Saturday, December 29, 2007

the aftermath

lastnite...after a really good trip to the ain sukhna, we got home and just rested and enjoying whats left of Friday.

We watched the Tsunami-Aftermath, .I remember, that this movies cause quite a stir when they were making it...coz some of those that was there to experience it did not agree that this film should be made. Its not your typical movie...and it leaves u with a sad feeling....

suddenly it reminded me what happen 4 years back on Boxing both me and caveman was on two separate rigs off Kota Bharu. We didn't feel it anything coz we were at the sea and when it happen we both was in bed. I remember walking up passing the TV room...i usually don't go in the tV room..but today..it was crowded everyone was at it, so i pop my head in and then i realise something bad had happen in Acheh and several other places. I went up to the rig floor and asked around about it...and everyone was really upset. Some of the guys had holiday homes in places that was hit.But we were working and it passed us by just like that...of course there was a sombre mood around...one of the guys told me that once a tsunami hit a village in NZ..it hit them when they were sleeping and the next day nothing of left...nothing.Some of the places that's been hit has now been rebuild...look at khao lak one of the place that was hit bad in Thailand...and of course Banda Acehnew building...new resorts..new people..but of course..the memories will always be there...

my prays goes to the deceased, missing and of course to their families and friends.

Friday, December 28, 2007

An afternoon affair....BBQ by the Red Sea


(Red Sea)

None of us have been to Ain Sukhna before...we decided to make trip down to the seaside on Friday and have a little bbq by the beach. It was an 1 30 mins drive from Maadi to Ain Sukhna...its on the way to the Hurghada ( another tourist destination ).

the journey was very pleasant...the highway seems to be floating on air...and all u see are rocky mountains and desserts and occasional goats...something u don't see in Malaysia.:D.

Ain Sukhna is actually on the Gulf of Suez, ( Suez Canal is 55km from Ain Sukhna ), the red sea is almost like a lake, very calm and they hardly any beach...most of it was just rocks, but the water....its crystal clear, unfortunately it was a bit too cold for a swim this time of the year...but i heard that in summer this place is packed with pll..both local and foreign. A lot of the local in Cairo owns a villa here...they come over the weekend to get away from the hustle and bustle of Cairo.

We got there at 1 nish and it took us 30 min to find the perfect spot..must of the spot are privately own..darn!..but we finally did get a spot..well it requires a little tip to an old man as always...bapshih..bapshih.....but it was worthed! the gents got the fire going and the ladies just sat and relax.....it was blissful. The food was excellent...probably the best BBQ ive had in awhile now...the meat was tender n juice yet not bloody, the chicken was well marinated..and the yummy tuna pasta from Marie and choc chip muffins...( i woke early just to bake these babies!!) . The weather was great...the sun was shining but the occasional cool breeze was blowing..so it was the perfect temperature


(safeia, wid and mashael)

bubbles...had a blast!...she was rolling...kicking..eating..the sand..and so was little Mashael..she was all up for it...i think between the two babies..they probably finish 2 tubs of Pringles..hehehe...so cute!!...Marie and i decided that this is the day that they can do anything and eat anything they want....:D. Seems to be paid off....of course they will be times when u still hear one of us screaming!!!!! :D


( Iraqi next top model baby wid)

The sun started to set behind us at about 4.00 pm so we started packing and everyone got a family picture by the Red Sea....


(L-R : wid,mohammad hashim,marwa,marie,meshary,mashael,me,sharizal,safeia,kak zahara,hassan,rosdina,khalil,qistina,samira Bottom: ammar and hadrien)

Bubbles...sleep all the way back to Maadi..she was super tired. I wiped her face with wetones in the car..it was like she had a thick brown foundation on...kekekkeke....she needs a good bath!!!

p/s :- more photos on my flickr

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

my photo has been choosen...

TOday i woke up...and to my suprise i got an email from this person that was writting for an online travel mag for Perth. She wanted my permission for one of my Perth photo to be short-listed for the magazine...how cool is that!!...then i started thinking..which photos..cant be my smelly wombat photos..::D. It turned out that it was of one of Melbourne Hotel photo.

This is makes my day!!!

Taking bubbles to Victory Park today...i think she is going mad being at home with me....!!!! and im sick of watching Nemo over and over and over again....

Have a nice Day!!! swimmmm awayyyyyyyyyy.....

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

to hate or not to hate????



Merry Christmas everyone....of course here in Cairo...its not a public hols, over here their public christian holiday is Coptic Christmas which falls on the 6 th Jan....which means that new years is round the corner.....i can't believe 2007 went by just like that!!...littlemisskechik blogged on insurance a few weeks back..and i totally agreed on her views on it which totally reminds me that i've got my car and my life insurance to pay next month...:(

Everyone should be covered one way or another if they can afford it.I remember my dad bought me and my brother our student policies from my tuition teacher a.k.a my fren's daddy..but that's like 15 yrs ago with Rm50 a month and i know some of us have insured their credit cards in case they lose them..well at least i did after a consultation from a banker..kekekeke.

