Chicken Rendang Recipe

This is a traditional chicken / beef recipe from Malaysia, best eaten with rice, sticky rice or bread. A favourite in the family. Please do try and let me know the taste!

Rendang Ayam ( Chicken Rendang)

One whole chicken, cut into 8 or 12 parts

Thick Coconut Milk - 1/2 litre

Salt

Kerisek ( Grated coconut cooked in dry pan until brown, and then pounded until it performs a paste) (optional)

3 big onions -sliced thinly

2 inch ginger - sliced thinly

4 garlic- sliced thinly

4 lemon grass - sliced very thinly

2 tumeric leaves - sliced very thinly

100 gm dried chilies - pounded or blended until it performs a paste

1 teaspoon of tumeric powder

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients into one big pan and cook over slow heat until chicken is tender and the gravy becomes thick.

2. Stir occassionally to prevent from sticking.

Happy Trying!

Cerita 70an dan 80an

Entah mengapa hari ini tiba-tiba teringatkan cerita di tahun tujuh puluhan dan lapan puluhan yang menjadi kegemaran saya. Masa tu adalah masa di mana saya sedang membesar. Di tahun tujuh puluhan saya masih lagi berada di bangku sekolah rendah, dan bertukar ke sekolah menengah pada tahun awal lapan puluhan. Teringat saya pada cerita Fantasy Island, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch, Remington Steel, Kojak, Dallas, Family, Eight Is Enough, Mork and Mindy, Combat, Knots Landing, Moonlighting, Falcon Crest dan macam-macam lagi yang sudah saya lupa. Semuanya memberikan satu nostalgia yang tidak dapat diungkai dengan kata-kata.

Bila perasaan itu datang, apa yang mampu saya lakukan adalah cuba mengingati kembali cerita dan watak-watak di dalamnya. Siapa yang boleh lupa aksi dan dialog "the plane! the plane!" di dalam siri Fantasy Island atau kelucuan Pierce Brosnan dan Stephanie Zimbalist di dalam Remington Steel yang amat saya minati. Ditambah pula dengan watak bertentangan di antara Bruce Willis dan Cybil Shepherd membuatkan saya tak tinggalkan tempat duduk ketika menonton Moonlighting. Masa begitu cepat beredar. Saya tidak boleh lagi menonton cerita-cerita tersebut yang penuh dengan ciri-ciri kelucuan, kekeluargaan dan suspens. Ceritanya masih ada unsur-unsur moral dan nilai yang boleh diikuti, malah begitu mudah dan bercirikan kemanusiaan.

Namun cerita-cerita baru yang tumbuh melata bak cendawan meliar di abad ini cukup berbeza sekali adunannya. Cerita-cerita aksi dan penyiasatan yang berlumba-lumba ditayangkan telah sudah tiada istimewanya kerana semuanya mahu mengeluarkan ceita yang hampir sama. Masing-masing mengatakan cerita merekalah yang paling top dan kitapun berebut-rebut menontonnya. Cerita seperti CSI, Prison Break, Ghost Whisperer, Numbers, Lost dan banyak lagi amat berbeza sekali dengan cerita di tahun saya membesar. Garapan dan olahannya membuat saya rasa sedikit terasing ketika menontonnya, malah kekadang membuat saya rasa sedang menonton cerita yang tiada atau kurang beremosi. Maksudnya, watak-watak di dalamnya terasa begitu detached dengan realiti sebenar kehidupan. Dialog yang laju dan sempurna, muka yang jarang tersenyum dan tiada unsur humor di kalangan watak-watak membuat saya rasa terasing ketika menontonya. Jiwa tidak rasa dekat dengan watak yang dimainkan. Kita hanyalah penonton yang melihat dari kotak televisyen dan menyaksikan aksi-aksi yang cukup sempurna di hadapan kita dan bukannya tenggelam sekali di dalam perwatakan dan jalan ceritanya.

