Back in Hometown....

Aslmkm everyone...
After many months..we decided to go back to our Hometown in Perak.. we missed our Parents dearly and our siblings too..both sides, Hb's and mine. The plan was to leave awal pagi2, but ada saja yang melambatkan. Thursday, at 11 a.m we left KL and reached Perak around 1 pm.. We had lunch at my Mums.

 My Mum prepared macam2 lauk pauk, tak tau where to begin... she, a complete package,  is nothing strange to us and like most of us all..who loves cooking, gardening, nagging and etc..She never got tired with cooking especially. Mum likes to cook even at this age... masih nak masak untuk anak cucu, not easy for us to say No..But it's okay, anything that makes her happy. She is at her late 70's  has slowed down a lot...kaki pun kurang kuat. My Dad is bless with good health and good memory...,alhamdullillah..who never sit still, always has something going on in his daily routine. I think some of us gets the habit from him.... a handful of things we love to do..tak ada kerja cari kerja.
My Aunty Wan Chik and Ayah Chik were there when we arrived and my sister Leeza came later. She brought some food..so we had plenty to eat.

Our Tea

  My sister Leeza look slimmer... Is that me?
  I need to do something...I look so bloated!!

 My niece Ida's twins...tomel and so adorable!

There was no picture of my Mum and Dad... refused to be photographed...not presentable at that time *according to Mum*
I always find it difficult to leave Mum and Dad's house when there's so much to share, but our visit had to be shared with Hb's side pulak..At my in laws, my M.I.L was having a nap while F.I.L was so glad to receive us at the door. S.I.L and her Hb were still at work. Compared to mine Hb has a small family..2 sisters and he, being the only son, his elder brother passed away long time ago.  Hb's family is rather quiet, while mine....  riuh rendah and when we meet, not a moment of silence...always so many things to talk about..and it's always interesting.
 This time we decided to stay on our own since it's more convenience as Hb is not well.. rather sad.
Before we checked in at Regency Hotel... situated in the heart of town we had dinner at Padang Polo..

Ahaks! Ya, that's what I ordered..ABC, Sup Tulang meehoon and Popiah. Fifa had Tomyam and Mee Rebus Tulang for Hb *no photos taken* Hehe, I  was back in my Hometown lol! Ordered my food in my own dialect..happy bebeno!!
Once done with the checked in..I was really knocked out and had my beauty sleep as early as 9.30pm.

Next day..
 Having some precious time with Hb's parents until late Noon... we visited my Sister Teh at her house..no photos. We spent chatting for quite sometime,  catching up for the time we had missed. I loved her Plants, especially her Orchids..blooming beautifully. I can't wait to get my hands on my Orchid once I get back..*gathered some tips*

Dinner..at my sister Leeza's house..

 

 I adored this spot..

Was having a splitting headache..but 

for my sister's sake, I would never have the heart to say NO..
dinning at her lovely home.

 My B.I.L Dato Yusof with Hb..

I was touched.. they were hugging each other,
like they have not met for years...

Hmm.. Look at the selection of food my sister prepared..

Chicken Pizza and Mee Mamak

Let's see, what's her Dessert...

Caramel Pudding and Chocolate Mousse

And...

Upside down Apple Cake

 Although tired with driving and drained out by the hot weather but it was worth the effort...Syukur Alhamdullillah. Tiada harta yang lebih bernilai selain dari Kasih Sayang daripada keluarga..

Just a reminder..
What makes a family? Love....
 To love one another, to give your time, be a good listener, be patient, be grateful, be helpful to one another and never put your family before your business...

Adios...

About Plants and Food..

Aslmkm friends...
I kept myself busy with my garden. Love to see my plants growing and cannot wait for some to bare more flowers... The weather today, hot and sunny and sometimes gloomy and humid..making you sweating, and feeling not so fresh and smell *masyam..*- easily, especially when cooking at my outdoor...despite that I do love the surroundings where I get to be with my herbs and plants. My Lemon tree after so many years had bare one tiny fruit..Ohlalala...dah terlalu lama menunggu!

The same time, rather disappointed at some herbs that I bought almost a week ago..About 2 pots that didn't seemed to survive well.. cilantro *ketumbar* and mint leaves *pudina*.. could not adapt with weather here.. bawak turun dari Cameron Highlands..kata penjual di Sungai Buloh. But what about Oregano, Thymes, Rosemary these three is originated from the cold country.. they're quite hardy that can last for months and sometime years.

Rosemary, Oregano and Thyme look so healthy..

  Chillies

Peria *bitter gourd* I planted from seeds *wink*

 Left, the white bloom is Gardenia, new species, I bought for my Mum.