I think two reason why ppl try to run away from buying insurances...are the agents and also they don't know what to buy!! Policies are a nightmare aren't they..there a so many to choose from and the are lot to look at before buy agreeing to a policy and the agents sometimes help too much and pushes to make decision.I had some experience with them...its all started when we wanted to buy our house and everyone started recommending their agents and it was crazy..i was getting calls all the time. Since all this was all relatively very new to us..we didn't know what to choose but we know we wanted something to cover our house mortgage and at the same time insure us. With a lot of help from the parents and our agent..we finally found something that fit our needs....its covers the house and at the same time covers our family at a good rate. I have meet a lot of agents...but i like mine the best...he doesn't push you but he educates about your financial planning and how to save...in the end he's a good insurance agent...and we ended up buying for the house and for bubbles too...:D.

Now u can do all this from the internet easy peasy.......

Monday, December 24, 2007

I have been blogsvertised..

yes..i was the next one to join the band wagon, thanks to lilmisskechik and her influences. Its a great principle rite...u blog and get paid for.I'm hoping that it will pay for that super cool red-mini IPOD that I've been eyeing on.If not i could use the extra cash to buy titbits or lollies for bubbles...:D..

so I've taken the plunged to enroll to blogsvertise..its free and all u need is a paypal ( wish i never knew i had??) account an away you go..start blogging and collect your $$$....

For those who's interested in joining the wagon too...
click here -----> blogsvertise

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Ayam Masak Merah Mama

I have made this trice now...and i still cant remember the recipe...have to keep calling mama for it...lucky calling KL using Skype is cheapo!

anyway...since the recipe is still fresh in my head..i will put it down

Ayam Masak Merah Mama ( 1 1/2 chicken )

1 1/2 chicken cut into small pieces
cili kering ( 2 handful - more if u want it hot )
3 big onions
6 garlic
5 cardamon
3 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
5 stalk lemongrass
3 inch galangal
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 tomato puree
1 big tomato
2 red chilies
3 Tsp Sugar
Salt and pepper to taste.

Method:-
1. Fry the chicken til slightly brown and drain.
2. Blend chili kering,onion, garlic,lemongrass and galangal together with some water.
3. Heat up some oil and start frying cardamon,star anise,cinnamon stick and cloves til fragrant.
4. Pour in the blended ingredients and fry til u can see that the oil had come up.
5. Add in the tomatoes, red chilies
6. Add in the fried chicken in and mix well for about 5 mins.
7. Add in the milk and tomato puree and mix well for another 5 mins.
8. Add in sugar,salt and pepper to to your desired taste.

Hari Raya Korban in Cairo


Selamat Hari Raya...sorry this entry is abit delay...i got sick after raya...i guss too much of the good stuff!!!

It was quiet raya for us..caveman went for prayers at 6.am..(.yes here they do the sembahyang raya after Subuh..) then he was off to work..i made some dessert for dinner and ayam masak merah...and just chilled at home...with bubbles...
We had some frens over for makan-makan as always...my caveman made Nasi Beriyai Johor Ayah...and i was well impressed..it as really good! of course it will never be the same as ayah's but it was close..im soo proud of him! but i forgot to take some picture...darn!

Eid-Adha here is very big..almost everyone that can afford to sacrifice will sacrifice at least a a goat or sheep and this year i get to witness something very different then what i normally see in Malaysia...over here we get to see sheep..goat and cow..being slaughter by the street..next to your house...in front of your house or even under your house..we were lucky that...none of this business was happening in our flat..but for samira & hadrien..they had to succumb the blood and smell of animal being slaughter as they were doing it under their flat...

I guess everyone has their own was of doing things...

Monday, December 17, 2007

under the knife!!!

tell me what u don't like about yourself?...the typical Nip Tuck opening line...besides from Dr Troy's humping actions...they are on season 5 now....and its getting boring...the Drs moved to LA and from there its downhill...too much drama...all I'm saying that it use to be way better.

I'm anybody were to ask me..if i go under...i wont entirely say no. Not that i don't like my body...is beautiful kekeke..but if i could have one thing it would be a tummy tuck after i have all my babies..:D...last week..i meet a lady that actually had a plactis surgery..she did her tummy,lips...she suck her fat from her thighs n back and put them on her butt...how crazy is that!!!...and she said...it was painless and she would do it again if she have too...hearing this..i was gobsmacked!!...her tummy is flat a board.Her story was..that after hr 2nd kid...her body was a gonner...and being Brazilian...its a no no every 9 out of 10 women have had at least something done...so she went under....and now she looks like she doesnt have any kids...then...i watch Dr.90210..i actually showed how they did a tummy tuck...it was horrifying...OMG..they things they do to you when ure a sleep..is crazy!!

soo after watching all these...i might have to consider..my tummy tuck...maybe ill just have to tuck it under ..u know one fo those support panties..or corset..:D

Saturday, December 15, 2007

cupcakes ohh cupcakes..

did i tell u that i have a Malaysian neighbour???...hehe yes i do..they live on the 1st floor of our flat and today we got invited for tea at their crib...its funny i actually saw that flat when iw as flat hunting..its a good flat..duplex..with nice kitchen..but unfortunately it only had 2 bedrooms...sooo i thot it wont fly...and we decided to get the 5Th floor flat...our current crib!.

so i thot...hmmm tea...what should i bring????? and i thot...why dont i try to make cupcakes? so last nite after a great dinner at Peking (good nasik goreng cine!!!) and a good hubbly bubbly at Cafe55 i looked for the recipe..

today...i used the cupcake recipe from Nigella, just becoz i had all the ingredients in her recipe and its seems easy enuff and the buttercream recipe from RecipeZaar...but i did not try to make the buttercream..i used frosting instead coz i had 2 tub and i thot that it be a waster not u use it.

