8 months and counting...

Today marks the 8th month of my employment with AT. Nothing to boast about, just thinking of fast time flies. Every Monday, I count silently to Friday where I will take the 6.30pm bus from Sg Nibong back to Alor Setar. And on every Sunday, I will feel as tho' there is a heavy stone resting on top of my shoulder. Dread going back.
In the last 8 months, I've learnt quite a bit, made few more friends, but nothing beats the time when hubby and I were back studying in Skudai, JB. The wonderful memories we had there, the awesome friends, the lepaking and 'jalan-jalan cari makan' trips we went. It has been a year since I left Skudai, and a year since I've completed my masters.Time flies...

I can't wait for Christmas, need to take a short break from work. We will be in Kuching celebrating Christmas with dad and mom-in-law. Oh..am now thinking of Sarawak Laksa:).

A lot of things on my mind, anticipating year 2012, but afraid at the same time. It will be an exciting year for both of us as we wait eagerly for our belated honeymoon trip, but also a year that we will have to decide where to move (after seeking the Lord), getting a house (maybe?) and think of kids (hopefully..)

Hubby and I keep encouraging each other that God will show us His plans, and to wait for His perfect timing. At times when I am emotionally sane, this seems to be really motivating. But at those times where I feel depressed, I start to complain and grumble.

I do not want to be like the Israelites who kept complaining and grumbling after the Lord brought them out of Egypt. They have tasted the Lord's goodness and faithfulness again and again, but yet when calamity come, they forget and start complaining. Before this, I couldn't understand why they would grumble after what the Lord has done. But when I start to complain and grumble even after experiencing countless of God's blessings and faithfulness, I began to understand how easy it is for us to be ungrateful. So, my motto for 2012 will be to count my blessings, stop complaining, stop comparing and move forward as the Lord leads. I will keep to His promises in Jeremiah 29:11:

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

CG get-together for Prayer and Worship

Today as many Indians celebrate Deepavali, our CG members decided to gather at my place (MM's house) for a worship and prayer session. We fasted lunch, and started the session at 11am right up to about 1pm.
I felt refreshed and enjoyed an awesome time of worshipping God with my fellow CG members. And spending time to pray together, that was really great too.

We celebrated JJ and Lily's birthday, and had ice-cream cake.

Then we head over to Kayu for supposedly a 'light' meal, but unfortunately they did not have roti/nan at 3pm. So ended up we had heavier meal. I ordered the nasi goreng ayam and guess how much it cost me? RM 8.50....cut throat!! Summore, it didn't taste nice. As usual, I asked for extra and tambah pedas...and they gave me ZERO pedas....grrrrrrrrr

Anyway, here I am back home...trying to figure out what to do the rest of the evening. I think I will continue my US dramas....

Ciao!

Ayam masak lemak cili padi

I love curries, chicken curry, rendang, mutton curry, you name it. But my favourite is this: Ayam masak lemak cili padi. Being a lazy bum (and a firm believer of ready-made curries), I cooked this for lunch using ALIF's Kuah Masak Lemak Cili Padi paste. All I need to do is to add chicken, potatoes and cili padi for the oomph!

Ayam mask lemak cili padi (Taken from someone's blog)

Didn't bring back my camera, so I took this pic from someone's blog.

Can't wait for lunch...

Kacangma

Kacangma is a dish which consist of kacangma leaves, ginger, chicken and langkau/tuak. It is traditionally a confinement dish but is now a popular dish among the people of Sarawak. They can have kacangma for lunch, or dinner or in special events such as wedding or a pot-bless.

Not everyone in the Peninsular (in my opinion) will like Kacangma as it tastes slightly bitter. The one I cooked a couple of days ago had brandy instead of tuak. Never use 'arak putih'..tasted horrible!!
And I put too much of the leaves (which meant for 1 whole chicken not half!) which make it more bitter than the the usual Kacangma. Nevetheless, husband rated it 7/10...hehe..not bad for our 1st attempt cooking Kacangma.

Our 1st attempt: Kacangma

Do read this if you want more info on kacangma: http://harizamrry.com/2008/07/khasiat-kacangma/

Cooking for loved ones...

I love cooking, especially Chinese food...and for the last 2 days since I was back, I cooked!
Yesterday, I cooked 3 dishes; stir-fry broccoli and carrots, ginger beef and ABC soup. Didn't snap any pictures cos too hungry...
For dinner, hubby fried the left-over rice to go with dishes. Really blessed to have a husband who can cook, willing to cook and help wash up.

