Someone I Called 'Ibu' (Mother)

In my previous entries, i did mention about Ibu few times. Well today, i feel like telling the world about my Ibu and how special she is because i missed her today.

Most of Ibu's family side, called their mothers 'Ibu'. Even my cousins; Jasha, Norma and Satrea in Germany who are half Malay and half German call their mothers 'Ibu'. For me, the word 'Ibu' sounded softer compared to other names the Malays had called their mothers like 'Mak' and 'Umi'. Do not judge me. This is only my personal opinion. Everybody has their own thoughts and opinions, right?

Now back to Ibu. My Ibu is currently 62 years old. I used to live with her during my first years of marriage but after all, who wants to be left behind when everybody is looking for freedom and independence as a wife and mommie after being married. I want to live on my own, being able to cook my meals and be alone with my family. It is not that i do not like to be around her. I just want to experience how it feels to be starting our lives together both Farouk and i as a married couple by ourselves. On the other hand, i pity Ibu. She has been living on her own (Of course with my other siblings) since Ayah has decided to marry another. Although it was like 7-8 years ago, i can see that Ibu has been traumatized with the whole process and still is. I understand how she felt even after all these years as i was the one who witnessed everything, the sorrowness of her life.

I look upon Ibu as one tough lady. Although her heart laments, she is strong enough to take care of us all until we have finally made it with our careers and two of us ; Door (My elder sister) and i have married. One thing i truly admire about Ibu is her good nature for not doubting people although some may took advantage of her in various ways for that. She may be old but many people commented that she does not even look 50 herself. For me, she is still beautiful in her own way and still very much young at heart as you can almost share everything with her like bestfriends would do.

Ibu, i know that i may hurted you with my words because everytime it always come out straight away from my eccentric mind. To be frank, i did not mean to hurt your feeling but just want to tell you the truth and make you realize that world is not that kind anymore as you would imagine because you never judge and let people fooled you because of your good nature. The truth is, i love you so much and would not want to be the one witnessing the day you are going to leave us all. I pray that everything will turn out your way soon and will give everything i could to make you happy because you have suffered enough. I wish you all the best and will be there for you whenever you need me. Insyallah.

Last but not least, thank you Ibu for bringing me into this beautiful world.Thank you for guiding and comforting me during my rainy days. Thank you for everything. Long live, Ibu. And by the way, i get emotional while writing this.

Universal Studios Singapore (USS)

We went to USS somewhere in March this year. Sorry, it was kind of history to share it with you guys. Let the pictures below describe how fun it was to be in this trip. Hope to come again someday.    

Are You On Diet?

Let's practice this (Credit to Google)

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

KL Bird Park

We visited KL Bird Park end of last year and it was such an amazing moments for 3 of us for being able to see various kind of beautiful and colourful birds. Al-Mighty Allah! Alhamdulillah.

Perfect Stranger

The day has finally come

And my heartbeat is running fast

As much as i wanted to tell you

Instead, i just come to say goodbye

I love the way you look at me

I love the way you smile

I love when our eyes met

Makes me want to reach out and cry

Good bye perfect stranger

Good bye beautiful monday

As much as i cannot let go and hold on closely

Sadly that is how it fated to be

How To Make A Simple Chicken Oatmeal Porridge

This receipe is actually from Ibu. She taught me during the first year i married Farouk. Everybody happens to like it including Farouk and he cooks it well rather than myself. This morning, woke up early and thought of having it for breakfast. Simple, fast, healthy and most of all, it tastes delicious too.

Here is how to prepare it :-

Ingredients   
5 spoons of oatmeal
1 spoon of olive oil
Tad bit of pepper
21/2 cups of water
1 pc of big onion (Chopped)
3 gloves of garlic (Chopped)
1 cube of chicken stock

Method 
Heat a non-stick pan for 2-3 minutes and sprinkle the olive oil all over the pan.

When it is ready, fry the onion and garlic until you can smell the fragrance.

Add water and crush the chicken stock into the pan. Wait until it bubbles before putting the oatmeal.

Add the pepper and stir it well until the texture becomes thicker.

Have it while it is still hot.

Some may like to add chicken cubes or scrambled eggs to go with the porridge but i kind of like it the way Ibu has taught me.     

Crush

(Credit to Google) 

Have you ever bump into someone who gives you a long pleasant gaze that you never seemed to forget?

Have you ever thinking of someone so deeply that you almost cried?

Have you ever find yourself hoping that someone to be standing there waiting for you with arms wide open?

Have you ever wanting to be together with that someone despite of all circumstances?

Well it is not love, Darling.

It is just a crush.

You will soon forget him.

You will soon find it is silly.