Semuanya amat berlainan sekali dengan cerita di tahun tujuh dan lapan puluhan. Mungkin kerana itu tahun di mana saya membesar, saya merasakan dekat dengan watak-watak yang ada. Watak-watak yang dilakonkan membuat silap dan mempunyai humor dan berasa sedih dan gembira sama seperti kita. Cerita yang dilakonkan adalah cerita kekeluargaan yang dekat dengan hati kita dan mempunyai permasalahan yang sama dengan realiti hidup seharian. Oleh itu, lebih mudah untuk difahami dan lebih dekat di hati kita. Lantas, kita menjadi 'rapat' dan seolah 'kenal' dengan watak yang dimainkan. Cerita Eight Is Enough atau Family cukup menarik dan mengupas isu kekeluargaan dan bagaimana mereka menyelesaikan isu di dalam kehidupan seharian, dan cerita sebeginilah yang amat kurang di abad ini. Sesungguhnya saya rindukan cerita-cerita lama itu , namun apakan daya, masa berlalu dan kini cerita-cerita pantas dan lasak mendapat tempat di hati pengeluar dan penerbit cerita. Jika itu yang diberi, maka itulah yang ditonton.

Ini tidak termasuk program realiti TV, terutama keluaran tempatan, yang berlambak sehinggakan ada diantaranya membuatkan penonton rasa tertipu dengan kualiti dan jalan cerita yang tidak kukuh dan disunting dengan elok, maka jadilah cerita realiti TV yang tiada hala tuju dan kucar-kacir dan tiada kesinambungan di antara cerita dan watak. Akhirnya, kita yang menonton rasa seperti mahu menjerit dengan program realiti TV yang merendahkan kualiti pemikiran penontonnya dengan cerita dan isi tangkap muat sahaja.

Hmmm....mungkin ada stesyen yang mahu menunjuk ulang tayang atau membuat slot baru cerita tahun tujuh puluhan dan lapan puluhan untuk menggembirakan orang seperti saya? Pasti ramai yang mahu menontonnya. Tapi, sehingga itu terjadi, apalah agaknya cerita yang hendak saya tonton ketika ini? Aha! Nak buka saluran V, America's Next Top Model nak bersiaran!

Ramadhan Yang Bakal menjelma

Masa begitu cepat berlalu. Pejam celik, kita sudah menghampiri bulan Ramadhan yang akan muncul sedikit masa sahaja lagi. Terasa baru semalam kita menyambut bulan mulia ini dan sedar tak sedar setahun sudah hampir berlalu. Bila bulan Ramadhan menjelma, pelbagai perasaan yang akan timbul. Terbit perasaan berkobar untuk memulakan bulan mulia ini. Namun entah mengapa, setiap kali Ramadhan muncul hati akan terasa sayu. Mungkin mengenangkan ini bulannya di mana kita boleh mendapat keampunan jika puasa dilakukan dengan bersungguh dan amalan dibuat semata-mata untuk mendapat keredaan dan keampunan yang Maha Esa.

Setiap kali ianya muncul, keinginan hati untuk melakukan kebaikan dan amalan yang lebih sering terbit, namun kekadang untuk melaksanakan dan mengekalkannya menjadi satu hal pula. Perasaan cintakan Allah amat menebal namun terlalu banyak kekurangan yang dirasakan sehingga kekadang terasa diri berdosa kerana kelalaian dan kelekaan duniawai yang menuntut. Pada tahun ini, marilah kita berazam untuk melakukan yang terbaik. Puasa yang terbaik, amalan yang terbaik dan niat hati yang terbaik. Tidak perlu melakukan yang terlampau sehingga tidak mampu ditanggung badan, memadailah dengan sekadar kemampuan yang kita ada, asalkan ianya datang daripada hati yang ikhlas dan inginkan diri diampuni dan diredhaiNya.