Today, I had asked mom and sis to come over for lunch. Actually the initial plan was for me to prepare 3 dishes, and mom to prepare 1 dish, but because she had to attend someone's funeral send-off, sis came over earlier to 'lean how to cook'. She end up contributing 1 dish - potato salad.
I cooked mongolian chicken, fried anchovies with onions and stir-fry broccoli and carrots (again, I know! Just can't get enough of broccoli).

In a while, I will be frying the rice with bacon and mixed vegetables for dinner. Hubby and I usually go out in the middle of church service to have dinner before he sends me off to the bus station. Since Tesco is pack with people around 8pm for buka puasa, it is difficult for us to find any seats and utensils to use at the food court. And dining at the other shops (KFC, Rasamas, Pizza Hut, etc) is rather pricey. So solution? I COOK!

Gotta go, feeling a bit pening..just had some rum and raisin ice-cream (raisins have been soak in rum for over 3 weeks).....tipsy dy...haha...

Love,
Em

Enough of 'tu-bak'

I had decided that right after work, I would quickly tapau my dinner, then go home and work-out on my kickboxing moves (or aerobics).

But when I arrived at the kopitiam, I stood there thinking for a while, deciding what to eat. And then I remembered that I told Steven last night  of my craving for Klang Bak Kut Teh. And many people say that this kopitiam's BKT is not bad.

So, abandoning my plan to work-out, I sat there and ordered BKT for 1 person. And you know what? It tasted not even half as good as the BKT I cook using the packet (Uncle Sun's or A1). And it costs me RM9!! ( for the yam rice and the eu cha kueh). But the portion is huge..and I think I can safely say...I'm abstaining from tu-bak for the next 1 week or so. Makes me wonder how people in China can eat pork everyday.

Online pic I randomly selected

I'm not a pork person btw, not like hubby. I will anytime prefer beef/mutton over pork.

Now my tummy is so full..and I am still hoping after few hours from now, I can do some kicking and  squatting.

Food and much more...

We had a small bbq at our place last weekend. Needless to say, it was a porky event.
We had pork patties which was prepared by Jian, salad with vinegrette, pork ribs (marinated by hubby), mashmellows, and our special drink with lemons and mint. The girls prepared the salad and drinks, while the guys took charge over the bbq preparations. After the makan, we played a couple of rounds of card games.
We all had fun!!!

Jian's pork patties

The pork ribs

Salad with vinegrette, sunflower seeds and  raisins

7 up with lemons and mint leaves....loved it~!

Seems happy...eyeing the ribs...

I feel hungry again....

Posing before the food...can hear their stomachs growling...

Heart attack!

I HATE TICKS!!!

I hate ticks!I hate ticks!I hate ticks!I hate ticks!I hate ticks!I hate ticks!
About two weeks ago, hubby noticed one or two ticks on Brownie, and we thought "Oh well, one or two only, nevermindlah". Then the day before hubby left for camp, he mentioned again that he found more ticks on Brownie, and had bathe him with tick shampoo the last few days. So I thought, small issue.
And when  I came home yesterday (hubby left for camp in the morning), and at night, me, mom and Eve pulled out around 8 ticks. Boy..I was super stressed...even prayed to God so that He can protect Brownie from ticks.
This morning, I found 10 ticks on him...and when I came back from SP more ticks..
I have purchased Frontline...it is said to be effective in  killing fleas and ticks. Really hope this works...

Just a pic, the one I got was FRONTLINE COMBO SPOT-ON for 1-10kg dogs

Sad cos can't hug Brownie..cos he has ticks all over, even in his ears...

Ramblings of the heart

I really wish that I have an extra day of weekend...I wish I don't have to go back tonight..
I didn't have enough time spent with hubby, he just got back from Jogja 10pm last night, and today a whole day of work, and I'm leaving tonight (again!) instead of Monday morning.

Yes, I am calculative, I calculate the hours I can spend with him each weekend (sleeping does not count), and this week is below adequate. I come to realize (not that I have not realized before) that one cannot have everything in life. I want a job that pays me quite good, yet I can see my husband every day.. but that it ideal right? How I envy those who have good jobs, good pay and have their husbands by their side each day.
I am not talking about those female teachers married to their businessman/doctor/lawyer/engineer husbands. I am talking about cases where both husband and wife works in MNCs. No matter how busy...you still come back home to your other half. I, on the other hand, come back to an empty room. It's not that I don't like socializing or going out, but many times, I would rather spend time doing things (such as cooking, washing car, taking a stroll at the park) with my husband. In fact, if we are both doing our own stuff, just having each other around is sufficient.