You will soon laugh your heart out.

You will soon sleep tight at night and not finding yourself to dream about him anymore.

And the next day you woke up, the world is going to be the same again.

Sooner or later, you and your crush will be just another tale to tell about.

The love once felt.

That perfect stranger i met.

How To Make A Simple Macaroni & Cheese

As i mentioned in my previous entry, i did make some macaroni and cheese for a get-to-together with my family members at home last sunday. A first timer and lacked of cooking experience, not to mention not a good cook as i am, at the end i managed to impress myself with the result and my family members ; Papa, Ibu and Adik added the 2nd serving after finishing the 1st one. I guess they liked it.
    
Here is my recipe. Got it from Google.

Ingredients

400-500 grams of macaroni pasta

30 grams of butter
3 spoons of flour
2 cups or 500ml of fresh milk
1/2 tea spoon of paprika
2 cups or 200 grams of grated cheese (A mixed of cheddar and parmesan)
Tad bit of salt and pepper
Extra grated cheese or breadcrumbs (Optional)
Parsley flakes (Optional)
Beef rashers (Optional)

Method
Cook the pasta as instructed in the packet.

Melt the butter in a pot or non-stick pan with a moderate flare. Add the flour and stir it for 2-3 minutes. Always stir it to prevent the mixtures from burning.

Add 1/2 cup or 250ml of fresh milk. And again, always stir it to prevent lumps in the sauce. Stir the sauce until it bubbles and become thicker. Repeat the above until all the milk is poured in the pot / pan. Let it bubbles for 1 minute and off the stove. 

Add the cheese and paprika all together and stir it until the cheese is melted and its sauce becomes smooth and creamy.

On the stove with a moderate flare. Add the salt and pepper and for myself, i chose to add some parsley falkes to the sauce. Some may like to add a bit of beef rashers as well to intensify the flavour. Depends. 

Drain the pasta and stir it through the melted cheese. You can add extra cheese or breadcrumb if you want to. You can also eat it straight away or put it under the griller to melt the topping.

Eat it while it is still hot:)

How To Make A Simple Fried Seasoning Salmon

My daughter, Areej is a big fan of salmon. Everytime we decided to go Western, she will make us know that she wanted salmon for her meal.

Yesterday was a bit hectic. I cleaned the house, went out for a while in the afternoon with Farouk and Areej to settle our bills and later in the evening, i have decided to cook for dinner and invited Ibu as well as Adik (My younger sister) to come over and join us.

For the adults, i have cooked Macaroni And Cheese and for my little Areej, Fried Seasoning Salmon was specially made for her and i can see that she smiled widely after eating it. 

Here is the recipe :-

Ingredients
1 piece of salmon
Tad bit of olive oil
Tad bit of salt
1 spoon of seasoning sauce
1/2 spoon of parsley flakes

Method
Cut the salmon into cubes and marinate it with the seasoning sauce.

Add salt and parsley flakes to the marinated salmon and mix them together.

Heat a non-stick pan and sprinkle the olive oil all over the pan.

When it is hot enough, stir-fry until it is cooked.

Best to serve it hot with rice.

Merely A Love Story But It Was Not...

This one is an old story about 2 persons. He is in his mid 30s, good looking and works as a manager. She is indeed in her early 30s, tall, out-spoken and surely a hijabie. They met in 2008 and now, they are no longer friends. At least, i can confirm that.

It all began in one dark evening. It was supposed to be rain but it did not. He, as calm as always, was patiently waiting for someone but did not expect that it was her who finally turned up at the front of his door. So they met. From there, they began to know each other, became closer until one fine day when she soon realized that there is no point of having him in her life. Of course she misses him. Crazy if she does not. I bet that he must be thinking of her too. If not always, it must be at least once in a blue moon. He was once amazed by her and thought that she was different. I know. He told me so.

In the last message she received, he told her that he is leaving and was kind of hoping that they can still be friends. That was the last time she ever heard from him. The message was left silent and unreplied. Sad but that was the end of it. It was merely a love story but it was not. If you loved someone, you cannot assume that he / she will surely going to be yours. Let him / her go. If he / she comes back to you, that someone will be yours. If not, both of you were not meant to be right from the start...

(Credit to Google)

Crazy Over Dove Chocolate! And Still Is...

Currently, i am totally in love with Dove Chocolate since Hanis Zalikha first introduced it via her blog, went on to try it all (Everything it has to offer and available in Malaysia) and finally decided that i fancy Dove's Hazelnut, Almond and Raisin the most. For your information, i even asked Hanis Zalikha herself which one is her favourite. She said Dove's Crispy is the best. No, i did not call her and asked. It is via her Facebook Fan Page...