Sunday Lunch

Remember the recent Hari Raya celebration when I prepared Penang Assam Laksa? Well yesterday untuk melepaskan geram, I made Assam Laksa again and this time I had the photo to prove of the finished product.

Authentic Penang Assam Laksa

It was busy Sunday for me since 7:30 am. I managed to complete many tasks. Went to the local grocerer, bought roti canai and roti telor for breakfast, did 2 loads of washing, prepared lunch, watch a little bit of TV and in the evening washed my car. Later that night my other half said let's go out for dinner.  Woo hoo....

Is it real?

Yes it is real, Mustapha! It is not a fake plant! Why do you think I water the plant every week?

Several years ago, I wanted a plant with less maintenance to brighten my workstation. My other half planted this for me and today it has grown so tall.  It keeps on growing and sprouting new leaves. I am sure there are people who are very jealous of my plant...hehehe because theirs, after a while, dead!

Mustapha is a colleague from work, Algerian by birth and has been married to a Kelantanese lady for 15 years.  He has been living in Malaysia for the last 5 years and working with WHO for 3 years.  He understands little bahasa melayu, inspite marrying a Malay. Having him around is a good way for me to brush up my spoken English. Not only he speaks English, he is also fluent in Arabic and French.  Once in a while I try to pick up simple French words from him. He kept on putting down on my plant and said it is fake.

Again, for the last time, it is REAL, okay!

Good bye Akmar...

Tuesday 24-Sep-2013 was Akmar's last day. It was sad to see another team member leaving us.  Nothing special prepared since she wanted to leave in such a hurry.  I prepared my jello and we ate with ice-cream in the break room.

Akmar and Mustapha

It was nice sitting around, chatting as we wished Akmar the best.Once in a while laughter broke to kill the silence in the break room. It really touched me to see her go with the current situation when we needed all the manpower in AFRO team. I was responsible in training Akmar to be credible HRA and now the organization let her go for unknown reasons to us. Hers was the first voice greeted me every morning, S H EEEE R AAAA.....Then when I'm all settled down, she will passed by my workstation and poke me on the back. I am going to miss this bubbly girl.

The next morning I saw a yellow post-it left on my table.

What can I say more,...I am going to miss you Akmar. Wishing you all the best and do not forget us in Cyberjaya.

Chicken and Cranberry sandwich

Never tried it before. Akmar came to work this morning and gave me this from Starbucks.

Aww! that is so sweet of her. First time tasted the chicken and cranberry sandwich.....hmmm sedap....Thanks Akmar and I am going to miss you.

Jaya, in pink and sweet Akmar in white.

J E L L O

Several weeks ago, a colleague approached me to prepare a jello for someone's birthday at work. I took up the challenge.  She said just a simple looking jello perhaps shaped in a mold.  Luckily my sister has one which I borrowed.

It was kind of odd instead of the usual birthday cake they wanted a jello. Well, as they say customer is always right. So this is how the jello looks like.

Jello with diced mango in the mold after refrigerated over night.

During presentation.

I informed my colleague when serving, cut a piece and add a scoop of ice-cream on the side. Stick 2 roll wafer and sprinkle chopped nuts. Did not manage to take a picture of it since I was not part of the event.

I hope they enjoyed the jello.

It is something different and I think I'm getting use to the idea. In fact tonight I made one to bring to work tomorrow for Akmar's farewell tea party!

Sunday's Lunch - Chicken Rice

This afternoon we had chiken rice. Saja je buat maklumlah these days things are getting very expensive to eat out. Our favorite chicken rice stall pun dah naikkan harga from RM4.00 before raya to RM4.50 after raya. Entahlah mahal rasanya tu. Katanya harga barang naik. Ayam sekilo RM7.90. Biasala kalau berniaga siapa nak rugikan. Tapi chicken rice kedai tu memang sedap. I rate 9/10. Really, memang menyelerakan. You have a choice of roasted or steamed chicken.

So the kids enjoyed it. Bila dah makan I rasa tak payah makan chicken rice sebulan pun tak pa. Anyways dekat2 hujung bulan ni pandai pulak nak memasak....hehehe.....Well guys hope you all had a good lunch.

Assam Laksa at an Open House

A couple of Sundays ago, I was invited to my aunt's open house. Until I got there that I realized it was her grand daughter's birthday party.  She said its a good way to get our relatives together, God knows how long it has been since we met with each other.

It was a cosy event with the set up of several food booths around the guest tent. There was satay, rojak buah, fried char kuay teow, laksa, and dessert such as local kueh and ice kacang. Indeed I enjoyed it so much that I tasted each and every one of it. I was stuffed!!

So this is the laksa which was prepared for me. It was not that bad except kuahnya a bit cair but the laksa penang taste is there. I added extra petis or otak udang. Yum!

My cousin Jaji said it was too bad it was not served with an egg. I'm like, what? Oh no...no eggs please. But she said it is Negeri Sembilan's style. No way. Penang Assam Laksa does not come with telur rebus!

Shakira was in tears when the clown came by. She is afraid of clowns and balloons. That's my cousin Jaji in glasses.

Meanwhile Shakiel participated in the clown act. He had a great time.

Shakiel all wrapped as a mummy.

The birthday girl, Eva, with her parents Ratana and Frank.

Met my aunts, uncles and cousins and it was sad to say good bye because I know it will not be until next raya that we meet again. Insya Allah.