Rumah Makan Sederhana

One of the reasons I love this place is not just the food... its just 50m away from the apartment and they deliver!!!




Yes there are abundance of Padang House that serves lovely food but Sederhana just does it for me... The kikil and the Krecek... oooh laaa laaa... I can just have these 2 with a side of sambal and Ubi Lemak.. and i'm a happy girl...
Although it doesn't hurt to have that whole array of food laid out for you.. Kentang Balado, Udang Petei, Hati Balado, Sop Buntut, Ayam Opor, Paru Goreng, Ayam Pop, Daun Ubi Rebus, Telor Dadar, Begedil & Ayam Bakar.





Isn't the delivery bike just adorable?? The whole MinangKabau design is so authentic!

Bandar Djakarta

This is my favourite place for seafood... I've had my fair share of seafood but this place rocks... This year alone I've been here at least 5 times!



The queue alone is a testament to its good food.. and the queue is not for the faint hearted... they don't take any phone reservations so you have to get there, give your name to the receptionist and in 30 mintutes - 45 minutes, they will call you to lead to your seat... I'm amazed at their system... to an outsider its messy... but it works somehow and keeps the crowd coming...


Once you get there, I suggest looking around for the fresh produce of the season... bamboo clams, Tiger clam, Geoduck or even Razor Clams...




I usually start with the the free salad and the Crispy Prawn that comes with a bottle of sambal (IDR 35,000).. (perfect for giveaway!) But be warned... double bag it before you dump it in your luggage or the oil will find its way out!


My must have is the Mussels with Padang Sauce


The kids usually like Steamed Crabs.. so we'll usually have both steamed and black pepper...


Last Saturday we ordered a tablefull of goodies...



At the end of a meal like that.. nothing beats my "Jeruk Hanget".. warm orange juice...

Cucur Udang (Prawn Fritters)

In my excitement I woke up, looked at the window and it was still dark... darn... its not even 6am yet!! After fiddling with my phone, checked my emails I decided the only way time was gonna past faster is if i make breakfast... and so i did..

Today's breakfast is Cucur Udang or Prawn Fritters..

Recipe

10 prawns (de-shelled and chopped roughly)
1 onion (diced
1 potato (diced)
1/2 cup corn kernels (i used frozen corns)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chicken powder or seasoning
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
1/4 cup hot water

oil for frying

Mix all the ingredients the the 1/4 cup of hot water last. Somehow i feel with that addition of hot water the texture of the fritters are softer than without it.

Let it stand for 5 minutes while heating a wok with 2 cups of oil. Once the oil is heated through, drop spoonfuls and let brown on one side and flip it to the other.


Serve with Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce....

Sotong Hitam & Terong Balado (Squid in Ink & Spicy Eggplant) & Pengat Durian

I'm really not inspired today.... the weather is hot, i'm feeling sticky and I can't wait for tomorrow to come quickly...
So today's menu is really simple... typical Malay dish of Sotong Hitam & Terong lado..




Recipe for Squid in Ink (Sotong Hitam)

1 kg of sotong or squid (since it shrinks after cooking!)

I wash and clean the squid, separating the head and body, slicing the squid about 2 cm lengths.

4 tiny bags of the squid ink (removed and set aside from the squid's head)

2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon sugar

Blended ingredients

5 onions
3 garlic
1cm tumeric rhizome (kunyit hidup)
10 stalks of dried chilli (soaked and drained)
4 squid ink bags

Sautee the blended ingredients in 1 cup of oil until 'crispy'.. meaning all the blended ingredients are fully cooked and aromatic. Add in the squid and let it cook for about 10 mins... i do not add water as the cooking process of the squid will liquified the gravy. Add salt & sugar to taste. Removed all the squid to your serving container keeping the liquid on stove. Continue simmering until gravy is more concentrated and thick according to your preference.



Recipe for Spicy Eggplant (Terong Balado)

2 long eggplant sliced into 4 cm length

Pan fry both sides for about 5 minutes on low heat with oil until slightly browned & soft.

Pounded items (coursely)

5 stalks of fresh red chilli
2 small cloves of garlic
1 small onion
1/2 tomato

1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

Sautee the pounded items in oil for a minute and season with salt & sugar
Pour over brinjal and serve..

Dessert today is Pengat Durian & Kacang Hijau (Durian with Green Beans Soup).. tired of all the cheese the past 2 days so i decided on the king of fruits and its humble accompaniment.. green beans..



Recipe for Pengat Durian & Kacang Hijau

1 cup of green beans (soaked)
2 pandan leaves
1 litre of water
1 cup santan (coconut milk)
a pinch of salt just to bring out the coconut taste
Sugar (white or palm sugar according to preference)
A bowl of durian with seeds

Boil the green beans with water and pandan leaves for about an hour until soft, add in the durian and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients as well as the santan (coconut milk) and simmer on low heat for another 5 minutes.

