Projek memasak tengah malam: Shortbread cookie.

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Alhamdulillah baru sahaja siap baking biskut Shortbread. Lebih kurang macam butter cookie la tapi tanpa telur. Berperang kat dapur hampir 2 jam juga la tadi (11pm-1am : plus masa mengemas). ALang-alang dah nak balik UIA minggu depan, maka buat la sekali 'stok' untuk dibawa bersama. Lebih jimat, terjamin kebersihan dan sihat. Cuba tengok paket biskut yang ada. Bahan-bahan dia berjela-jela. I bet half of it are preservatives. Baiklah sidang pembaca yang dihormati sekalian, tanpa membebel dengan lebih lama, mari kita lihat proses pembuatan biskut saya ini.

Bahan-bahan yang di perlukan:

-175 gram butter
-250 gram tepung gandum
-75 gram gula halus
-1 sudu teh garam

Cara- caranya (macam abah selalu cakap):

1- Kacau gula dengan butter hingga kembang. Ini penting.

2- Tambahkan tepung bersama garam. Kacau lagi hingga sebati.

3- Uli dan terus uli. Eh. Sampai agak licin permukaan doh tersebut.

4- Gelek dan terap guna acuan yang anda suka. Di sini saya gunakan acuan teddybear MrBean yang ada.

5- Susun mereka beramai-ramai di atas dulang pembakar. Walaupun biskut ini tidak berkembang seperti kebanyakan biskut- biskut lain, pastikan ada sedikit ruang antara bisut- biskut anda untuk pembakan dan pengudaraan yang lebih baik. Di peringkat ini juga, anda boleh menghias biskut mengikut kreativiti tersendiri (tambah hiasan cip coklat, gula yang berwarna-warni, kacang dan sebagainya).

6- Bakar di dalam microwave oven (pre-heat dahulu yea dengan suhu setinggi 180 darjah) selama lebih kurang 20 minit. Siap. Selamat menjamu selera.

Recipe: Humus

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Yesterday, I tried to made Hummus, a famous Arab side dish. You can either eat it with pita bread or eat it on its own. If you want to try it, here's the recipe to share:

The ingredients needed are:

1- 500gm of chickpeas. Soak it for about 12 hours. The best time is actually 24 hours. You may also use canned chickpeas.

2. 2-3 cloves of garlic. Slice them.

3. About 1/4 cups of lemon juice.

4. 1/4 cups of tahina or sesame paste. You can get it at shops that sell Arab food condiments and ingredients.

5. Dash of salt.

The methods:

1-Cook the chickpeas until tender for about 1 hour.

2- Combine it with with other ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

The end product...Humus. You may add olives with olive oil. Or sprinkle it with some paprika. In this recipe, I use chili flakes instead.

Enjoy it with a bismillah =)

Baking day =)

Bismillahirahmanirahim,

Today, I feel like to bake something special. So happy when I look that my parents enjoyed them. Alhamdulillah... =). So, here's they are.

1- Meat and Vegetables Pizza.

2- Raisin and Cranberry Bread.

Daging Masak Kicap: Indian Style

Bahan- bahan:

- 1 kg daging (dihiris nipis)
- 1 cawan kicap manis
- 1/4 cawan serbuk cili
- 1 sudu kecil jintan (ditumbuk)
- 1 sudu kecil ketumbar (ditumbuk)
- 1 sudu kecil lada hitam (ditumbuk)
- 2 sudu besar tepung jagung/ gandum
- 1 batang serai (dititik)
- 2 cawan air
- 3 ulas bawang merah (dihiris)
- 2 inci halia (dihiris)
- 4 ulas bawang putih (dihiris)
- 3 biji tomato (potong 'wegdes')
- 2 biji cili hijau (dipotong panjang)
- 1 inci kulit kayu manis
- 1 sudu kecil bunga cengkih
- 1 bunga lawang
- 1 tangkai daun ketumbar
- garam secukup rasa
- minyak untuk menggoreng

1) Panaskan minyak. Goreng bawang merah, halia, bawang putih hingga kekuningan.
2) Tambah rempah ratus. Kacau
3) Tambah serbuk cili, ketumbar dan jintan. Kacau 1 minit.
4) Tambah 1 cawan air dan kicap. Gaul rata.
5) Tambah daging dan 1 cawan air.
6) Tambah tepung sebagai pemekat kuah.
7) Masukkan tomato, serai, cili hijau. Kacau rata.
8) Masukkan garam dan dengan menggunakan api sederhana, tunggu hingga daging empuk.
9) Hidangkan.

