Sunday, February 27, 2011

Pasar Tani (Improvise)

(hubby and I, resting...)

(the view from where we sat..)

(my bro Zulkifly and Acot, manning the stall)

(Acot cutting up the meat (must wear gloves next time)

(our new set up...neat and informative..)


This Sunday morning, we drove from Kajang to the Pasar Tani, at around 7.00am. We reached Paroi at 7.45am. My bro Zulkifly and Acot had already set up our mutton stall. We now have a new set up, as seen via the pictures above.

By 8.00am, customers started coming and we had our first customer who bought 2 kg of mutton. Business was a bit slow, because, there was also another Pasar Tani at Paroi Jaya. The Paroi Jaya Pasar Tani has been around for years and it also has a large number of stalls selling various agricultural products.

The Pasar Tani at Paroi, is still new, only a month old. The site itself is very convenient, by the main road to Kuala Pilah, and having a large parking area. Also, the stalls are clean and well organised. At Pasar Tani Paroi, we have a deejay, who is also the officer in charge of the Pasar Tani Paroi. His name is Encik Rasheed. He would advertise the products found at this Pasar Tani with music in the background via the radio.

At 11.30am a meeting was held between the stall owners and the management. Encik Rasheed chaired the meeting himself. My husband attended the meeting whilst my bro, Acot and I cleaned up our stall.

We returned to Kajang at noon. I truly enjoyed myself, helping my hubby at his stall. Next week I will be wearing the uniform (an orange tee shirt), thus I am now a full fledged member of the Pasar Tani Paroi. The Pasar Tani Paroi opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, morning only...

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Pasar Tani @ Paroi

(Hubby and I at our stall, very basic our presentation)

(My bro Zulkifly, Acot and hubby, cutting the meat)

(our very first customer)

("Thank you, Sir", said my hubby)


We had dinner at Pizzahut in Tampin last night. It was raining heavily when we left Pedas for Tampin. When we arrived at Pizzahut, luckily it was still open and there was quite a crowd too.

When we returned to Loteng (our abode) on the 1st floor of our office building in Pedas, it had stopped raining. Anyway, after watching a movie on TV, we slept.

The next morning when I woke up for dawn prayers, hubby was not around. I thought he had left for the pasar tani (farmers' market) without me. I got ready anyway, and called him on the mobile. He was at the farm getting ready to bring whatever necessary for our first day at the pasar tani.

We pushed off to Paroi Seremban at 7.00am and reached the site at 7.20am. Hubby then went looking for our plot to put up our stall. We are at no.13. We then put up the table, laid the plastic sheet, and put the whole sheep on the table. Then we realize that we should have brought along all the necessary gears to display our product.

By 8am, the customers started pouring in.... we had our first sale at 8.05am... This gentleman bought 1kg of mutton from us. Whilst my hubby and his assistant, Acot, manned the stall, my brother Zulkifly and I distributed our flyers to the customers that came to our stall. By 10.30am, we sold all of our mutton.

Whilst our helpers were cleaning our stall and getting ready to leave, hubby and I took note of what we should bring along tomorrow. We need to improvise our stall.

On our way back to the farm, we went to the stationery shop and bought plastic frames to put our price list and halal certificates in. By noon, we were so hungry and wanted to have lunch at Rembau town, when hubby suddenly remembered we have a wedding reception to go to. Thus we had lunch at the wedding of my husband's good friend in Pedas community hall.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

OWWWWWWWW.....Plantar F..go awayyyyyy pls...

Its been almost two months now... and I am still in pain... Have been to physiotherapy 3x a week... Used the T.E.N.S. medical device 2 to 3 times a day.... After physio and TENS, I would feel fine... moving around especially walking, no problem at all.. BUT once I sat down watching TV or having to drive.... (i.e. after 'resting' a short while) and I started to 'move' again... and pang!! the heel started to throb again.... and it hurts.... a lotttttttt...