Kaasstengel

I have a love hate relationship with the rain.....
I love it when it rains but I hate the fact that I'm always hungry especially when it starts pouring!!

I decided to make a cup hot English Breakfast tea with milk but I needed something to go with that..raiding the fridge and cabinets, i found flour, butter and cheddar cheese... darn it! No Edam in the fridge but I guess better Cheddar than none.. So Kaasstengel it is... In Dutch Kaas means Cheese and Stengel is Straw.. Cheesestraw... but i was hungry and i wanted it done before the rain stops so i used a cookie cutter instead...




Recipe

150g butter
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp salt
40ml cream
125g grated Edam cheese (I used cheddar today)
250g flour
10g milk powder
10g cornflour

1 egg yolk
more grated cheese

Cream the butter, mix salt to the egg and whisk. Add the egg yolk to the butter. Mix in cheese, flour, milk powder and cornflour. While mixing, add the cream slowly until well mixed. Roll the cheese dough and make into logs or long strips.. but today i used a cookie cutter instead. Place on a greased baking tray. I used silicone paper to line my trays. Brush the unbaked cookie with egg yolk and sprinkle grated cheese. Bake in 180 degrees oven for 20 min until brown...

Semur Daging aka Daging Masak Kicap

Today I'm in need of some comfort food... after having a very mediocre lunch yesterday and sleeping early because of my pounding headache.. I'm starving!



Recipe

5 Bombay onions
3 cloves garlic
2cm ginger
4cm length of lemongrass
10 stalks of dried chilli (soaked)

Blend the above ingredients and sauteed in oil until 'crispy'.

2 cinnamon sticks
4 cardamom
3 star anise

Add into the above mixture and sautee..

5 potatoes cut in wedges and deep fried. Set aside after turning golden.
1 tomato (diced)
2 carrots (chopped into 3cm lengths or as preferred)
1kg beef (I like mine thinly sliced)

3 tablespoon of Kicap Bango (or sweet soya sauce)
4 tablespoon of Kicap Masin (I used Habhal Kicap Masin/ soya sauce)
2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon tamarind juice
500ml water

Add all the above to the sauteed mixture and simmer for 30 minutes until you get the consistency desired. Serve with steamed white rice... for me... its a slice of heaven...

To ride or not to ride?

A lot of the things I've done in life is to replicate my peers.. I went to Crescent Girl's because it was my Aunt's Alma Mater.. I played hockey because another Aunt played and my own Mom was a goalie ... So I became a goalie... What have I done for myself that's truly for me? I honestly don't know... there's too much influence around me I guess..

Anyway, back to the main topic.. the reason I write this is because I've always yearned to ride into the sunset on a dusty road with a KTM Scrambler... Seeing ANY scrambler makes me reminisce my childhood when my Uncle would take me for rides on his Yellow scrambler... I SO badly want to take riding lessons now!! Even Faris is into bikes... The moment he hears a rumbling engine of a Harley, his eyes open wide and he excitedly goes "Mommy Mommy did you hear that? Did you see that??" and so he tells me he can't wait to grow up and learn to ride too...

There is this really cute Vespa that's always parked at the entrance and it's beckoning me feel it its smooth surface..to bask in its 'cuteness'. My Papa had a green Vespa when I was little and maybe that's another reason why I'm drawn to it. Maybe its also a more logical choice for me instead of menacing machine right??


But with Hubby not around to 'protect' me, he's made me promise that the only time I can live my dream of riding a bike is when Faris is big enough to ride so that I can chaperone him! Bleaarrgghh... and thats 10 years from now!!!

Quick & Easy Cinnamon Roll

I was bored and it was raining heavily last week ... somehow rainy weather always make me feel peckish... and lately i've been going crazy over Mac D's Cinnamon Melts... wonder where Saint Cinnamon has gone to... I loved the Cream Cheese Version!



Anyway I decided to make make some.. very easy recipe.. nothing beats Saint Cinnamon of course but this will do just to ease the cravings..

3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
3 1/4 cups flour
1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 egg

1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, softened

Heat the milk & butter (i used the microwave)...in a mixing bowl, add 2 cups & 1/4 cup flour, yeast, salt, sugar, water, egg & the heated milk & butter mixture.. knead (i use a normal mixer attachement) until well blended for about 5 minutes. Mixture will still be sticky. Add in the balance 1 cup flour and knead (i change to a dough hook) and knead for another 5 minutes.

Let it rest for 10 min and then roll on a floured surface to about 5mm thin. Mix the cinnamon mixture and spread across the rolled dough.

Leave some cinnamon mixture for topping. Roll as tight as possible and cut into 1 inch rolls.