All the Best

Of Kuih Tart, Sewing, Life and Patience

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

1- Kuih Tart.

Kuih tart is one of my favourite 'kuih raya' besides popia mini. Could eat a jar (aigooo) while ignoring other cookies available on the table.

But I guess now it is not only limited during eid or Chinese New Year. As a solution to my love towards the cookie, I decided to try my hand in making it.

mini traffic light tarts- I guess

The process of baking is quite tedious, though. At first, I have to divide the dough into three parts. Each for three different colours- for the sake of little fun and happiness. Then, the stage of rolling the dough into small balls- not bigger than the size of keys on your laptop's keyboard- 1.5cm. After that, the step of stuffing the pineapple jam and rolling back the dough.Almost 1 1/2 hours. Luckily, the baking process doesn't take that much time. Only 12 minutes/ 180 Celsius for each batch.

It really tested my patience... something to learn and develop this virtue in myself.

But it's worth it. Alhamdulillah. Now I have the access to Kuih Tart whenever I want (^^,).

2. Sewing.

I like to sew. Arts and craft, to be exact. A bit slow when it comes to baju kurung. I remembered there's Sewing Class during my days in primary school (IIC-Adni). Teacher Asfalaila was the instructor back than. She taught us how to make applique (like patch work), blanket sticth and cross stitch. And now thanks a lot to my dearest mum for letting us (me & sister) to sometimes 'abuse' her sewing machine. During the previous 1 week school break, I 'buried' myself into this cross-stitch project. A bunch of purple flowers. 60% of completion. Dealing with 24 different colours of thread for this particular project...is fun.

3. Books.

Apart from sewing and cooking, I tried to read some books during the break. Found some old novel ( Serious Malay Literature- not that 'geli-geli' type) that abah bought years ago.

Went for groccery shopping with mama at Alamanda Putrajaya and there, MPH Bookstore hosted a warehouse sale in the concourse area. Their premise is currently under renovation. Treat myself with 3 new books. Alhamdulillah. Semoga koleksi buku yang ada dapat di wariskan dan dimanfaatkan oleh generasiku nanti...

4. Poetry

I hate writing. I hate seeing my own writings, actually. Besau =). I observed someone's writing in the person's book that is in my room at home. So kecik. Kadang jelous tengok tulisan orang yang kecil-kecik (lala). Tapi Alhamdulillah masih diberi kekuatan untuk menulis.

Had a chat with my best friend, Nurul. Over our online conversation, I typed a phrase of thought. Quite spontaneous.

''Usah kau bertanya mengapa ku bersedih. Usah kau soal mengapa ku menangis. Usah kau runsing mengapa ku berdiam. Kerana segala jawaban akan ku simpan erat menjadi sebuah rahsia..."

Ups and downs of life are sometimes too beautiful. Never mourn at a pouring heavy rain as who knows...it might gave you rainbows and sunshine.

Never compiled what I wrote. Its thrown everywhere...ahaaa (^^,)

Allah Knows Best.

Eating? Or working?

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Alhamdulillah I managed to fulfill my promise to go back home this weekend. Nothing feels best like home ('',)...looking at at our parents' face is the most calming thing to do. After mum picked me from Gombak, we went straight to my Aunt's place in Shah Alam to meet grandma. Thank you nenek for always taking me to the mosque since I was a toddler (I remembered her pushing my stroller) to accompany her in her agama and Qur'an classes.

At night, me, mum and abah went to Sungai Besi for some errands. There, while stopping at the roadside (as abah wanted to make few phone calls), I looked and observed things around. The stalls was countless but the one that our car stopped beside was already closed that time. I keep staring at that particular stall and suddenly spotted something on the ground. Guess what?

Cockroaches...!!! Yes. Encik , Puan, dan Anak-anak lipas sekeluarga...

They were like feasting or just enjoying the moment without humans' presence. Seriously. Seemed very happy and hyperactive. Kept running all over the place. Luckily I was in the car.