So.. when I had to see my Doctor again, I told him what I had gone through... and he prescribed this drug ARCOXIA (pain killer) to ease my pain. I was told to take a tablet once a day when I felt pain.... But then.... till now, I had not taken any.... But I carry Arcoxia with me all the time in my purse. I have managed to abstain from taking Arcoxia... and enduring the pain... but I am unsure whether I should start taking it.

A friend told me to go ahead and take Arcoxia to relief the pain and perhaps after completing the dosage, Plantar F will disappear forever... Well.... should I??? I need to get well fast, to prepare myself for the Standard Chartered International Marathon in June. Of course, I am only participating in the 10km run... Also I am missing the hiking activities during the weekends. Doctor told me to get well first before being active outdoors again.... My next appointment with Doctor is next week.

What I do now is to pray.. and may Allah return my good health soon, Ameen.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Peak at Broga Hill...(2nd attempt)

(amidst the oil palm trees.... chow time...)

(makan time.... fried chicken)

(descending...)

(on the way down..)

(posing with the young climbers...)

(We made it....)

(taking a break at 2nd peak)

(admiring the view...whilst quenching my thirst...)

(with FB friend Nur Haniza..)


(with son Wahiduzzaman)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Laksa Thai


1 litre water
2.5kg mackerel (ikan kembung), cleaned
1 1/2 tsp salt
3-4 tbsp oil
2 wild ginger flower buds (bunga kantan)
3 stalks lemongrass, smashed
2 tbsp tamarind paste mixed with 150ml water, squeezed for juice and strained
550ml thin coconut milk
350ml thick coconut milk
6-8 stalks basil leaves
1.5kg fresh laksa noodles, scalded
300g beansprouts, tailed
1 cucumber, shredded
1 bunch peppermint leaves removed

Ground spice ingredients
20 dried chillies
6 fresh red chillies
5cm piece turmeric root
20-22 shallots
6 candlenuts
1 tbsp belacan

Seasoning
1 tsp salt or to taste
1 tbsp fish sauce
1/2 tsp sugar or to taste
1 tsp ikan bilis stock granules

Boil water with salt in a deep saucepot until boiling. Add the cleaned fish. Cook for 8-10 mins. Dish out fish and debone. Keep fish meat aside. Discard bones and retain the stock.

Cut off bunga kantan stalks (to be used later), Slice bunga kantan finely and leave aside as garnishing. Her oil and saute ground spice ingredients, saved bunga kantan stalks and lemongrass. Fry until fragrant. Transfer fried spice into the fish stock. Add tamarind juice and bring to a boil.

Add thin coconut milk and bring to the boil, then pour in thick coconut milk and add basil leaves. Return fish meat to the stock and adjust with seasoning to taste. Simmer gently for a while.

To serve: Put serving portions of scaled noodles into individual bowls. Put some beansprouts and pour enough hot gravy over. Garnish with cucumber, mint leaves and sliced bunga kantan. Serve hot.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

SRI ABIM - Sports Day

(the Yellow House team marching past..)

(Sofiyah with her team mates)

(100m sprint... )

(the 100m winners with their headmistress)

(Silver medals for the Yellow House relay team)


Sofiyah's school sports day was on Sunday 20 February. This will be her last sports day for her primary school years. She participated in the 100m sprint and 4 x 100m relay. For this year, she was a member of the Yellow House team. Last year she was in Green House.

Anyway, she came in 3rd in the 100m sprint, and her team came in 2nd in the 4 x 100m relay. She has been winning the same race every year since year 3. But then, she compete not with the same runners every year though. As for inter class x-country, she came in 4th. She was disappointed because she came in 1st for year 4 and year 5.....

But then..... too bad her Yellow House came in last this year..... (There were only 4 houses... Blue, Red, Yellow and Green).

Friday, February 18, 2011

My studio unit (fully furnished)

(view of the KL Tower from my balcony)


My studio unit is now fully furnished (oops... except for the Dryer - will be installed Monday). At the moment, I have a tenant from Jakarta Indonesia. They will be staying till end of February 2011. They have been staying at my studio unit since January. They must have like it so much that they keep on extending their stay.