And the results....tadaaaaa!!! my 1st cupcake..messy kan..but im pleased!



Cupcake

#courtesy Nigella

125g self-raising flour

125g caster sugar

125g soft unsalted butter

2 eggs

Half a teaspoon real vanilla extract

Approximately 2 tablespoons milk

1 packet instant royal icing food colouring – for preference, colour pastes specialist cake decorations of choice

e.g. wafer roses, sugar flowers, dolly mixtures, and sprinkles

1 x 12-bun muffin tin

12 muffin papers

Preheat the oven to 200C and line the tin with the muffin cases.

It couldn't be simpler to make cup cakes: just put all the ingredients except for the milk in the processor and then blitz till smooth.

Pulse while adding milk, to make for a soft, dropping consistency, down the funnel. Or using a bowl and wooden spoon, cream the butter and sugar, beat in the eggs one at a time with a little of the flour.

Then add the vanilla extract and fold in the rest of the flour, adding the milk to get the dropping consistency as before.

I know it looks as if you'll never make this scant mixture fit 12 bun cases, but you will. I promise you this mixture is exactly right to make the 12 cup cakes, so just spoon and scrape the stuff in, trying to fill each case equally, judging by eye only of course.

Put in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cup cakes are cooked and golden on top. As soon as bearable, take the cup cakes in their cases out of the tin and let cool, right way up, on a wire rack.

Once they're cool, make up a big, uncoloured batch of royal icing, and then remove a few spoonfuls at a time to small bowls.

Using a bamboo skewer, add small dots of colours from the paste-tubs, stirring with a teaspoon and then adding more colouring, very slowly, very cautiously (pastel works best here, whatever your everyday aesthetic) until you get the colour you want.

Use teaspoons to coat the cupcakes with icing and leave each a moment to dry only slightly, on the surface, before sticking on a rose, daisy or whole stash of decorations.



Friday, December 14, 2007

Je'taime..

you're made for me
It's too good to be
So tell me what we're gonna do now

Oh right now
See baby I love how you make me smile
Don't leave
Please stay awhile
Let's make this happen
I don't care how

Right now lets stay in the present
Can't worry bout tomorrow cause today is a blessin
The world in a state of aggression
I find calm in you
I see my mom in you
It's like a feelin' in ya stomach
when you want it so bad
If you keep keepin' it fresh
it ain't gonna go bad
I been through the valley of love
Rolled the shores of cali
just to find peace of mind
Lookin' to the sky
askin' for at least a sign
Beautiful you came at such a decent time
when we combine
it's like good food and wine
Flavorful yet refined
you remind me of the divine
So easy
Love can be lost and then found, like Stevie
I just love havin' you around
you wearin' a gown
I'm wearin' a crown
pound for pound
we the freshest couple in town

Well you're my boy
You're my joy
You're my dream
I'm for ya
I adore your everything that I need
I love how you love me
If I'm made for you
you're made for me
It's too good to be
Tell me what we're gonna do
tell me what we're gonna do now




crazy for bags

Im abit upset today...uhuhuhu and takde org nak pujuk pun..:( and i did this so that another soul is happy....should i keep doing this???...i should just make me happy and not think of how other would feel rite??...but then...if u love them...u would try your very best to make them happy and dandy.....im think just too nice sometimes...ohh well!!...what do u do...we surf for bags!!! kekekeke

anyways...as always when im aliitle bit down...i surf for my favourite things...bags...shoes..books....thing i cant afford and ...of course more bags.... i saw on telly that fergie came out with a range with kipling and they are groovy!!! and also LC from laguna bitch...hahaha beach...also made some bags soo i begin my searching..Fergie has 3 range...and i must they are buyalicious..hahahhaha

She a cool chick aint she..




then we have the Laguna babe bags....nice too..but i guess i will never get it in Cairo...mind u her bags abit more $$$$..kekeke but the purses are reasonable..me want!








Her tote can be small...like the picture and it can like a beach bag...multipurpose....me likey..she makes her bag with Linea Pelle..and she also have some nice bags and belts...someone should bring designers like thsi to Malaysia..instead of thos super expensive brands that only the mak datins and richs brats can afford!! or make pll like me eat cream krakers for 6 months!!





Thursday, December 13, 2007

food hunting


Ini adalah gambar semata mata...

i love food ( explains y im still carrying 20lbs extra hickss..)...my whole family loves eating and enjoy good food...we would always look for restaurant to try and unfortunately..we kinda running out of restaurant...the last time i came back to kl i didn't even try anything now...well maybe i was missing the food i use to eat too much....but i did try the fish ball soup house in Damansara Uptown Its 3 doors from Starbucks....its pork-free...and its very good..something light but at the same time it makes u feel good and also their asamboi drink is excellent...its asamboi stuff into a lime...my mouth is all water thinking about it...ekkeke...

so yesterday..i was just goggling the blogging world and i came across this blog http://kyspeaks.com/ This guys goes to eat everywhere and anywhere and never forgets to bring his camera too..:D.

In his blog theres a section of halal food.....i wish i had found this blog when i was in KL..darnnn!

Anyway...for those are in Malaysia or KL...this might be useful..when ure having a hard time to think where to fill your empty tummy!!!!

Its also in my yummy link list...Food Hunting In KL....check it out!

isnt she adorable....

