Bergedil Ikan Kembung - Mackerel and Potato Fried Patty

Bergedil Ikan Kembung - Mackerel and Potato Fried Patty

Here’s the recipe for Mackerel and Potato Fried Patty which I had with Rice Vermicelli with Chicken Broth for yesterday’s dinner. It is quite a versatile dish which you have it with rice or own its own. I made extra of these and finished it off just like that for late supper.

Bihun Sup Ayam - Rice Vermicelli with Chicken Broth

Honestly, I rarely plan for a week meal. Usually, I promptly decide what to cook when I am already at the farmers’ market. Here in Putrajaya, farmers’ market is held every Tuesday and Friday. Normally I bought for two days’ supply to prevent the fresh vegetable rotten in refrigerator in case in didn’t cook. This month, I barely cook since my husband was not at lunch for most of the dinner time. His office was having an annual sports event in which he yielded 4 medals (mostly gold). Yes, indeed he is an athletic person.

Creating Opportunities To Stock Up Milk Supply

Making time for breast pumping session

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. - Vincent Van Gogh"

I am now working hard to stock up my milk supply. The milk supply can only sustain for utmost nine days. My baby drank more milk since the day he started taking solid food. Perhaps my irregular pumping sessions few months before is taking toll on me now. Thus, I had to increase my pumping session. It is better to add more pumping session rather than taking once in a while and long pumping session since it will take effect on the quality of milk.

The Importance of Learning the Marmet Technique

Unimom Mezzo Manual Breast pump without handle

This morning, as I was ready to start my morning milk pumping session, I realized that I forgot to fix my pump handle to the bottle. That was the only part I forgot to fix. This incident adds another reason to master the Marmet technique.

Breastfeeding and I

About more than a year ago (that was when I decided to get pregnant again), I said to myself to get a breast pump. I have high determination to breastfeed exclusively my second child. And then I got pregnant; the first I bought was a Korean made electric breast pump, Spectra 3. I once read a post on the Internet saying that the decision to breastfeed a child is not made after the pregnancy has been confirmed. It should have been made even before a woman got married.

Ameer Zikri - 20042009

I only got chance to breastfeed my first son only the first 5 month of his life. It wasn't exclusive either. Days after we brought him home from the hospital, the midwife asked us to give our son formula milk to supplement his needs. He was diagnosed with jaundice (it wasn’t severe). My body produces enough milk from him but I have difficulties to breastfeed him. He was hungry most of the time and with very little milk he consumed, his body couldn’t eliminate birubilin from his system. I was really frustrated that I felt like wanting run away from the house. I felt like a loser. Trying to be realistic, I had to allow my baby taking formula milk to supplement his need. After a week, he is free from jaundice and I stopped giving him formula milk.

Another challenge came to me when after a month giving birth to our son; my husband was called for duty for 6 months which mean we have to live without him for 6 months. I had to handle everything on by my own without my beloved husband by my side. I had wake early every morning, cleaning and feeding baby before sending him to the nursery, fetching him later in the evening, feeding and cleaning him before going to bed. Quite a few times I missed my dinner. It was tiring and I didn't care much to stock up my milk supply.

I had to admit that I had very little knowledge and inspirations to fully breastfeed my first son. There are two categories of women in my office, a group of married with big kids’ women and the other group was single ladies. I have no support and very lack of awareness on the importance of breastfeeding or maybe it just me who didn't care enough. As the time passed, more friends got married, had babies and breastfeed.

Ahmad Zharif - 18092011

For my second son, I managed to breastfeed him exclusively for the pass 6 month of his life. He started taking solid food when turns 6 month. Despite solid food has been part of his diet, he still drinks mother’s milk and surprisingly the demand rose ever since. Coincidentally, my milk production starts deteriorating. This frustrates me.

Frozen Expressed Breastmilk - few months ago

Before this, my body produces abundant of milk. In 10 minutes, I could express at least 10 ounce of milk with bare hand using Marmet technique. Nowadays, even 4 ounces in 10 minutes is hard. Therefore, I had to buy a second breast pump gadget. I bought Unimum Mezzo manual breast pump. So far, it helps me moderately.

Marmet technique manual expressed milk

Chili Seedlings say Hello World!