Once I got the dryer installed, my tenants need not have to dry their clothes on the balcony. Yes, my unit has a balcony, and a full view of the Kuala Lumpur Tower. I am renting my studio unit for RM2,300 a month, or RM200 a day (minimum 3 days). My email: z_allblacks@hotmail.com

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Cranberry Walnut Butter Rolls


(A)
250g high-protein flour
50g superfine flour
4g salt
35g castor sugar
5g instant yeast

(B)
170ml milk
35g orange jam

(C)
40g butter

(D)
30g dried cranberries, chopped
25g toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

(E)-mixed together
20g softened butter
10g castor sugar

Glaze
1 tbsp milk
1 tbsp beaten egg

Topping
Some almond strips

Sift the high-protein and superfine flours together. Combine with the rest of ingredients (A) in a mixing bowl and add ingredients (B). Mix with an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, knead until a dough is formed. Add in(C) and continue to knead until dough is smooth and pliable.

Mix in ingredients (D) until well combined. Cover dough with a damp tea towel and leave aside in a warm place for about 40-45 minutes to rise until doubled in bulk.

Remove dough onto a lightly floured table-top and punch down the dough. Roll out into a flat rectangular sheet of about 0.5cm thickness. Brush with butter mixture (E). Roll up like a Swiss Roll and tighten up slightly. Cut into 3cm widths and arrange the pieces in paper cups.

Leave aside to proof for about 35-40 minutes or until the rolls have doubled in bulk. B rush lightly with glaze and sprinkle with almond strips. Bake in a preheated oven at 150 degrees C for 20-25 minutes or until golden or well risen.

Kids' Chocolate Rolls


(A)
200g high-protein flour
25g plain flour
3g salt
1 tbsp milk powder
40g castor sugar
3g instant yeast

(B)
120ml water
25g butter
Sift the high-protein and superfine flours together. Combine with the rest of ingredients (A) in a mixing bowl. Add in water and knead until a dough is formed. Add butter and continue to knead until dough is smooth and pliable. Cover dough with a damp tea towel and set aside for 40 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Chocolate Dough
(A)
200g high-protein flour
25g superfine flour'
40g soft brown sugar
3g instant yeast

(B)
30ml milk
100ml lukewarm water
1/8tsp coffee paste
1/4tsp chocolate paste

(C)
25g butter
Combine ingredients (A) in a mixing bowl and add ingredients (B). Knead into a dough. Add butter and knead until dough is smooth and pliable. Cover dough with a piece of damp tea towel to rise for 35-40 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Filling
1 tbsp softened butter
1 tbsp icing sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder
10g sultanas
10g almond nibs

Topping
1 egg lightly beaten
Some sesame seeds

Mix the butter, icing sugar and cinnamon powder together for the filling. Roll out plain dough into a rectangle of less than 0.5cm thickness. Brush with half the butter filling mixture. Sprinkle over with sultanas.

Roll out chocolate dough into a rectangle and place on top of plain dough. Brush with remaining softened butter filling mixture. Top with almond nibs.

Roll up the 2 layers of dough tightly Swiss Roll style. Cut into 3cm rounds. Place the rounds on a greased tray. Leave aside to rise until the rolls have doubled in size. Lightly brush with beaten egg and sprinkle some sesame seeds over.

Bake at 190 degrees C for 20-25 minutes or until well risen.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Strawberry-flavoured rolls


(A)
250g high-protein flour
70g superfine flour
7g instant yeast
1/8tsp bread improver
15g milk p;owder
3g salt
60g castor sugar

(B)
1 small egg, lightly beaten
150ml lukewarm water

(c)
60g cold butter

(D)
15g butter, diced
2 tsp cinnamon powder
2tbsp strawberry pie filling

(E)
15g walnuts (coarsely chopped)

Glaze (stir together to mix evenly)
1 tbsp beaten egg yolk
2 tbsp milk

Sift the high-protein and superfine flours together. Combine with the rest of ingredients (A) in a mixing bowl. Add egg and lukewarm water. Mix, with an electric mixer fittted with a dough hook, until dough is formed.