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I have been tagged!!!!

i have been tagged by littlemisskechik so..im gonna do this survey!

1. name one person who made you laugh last night?
bubbles....she said i luv u.....but only the uv..youuu can be heard!

2. what were you doing at 0800?
awake in bed...waiting for bubbles to wake me up.

3. what were you doing 30 minutes ago?
cleaning up after bubbles's lunch mess

4. what happened to you in 2006?
had a baby..moved to KL...being away from caveman..

5. what was the last thing you said out loud?
SAFEIA NOoooooooo!!!!

6. how many beverages did you have today?
1 type, tea....hmm i should drink more

7. what color is your hairbrush?
color kayu...bodyshop hairbrush

8. what was the last thing you paid for?
a shoe rack deposit..yesterday

9. where were you last night?
at home...playing with bubbles

10. what color is your front door?
brown

11. where do you keep your change?
in my use to be ellie purse from cambodia..the animal is gone now its just the a purse.

12. what’s the weather like today?
sunny and chilly

13. what’s the best ice-cream flavor?
pralines and watermelon sorbet!

14. what excites you?
hahhahaha...u dont want to know...winks!!!

15. do you want to cut your hair?
no..just had a great haircut.

16. are you over the age of 25?
hehehehe....am i over 25..maybe.....

17. do you talk a lot?
depends who im with....i can be quite an anti social

18. do you watch the O.C.?
no..but my darling caveman does...all season!! scary nooo....

19. do you know anyone named Steven?
yes ..i do very well...a dutch who's married to my fren Fara

20. do you make up your own words?
yes & no all the time...esp when i can't describe something

21. are you a jealous person?
hmmm....sometimes..maybe alittle

22. name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
azrul..hahhahaa just becoz i copied kechik survey and that name just seems soo rite here....double tersedak m fren..

23. name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.
Khemy!!!!

24. who’s the first person on your received call list?
my stalker...yes im not kidding!

25. what does the last text message you received say?
my fren is embracing Islam this friday and they will be a ceremony at the mosque! Ameen.

26. do you chew on your straw?
all the time

27. do you have curly hair?
u have no idea....

28. where’s the next place you’re going to?
dont know...maybe greece...maybe cyprus...anywhere but Cairo

29. who’s the rudest person in your life?
hmmm...someone i cant say.

30. what was the last thing you ate?
koshary

31. will you get married in the future?
too late for that...already married

32. what’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
A mighty heart...good one.

33. Opps..i accidently deleted this question....opps..


34. when was the last time you did the dishes?
this morning

35. are you currently depressed?
yes..a little..im lovesick

36. did you cry today?
no..no crying today

37. why did you answer and post this?
coz i never done this before..

38. tag 5 people who would do this survey--
* all my poeple have been tagged...:D

A Trilogy- A Saudi Princess



I finished reading Desert Royal lastnite...and that completes the trilogy of the life story Sultana the Saudi princess. I read all 3 book in a 5 years...Princess when i was at uni....Daughter of Arabia when i was on my maternity leave and now the Desert Royal...yet i can still remember all the content of each book as it was word was well written and vividly express for one to remember for years....i guess the writer did a good job!

Being Muslim myself...i must admit that....i was a bit stunned and a bit confused but most of all sad with the content of this book. If a non Muslim were to read this without having any basic knowledge abut Islam, they will probably think all of Muslim are the same..all Muslim women are suppressed and all Muslim women are being treated badly...which we are not....this is a mare culture issue.

I remember giving this bok to my mum to read....and 1/2 way thru she came to be and she said....ena teruk nyer buku nie...betul ker org arab are like this ( ena , this book is horrible...are all arabs like this???) and i smile at my mum..and told her that..no...not all of them are like this..but this is whats happening to the women in Saudi and some part of Middle East. I dont blame my mum thinking this way....yes she knows men will always be men...but she would never think that they will treat women this way....even in the Quran is written that women are noble.

And since i started working in the BigBlue company...i had a chance to meet a few saudian men and women, i must say that are very nice people. The women are smart and very ambitious..although they are not allowed to do much in their homeland, outside thay are very successful individuals who are proud to be Saudis :D.These women are still fighting for the rights they deserve and i hope that one day they will get what they deserve.

I had a conversation with a friend over a Mexican dinner early this week and he asked me if Malaysia will be somewhat be like the Middles East or the Saudis in the future? he feels that with the religious police ( jawi..jais..ect) doing their rounds invading ppl privacy and coming up with bans and restriction to the Muslim in Malaysia..we might one day turn into a extreme Islamic country? Well..this is my opinion,i don't think soo, these pll are doing their jobs, although what they are doing it wrong it is in their job scope...so theres not much u can do Malaysia has a balance of Muslim,the extremist, the conservatives, the liberals and then the neutrals like myself who wants to be a good Muslim i can be and insyallah one days i hope to see the steps to heaven.So to me...as long as we have this balance and try to live in harmony...we should be alright..religion should not be force and be something that u have to do..its something that u should to do...sincerely.
Then again i could be wrong..this is a very sensitive issue..and i'll leave it to individual to asses.