The question is...

1) Did they ever managed to climbed up the tables?
2) Or even worse... leaving little bits of their trails in the kitchen?

Fikir kejap...

*****

That's why I am hoping (and targeted) to learn few new recipes per month. Thinking about all the hygiene and health issue related to the food industry that sometimes appear in the mass media, I know I must do something. At least for myself, family and circles of friends. It is because what we eat will be a part of of our body.

Okay... I made these over the weekend at home....

Fruit Pizza

Wholemeal Bread

and Kue Tart...dah selamat dalam perut...

*****

Insya Allah tomorrow would be the 8th week of the year 2011 school session and yet, many things are waiting ahead for me.

Tomorrow? Rabbi Yassir Wala Tu'assir, Rabbi Tammim Bikhair...

The whole week, I would probably have to spend 8am- 6:30pm at school than the my normal hours of 10:30am- 6:30pm. Tak apa lah sibuk sekejap. Nanti dah ada family sendiri satu hari nanti, Insya Allah will try my best to spend more time with them. Exam is coming up. And so do the school's Sports Carnival.

Insya Allah solat and ibadah will not be ignored. Abah said that, by hook or crook...PRAY!

A colleague noted that she is a bit 'takut' in seeing the way I did my job. Hihi... a bit detailed. Yes. Serious. Yes. But don't worry. I won't munch people. I can still be joking and laugh my heart out even while working on something.

Allah Knows Best.

Chilling at home =)

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

As today is a holiday and I have nothing much to do, I decided to came up with the Banana Ice Cream...without sugar. Just milk, bananas and few drops of butter vanilla. Started to make it at around 12pm but only managed to consume it after Maghrib. Have to kacau the semi hardened mixture every 30- 45minutes to obtain the desired texture. Maka housemate pun pelik tengok dok ulang alik bukak freezer... but the end- product...Alhamdulillah. Satisfied. Mari makan tanpa was-was... tak dapat ABC, buat eskrem pun jadi la...

Then, boiled peach-apricot tea. Teringat pula teh kat event hari tu. The best place to be is indeed...home.

p/s: and Kak Fizah started to remind me about the big doughnut back in Bangi...camno?

Allah Knows Best

Lights ahead...

Bismillahirahmanirahim....

En premir lugar,lo siento para ser emocional. Awwalu kalaam, ana aasif litakun aatofiyyah. First of all, I would like to say sorry for being emotional.

(update: Alhamduillah am already 100% ok after some du'as last nite =) )

Yup. Like the emoticon chart I pasted on my office wall, one of the smileys stated as " I didn't know why I cried''. Just ignore me. Will be alright in no time. ('',). I know I have to learn to stand strong on my own. Had an online conversation with a former colleague. Normal conversation like "apa khabar etc...''. Few seconds later, she asked "Are you having prob?''. Errk...haish. Belum taip apa-apa lagi masa tu. Emotional issue. Tentang seketul daging bernama hati. I've been asked few time " Macam mana nak tau kalau Mairah ni tgh marah ke, sedih ke..". I answered " Only those who are closed to me understands me". 6th sense? Sometimes. Sebab saya ni kadang keras macam batu tapi dalam hati hanya Allah yang tahu. Ok. I don't want to wet my laptop with my tears...sobb...sobb...

Ok. Now we proceed to the happy chapter of today's life journey...

Slept last night with the Qur'an recitations runs in my laptop and put on my headphone until Subh. With the intention to strengthen memorization of few surahs. Sleeps easily and Alhamdulillah woke up fresh.

This week is my MINGGU BERTUGAS. Handling the assembly, attend to students' problems etc. Good early start during the assembly. As MAULIDUR RASUL is on Tuesday (15/2), one of the ustaz hold a small talk about PROPHET MUHAMMAD S.A.W. Before he begins, he turned on Maher Zain's song. Teringat masih ada 'hutang lagu' / request from my students (sorry kids still didn't have time)...kira hari ini selesai, aci tak?

Conducted a small ART THERAPY during my Science class in 1 Yasir today. I gave each of them small pieces of plasticine to turn into any desired shapes. Alhamdulillah... saw many budding artist today. I also learn more about their personalities through their art pieces.