Namun, sesuatu yang baik haruslah dilakukan berterusan dan dijadikan cara hidup kita. Janganlah hanya di bulan mulia ini kita rajin beribadat, tetapi di bulan lain kita lupa. Juga bukan sahaja amalan keagamaan yang perlu kita lakukan, sifat mulia juga perlu ada di dalam diri kita. Bercakap benar, jujur dan amanah adalah sifat yang patut ada di dalam diri kita tak kira apa pegangan agama kita. Sifat bersih, mengotakan kata dan menghormati barangan orang lain juga di antara sifat yang perlu kita amalkan. Semua ini adalah nilai yang saya terapkan kepada anak-anak yang sedang membesar agar mereka tahu nilai yang elok untuk diamalkan di dalam kehidupan mereka. Amalan keagamaan perlu seiringan dengan nilai-nilai murni agar diri kita menjadi lebih seimbang dari segi rohani dan jasmani.

Ini ingatan buat diri saya sendiri yang sering terasa berdosa dan malu padaNya. Terlalu banyak yang ingin dilakukan namun terlalu sedikit yang dapat dibuat. Saya cuma mengharapkan Allah mengampunkan kesalahan kita yang lampau dan akan datang, yang dilakukan secara sedar atau tidak, sengaja atau tidak, kerana kita semua adalah manusia yang amat jahil dan penuh noda. Teringin benar hati ini untuk melakukan yang terbaik tahun ini, dan harapan itu hendaknya dapat dijalankan. Sama-samalah kita cuba memperbaiki diri dan kelemahan yang ada, dan membersihkan hati daripada segala macam rasa dan prasangka. Semua ini adalah peringatan untuk diri saya sendiri, terutamanya diri saya sendiri, dan kepada yang sudi menerimanya.

Salam di bulan mulia ini. Selamat menyambut Bulan Ramadhan dan semoga hidup kita diberkati dan dirahmati Allah, dan diampunkan segalan dosa dan kesalahan.

Amin.

The Holy Prophet on Himself

THE HOLY PROPHET

PORTRAYS HIMSELF

when asked by Hazret Alli(KA) his son in law, about his way of life, he replied:

Meditation in God is my Capital

Reason and sound Logic is the root of my Religion

Love is the Foundation of my existence

Enthusiasm is the Vehicle of my life

Contemplation of God is my companion

Faith is the source of my Power

Sorrow is my Friend

Knowledge is my Weapon

Patience is my Goal and Virtue

Submission to the Divine Will is my Pride

Truth is my Salvation

Worship is my Habit

And in Prayer lies the coolness of my Eye and the

Peace of Mind.

A Man and His Donkey

While I was looking for a few stuff from my late father's drawer, I found a piece of paper written by him. It was about a man and his donkey. I thought I would share this with all. Here it goes:

There was a story about Alfred

Who went to war with his donkey

Together they fought many a battle

And they won all the wars

After all wars had ended

Alfred and his donkey

Went back to their king

The king was grateful

And knighted Alfred

Later known as Alfred the Great

But the donkey

Remain a donkey.

:)

Petua Orang Melayu

Hari ni saya nak bercakap pasal petua. Orang Melayu ni memang terkenal dengan pelbagai petua. Jadi lebih elok kalau kita boleh berkongsi petua mana tahu jika ada yang memerlukan atau mempunyai masalah,bolehlah di cuba beberapa petua ini.

Tercekik Tulang

Ambil sebiji pisang dan dipotong kecil (anggaran 1mm). Ambil pisang dan selawat tiga kali dan telan terus tanpa mengunyah. InsyaAllah berkesan.

Batuk Berpanjangan

Ambil dua biji limau kasturi dan sedikit garam halus. Campurkan dan kacau hingga sebati. Minum dan amalkan tiga kali sehari.

Sakit Kepala

Semasa mahu memulakan mandi, curahkan air di bahagian lutut dahulu sambil berselawat. Selawat sebanyak tiga kali dan curahkan air sehingga badan terasa sejuk atau serasi sedikit dengan air tadi. Kemudian bolehlah mulakan mandian.