And my two chillies..still surviving..  Alhamdullillah... My orchids too growing healthy since I placed  them to somewhere shady and sheltered. Plants, Animals or even our Children are the same.. you have to attend to them, belai with kasih sayang yang ikhlas....you will get the respond in no time...
During the past, I normally bought plants from shoots *anak benih*  took care from scratch..Not anymore, no patient to wait until they're big enough for me to appreciate them..Tak sabo..Nah! kedebab I bawa balik from Sungai Buluh..and took care until become bigger shrubs. What ever size you bought..feeding and caring are about the same..The price of young shoots compare to the big shrubs, of course banyak beza, but berbaloi..To those who wish for a green garden or express one, buy one or two big shrubs. It depends on what plants you like.. Like Petunia, if you buy the small pot, cost you around 8 to 10 rm..small, tak sempat apa dah layu.. But if you get the bigger ones, cost about 25 rm and above...you sure get the satisfaction, big enough to enjoy the blooms in your garden.

What next..Food.
 

 

 After what happened last week, I was  awakened *not anymore of the comment*.. about how bad food can do to us..dengan berkobar2 rasa nak berdiet sekejap...but how long? I don't know, sekurang2nya ada rasa kesedaran.. Diet here means, You can eat but moderately..so, the picture of Scones above was prepared at one fine morning. It's a new recipe which I got it in the Net.. crunchy when you bite and soft like cake texture in the inside...then back to our normal Oats with fruits the next morning and so forth. This is one meal that both Hb and me never get bored with...yet it's healthy.

Since less Outing, I was more into cooking and my gardening...melayan tekak ni dengan makanan yang tak memudaratkan kesihatan. Eh.. do you see any Desserts displayed? Memang completely no sweets for the past few days.. berapa lbs lah turun ni.. Tapi, dah mula rasa nak bukak kitab2 resepi for Tea.

This was what we had for lunch today, something not elaborate but kenyang.. Alhamdullillah.

Yesterday..
 Monday,  Hb at Physio, once in a month at Pantai Specialist Centre..
 My girl was on study leave, asked her to tag along. We went to Bangsar Village *only 5 mins drive from the Hospital* intention was to stock coffee at the Groccer..*habis pulak, coming in a months time* and promised my girl to treat her breakfast at Plan B..

And she ordered Macchiato Coffee and Ox Tongue's sandwiches..*sedap giller* Well, I had a bite only, I know it's bad for Cholesterol and Uric acid.. As for Fifa, still okay, but not too much and don't make that as a regular food in your diet. I only had  Flat White Coffee, as I wanted to have lunch with Hb. We had lunch at Hasrul in Subang.


So..what's for dinner then?
Well, I had sent *whatsapp* to everyone who live under the same roof to get approval on this food for dinner...takut nanti complaint pulak Roti Jala for dinner!
The feedback I got...Alright, Ma!! Thank you, Cik Som, gara2 tengok you punya menu la tu...

Whilst I was making this Lacey Crepe, I was all over sweating, and I guess that was what make the food tasted ever so good....heeehhee!

Well, let me end it here, will get back in no time...

Adios...lovely peeps!!

Small de tour

Asmkm to all readers...
My passion of writing blog had to take a small de tour because there were some rubble on the track.
I am touched but not badly affected to this.. but since I like to share I just love to bring this matter up.
I received some insight of comment on my blog which had taken me aback. My aim for making a blog was only to discuss something light and hot favorite amongst Foodies and Hobbies.,that was the main driving factor. I had a lot of satisfaction sharing and getting response from this hobby that I had undertaken. As time passes the scope expanded on daily routines, family affairs, activities and what not. I got a lot of satisfaction blogging ..sometimes commenting on fellow blogger's problems or me getting feedback and encouragement from those frequent correspondence. In fact, that makes my day. The supplementary impact I got from the blog... I had improved many things which I never dreamed to achieve before. At the same time I realized that the world is an Oyster *a lot of things to see, hear, discuss and accordingly response from my own perspective* after all we write from our own hearts.
 Out of the blue...your good self had prick my conscience by commenting on my blog *thank you, your insight is welcome* I cannot comprehend whether it's good or bad..
But I have to say what I want to say...It surprised me that a newcomer who is not my personnel acquaintance can make such an explicit comment on my character...like we are good friends or known each other for a long time..or perhaps the sharpness of your mind warrant you to be a top professionals Psychiatrist or Management Guru by just reading through my blog....
Sharing your thoughts openly in my blog is uncalled for, for if it is in that tone and in that language.

It would be better to comment to me personally. I would not be side track. Another thing, my eldest always remind me when  giving comment, give them politely..
From my reading of your statement about life and death it seem to me it's about one or the other.
This is being stereotype..Death advertisement only appears in special obituary columns in Newspaper and others else where.. I take the opportunity to remind us that life and death is just like on the flip side of a coin. When tragedy happened people mourned, cried, but after some time back to normal. life  has to go on..This sombre atmosphere  should only be true at the graveyard, or at scene of tragedy when it happens..
In my mind basically, I think it is wise to mention Death of somebody close to me in my personnel Blog..my heart feels for him and his family and would like to share it with my friends.
 I am not Pretencious... and writing only about good Food or good things. The news of the demise of my cousin was after all spontaneous and I felt good to write about him and family at that time.
Anyway, I don't bare grudges.. I like to let it out to clear what's in my head....so that people understands how we feel and respect what we dislike..not keeping it and expect people to make their own statement and unfairly at that.