Alhamdulilah in my 28 years of being a Muslim, i have been free to practise my religion everywhere i go and i have never been shame of who i am. Yes, i must admit that i could be a better muslim..Insyallah Allah will show me the way to be a better Muslim.....Insyallah....Ameen.


http://www.geocities.com/realitywithbite/saudiwomen.htm

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Felafel and Koshary



i went to a so-called wet market on RD7,Maadi this morning..my fren said that the fruits ad vegs are really fresh here and they are super cheap...soo i went of course with her..this is the only place that i only the locals buying in Maadi..(next time i go i take some photos)

i haven't got a clue where is Rd 7 actually...when i got there...ahh it was at the same place where i had probably the best felafel in maadi, its rite beside the bridge...probably not the cleanest place but i guess all that makes up the special ingredients that makes it soo yumss..and beside that shop there is a juice shop..where i get my air tebu...sedappp...This felafel shop is called Cleopatra. So we went there to get some felafel sandwich...i was in la la land...:D sedap giler! unfortunately...i only got one..and when i got home..i was still wanting more of it..so i called Arzak, its like fast food chain that sells these stuff..since the min charge for delivery was 13.LE i had to order a lot of felafel n koshary..they are dead cheap..and these the staple food for the locals..its very filling and i would say healthy too kire macam nasik lemak ahh...but nasi lemak has macam macam version..ayam la...kerang la...sotong..this koshary..only one type...the rice, pasta, beans, tomatoes sauce, bawang goreng and lemon juice...sound pelik???.i googled the recipe maybe one days ill try it...




Koshary

#Courtesy of RecipeZaar
1 cup brown lentils
1 cup basmati rice
1 cup uncooked pasta (small shells or elbow macaroni is best)
2 large onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons oil
1 (400g) can chopped tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes (or more to taste)
salt and black pepper

1. Cook the lentils in just over a litre of salted water.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 15-30 minutes, depending on the type of lentils you are using.
3. When the lentils are quite tender, add the rice to the lentils and continue simmering until the rice is cooked, adding water if necessary.
4. Cook the macaroni in a separate pot.
5. Rinse and strain when done.
6. Meanwhile, fry the onions and garlic in the oil until golden.
7. Add the tomatoes, chilli flakes, salt and pepper to taste and let it bubble for 10-20 minutes or until thickened and sauce like.
8. You can now blitz the sauce in a food processor until smooth or just leave as is.
9. Mix the lentils, rice and macaroni together in one pot.
10. Place some of the lentil mixture on each plate and top with tomato sauce.
11. Sprinkle with more hot chili powder or salt and pepper, if desired.

Bubbles Christmas Concerto...


Flashback...


Today started off brilliantly...i went to safeia christmas concert. I watched her dance, sing and cried ( she was terrified of Santa!!). I think little bubbles behave well indeed..she was sitting all on her own and singing and clapping...and horraying everytime a carol is sang. I was proud of her..my little star!!!!!!...and then....

comes the other news..it was like flashback all of a sudden......a few years back i was given the same news by someone who is dearest to me and will always be...i was younger then but i probably acted more maturely then i did today. After what happen , i promised not to let myself be in that situation again coz i know how painful it was to be in it and to be apart of it. Everytime i think about it now...my heart still weeps...but the decision was made and i was needed to be strong for my dearest..but today was different..u suddenly felt that i didnt want to be apart of it again although i was being counted on. I am a shame of myself...
i am not proud of myself...in fact...i hate myself today!!! i hate myself for being the person i was today..this horible horrible unsuppotive person and yes i deserve all the blame for this........but i cant help but get emotional.

Overreacted....yes i did that today...to a person that helped me and family alot for the last 6 month. Although that person will not be reading this...I am Sorry and i hope everything goes well. If i could turn back in time...i would want to be th person i was 5 yrs back...

Sunday, December 9, 2007

A New Friend


2 weeks back, i had an email from another malaysian stranded in the land of the mummies..she found my email thru my blog...yippie...at least my blog is being view by others ..so that nice to know :D. So we exhanged emails and phone calls and i finally met her yesterday.

We had a little luncheon at my house ..just the girls, so it was nice. A bunch of girls pigging ourself and talking rubbish, well at least we made our new friend feel like home..:D.

I couldnt resist the temptation but to make the craved Oreo Cheesecake...if u ask me..i failed...sob sob...but still boleh makan laa..just abit hard...i probably over baked it...now it makes me wanna bake another one!!..geram!

WELCOME TO CAIRO Suhana....:D

Monday, December 3, 2007

My little fairies..



had always ben facinated in fairies...and after watching the movie A Fairy Take Story, i was determine to find them..apparently they lived in the Dales..but of cause i never found them...and i dont i ever will...:D. Are they real...i hope soo...as they are such wonerful creature that us human always describe them.

One day sometime last month..i when to a bookstore just donw the road from the flat to buy bubbles some books and i found that they had a good collection for the Flower fairies book. So i got them and ive decided to paint each fairies according to bubbles name...NUR SAFEIA....ive done 3 s far...NUR and im very pround of myself...not to brag but i havent been painting with water color since my ACS years.

http://www.flowerfairies.com/home/index.cfm?cid=1
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119095/

Sunday, December 2, 2007

missing caveman...:(

after 3 month being at home.i've gotten use to having him around...i think this is the 1st time that we have been together for the longest time..since 3 years. Its kinda sad if u think about it...

and now he's back on the rig...and its feel kinda lonely being at home without him..macam rase takde kawan..:( or maybe takde punching bag dah :D.

well i guess its back too the old routines again...:D.

miss you..kiss kiss..

xxx

Temptations..temptations..

this is what pisses me off rite..everytime...everytime..im trying to go on diet, the more i wanna eat..the crazing comes out of nowhere...how can this be possible!!!

i need to lose at least 25 pounds..banyak kan..aduh..pening gue! all those eating in KL is hanging around the bellies and thighs....arghh muffin tops!!! hahahaha...well maybe im going abit over the top here...but the real reason is to be healthier, lately i think me n caveman have been stuffing too much more then we should..and this has to stop...a fren of our just recently got a heart attack scare...and he's 34..scary innit.