I was asked to replace a teacher who was on leave as I got only 1 teaching session today. The kids (some of them whom I taught Science during standard 1 last year) asked " Muallimah, kenapa tahun ni tak ajar kitorang (darjah 2) Sains?''. Sometimes later in the washroom, met those kids again. I smiled when they said ''Muallimah ni baik kan. Kenapa tahun ni muallimah tak ajar kitorang''. Huh? Garang pun baik kah anak-anak ku?

A student gave me fruit pizza...yummy. Alhamdulillah. Got another idea on what recipe/ food to make. Thank you Aqeelah dear.

At night, sometimes after Isya', had some conversations with Kak Tasha, a mother of two who reverted to Islam from Christianity...teaching her some du'a recitations and answering questions related to Islam. Through our conversation, I learnt about the stages of voices in singing (as Kak Tasha was a member of a choir team before). Stage 1-4. Almost similar in Quranic Recitation as in Quranic Recitation, there are: suara dari mulut, suara perut, suara kepala (paling susah kontrol), and suara tekak. Still in the stage of improving and learning. Browsed through the net and found a tarannum song that I once taught to my students in Kelab Nasyid back in 2008.

Last but not least, a mini clay art...out of boredom. Hope they'll dry and hardened by morning.

Left my box of paints at home, so only managed to use these three available colors.

p/s: Salam Maulidur Rasul & Happy 25TH Anniversary to my dearest parents Mr Ismail Ahmed and Mrs Sharifah Muznirah (12 Rabiul Awwal 1407/ 14 November 1986)

Allah Knows Best

Baked egg in the hole of the centre of a bread

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Aihh..panjangnya nama resipi... sapa nak kasi idea nama pendek sikit?

Alhamdulillah masih diberi peluang untuk buat sesuatu sebagai alas perut a.k.a dinner. Masih tertimbus diri ini di timbunan kerja-kerja awalan tahun... Beserta milo ais yang sentiasa di simpan stok dalam peti ais (mak pun kata: milo je la kamu ni).

p/s: Esok mahu ke opis lagi satu a.k.a Kaunseling Opis UIAM pagi-pagi sebelum mula sekolah 11:30 am. Suka hati mahu sibuk-sibuk kat situ. 2 bulan kot tak pergi. Alih-alih, konseler mesej tanya..."Lama tak mai. Busy ke cikgu?".

Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat...

Cheesecake philosophy: Patience, Appreciation and Beauty

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Just finished making a pink blueberry cheesecake. Pink? Yup. The colour I dislike most but sometimes, why don't we bake a coloured cheesecake instead of the usual cream coloured ones?.Anak sulung Puan Sharifah ni kalau bagi masak, macam-macam jadi nya nanti... but thanks mama for always supporting me to cook and bake.

Before pouring the blueberry jam....sila jangan pengsan lihat kaler dia.

Cheesecake is the cake with the least ingredients needed...creamcheese, sugar and eggs. As for the base, you will only need few pieces of cream crackers, few tablespoons of butter, dashes of sugar. But the whole process from the preparation stage, baking, and refrigerating took at least 4 hours. First you have to bake the biscuit base (10 minutes), then you pour in the cheese mixture, pop it in the oven (35 minutes) and later, put it in the refrigerator to set (at least 3 hours. The best is overnight).

It really need a lot of patience and careful observation. Making sure you does not over beat. Making sure that the texture is just right. Making sure that the crust doesn't burn. But the waiting is really worth it...Insya Allah.

Our life's like that. We basically need the same thing to keep breathing-air, water, shelter, money, health, etc. But each of us have to go to different process for each of their needs. Some people may own luxury cars, a mansion, heaps of money to spend. While others may just own a motorcycle, lives with his wife and kids in a small apartment. But those men in the two different groups must know how to control and take care of their life. The most important thing is to always remember to groom our faith and 'ibadah as He is the One who rewards us with the privileges we have now. Only then we shall feel the ni'mah or zouq of iman and living with His blessings.

Tests...is a must. Hardships...is a must. Tears...is a must. Or else, life would only be blank. And quiet.