My chili seedlings say hello to the virtual world for the first time. I sowed the seed from fresh chili which I bought from farmers market. I scrapped out the seeds before I toss the sliced chili into the pan. It germinated after a few days. Before this, I used to sow commercially sold seed. But then, the earlier bought seed has spoil. One of neighbor said that she planted chili using seeds from fresh chilies and it worked. Following her footsteps, I did the same. This Friday, my seedlings turn 2 months old. 

However, the progress of growth of each seedling differs from one another. I already transferred the healthiest one in to bigger pot. There are still few seedlings waiting to be transfer to bigger space. 

Two months old chili seedling

I actually sowed the seed in my son’s diaper wrapping plastic bag. The plastic bag was thick and durable. Trying to be green, I think the bag better be put to good use as my alternative to poly-bag. Plus, the bag was not made from biodegradable material. So, I better gives the plastic bag a second life.

Rice Pudding with Banana and Oats

Rice Pudding with Banana and Oats

We had a few ripe bananas on the dining table. Some are too ripe I can barely make anything with it. I was planning to make banana teabread for Ameer but I don't think the amount of bananas we have are enough. Instead of making teabread, I decided to make banana rice pudding for Zharif. It has natural sweetness and smells good. Best serve both warm and cold.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup full cream milk

2 tbs. rolled oats

1/2 cup roughly chopped ripe banana

1/2 cup plain rice porridge

Preparations:

1. Heat milk in a saucepan. Then add in the oats and stir well.

2. Add in bananas and let it simmer for a few minutes then stir in rice porridge.

3. Let it simmer for a few minutes until the banana is cooked thoroughly. Add more milk if it is too dry.

4. You may mash the banana while the mixture is simmering or puree it later to your baby liking.

5. Turn of the heat and serve. Chill the remaining portion.

If the pudding turns to brown later, that's mean your banana is undercooked. You can still serve the pudding but it won't be at its best taste after a while.

posted from Bloggeroid

Grilled Chicken and Sweet Pumpkin with Rice Porridge

Last week, I have lost of ideas on what to cook for my baby boy. However, an idea came to me when I had grilled vegetable for my lunch at Nando’s. I thought that it would be great to grill chicken meat for Zharif. So, this is baby version of grilled chicken and sweet pumpkin with rice.

Grilled Chicken and Sweet Pumpkin with Rice Porridge

Ingredients:

¼ cup diced chicken meat – from breast 

½ cup diced sweet pumpkin 

¼ cup diced yellow onion 

1 cup plain rice porridge 

Olive oil – you can use vegetable oil but olive oil add more flavor

Preparations: 

1. Heat some oil in a saucepan. Stir fry chicken meat until half done. 
2. Add in onion and sweet pumpkin. Stir fry until all are caramelized and start to brown. 
3. Add in some water and plain rice porridge. Let it simmer for a few minutes or until the pumpkin and chicken are thoroughly cooked.
4.  Puree to the baby liking. Chill the remaining and serve warm.

Motherhood

Four years ago, it never occurred to my mind that I could be a mother. Now, I am mother of two boys. When the first time I knew I was pregnant with Ameer, I was nervous. I was afraid that I couldn’t be good mum to him. Nevertheless, until this moment I try hard to become a good one. Becoming a mother has brought me to a different dimension of life. Life before was all about me, myself and I. Today, the kids come first.

Kek Gula Hangus - Caramelized Sugar Cake

Kek Gula Hangus - Caramelized Sugar Cake

When I was a small kid, my mother used to bake this cake. I think she might have made this cake for a cooking class for mother in our community. That was I think 20 years ago. The cake has different sweetness. It is easy to make but I think finding the best recipe is quite a challenge. Our office cafeteria once sold this cake but it doesn’t have the sweetness I was looking for. As usual, being so IT savvy and internet geek, I googled for the recipe.

Honestly, I don’t really know how to judge a recipe. I don’t know whether the recipe is good or not just by reading at the recipe. Instead of looking for recipe, I searched for the images. The most appetizing image of the cake wins my heart. The original recipe is from Almari Resepi and I am sticking with it. I’ve tried to make some modifications but to no good return. Therefore, it is best to stick to the original recipe except I added a quarter cup of water to the ingredients. This is the recipe and thank you so much Nita from http://sudipkayu.blogspot.com/.

