmail.com

Queueing To Be Read

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful::: ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Countdown To Winter Holidays :)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful::: ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~ Winter in SPAIN & ROME. Just thinking about it brought a warm feeling all the way down to my toes. Who needed holidays? Come... come... let's go!

Invaluable gift to self ;)

:::In the name of ALLAH, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful:::~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Let's go for a holiday!!! 

I guess it's the sort of thing that keeps passing through my mind lately. Maybe it's a biological clock thing. I need rest.

CHICKEN RENDANG

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Hello everyone! Ramadhan Mubarrak.

It has been 2 weeks since all Muslims started fasting and that means we're only half way to completing this journey in the holy month of Ramadhan. Like most people, I have been very busy baking cookies lately. That explains the missing me.

Anyway, here's something to share. The picture was taken just a while ago. That means this is what I'm having for breaking fast later today.

The Chicken Rendang is one of my many favourites for Eid. I'm sure it's not that easy to get when you are living overseas, as not many people here celebrate Eid in the Malaysian/Singaporean way. So, here's for us...despite the distance, we can still enjoy our delicious rendang as long as we're willing to spend extra hours in preparing the ingredients. To my non-Muslim silent readers, do have a try. I hope you'll love it, too.

CHICKEN RENDANG 

1kg  chicken, cut 12 pieces

Blended Ingredients
300g shallot (add more if you prefer)
30g or 5 cloves garlic
2 inch ginger root, sliced
1 inch galangal, sliced
20g fresh turmeric (use turmeric powder if not available)
3 stalks lemongrass (use white part only), sliced

3 tbsp chilli paste (more if you prefer more heat)(made preferably with dried chilli)

2 nos. turmeric leaves, finely sliced
5 nos. kaffir lime leaves, spine removed, torn into 2
2 cups coconut milk (if using coconut cream, dilute with equal amount of water)
3 tbsp toasted dessicated coconut paste a.k.a. kerisik
salt and pepper to taste 

Method:-

1. To make kerisik, ideally you need freshly grated coconut. Toast/dry fry in a wok over moderate heat, stirring with a spatula to evenly distribute the heat, until golden brown. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and pound until powedered and slightly oily. If fresh grated coconut is not available, you may substitute with packet dessicated coconut.

2. If using dried chilli to make paste, take about 2 handfuls (about 60g) and snip them into smaller pieces. Either soak them in water for about 20 minutes or boil on medium heat until soften. Blend in a food processor to a fine paste. Set aside. (if using fresh red chilli, blend about 120g into a fine paste)

3. Combine all blended ingredients in a food processor and blend to a fine paste.

4. In a wok or sufficient sized pot, heat about 1/2 cup of vegetable or palm oil over moderate heat and fry blended ingredients until fragrant.

5. Add chilli paste and fry until chilli is cooked, minimum 5 minutes. Add also kaffir lime leaves when frying the chilli paste. Stir occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom of the wok/pot. (You will see the oil separate after a while. this is normal. Stir again and fry until oil separates again. Repeat at least twice and chilli should be cooked).

6. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat with the sauce. Fry for a few minutes.

7. Add coconut milk and mix well. Add also half of the sliced turmeric leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Add coconut milk gradually. Colour of the sauce should be light brown but not too pale)

8. Add the kerisik and mix well. Continue to simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, for about 15 more minutes. (Check and adjust seasoning as necessary)(Colour of the sauce should turn darker brown after kerisik is mixed well)

9. Add remaining sliced turmeric leaves. Toss and take off heat.

10. Dish out and serve with white rice, coconut rice (nasi lemak) or rice cake cubes (as is traditionally done during Eid)

Enjoy!!!

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Just a reminder to all of us: LIVE IN BALANCE.

TIMBUKTU ANYONE?

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Whoever said there's no such place called TIMBUKTU?

SAUTE MUSHROOMS

Because this is one of my favourite foods, I would like you to try making them at home and taste it for yourself. Something healthy for consumption.