Kadangkala, kita meminta akan rama-rama yang indah tetapi hanya menerima seekor ulat. Kita mengeluh dan berputus asa untuk berdoa serta berusaha. Namun kita tidak menyedari bahawa ulat tersebut akan menjadi seekor rama-rama yang indah.

Allah Knows Best

Today's recipe....testing2...

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

For dinner just now...

1) Fresh Baked Potato and Mozzarella Cheese

Among the ingredients needed are...(not all are listed. sat lagi berbau kamera bawak masuk dapur)

potato (-oes)

Olive oil

Black pepper

End product...Alhamdulillah :).

2) Vanilla-apricot pudding


Sila-sila jamu...baca Bismillahirahmanirahim dulu....

Happy to make my mum and dad satisfied and full :). Let's explore more recipes later.

Allah Knows Best

Milo &ABC Philosophy

(these came out of my mind...)

Did you mind if i put only a little bit of milk? Or did you feel hurt when i boil the water to hot? Is it freezing cold when the glass is full of ice?Its not easy to make it perfect but enjoy the moment when we are together...

The mountains of ice.... with its pink and black flowing sugar. Dig it under and you will find...Ei....where's the cincau? Oh...let me see. You got a lot more kidney beans than me. Pass it here some to me. You will aware what your friends like and share it with them. When the ice has melted, don't just let it go...admire it. As you had enjoyed beutiful moment with it before.

Hobbies-revived.

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Ok. Enough of Convocation 2010 story. Will keep the rest of story for my kids later.

Alhamdulillah I am now in a short-break mood.3 days. 5-7 October 2010. PMR. So, I take this opportunity to be at home with my parents and cats. But not a full holiday. Have to finish sewing order (bekas botol air) from my officemate and cheesecake order from an IIUM Counselor.

Bought 4 new khat books yesterday. I like them very much. Just need to warm up and open back my box of khat-writing supplies. Belajar penat-penat tak praktis, nanti lupa. Orang kata kalau mak suka kat buku, nanti anak-anak pun Insya Allah suka buku ('',).

Ok. Just a short break. Need to bake some blueberry muffins as will visit my aunt and grandma in Shah Alam tonight. Nak?

Allah knows best.

Story about....

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Suddenly remembered that I kept these pictures in my old laptop...my visit to a 'kambing farm' in Rawang March last year...

tak nak join sekali ke? jemput la ye

sempat posing si kecik ni

Historical moment in my life. 4th Syawwal 1431 @ 13 September 2010. 1st time I ate a kambing-based meal. It was by accident actually. Mummy made me ate it. Owh...I didn't notice at all that it was 'kambing' like always except I do taste the familiar kambing taste a little but ignored it. Ok. Wheres' my alarm for kambing?

Even my kampung is in Batu Pahat which is known for its nasi baryani, I would always ordered chicken as its side dishes- or rather it it with only papadom if there are no other lauk provided.

Would I eat it again in the future?

*Shrug...*

Abah recently jokingly said to me 'Nanti akak kawin nak buat kambing bakar (yg dok golek2 tu)'. I bet he would the most happiest person to enjoyed it. Then I asked mum 'Mak, kalau orang buat kambing golek-golek untuk kenduri berapa kos dia ek?'. As long as abah is happy. Cuba kumpul bajet...

p/s: Ikan lagi sedap , ok ;) But I think its time for me to learn how to cook lamb-based dishes. Tiba nanti mak mentua suh masak...encik hubby mengidam ke...

Macam-macam ada...

Bismillahirahmanirahim....

Alhamdulillah we are now reaching the 16th of Ramadhan 1431. I think today of I turn on my radio on my phone , lagu raya will be here and there (first time sahur di IIUM Gombak dgn Amni, Chah, Miza, Alyn, Sam, Aimi-punya nak bagi celik mata pasang Dendang Perantau).

Tomorrow, 27th August/ 17th Ramadhan will be Nuzul Qur'an and the school i'tiqaf at Masjid Usamah bin Zayd, Wangsa Maju. Can't wait for the moment (thanks ayah for letting me to join the programme & postponing our balik kampung trip to Johor on Saturday afternoon). The school management did allow its staff to bring their family members (ok...siapa nak ikut mama?Abah?...haha).