So...to start the new regime...starting from tomorrow..i will try to eat healthier and let see how i feel after 1 months this also means..lest trying out new cakes and rich recipes..:(, nonetheless..i will try on the new kind of recipes..healthier ones.:D, although im still very tempted to try and make a oreo cheesecake..kekeke..sinful sinful....

Today, i had a preggie fren over lunch and i tried this delicious chicken dish from Mr Oliver crispy chicken with sweet tomatoes and salad with orange dressing..it went very well and its a super easy dish that's prefect for everyone..not to mention healthy too..:P.

so if ure having a guest and don't know what to cook..this will do the trick!


Crispy Chicken with Sweet Tomatoes
#copied from Jamie Oliver website.

• 4 chicken legs, jointed
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• a big bunch of fresh basil, leaves picked, stalks finely chopped
• 2 big handfuls of red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved, and ripe plum tomatoes, quartered
• 1 whole bulb of garlic, broken up into cloves
• 1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped
• olive oil

optional:
• 1 x 410g tin of cannellini beans, drained ( i used broad beans.. guess any beans will work)
• 2 handfuls of new potatoes, scrubbed

Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Season your chicken pieces all over and put them into a snug-fitting pan in one layer. Throw in all the basil leaves and stalks, then chuck in your tomatoes. Scatter the garlic cloves into the pan with the chopped chilli and drizzle over some olive oil. Mix around a bit, pushing the tomatoes underneath. Place in the oven for 1½ hours, turning the tomatoes halfway through, until the chicken skin is crisp and the meat falls off the bone.

If you fancy, you can add some drained cannellini beans or some sliced new potatoes to the pan and cook them with the chicken. Or you can serve the chicken with some simple mashed potato. Squeeze the garlic out of the skins before serving. You could even make it part of a pasta dish – remove the chicken meat from the bone and shred it, then toss into a bowl of linguini or spaghetti and serve at once.


Salad with Orange Dressing


1 whole lettuces ( any kind will do )
1/2 red onion thinly sliced
1 crunchy green apple cut into cubes
1 1/2 big juicey orange cut into cubes

Dressing

6 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dijon mustard or english mustard
juice of 1 big orange and the zest
juice of one lime
1/4 tsp castor sugar
salt and pepper

mix everything together and pour over salad.Serve chilled.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

http://www.kids-with-cameras.org




This org was set up by Zana Briski to help kids like the ones in Calcutta, athough the senario is different the situation is the same.

from this website, i found out that most of the kids from her class are all now in school and doing very well and thier future will forever changed from thier own hard work.

My fav kid avijit is now in the us...speaking perfect american english...:D.

And to my suprise, this org did some work with the garbage kids in Cairo....cairo is massive garbage bin and pll are living withing this garbage..its their life, they are a community known as "Zaballen" or "garbage collector". They too have kids are certain that thier future are being a zabellen...and this was noticed by the org.

Im sorry that i missed this..it was done over the summer. I wished i had known.

I wish all of them well...God BLess.

http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/aboutthekids/
http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/cairo/

Born into Brothels



Since my back has been killing me the gym is out of the question...(i don't know where these back ache comes from...had it for 3 days now..:( going to have it checked out on Saturday )i have been at home...yes updating my blog, watching greys anatomy, finished up season 4 nip tuck ( the docs are moving to LA ...woohoo...i bet u it will be more screwed) and of coz lazing in front of the telly...iw as flipping channels and i came across this movie...1st of all the title was pretty interesting...born into brothels.
The title may sound R-rated, but this movie made me giggle,laugh and cry all together.

This movie its nothing of a R-rated movie, its a movies about how these kids from Calcutta India go about their daily lives in red light district.Most of them are the child from prostitution's...either their mum is working the line..or their grandma is working...almost all hey female family members has been in the line one time in their life. Its almost cynical..these kids..are aware of whats going on they know that the guys will come to their house a.k.a the liquor house and get drunk..then get a woman and give her some money to spend time with him..

Its great to see that these kids are soo positive about like yet they know what their future is going to like, they are soo mature yet soo innocent in their tiny little world and its great what Zana Briski aka Zana Auntie( the film maker and what the kids calls her) did by teaching them photography was an excellent idea..u see their live thru the lenses and the photos they take...some neither me or anyone else can capture with out d80 or d200 their photos are genuine and sincere.I must say its very noble what she did.

This movie is seen thru their eyes...every kid is special in their own way but every single oe of them are talented!..my fav kid is Avijit.

I just hope these kids make it thru life...and not follow the path of their parents.

Again, it makes us realise how lucky we are and for fortunate our kids are...

This movies is highly recommended....im looking if theres anymore stories of these kids...it will be interesting to know whats going with them now..