Here's the recipe:

1 red onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
300-400g button/shitake mushrooms (either one or mixed both)
dried oregano
salt and black pepper to taste.

Method:-

1. Depending on how fresh the mushrooms are, remove the stems and peel the top. Slice mushrooms.
2. Make a little stock by placing the stems in a small saute pan filled with a little water. Boil on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Strain out.
3. In a larger saute pan, heat 2-3 tbsp olive oil and saute onion and garlic until fragrant.
4. Add mushrooms to pan and saute. Add a little stock or water. (some mushrooms release water, so adding extra liquid is unnecessary. I only add stock or water if pan is too dry)
5. Saute until liquid evaporates/mushrooms soften. Season to taste.
6. Add dried oregano, stir well and promptly remove from heat.

FISH BALL SOUP

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

It's cold outside.
HELLO WINTER!

In the winter, over coffee and macaroons; I love to create new  healthy recipes. You can get all the ingredients at COLES or your nearby grocery shops. It's pretty simple to prepare, too. And I feel that this will be a good one to have during the cold days. Have it while it's hot. ENJOY!

SPICED FISH BALL SOUP RECIPE 

Whole spices:
Cinnamon stick 2 inches
Star anise 1 no.
Cloves 5 nos.
Cardamom 3 nos.

Ground ingredients:
Shallots 10 nos. (or more according to preference)
Garlic 5 cloves
Ginger 1/2 inch

Ground spices:
1 tbsp each of:-
Cumin powder
Fennel powder
Coriander powder 

Coriander leaves 50g (stalk and roots finely chopped, leaves coarsely chopped)

Carrot 1 no. (depending on size), cubed or cut according to own preference
Potato 3 nos. (depending on size), cubed/quartered or cut according to own preference
Fishball 12 nos.

Condiments:
Spring onions 2 nos., finely sliced
Fried Shallots 

Method:-

1. Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan and saute whole spices for 1 minute on low to medium heat.
2. Add ground ingredients and saute until fragrant.
3. Add about 7 cups of water to the saucepan. Add ground spices and mix well.
4. Add chopped coriander stalk and roots to the pan. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
5. Add potatoes, carrots and fishball. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes/carrots are tender
6. Add coriander leaves and simmer for 1-2 minutes. 
7. Dish out and serve, garnished with spring onions and fried shallots (optional).

LITTLE MIRACLES

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

Am currently reading this book. I bought it at the $5 shop before walking to the Federation Square.

GREEN BEANS PORRIDGE

 

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

GREEN BEANS PORRIDGE RECIPE

This is a favourite dish around tea time.

Among the ingredients you need to make GREEN BEANS PORRIDGE are:

Green beans

Brown Sugar 

(although somehow it doesn't look too brown in the pic)

Screwpine leaves (a.k.a. pandanus leaves)

Ingredients:-

1/2 cup green beans

1500 ml (approx) water

1 large or 2 small screwpine leaves (knotted like the pic)

3/4 cup coconut milk

Brown sugar to taste

Salt to taste

Method:-

1. In a medium saucepan, add green beans, about 1000 ml water and the knotted screwpine leaves. Bring to boil on high heat.

 

2. Boil until the green beans break/split.(If too much water evaporates during or at the end of  the process, add more water from the reserved 500 ml. Ensure there is at least an inch or so of water above the level of the green beans before going to step 3)

3. Reduce heat to medium and add the coconut milk. If using coconut cream, use about half the recipe. Stir to mix well. Bring to a simmer.

4. Stir in brown sugar to desired sweetness. (try 2-3 tbsp for starters)
5. Add about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt or to taste.

6. Ready to eat. Final consistency should not be too watery nor too thick. Remove screwpine leaves before serving in bowl. Serve hot with a side of a couple of pieces of cream cracker biscuits, to be coarsely broken into the bowl just prior to eating (optional).

Happy Trying!