Mosques should be more 'children friendly' rather than putting up the sign "KANAK-KANAK DI BAWAH USIA 5 TAHUN TIDAK DIBENARKAN'' etc. It is a quite frustrating scenario I guess. They should just let the kids to linger around the mosque compund observing the adults doing their prayers and other 'ibadah rather than letting them to linger around shopping malls and cinemas ( terima kasih nenek masa Yah kecik2 dulu nenek selalu bawak ke Masjid Kampung Baru).

Raya preparations? Honestly I am not the type that loves shopping (bertuah abah nanti kan?). i just can't stand the idea walking in the middle of hundreds of people on a hot day just to get the best tudung bargain. I would rather buy them early or...just wear any jubah/ baju kurung that I have. When my cousins were still small, wearing fancy baju kurung and tudung would not be my choice as I have to entertain them. I even have to put of my spectacles as babies really like to pull them off.

Kasut raya also like that...no fancy or beaded sandals for me. Last raya, I did not aware that mum observed my foot ware and brought me to a nearby shopping mall on the malam raya to buy a new pair for me (mak pun pening aku pilih sneakers BUM kaler itam instead of a bling-bling slippers. Lagi sedap nak jalan).

Kuih raya? If people were to visit my home in Bangi, they would not find 10 jars of kuih raya arranged on the coffee table. Usually, I will only bake chocolate chips cookies and cornflake cookies and mum will usually cook if guests come over to our place.

Moga Ramadhan kali ini lebih baik dari Ramadhan sebelumnya...

Allah Knows Best

Randoms...

Bismillahirahmanirahim…

It’s been a while since I wrote something in this page. I’ve been a week in Waterfront Kuala Terengganu accompanying mum conducting a course there. Alhamdulillah as I gained a lot of experiences while being in other people’s place.

Food. Ok. I know I am bit into foods but really…the choices in Terengganu are really wonderful. With their famous keropok lekor and keropok keping, sagun, all kinds of dipping sauces and sweets. Visited the Pasar Payang on the second day there and received a memorable remark by a makcik there: Adik, cuti skoloh ka?. Err…do I look too young. Haha. No la kan. Why would the makcik think that I am still schooling when wife-hood and mummy-hood is just few years away?

Business. As to my observation, there are a numbers of jewelry shops around there. Every few steps you take, you are sure to meet at least one. Choosing other stuffs such as batik apparels and pieces should be done carefully as different shops selling the same product with different price range. Saw two interesting signboards and took me minutes to figure out what they meant actually (my Terengganu vocabulary are disaster): Roti Tempayang and Jeput Pisang which later I discover there are actually: Roti Tempayan (Roti Naan) and Jemput Pisang (or Cekodok). Lessons learnt: Learn others’ language before entering their territory ; p.

Places of Interest. I went to Pulau Wan Man or Taman Tamadun Islam where it houses the Crystal Mosque and other 20 replicas of mosques around the world but unfortunately, I did not really enter the vicinity of the interesting replicas for a closer look as it was around 12 noon and the sun was high in the sky. However, I got the chance to glance at few of them through the gate. They are really, really beautiful and should make the place a must visit place the next time I go there one day, Insya Allah.

Allah Knows Best…

Mission impossible

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Alhamdulillah for the blessing bestowed on us. With strength and courage, I managed to continue my driving lessons after few month break. Only 2 classes left before the big day with JPJ. Hoping to finish it well as soon as I could. Vromm...vromm. Sometimes I do wish to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Trip to my hometown in Johor made me adore a lot of big bikes assembly but I know mum will not allow me to do so. Anyway, I still keep my helmet (which my roomate said looks like a racing helmet except its not a full face covered)...bought just for the sake to have a ride back from class to hostel with Kak Pizah . Maybe later will give it to my husband (woot..woot). Nevermind. Just for the sake and training to be a more ladylike person. Demi anak-anak dan mereka yang di sayangi (basikal pun tak berani...hehe).

Today I succeeded in making pop corns from the kernels mum bought from the bakery supply store. Alhamdulillah with few trial and errors, I filled a jar with supplies of the white fluffy thing.