Like always... My presentations of the week....

Sunday Lunch..Chicken Tortilla's..

Saturday lunch...Laksa lemak

  Friday's dinner..Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Thursday's dinner..Chicken Pie..

  Homemade Chicken Pie is not that high in calories..cut down on butter. And homemade gravy without using can Mushroom soup.

 Say No to the sauce or gravy for the topping..

slightly oily.

Sandwiches was back in demand for dinner..

Chicken and Mushroom Sandwiches

 

 Till we meet again in my next entry..

Adios..

That Monday.. & Let's eat well...

Assalam..
Monday morning, while I was driving to Sungai Buloh with my Anik, my sister Intan called telling me our cousin Zaidi passed away.. I was shocked and sad, I knew him as a good man, a good son, and a good husband...in fact, a good package.. In his early 40s and what saddened me more he left 3 young children and one on the way..sob2. I never stopped thinking until now.. how is the wife gonna cope without him... Allah Maha kaya, Maha mengetahui, dan Maha mengasihani..semoga isterinya dapat menerima dan melalui liku2 hidup..
Life is too short peeps, time does not wait for us.. even a goodbye. I never imagined someone so full of life at this prime age could suddenly collapsed of heart attacked.
I fetched my sis at Taman Tun and we proceeded to Sungai Buloh. Masih menunggu jenazah buat Post mortem...Insyallah, either tonight or tomorow morning we shall pay our respect..Takziah to the family. Al Fatihah, to my cousin Zaidi..


Meanwhile..Tonight's dinner
Sup tulang *without lemak* and dinner rolls




Then..

Look! the row of Herbs I bought..
I love to see those healthy
bunch in the Pot..

Cucumber..

Alamanda

Sunday, 15th April..
We planned to go to Pavillion... but the kids made no initiative to be up even by 11 a.m. Intention of having our lunch out, seemed to be Kaputt...fed up! So I cooked something simple..and I knew...not tasty or even tak sedap mata memandang..rather flat in taste...don't care, merajuk!

But ... after having this lunch and done Zohor prayer we left the house..


*Guilty as charged as I pasted these pictures after what we understand what food can cause to our health..*

Bangsar Village...At *Delicious*
Niat di hati, just sipping coffee and trying something new but light..

But..

We ordered The Three Tier tea stand for two

The Food that served on the three tier stand..

Then..

That extra orders..Leek Pie and Portobello mushroom Burger

This was rather unique.. tasted like
serunding, shredded beef in a pastry..

And this is not healthy! But tasted soo good...Banana Puding..
that you wanted to ask for more esp
the caramel sauce..slurp!

I guess, enough of showing good food for today, and about time we realized what food can do to us.

Let us try eating the healthy way but maintain the colors or varieties to the food. Such that we could make the food look interesting either on our table or in our blog...
Last but not least, enjoy Life in the right way!
Adios..

What else really matters....

Salam everyone...
The weather tho it's warmth and humid it didn't stop us from having our breakfast at our airy open space Patio. In fact, it's wonderful to be out there again after the short construction break, the backyard being renovated. Having to breathe breezy air under the morning sun to start our day.

Always remember to add fruits in our breakfast menu every morning, either as smoothies or fruits with yogurt or in cereal..this would ease the call of mother nature, right.


And then..

..to relax after a Good Breakfast, with my paintings and Hb with his books. Well...what else really matters when we got our private and precious time doing what we love to do.. Life has so much to offer..cherish it and never waste it! Since Physio is just 10 minutes drive from our house, so we had ample of time for ourselves. Yes, Pantai Hand unit Therapy has opened a new branch at our area..Thank God!

Without wasting any time, I got my hands brushing on this lovely Needlework box for myself.. interesting piece, don't you think..

Yet to be varnished..

While the mood still linger on..I might as well enjoy it..

After a tiring day and getting my fingers dirty with paints, I persuaded my girl to prepare a simple dinner... but Goodness Gracious! she had left a messy kitchen. But alas ..the result of the food... was indeed a thumbs up to my darling Girl!

And ...
Also..what really matters when you get people come together at the house...eventhough it was impromtu. You are surrounded by people. Always be there for anybody, be it in joyful occasions or in sad ones...be available!! Visitation are a grace of God..

My niece Dira, my nephew Taqi and family having lunch at my
house on Saturday.

Mimi and Ammar.

Pengat Pisang, Pengat keladi and Abok2
It's Home Cook....

Abok2

So Peeps, What really matters...this is what we called Good life! When you look at the brightest side is always brighter, clearer and soothing to the heart....
Life is short, enjoy it while you can..
Adios!!