Grease the baking container (you can use baking tin but i prefer to use a square serving bowl) and arrange the rolls loosely apart as rolls will rise and expand.

Spread more cinnamon mixture over the top.

Let it rest for another 10 minutes before popping it in the over for 30 minutes on 180 degress oven..

Serve with cream cheese topping or as for me (because i had no other options that day) I made a simple sugar glaze.

First Post For 2010

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I just realize its been 11 months since my last post on blogspot!! With Facebook and Multiply.... who has the time to manage it all!! I'm enjoying life being unemployed! Yeah... I get the occassional order to supplement my income but most of all, i get to spend time with the boys at home. I used to pride myself at being a good multi-tasker. Being able to handle my job, kids and hubby in Jakarta all at once... but then i realize i make a better stay-home mommy... on the plus side, i get to spend a whole month in Jakarta with Hubby & kids!!! If i was working i would NEVER get a chance to do it! NO REGRETS... looking forward to what 2010 has to offer..

Morning Drama

As I am writing this my hands are shaking.... Not shaking because I'm sad or fearful but shaking in anger!!!

Every morning from woodlands, I will take the 7.44am train which is empty and today was like every other day except right before I sat down one big fat b*^%ch slid her fat tush into my seat!! Obviously my behind have no eyes of their own so I ended up seating on her!! I was shocked! I mean you don't sit facing the chair, your butt does so it's unfathomable that she managed to slide in a mere 10 inches before I sat!

The moment I sat on her, I turned around and she glared at me!! Like as if it's my fault! Automatically I said loudly "Goodness Me!" and other fellow train commuters shook their head in disbelieve ...that just shows that some Singaporeans are just a bunch of kiasu, uncivilized lot!

Faiz First Dentist Visit!

Yesterday was Faiz's first visit to the dentist and my my.... what a drama I tell you! Faris has always been a pro when it comes to visiting the dentist and they love him despite the many crowns and lack of teeth! He's easy, chatty and most of all he listens to instructions!

Faiz however had other ideas.. he kept sticking his tongue out and after close inspection 3 fillings needed to be done.. bottom molar, top 2 incisors.. after awhile he started getting really fidgety and the 'drilling' made him thrash around. It was rather difficult for the dentist especially when he started 'groaning and sobbing'!

After 1 hour in the chair, I was presented with the bill.. a whopping $165 for 3 fluoride fillings at $55 each... we went home happy until Faiz showed his new teeth to Mama... she said "Which one did the dentist do? How come like no different?".. I asked Faiz to opened his mouth and voila... the filling is gone!!

Drove back to the dentist to get confirmation that i wasn't halucinating that its gone.. "Yeap.. your son swallowed his fillings" the Doc said....got Faiz to lie back which he adamantly refused and after threatening to tell his Abah that he relented! Doc had to re-do the entire thing again ... luckily at no charge!

Nonsensical Rantings

I have been looking forward to today since the last 2 weeks and yet I am dreading it.... looking forward not because of Valentine's as we have never never celebrated it... it just coincidentally falls on a saturday in between... but yet the feeling of dread is undeniable... because i know in less than 48 hours, I'll back here doing the same thing I am doing now....

My sense of dread is also bringing him down thinking I am less excited at seeing him... why can't I take each day as it comes? Look forward to today and dread when I should TOMORROW!

There are more important thing to be done than lament over trivial things like this.... when will feelings or thoughts like this end I wonder..? I used to wonder the same thing when I was in my teens... how would I feel when I am 30... 30 came and went and yet I still feel the same thing.. and now I wonder .. will i feel different when I am 45 and menopausal??  Will I feel the same feelings I felt at 17 and 30? oh well... I guess only time will tell and I'll know then answer then.....

Bali Trip - Flight Cancellation

Garuda called me in the afternoon and informed me that my flight back from Bali to Sin had been cancelled!! AND I BOUGHT THE TICKETS IN DECEMBER!! So they will just plonk me in an earlier flight at 3pm!! Almost 6 hours from my initial departure!!! I was kind of dumbstruck... but I managed to mutter that I will not be able to catch that flight as there's a chance we will be in Lombok.... the person on the other line said "Oh then I'll call you back"

It didn't really sink in until after I hung up that losing 5 hours is a lot of time!! I could do the following..

1) Have a long therapeutic massage while Fai look after the boys

2) Shop till I drop along Poppies Lane

3) Hit the waves 

4) Have another round of Nasi Uduk at Warung Made

5) Go to Surf Warehouse and rummage through the discount bins

and list goes on....