Ingredients: 

1 cup granulated sugar 

¼ cup plain water 

1 cup hot water 

2 tbs. salted butter 

4 eggs 

1 cup evaporated milk

*1 cup flour 

*2 tsp. soda bicarbonate 

*sifted together

Preparations:

1. In a thick bottom saucepan, combine granulated sugar and plain water and stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved over medium high heat. 
2. Then, bring the sugar and water to a boil and reduce heat. Let it boil intensely for 8 – 10 minutes. The sugar and water mixture color will turn to amber then brown color over time. 
3. Distribute the color by gently stirring the mixture using wooden spoon. You may turn of the heat when it reaches brown color and let it cool for 8- 10 minutes. 
4. CAREFULLY, stir in hot water and butter. Stir well until it is well combined. BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE HANDLING HOT MELTED SUGAR. 
5. Set aside for the caramelized sugar to completely cool.
6. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until it is thick. 
7. Then stir in evaporated milk until it is fully combined. 
8. Add in the dry ingredients and mix well. 
9. Slowly pour in the caramelized sugar with one hand while the other hand mixing in the cake batter. 
10. Let the batter to rest for 3-4 hours and then bake in a greased loaf pan for 40 – 45 minute at 180 degree Celsius.

This cake already has its own fans at my office and my husband’s. Last Sunday I baked 4 loaves. My husband brought 3 loaves to his office for a potluck party and I bought one. Everybody love the cake!

Shrimps Fettuccini Carbonara

Shrimps Fettuccini Carbonara

My husband was not at home yesterday. He had something related to football or futsal to handle. He is a rice person. So, whenever he is not at home, I’ll make something different for our (my son and I) lunch/dinner. I made Shrimps Fettuccini Carbonara. I got this recipe from my cousin who got it from a friend who I believed a chef. I like the creaminess of the carbonara (there are times I couldn’t handle it). This time I used shrimps instead of chicken. Both will do the trick. Usually I uses canned button mushroom. However with the halal issues going on with the product, I opt for using organic white button mushroom. It is way far better options. Here is the recipe.

Fish and (not chips) Mashed Potatoes with Cole Slaw

Fish and (not chips) Mashed Potatoes with Cole Slaw

This is not the first time I made Fish and (not chips) Mashed Potatoes with Cole Slaw. My husband loves Fish and Chips but he doesn't like dory. The restaurants normally used dory instead or other fish. My husband says that there's a weird taste he couldn't tolerate. So, I did some initiative to make a home cooked version of Fish and chips (except mine served without chips). I've tried  a few recipe but still couldn't find a perfect batter recipe. I combined a few recipe that I've tried and this one is almost perfect. It is crisp on the outside and moist in the inside.

The first thing you have to prepare is the slaw. It has to be serve chilled. Then the mash potatoes and later the fish. I used sea-bass all this while.

One of staff went fishing and sold me this 2 feet long sea-bass for RM15.00. The fillet was thick and sweet. I cut the fillets to six slabs and freeze two of them for next time. It is quite a big fish.

COLE SLAW

Ingredients:

1 cup of diced round cabbage

1/2 cup of diced carrot

1/4 cup of diced yellow onion

2 tbs mayonnaise

Salt and pepper

Preparations:

Mix all the ingredients and chill before serving.

FISH

Ingredients:

Fish fillet for two servings

2 tbs rice flour

5 tbs all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chilled water - sometimes I used chilled ice-cream soda

1/2 tsp baking soda

Salt, pepper and turmeric powder

Cooking oil for deep frying

Preparations:

1. Mix well all the dry ingredients and mix with water until the batter is fully combine. 
2. Meanwhile, heat the cooking oil over medium heat.
3.  Cover the fish fillets with the flour batter and fry over medium low heat until golden brown. Serve hot.

MASHED POTATOES

Ingredients:

2 nos potatoes

2 cloves garlic

2 tbs full cream milk

1 tbs salted butter

Salt and pepper

Preparations:

1. Boil potatoes and garlic with some water and drain the water when the potatoes are cooked thoroughly.
2. Mashed the potatoes with garlic. Add in milk and butter. 
3. Season with salt pepper. Mix well. Serve warm.

Happy Pancake!

Pancake with butter, honey, strawberry topping and dried strawberry with sliced orange

I love pancake. But we normally being a Malay are not use to have pancake for breakfast. We usually had Nasi Lemak, fried rice or any local rice based breakfast. My son loves pancake. Making pancake for breakfast is one of my effort to make him eat decent home cook breakfast. He is quite an eater but a picky eater.So, this is my version of pancake. I googled for an easy recipe and made some modification. Here is the recipe.