I shouldn't be complaining, I should be giving thanks that I have a good job. So am I to just be contented and not want for more? If only, circumstances are different, if only we can catch a glimpse of what God's plan for us are. I honestly do not know whether working in the government sector is good...if we keep thinking that it's secure and one will not be out of job should there be recession... then working in government is good. But there is no bonus, no profit sharing, so you still think it is good? You get free hospital fee, people from private sector pays only RM1when to go to government hospital. Even I go to private clinic, although my dad is a government servant, who can wait?

Many times, I conclude that the only way to see this, is to pray and seek God for His direction. I sometimes, do not know how to pray, to pray that hubby gets transferred to Pg? to pray that he can quit government to work in private? If I pray that he gets transferred to Pg, the problem does not end there, he will still have to move as long as he is with the government. I don't think that I am strong enough (or will ever be) to keep living apart. Then when the kids come along, how? I do not want either one of us to be the 'weekend' parent.

And when I start to think of such complicated things, I am reminded that no matter how difficult I think my life is, there is always someone in a worst situation than I am...the woman whose husband had died, and she has to take care of her child, or the newly-married woman whose husband just passed away, or the couple that is separated by distance as one is overseas.

Bottom line is.....Be thankful...and keep praying..

Daorae, Korean BBQ Restaurant

Planned with Ranjetha for the last 3 weeks to makan at this place. So, today we went (neither cough nor flu could stop me from enjoying the Korean BBQ) to Daorae at Bayan Point.

Lazy to type, so let the pictures speak for themselves..

Entrance

 

 

Some deco

Menu

Sweet sauce

Side dish 1: Seaweed soup

Side dish 2: Beansprouts

Side dish 3: Salad in peanut sauce

Side dish 4: Kimchi

Side dish 5: Anchovies

Side dish 6: Radish

Side dish 7: Century egg

Side dish 8: Long beans

Side dish 9: Spinach ( not really sure..)

Sidedish 10: Steamed egg

On the house: Korean pancake

Drink (tea) and lectuce

Yang GoGi (marinated mutton in soy sauce)

Dak Gal Bi (marinated chicken in spicy sauce)

You're suppose to wrap your meat with the lectuce and eat it....like this (see below)

My mouth not big enough....sigh!

2 very happy and contented people:) Thanks Ranjetha for the company.

Total damage: RM68.20

Our 1st wedding anniversary

Both of us piggies decided to pork-in for our 1st wedding anniversary. Since hubby loves barbecued pork, and I heart bacon with pasta, we decided to have both.

Hubby barbecued the pork, and I suggested to have slices of green apples to compliment the dish.

Barbecued pork

I, on the other hand boiled the spirali, fried the bacon bits and pour a can of Prego's portobello sauce on the pasta. Was feeling lazy to make the usual alfredo/classic spaghetti sauce.

Spirali in Portobello Sauce with bacon bits topping

Simple meal, but a hearty one. I always enjoy cooking alongside with hubby.

Dear, thanks for the wonderful moments, the ups and the downs, the love and support, the devotion and patience.

Happy 1 year anniversary!

Muaks:)

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and hubby and I brought mom out for a lunch at Times Cafe. I ordered the Mother's Day lunch set for 3 (since dad couldn't make it).

Drinks: Kiwi and lychee

Green: Kiwi, White: Lychee (too sweet for my liking)

Starters: Mix vegerables and aluminium foil wrapped herbal chicken

Mix veg: Carrot and cauli flower on the raw side

There were about 6 pieces of individually wrapped herbal chicken. I like them!

Main course: Grilled teriyaki chicken and lemon chilly chicken and Dory fish in tomyam

Dory fish in tomyam (not bad..but you can't see the fish from here)

Lemon chilly chicken and grilled teriyaki chicken...both quite nice

Light bites: Vietnamese spring rolls and money pocket

Money pocket

Vietnemese Spring roll

Desert: Ice cream with fruit (each of us got a cup)

Blackcurrant ice cream with grapes (yummy!)

The highlight of the day....

Happy Mother's Day mummy...Thanks for everything. We love you:)

Sarawak Laksa

Cooked this today, using the paste MIL bought for us the last time when we were back in Kuching.

The other ingredients include:

Prawns

Shredded chicken breast

Fried egg (cut into strips)

A couple of lime (if you like sour taste)

Bee hoon

Most important is the soup (boil chicken stock, add paste, sieve, and then add coconut milk and shrimp paste)

Voila....

Our home-made Sarawak Laksa (minus taugeh, cos I dun like it)

P/S: Usually, you will be given sambal chilly to go with Sarawak Laksa. We used the instant one from Singlong.