My first homemade popcorn

Few lessons are learnt:

1) Don't put too much kernels at a time. If not, it will not pop properly.
It could be applied to our life. Different people have different capacity to learn new things. Especially children. Never force them to do so much things without taking into consideration their mental ability. Some people could study straight 3-4 hours while some others may take few minutes of intervals/ break.

2) Adjust the temperature accordingly.
Sometimes in life, we can run errands in a face pace. At other times, when we feel tired and exhausted, we should take things more slowly to avoid stress and tensions.

3) Trial and error of problem solving.
There are advantages of this principles where in the course of trials, we may discover new methods of doing things and never give up even the results are not as soon as we expected.

Oh...why am I talking about food philosophy here?

Learning is indeed a lifelong process.

Allah Knows Best.

Learning to be a new person...

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Alhamdulillah. Subhanallah. Thank you Allah...for the blessings that You've bestowed upon us, Your Servants. My clearance procedure today went well. Finished everything in just about 30 minutes. Thanks to the new online system. I also succeed in submitting the bio data form to be placed in the upcoming 2009/ 2010 class commemorative graduation book. Woa!! Am I now officially a graduate of IIUM? But I guess that I am still a student-always and forever as learning is lifelong process.

IIUM. The Garden of Knowledge and Virtues surely hold thousands of memories. From the beloved mahallah, classes, mosque, friends, cafeterias and everything other else.


But for me, the most important thing to remind our self after graduating is-am I still me? Am I still whom my friends used to know?

Cats. Among the other things I miss in IIUM.

3 months of break and I am still learning a lot of things. I recently picked up a new hobby- SEWING. Ok. Not a big deal. But I am hoping to improve my skills in making baju kurung. Browsing and looking foward in making other craftworks is so much fun. Like mama once told me "List down the things that is needed in a marriage life''. I guess SEWING is one of it, right?

Cooking. Yum-yum. Alhamdullillah baked a cheese cake, made grilled dory fish, Arab dishes such as humus and salad. Am putting a target to learn new dishes day by day, Insya Allah. In accordance with that, I enjoyed 'studying' and copying recipes into my laptop from my aunt collection of recipe books during my stay in Batu Pahat recently.

I've got no idea what name to give to this prawn-based dish

Photography. Two weddings, an engagement and a trip to Utara had given me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge. With my Haytham (camera), I tried to capture every beautiful moments I saw.

There are still lot more things to learn. And may Allah bless our effort to be a good Muslim and daei on this world.

Amin...

Makanan ringan? Wah...sedapnya.

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Malam Selasa yang lalu (27/April/2010), teman mama pi ceramah HPA mengenai perubatan JAWI (herbs) di Residence Hotel Uniten. Di antara kisah yang aku tertarik ialah kisah mengenai seorang kanak-kanak yang baru berusia 6 tahun tetapi sudah menghafal Al-Qur'an. Masya Allah. Apabila ditanya mengenai amalan/ perkara yang memudahkannya untuk menghafal Al-Qur'an di usia yang mentah, beliau menjawab " Ibu bapa saya tidak pernah memberi saya makan makanan ringan. Saya juga tidak kenal apa itu jajan, chikedees, dan sebagainya"



Hebat kan? Kanak- kanak di zaman ini, seusia beberapa bulan pun sudah diperkenalkan dengan makanan ringan. Baik untuk memujuk ketika 'tantrum' ataupun sebagai snek di waktu lapang. Tanya lah kepada mereka apa yang mahu dibeli ketika/ waktu hendak ke pasaraya/ kedai. Pastinya antara jawapan yang diterima ialah "keropok/ twisties dsb''. Seperti yang ditunjukkan di dalam iklan di kaca televisyen. Apabila anak-anaknya menyatakan mahu sesuatu yang menyeronokkan, ibunya lantas membeli coklat Kinder Joy yang didalamnya mengandungi coklat dan permainan kecil. Amat menakjubkan jikalau anak-anak berpesan kepada ibunya kala mahu melangkah ke kedai dengan "ibu, belikan saya buah epal".