Masalah Ketuat

Cuba ambil kapur dan belerang dan perahkan sedikit limau nipis. Gaul semua sehingga menjadi krim. Sapukan pada ketuat dua kali sehari sehingga tertanggal.

SELAMAT MENCUBA!

Home Sweet Home

I was browsing through some home magazines looking for ideas for my new home. After selling my old house in the suburban of Kuala Lumpur, I decided to move to a quieter place up north. There is nothing I love more than a quiet and peaceful surrounding. When I get up in the morning, the birds will greet me with beautiful chirpings. The breezy afternoon will uplift the spirit to face another three quarter of the day gracefully. When night arrives, the sight of the sunset envelopes me with emotions. To see the greatness of God's creations and to be able to breathe a clean air every morning I get up make me feel humble. Long gone the hustle and bustle of city life and huge traffic jam. I remember having to wait in long queues for hours at the highways to go home after work. More than three hours were spent on the road everyday whereas in normal hours the journey would have only taken twenty minutes! After years of headache and when my patience has gone thinner, I decided that living in a big city is not for me.

When I graduated, I wanted to be it all. I planned to climb the corporate ladder and work in the best company. But after a few years, my enthusiasm had gone down. With office politics and working in the 'male dominated' industry, I started to become stressed out. I started to question life and my integrity and my satisfaction as a human being. I dragged myself to go to work and I hated every minute of it. I suddenly realised that it was not for me. I am looking for more. And I realised that not everyone can work in a 'nine-to-five' environment. Top up with the traffic jam and high cost of living, finally after years, I decided I wanted to work on my own, in a quieter environment surrounded my by children and family.

Hence, the idea to move up north came at the right time. I feel a sense of freedom and a huge relief that the road I take is always less busy than the ones in KL. The distance between my home and the grocery shops or the school is very ideal for me as I do not have to travel long distance and take too much time on the road. The time which has been 'lost' on the road before can be spent doing other things like teaching my children or playing with them. Working on my own gives me the freedom to choose my working time, when and how I want to work my time and do my work. Also, I am in the middle of completing my novel and within a few months, I will have my own classes that I will conduct at home. I realised I do not have to follow what is not suitable for me and I can be happier doing what I like and at the same time having my own income. Having to say that, I can monitor my children and at the same time do my work and be my own friend and enemy.

Therefore, having a new home for me is like rebuilding my own life and looking towards the future. This is where I decided to live and bring up my children and this is the life that I have chosen to have. Unless, later on where moving down again to KL is inevitable, I am very happy to stay here and I am going to be here for a long time!

New Hair Cut

I woke up this morning feeling like having a new haircut. The last time I had my hair trimmed was six months ago and it started to feel like long weeds on the shells, unruly and unmanageable. So I headed to the nearest salon to fix the problem. When my eldest daughter heard this news, she was unhappy. With some little persuasion, she tried to coax me to change the plan. "I don't want you to cut your hair. I like your hair this way" The eldest told me with an agreable nod from her younger sister. I tried to explain to her that I needed to cut my hair because I like it short as it would be easier to manage. With two small children and humid weather which is not helping, a short hair seems more suitable now. When I was heading to the front door she followed me. Still persistent, she insisted that I look better with longer hair. I told her mommy needed to go nevertheless. As I was driving away from the car porch, I saw her standing with tears rolling down her cheeks. I did not know how a simple plan to cut my hair could give such an impact to a little girl like her.

I arrived at the salon wanting to look younger and a bit glamorous. So I settled with a short hair with fringe and sharp edge around the ears. It makes me feel lighter. I soon was taken back to my younger years in my teens and early twenties where short hair would never fill my dictionary. The only time I had my hair short was when I was fourteen and everybody was shocked that I did that. I remember I have had tried everything with my hair. Perm it, colour it, and any styles that caught my interest. But I always opted for something a bit stylish, to my opinion, and yet long or medium. And when I was sitting on the chair looking at my hair cropped to its tiniest bit, I felt a sense of freedom. Long gone the time where long hair became the trend in my life and never I thought that one day I would be more comfortable with shorter hair. I feel younger and I feel neater.