Anyway I immediately called Esthel, who is in the travel trade and she suggested that I TELL Garuda to arrange an alternative carrier or give some sort of compensation or a full refund.. I knew that already but I just needed someone to reassure me that it can be done! She also said that with the current economic situation, a lot of carriers are cancelling their flight as and when they feel like it!!! uurrrghh

When Garuda called I was prepared with my questions .. the kakak was really helpful so I didn't see the need to be bitchy to get what I wanted.. :-) She offered the full refund but thinking of the hassle of finding another carrier is such a dread!!!

She said the initial 3pm flight has also been canceled so now I'm left with with an SQ flight at 4.25pm. Alternatively if i wanted to stay in Bali longer I could take GA via Jakarta... i told her travelling with 2 young children ALONE taking that route is almost unthinkable!! Can you imagine the kids flying from Bali at 8pm, reaching JKT at 10pm, wait for transit for another 1.5 hours the taking another 1.5 hour flight back??? I can't... it'll be so exhausting for them!

After much deliberation with Fai.. we decided on SQ... we get an upgrade and the kids will be more comfortable anyway... I hope this drama ends here... aarrgghhhh

My Current Fave Snack

I know this post is silly and meaningless but this is just to document what I feel at this moment.. and right now.. at this very moment, I'm in heaven munching away....

WHAT IS THAT?? That is semi-ripened mango with sambal petis.... odd combination but it so so works! Its like eating Rojak without the nitty gritties...

Sounds awful to some people but at least mangoes contains all the Vitamins I need .. 

Mangoes contain Vitamin A ( of which Beta-Carotene is a precursor and more usable), Vitamins C & E and Selenium.

Mangoes also contain B-complex (anti-stress) vitamins, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, Folic acid (folate), and zinc.

Mangoes are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. Plus are a good source of dietary fiber. They also contain some protein and amino acids, about 2% of your daily recommended amount.

I'm not gonna go into petis .. i doubt there's any nutritional goodness in it except giving me smelly breath!

My Cavalli Jeans

I always wanted to channel this rock-chic kinda look.. so to ring in the new year... Fai bought me my second 'Just Cavalli' jeans... which totally rock! He was a bit conservative on buying ..worried sick that I might not like it.. but then when its free you'll love it no matter what! ehehehe

So one the New Year Eve going to work, I wore the jeans, a black cardi top and black patent wedges from River Island (that I was supposed to sell off on ebay and then decided not to!) with River Island sunnies to complete the look... just to show a little appreciation to Hubby so that he feels its worth buying me more stuff next time! lol

My final look... simple... just the way Hubby likes it....

Goodbye 2008.. Welcome 2009

31st December was a bitter-sweet one for me.... first and foremost I started getting jittery because Fai had a fiasco at the airport before flying home! Qatar has this funny rule. You have to check in with the same credit card you booked.. no card, no fly! Fai uses 2 debit card from UOB.. one platinum and one visa electron which is linked to the same savings account.On his last trip while trying to withdraw some cash, his Visa Elctron card was 'swallowed' by the ATM. Called the bank and they said its becasue the card is obsolete so its auto retrival from the ATM and we were told to use the Platinum one from now on as its linked to the same account. Okay so no issue there.. but the unfortunate thing is we purchase the ticket using the VE which is gone! So Qatar officials refused to let Fai fly! I called UOB and there were very helpful in assisting Fai by being on the line for 30 min with them! I even emailed a picture of Fai's Visa transaction as proof! After 45 heart pumping minutes, they finally let him board! phewww....

Next up, I've been transfered out of Ang Mo Kio to Rochor branch.. a little far but it gives me new fresh surroundings (ie, more places to shop!) for 2009.I can have lunch at Hajjah Maimunah, Bugis Junction, Tong Seng Coffeeshop for chicken feet noodles or Serangoon for Thosai & Chapatti!!

Packing up was heart-wrenching, the CSOs kept coming up to me one by one saying how sad it was to see me go.. I hate goodbyes.. so I didn't say it. Instead I bought them A1 curry puffs, packet drinks, dessert from JollyBean as a token of thank you for accepting me as part of them this past year. (okay sounds cheapskate but there was little options in Ang Mo Kio!!) 

Before I left (I had to work a full day mind you!) the Branch Manager Mrs Tan gave me home made chocolates, a watch from all of the staff at the branch and a card that read 

"Dearest Isnarny, Good People are remembered as blessings... We will miss you.. You are Our Sunshine"..  that was a Hallmark moment for me.......

We didn't do anything as spectacular like last year.. no checking in hotels, no balloons drops.. instead we did a last minute BBQ and camping at ECP! It was homely and surrounded by families.. Faiz and Faris had fun with their cousins running around playing with sparklers & lying around with the fresh sea breeze..Not much pictures taken though.. my batt went flat before the new year! Faris stayed up until 4am playing his PSP and running around!

We finally packed up at 9am before going for breakfast at Simpang Bedok... chilling at home with DVDs and sleeping until 6pm!