Cuba anda perhatikan barangan apakah yang di pamerkan di kaunter bayaran di pasaraya. Sayur-sayuran? Bukan. Muesli? Bukan. Buku? Lagi la bukan. Coklat dan gula? Betul. Kenapa? Seperti yang aku pelajari di dalam kelas Perdagangan di Tingkatan 5 dahulu, itu ialah antara strategi perniagaan dan promosi yang digunakan untuk menarik perhatian anak-anak. Aku selalu memerhatikan, anak-anak di saat ibubapa sedang mencari barang dapur, mereka sudah membelek-belek untuk membuka bungkusan air Vitagen atau keropok yang sudah diambil terlebih dahulu. Si ibu sentiasa memesan kepada si anak supaya menunggu hingga barangan tersebut dibayar baru boleh di jamah. Jikalau barangan tersebut disusun atur berhampiran dengan pintu keluar/ kaunter bayaran, pastinya si anak tidak perlu menunggu untuk tempoh yang lama untuk makan produk tersebut.

Aku sendiri bersyukur kerana tidak pernah 'dilatih' sedari kecil oleh kedua ibubapa ku untuk menjadikan makanan ringan sebahagian daripada hidangan harianku. Kecuali coklat. Opps...tetapi aku bersyukur dengan hadirnya 'migraine' sekali- sekala mencegah ku untuk menggantikan coklat dengan nasi (maksudnya makan dalam kuantiti yang banyak). Terus- terang aku nyatakan baru kini aku mengenali dan merasa sedikit sebanyak coklat, gula-gula dan chikedees yang 'sedap'. Termasuk juga asam. Kalau terlebih 'dos' (kuantiti), tekak aku akan automatik berasa tidak sedap.

Apakah sebenarnya kesan buruk yang di akaibatkan oleh makanan ringan ini ya? Kesan buruk yang pertama ialah kekurangan tenaga. Ia. Memang benar orang akan mengatakan bahawa makanan yang manis itu akan memberikan mereka tenaga untuk melaksanakan tugas tetapi oleh kerana makanan ringan tidak mengandungi zat dan nutrien, badan anda akan menjadi lemah. Pengambilan makanan ringan yang 'kaya' dengan kandungan garam juga akan menyebabkan tekak kita merasa haus kerana dehidrasi air dari tubuh.

Kesan yang kedua ialah kekurangan daya tumpuan. Ini ialah kesan daripada lebihnya kandungan minyak dalam makanan tersebut yang akan menyebabkan seseorang itu berasa mengantuk lalu gagal untuk menumpukan perhatian. Kesan jangka panjang pula ialah peredaran darah dalam sistem tubuh manusia akan menjadi perlahan kesan daripada pengumpulan lemak dalam tubuh. Kekurangan oksigen dan nutrien penting juga akan menyebabkan sel otak 'mati' buat seketika.

Kesan yang ketiga ialah sakit jantung. Myocardial infraction, sejenis kegagalan jantung yang disebabkan oleh mendapan di dalam arteri lalu memaksa si jantung untuk berusaha lebih kuat untuk proses mengepam darah. Akibatnya, darah yang dipam kembali ke jantung berkurangan lalu menyebabkan kekurangan kandungan oksigen di dalam jantung dan lemah jantung akibat usaha yang lebih itu.

Selain menyebabkan pengumpulan mendapan di dalam arteri dan melemahkan fungsi bahagian jantung tersebut, kolestrol juga memberi kesan kepada hati dimana kalori diproses. Kandungan kolestrol yang tinggi akan menyebabkan kerosakkan pada hati untuk jangka masa yang panjang.

Wallahu'alam

Resipi: Ayam Chestnut

300 gm (dipotong kecil & dibersihkan)
1 tangkai daun bawang
1 genggam cili padi
1 genggam gajus
1 biji lobak merah (dipotong nipis)
200 gm cendawam hitam
3 biji bawang besar (dipotong dadu)
3 sudu besar minyak bijan
2 sudu besar sos tiram
2 sudu besar sos cili
2 sudu besar sos tomato
½ cawan air masak
Gula & garam secukup rasa

1. Panaskan minyak bijan & tumis bawang besar, sos tiram, sos cili & sos tomato.
2. Biarkan sampai mendidih selama lebih kurang sepuluh minit.
3. Selepas itu, masukkan ayam & kacau hingga masak.
4. Kemudian, campurkan daun bawang, cili padi, gajus, lobak merah, & cendawan hitam.
5. Biarkan selama 5 minit sebelum diangkat.