:D

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

ello..elllo...ellllo....back in Cairo again...

as much as i dread leaving KL and coming back to Cairo, i must say im happy to be at home again...i actually do miss the house..not cairo excuse me! although i wish that we stayed n KL longer 3 weeks just flew like a wind...i managed to see everyone i wanted to see...ate everything i wanted to eat..bought what i wanted to buy maybe bought alittle too much (we were 15Kg overweight at the airport!!!) but still wasnt enuff...but i guess it will never be enuff if u balik kampung!.Most of all im glad that everything went well and now we miss everyone again..uhuk..uhuk...

the 1st couple of days back here..bubbles kept asking for aatok...aatok...i guess she is too little to understand that she just been on a 10 hours flght to be with them and now she is back at home...:D. She progressed alot back home...her vocab is great now..she has learn alot of new words...and of course picked u new habits too :D.

managed to go to penang for 4 days before we left and it was great!!.the hotel was lovely...thanks lis for recommending and the weather was just perfect..lucky we didnt liste to the jabatan kajicuaca malaysia..kekekkeke....we didnt do much sideseeing but we did do the penang hills..the tropical spice garden,the kandar rampage and the rest was just spend at the hotel..relaxing! i think safeia enjoyed it the most! she even when on the horse riding!

http://www.lonepinehotel.com/lph/index.htm

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Best Ever Banana Cake



we always have over ripe banana at home, coz caveman is a banana maniac and so is bubbles..me..im so so...i have my moods. Usually i make cokodok with the banana, but today i decided that ill make banana cake. i havent had a banana cake for a long time..mama use to make them and they use to be gone in a split seconds..:D.

so i google for a recipe this morning and i came across this recipe..its suppose to b the best ever banana cake..and it is..its a little bit different then what my mum use to make but its yum...with the frosty topping...even yummier..


The Best Ever Banana Cake
*courtesy Recipezaar*

3/4 cup butter
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk ( i used normal milk )
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas ( 2 big bananas )

Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
chopped walnuts


1. Preheat oven to 200 degC
2. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
3. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8. Stir in banana mixture.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes.
11. This will make the cake very moist.
12. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
13. Beat in 1 tsp vanilla.
14. Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
15. Spread on cooled cake.
16. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.

Its raining in cairo!!!

I don't believe it....its actually raining!!! I've been here for almost 4 months and I've never seen a drop of rain til today....how exciting! the temp now its 28 degC...beginning to feel like home now..:D

Mama dearest Kuah Kacang & Lontong

What would i do without my mama..i would be pretty helpless. I called her up raya eve to ask for these recipe...i cant be home so i was determine to bring home here.:D

who knows i might still need it for next year...uwaaaaaa i hope not!!!

i was salving myself in the kitchen to make these well at least the kuah kacang..but it was worth ed!

Kuah Kacang ( Peanut Sauce )

1 kg peanuts - fried with no oil unti brown, skin removed and crushed to small peices (you could also put i the FP and pulse it til its crushed but not grounded)

A.
25 peice of cili kering (more if ulike it spicy)
3in ginger
6 cloves garlic
6 shallots or 2 big red onions

Blend all this ingredients together.

B.
4 tsp oil
5 stalk of serai/lemon grass, bruised
3/4 cup of asam jawa (tamarind juice)
4 cups of water
Salt to taste
8 teaspoon of Sugar (add this bit by bit until u got the taste u want)

Fry Mix.A until naik bau and garing
Once u see the oil starting to float, add the air assam jawa and water and serai.
Let it boiled for about 5 mins and add the crushed kacang/peanuts in with salt and sugar to taste.



Lontong (Sayur Lodeh)


2 terung (cut in small peices)
a bunch of long bean or green beans (slice thinly)
3 medium carrot (sliced)
2 packet of tempe (slight fried)
2 packet of tofu (slight fried)
6 clove garlic
2 big red onions
2 inch of kunyit hidup or powder if u dont have any
4 cups of water
2 tsp of oil
1 can of thick coconut milk
salt and sugar to taste
1 maggi vegie cube (optional)

1. Blend the garlic,onion,kunyit together with 1 cup of water. Then tumis/fried til naik bau.
2. Then masukkan air, garam and gula
3. Once boiling add, carrots, terung,beans,tempe and tofu
4. Let it boil for about 5 mins and add n the coconut milk and vegie cube(optional)and boil until for another 10 to 15 mins.

And thats done!

A windy day....winter is comin!

i open the window just now and there was a gush of cold wind blowing to my face...and it actually chilly outside...even blew all the papers on the table. This is quite interesting actually...winter in cairo. bring out the boots gals!!! i wander where are all my winter clothes..hmmmmm...anyway..its been 5 yrs since i bought a proper coat maybe ill get a new one in KL..

its been a good week so far...im still tired from the excitement before hari raya..and now its pay back time! my lontong and kuah kacang was a success woohoo...who would have thot i can make it...i didnt! i still hav two containers of kuah kacang i hope they last til fridy..we invited some frens over for makan on friday and im still figuring out whats the menu gonna be.

so far this is what i have in mind:-

1.Dessert - carrot cake, choc cake and maybe a trifle
2.Foodies - rendang,ketupat,kauh kacang, nasi tomato and ayam pedas..maybe a pasta dish.

thats all i have so far..1st of all kene learn how to make ketupat! todays mission..haha

Sunday, October 14, 2007

World Cup FINALE!