When I arrived home, my eldest daughter looked at me and gave a quick response. "I don't like you look that way. I like your old fashion" She responded with enthusiasm however.I said it was okay as she would get used to it. After a few hours of reading books and spending time with her, she came to me while I was looking in the mirror while trying to fix the hair. She said "It looks better now" with a big smile on her face. "You look beautiful" She said while helping me with the hair fixing. Hugging her back I smiled. "I know you will get used to it. I am still your mommy eventhough my hair is shorter now!". I guessed she started to realise that I would not be a different person with this new haircut and will stay the same - the mother that she has always known.

Tika Senja Datang

Sesekali merenung

Mentari merah di ufuk barat

Merehat diri pabila senja berlabuh

Setelah penat menikam cahaya

Ke dahan, wajah, tanah merekah,

Memberi nafas pada tumbuhan, manusia

Haiwan meliar

Hati jadi tersentuh.

Melihat sekumpulan camar

Terbang berkawan menuju pulang

Berduyun-duyun bak gumpalan benang

Hati terpesona pada hak yang ditakdirkan

Dan di kala mentari melabuhkan punggung sebentar

Hati tersentuh terasa rapuh

Memandang keindahan alam ciptaanNya

Terbentang luas.

Tika malam menyarungkan baju

Mata melihat kumpulan bintang

Berkelipan bertebaran jauh di langit

Sejauh mata memandang

Tergantung kukuh tanpa sempadan

Tujuh lapisan langit terbentang

Di mana permulaan di mana pengakhiran.

Melihat bulan yang satu

Bulat memandang sayu ke bawah

Jiwa terus bertarung, bergelut mencari jawapan

Kepada erti kehidupan duniawi

Yang luas tanpa sempadan,

Tujuan hidup perlu pasti

Kerna esok belum tentu udara pagi dapat dihirup.

Tatlaka senja datang

Jiwa bergelodak seolah pincang

Suram jiwa terasa gundah

Persoalan demi persoalan

Menyesakkan nafas

Apakah sudah dipenuhi urusan seharian

Apakah sudah ditunaikan kewajipan.

Kerdil diri terasa

Pabila senja merubah masa

Dan dosa menggamit suram

Bersalah padaNya kerna sering terlupa

Esok dinihari akan bermula

Lantas tatkala ingat

Keampunan jua yang sering dipohon

Agar berada di dalam kelompokNya.

Sesekali melihat mentari

Membenamkan diri di ufuk barat

Jiwa sayu merenung seharian

Yang sudah hampir habis,

Merenung diri di malamnya

Mencari kelemahan dan kekurangan,

Betapa kecil diri ini

Disamping keagungan ciptaan

Yang melangkaui batas masa dan ruang

Apakah diri ini mempunyai tempat

Di sisi Nya

Dengan dosa dan masa

Hampir malu padaNya

Namun mengingatkan kasih sayangNya

JanjiNya dan keadilanNya

Jiwa kembali tenang

Kembali bersemangat,

Kembali bangkit.

Time Waits for No Man, Love Thy Children

Today is a weekend. For some people, this means a time for relaxation. The time to have a peaceful rest and savour the quietness of the surrounding. After a hard days work, weekend is the time to put your feet up and forget about the stresful life 'out there'. Some might succumb to their 'own' world and feeding their thoughts with past memories. While some might indulge themselves with melting ice creams and chocolates while watching their favourite movies. Different people spend their weekend differently. To some, weekend means more work. Gardening under the sunlight or simply spring cleaning the whole house which has been neglected. Some will not sit still until something is done. Work from the office will be the companion until the weekdays arrive.

To single people, time is their own friends and enemies. Time can be spent alone, with friends or with families. To parents, time has to be divided wisely between self and children. Especially when your children are still crawling on the floor or cannot find his own shoes or tie his own laces. Time is precious especially when you have people you love. Time will be more meaningful when you have a purpose in life. A direction to follow and a path to walk in everyday. Time will not wait for us. It will not stop to wait for you to say how much you love your children or how much you appreciate what your parents have done for you. Time keeps running and will be constantly moving. We are the ones who manage the time that flies. And how time flies.