Add butter. Knead until dough is soft and pliable.

Remove dough to a lightly floured bowl. Cover with a piece of cling film and leave aside in a warm place for 40-45 minutes or until doubled in size.

Place dough on a lightly floured table top. Roll out in into a rectangle 0.5cm thick. Spread liberally with diced butter and sprinkle with cinnamon powder. Spread with strawberry pie filling.

Roll up tightly, Swiss Roll style, into a long cylinder. Cut into 2.5cm width. Arrange the cut rolls in a greased chiffon pan.

Place the chiffon pan into a big loose plastic bag and tie up with string. Leave aside to proof for 35-40 minutes or until doubled in size.

Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees C for 5 minutes. Remove and brush with glaze. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Continue to bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until golden and well risen.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Love at First Sight......

(Just follow the logo...)

(hoot hoot hoot...)

(Im floating.....)

(having so much fun jumping over the waves...)

(bird watching me watching bird...)

(our footsteps woke up this hunk!!! Heheee...)

(just look at the white beach sands... and the deepest blue sea... awesome...)

(the calmer side of the beach... )

(this part I like......)


Wednesday 9th February was my last day in Perth. Since Cottesloe beach was just a 20mins train ride from Perth, I decided to spend my last day there.

Ayeshah, Ika (she stayed the night at our apartment) and myself took the Red Cat at Hay Street to the Train Station. We got off at Wellington Street and walked to the Train Station, a stone throw from the bus stop. The train to Cottesloe was at platform 4. I bought the train ticket for AUD3.50. Ayeshah and Ika use their Transperth student card.

When we reached Cottesloe train station, there was a sign board informing us how to get to the beach. Very easy...... just follow the logo drawn on the path to the beach.... The walk to the beach took us 10 mins only.... We passed the Golf Course... and then... Voila!! There was the beach....

It was awesome.... the sands were so white and the water so blue..... I just cant wait to get into the sea.... We then look for a place to sit and while every beach goer were sun-bathing... me and the girls were looking for a shady area.... we found one underneath a pine tree.....

Ika did not want to swim... so she looked after our belongings while Ayeshah and I went to the changing room. The changing room and toilets were in a building close to the beach. Its FOC. Too bad the shower were out of order... So, we had to shower in the open.

There are lifeguards at Cottesloe beach. There was also a lady lifeguard. While walking to the sea, a couple said Hi and asked me whether I was going to swim the channel. I was puzzled but replied of course not. Why? They said I was wearing a full body suit so they thought I was a channel swimmer.... Well, being a Muslim woman, of course I have to cover myself, but that does not stop me from having fun at the beach....

Ayeshah and I than ran towards the blue sea... and when we got into the water at ankle deep... it was soooooo... cold.... But we went deeper anyway.... Then when the water was waist high, it was no longer cold.... The water was crystal clear... I could actually see the sand beneath... I tried going further out but dare not because there were strong waves.... I could float but unable to swim well.... unless in the swimming pool.... So, Ayeshah and I played in the cool blue water.... Ika took photographs of us in the water... She could take good pictures...

We were in the water for an hour... I was reluctant to return to shore... but since we need to go to Ellenbrook that evening, we quickly went ashore. The seawater at Cottesloe was not sticky at all.... So, even after a shower minus the soap and shampoo.... we could change into dry clothes without feeling uncomfortable. Of course we had to take the shower (fully clothed) outdoors... there were two showers on the left and right side of the building.

We then had lunch, sardine fried rice n sardine sandwiches, which I cooked that morning. For drinks, we had apple juice and sky juice. After lunch, I dozed off.... zzzzzzzz.....and woke up, fresh all over.... and walked to the train station to return to the city.

I hope to return to Perth again and spend more time at Cottesloe beach... I wonder whether Bondi is also like this.... But then,
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