ENGLISH ROSE VS SPRINGBOK!







last weekend was good match!
I was at glee when the rose won...im not a fan of england but the fact that the french beat All Black just pisses me off and i just want some else to beat them...mean?? i know but they didnt even play that well in the semis anyway...so england deserve to win...i sort of expected the springboks to win anyway...but the PUMAs played equally good but they wasn't soo lucky...it was good match on sunday it was rugby..not ping pong like on saturday!

Lets see hows it goes on the final...ENGLAND or RSA???

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Aidilfitri Di Perantauan.....Cairo 2007

now i know how tired mama gets every time raya comes..its not easy to prepare for it..the cleaning the cooking..etc..i fell asleep on the couch til 6am pagi raya and the 1st thing came to my mind was..Sh*Ts..my kuah kacang i forgot to put them in the fridge!!! luckily they are still good..alhamdullilah..i was slaving myself to make the kuah kacang the whole day!

we did the duty calls back home...everyone else is already berhari raya...:(. sedeh but i managed to control my pearly drops. hahaha..1st time! the thing is that if i start weeping..then mama will starts too and it will be too emotional..so its better this way! adek..being in the UK dah raya on friday...so when we called him he was getting ready to go to London for hari raya.

woke bubbles up.and got her ready..she was excited!..I'm sure she doesn't know what is raya, but i think she was surprise that we are going out for walk walk so early in the morning :D and she was excited to put on her new shoes we got her...:D

the venue was Dewan Malaysia Abbasiah Cairo...its like Malaysian hall la kire nyer...we miraciously got there on time...8.00am on the dot. 1st time in cairo had i seen soo many malaysian.in baju kurung and speaking melayu..it was very exciting..after sembahyang raya...the place was pack with Malaysian..and the food was very Malaysian too..satay, ayam masak merah, nasik...karipap..and seri muka..the green and white kuih.overall it was a good raya, of course nothing can beat hari raya in malaysia but this is good enough...

P/S- got invited to some open house...woohooo more foodies!!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Esok Hari Raya!!!!

TO ALL MY BELOVED FAMILIES AND FAV PEEPS...all of us here in cairo would like to wish all of you SELAMAT HARI RAYA MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN..

we wish that we could be with all of you in malaysia truly asia....but unfortunately that did not happen...so we are trying to make the best out of berhari raya in cairo.

Insyallah we will see u all on the 24th Oct 2007.

Im not a plastic bag..i've won the bidding!





this bag has cause a stir this year,being probably...no it is the cheapest designer bag being sold ever! i think the idea was initially very good..irs for the environment..but crazy bag ladies had made it into a fashion frenzy and now i think this bag goes everywhere not just the super market!

i wanted one..but i just couldn't be asked to queue or book it..as a result i didnt get one..and since then i totally forgotten about until...jeng je jeng....i saw it again on Allure..a few days back.. and the itching started....

i google it..a found it on ebay, actually theres a lot on ebay...but i dont know if they are the real thing...so me being a virgin to ebay somehow put a bid on 2 bags and bought one bag...of different colors...please do not ask me why i did what i did..i was buying out of frustration! besides..it is for a good cause hicks :*D

so last nite, i got and email saying i won both bag at Rm89.90 not too bad aye ..woohoooo....keke...so i have 3 now...blue,pink and brown..how cool although i promise one to kechik..coz she was kind enuff to pay for me in advance...

i emailed them ad they told me not to worry that they the original bag.not the fakeo's...& they better not be,hopefully they all waiting for me when i get home...:D i discovered some cool bag from AH too..and now im starting to itch again..i hate this.but i can help it... i love 'em! will drag tall bestie with me to the store when i get home...hahaha...lis..please save me!!!

take a look .. aren't they cute??...

Thursday, October 11, 2007

cookies for raya






samira and i decided that we should not mengelat even more by buying cookies for raya..so today we had our cookies project!. we managed to make 2,choc chip cookies and biscuit arab ( i have declared that biscuit arab is the easiest biscuit in the world !!)..the choc chip were very popular with the hubby..they kept asking for more!...and thanks to my super FP, i didn't have to slave my man power to uli the dough! :D.

remember once upon a time...sometime last year there was an email on famous amos choc cookies???....i junked mine..but samira kept it hahaha so we tried it and its almost as good!! although i must say it a very expensive cookie..kalau nak menjual memang byk pakai modal..no wonder famous amos cookies are expensive! anyway..for those who did junk that email...this is your 2nd chance to copy it and try....

Famous Amos Choc Chip Cookies

2 cups of butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal ( measure it and then grind it in a blender til fine)
50g choc chips
1tsp salt
400g cadbury choc bar ( grated )
4 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts ( your choice )
2 tsp vanilla extract

Cream butter and both sugar
Add eggs and vanilla
Mix together with flour,oatmeal,salt,baking powder and soda.
Add choc chips, grated choc and nuts.
Roll into small balls and place then two inches apart
Bake for 10 mins at 375degC

this recipe makes around 110 pieces. :)

Biscuit Arab

2 cups flour
1/4 sugar ( measure and blend to powder)
Ghee ( add bit by bit until u can make a soft dough )
1/4 castor sugar ( milled to super soft powder ) - for coating


Mix the flour, blended sugar and ghee to a soft dough
Roll them up to small balls
Place them on a ungrease tray and bake for 150degC for 15 mins.
Once done, cool them a little and coat them with the castor sugar


the flat smells soo good now....:D