It seems yesterday that I see my two little girls drinking milk from the bottles. Trying to learn how to crawl and seeing every single things with great fascination. I always try to see things in their perspective. Everything must have been new and great! To simply be able to catch the ball or simply finishing the drink is a great accomplishment for them. It is sad how we can take things around us for granted sometimes. Children grow up very fast and with a glimpse they will have things they like to do or opinions on their own. While they are young, be with them and spend as much time with them. Watch them grow and listen to them. We might have our dreams and opinions, but what matters in the end is we raise healthy, beautiful, confident children who know what is their purpose of living. Remind them constantly how beautiful they are, how much you like it when they help you with the things around the house or how much you love them no matter what they look like or how they behave. They will always be your children. Do not be afraid to show and tell that you love them. Good deeds will be returned. If we love and shower them with attention and care about their needs, feelings and aspirations, we will shape and mould positive loving adults who is sure of themselves and their directions in life. When they grow up, the love and positivity that we have instilled from young will be bred within themselves. When we bring up positive adults full of love and aspirations, we will have positive leaders and the world will be a better and peaceful place to live in.

I have two beautiful girls whom I love and adore very much. To be able to see them everyday smiling at me kills all the pain or stress of life. When you feel low or need some boost, the hugs that they give me speaks volume of how much love they have for me. I never fail to hug and kiss them everyday. Hugs can decrease the stress level and the heart will be healthier even with a small brief hug. In my situation, the children are my source of inspirations and the main source to keep me going. They are the reasons while I still smile and look forward to life. Still young as they are now, I look forward to a long, healthier life with them. They will start school next year and I look up for the joy and the anticipations to see them learn and go through a new phase of life. Mixing and learning, sharing and arguing will be a part of their learning experiences. My duty is to facilitate them, monitor and advice them if the needs arise. Not to forget to let them grow and find their own niche and support them in whatever they would like to do. Love the children dearly and they will definitely return that love to you. Listen to them and they will listen to you. Shower them with all the love, the scoldings, the advice and the time. And love will never fade or die.

Cerita Seram

Hello! Gembira rasanya dapat memulakan blog ini. Dah lama teringin nak menulis blog tapi asyik tertangguh. Jadi hari ni saya akan cuba usahakan agar ianya menjadi satu memoir atau ruangan berbentuk peribadi yang boleh dikongsi bersama. Oleh itu, buat permulaan Salam Perkenalan saya ucapkan agar anda semua gembira melawat ruangan sempit ini!

Hari ini saya nak bercakap pasal satu berita ni. Dua tiga hari lepas kita dikejutkan dengan berita penemuan mayat di dalam peti sejuk di Mont Kiara Kondo. Apa nak jadi? Mungkin terlalu banyak filem seram di panggung, ada juga segelintir yang terpengaruh! Bercakap bab seram dan thriller ni, saya rasa tentu ramai yang suka filem genre ini kan? Kenapa ya! Apakah kecenderungan itu disebabkan oleh bahan kimia di dalam otak kita? Mengapa ada pula golongan yang langsung kecut perut walaupun melihat tajuk filem? Pelik juga ya! Tapi saya salah seorang yang suka cerita sedemikian. Tetapi sejak akhir-akhir ni terlalu banyak filem dan drama sebegitu, saya rasa thrillnya sudah hilang sikit. Sebab terlalu banyak nak tengok. Tak tahu yang mana satu nak pilih! Anyway, saya sedang menyiapkan novel pertama saya mengenai genre ini, jadi kepada sesiapa yang berminat tu, tunggulah ya! Pastikan anda mendapatkan novel itu bila ianya dijual. Bila? Kemungkinan tahun hadapan! Apapun, lawatlah laman ini untuk perkembangan terbaru ya!