Don't be afraid to say : 'I am sorry'

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

The first to say "I am sorry" is the winner. You'll have a peaceful mind and heart. It's the easiest way to stay feeling happy again inside out. Try it!

FIND A WING TO CLIMB UNDER

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

It has been a while since I last wrote in this humble blog of mine. How are you, mates?

I have something to share with you today. Something that could make us better than yesterday, hopefully. Something for us to ponder. Have a read.

Study anyone who's great, and you'll find that they apprenticed to a master, or several masters. Therefore, if you want to achieve greatness, renown, and superlative success, you must apprentice to a master.

~Robert Allen (Self-made millionaire and co-author of The One Minute Millionaire)

Get On With It Already!

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

A month ago, I believed in the following when it came to new books: A good book without the right promotion, will not sell. But since the past 14 days, that has changed into: A good book, even with good promotion, will still not sell if people do not want to give it a chance.

HALAL food in Sanur, Bali

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I love staying at Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel & Suites. It's one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever enjoyed staying in. You should try it! And as usual, I love to eat. And here are the list of some of the restaurants I've visited during my stay.

BUMBU DESA
Jl. Raya Puputan No 42 Renon-Denpasar
Open: 10.00-22.00
Recommended menu: Gurame Goreng, Ayam Bumbu Desa, Sambal Goreng (free sambal with lalapan that is a must try)

PONDOK KURING
Jl. Raya Puputan No 56 Renon-Denpasar
Open: 10.00-22.00
Recommended menu: Nasi Bakar, Gurame Sambal Mangga


NATRABU ( the restaurant is located only a couple of kilometres away from Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel.)
Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai
Recommended Menu: Ayam Gulai, Ayam Bakar, Terong Balado, Telor Balado, Singkong, Rendang Sapi

I've not been to the ones mentioned below but in a pamphlet that I took from Pondok Kuring, these restaurants are said to be halal. One even has a Majelis Ulama Indonesia certificate on it. Perhaps, if you are here, you may want to give it a try:

SIOMAY deeBali
Jln. Cokroaminoto No 320 Ubung, Denpasar.
Open: 10.00-22.00
(has MUI Certificate)



TOP GUNG
Jl. Teuku Umar No. 168 Block 1,
Depan Fave Hotel Denpasar-Bali.
Open: 12.00-24.00

Mie Goreng MAKASSAR
Jl. Teuku Umar No. 65C,
Dekat Simpang Enam.
Open: 11.00-23.00

The pamphlet I mentioned earlier is actually produced by Hallo Restaurants, a delivery service that offers food order and delivery from any of the restaurants listed in the pamphlet to nearby hotels/villas/residences. To order you may call them up at: (0361) 218 2000/3000.

Just a warning though, it may be difficult for calls to get through. And the prices per dish are more expensive than at the restaurants but they don't charge extra for the delivery service. However, their extra charges overall may be cheaper compared to the cab fare to and from any of the restaurants.

STAY POSITIVE!

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I read this poem earlier today. It's worth sharing. Have a read.

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favours and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I needed.
And my prayer has been answered.

~Anonymous~

Crazy Over Books

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I am a bookworm. I love to read. And this is my latest craving. Have you read it?

http://www.mphonline.com/books/nsearchdetails.aspx?&pcode=9789671128411

Faith Takes Time

 

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

~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I know God can heal all things...
broken lives and broken wings.
Only He can mend a heart
that time has torn apart.
As the seasons make their turn
there's a lesson to be learned.
Broken wings take time to mend
before I learn to fly again.
~Finding Hope when life's not fair, page 151, by Lee Ezell.

If you are feeling down and disappointed, I suggest you read this book. It's great! I love it so much.

*Hugs to all*

Happy New Year!

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

 ~PATIENCE IS VITAL~

I've been very busy lately. I am so sorry for not updating this humble blog for quite sometime. How are you, mates? Happy New year to all of you. May this year brings good health and happiness to all. Biggest hugs from me.