On a whole new experience of Ramadhan

It is a new feel of Ramadhan this time around for me. For starter, I'm celebrating it as a wife. Then of course, I am with a baby. Seriously, I am so nervous about fasting during pregnancy. But Alhamdulillah, so far everything has been good. Except just that one day where I literally went so 'lembik' and could just lie down or else I'll collapse while waiting to break the fast at my MIL house.

I am entering 23rd week already and I am so thankful that the fasting month is during my second trimester. Not just the traumatic morning sickness of first trimester that I am worried about. But it is better now that the baby is much stronger and well past the dangerous zone of development. Now is just the time for the baby to grow in size. Ooh, did I mention that he/she is already jiggling around in there. It was quite confusing the first time I feel the movement. I thought it was just gas in my stomach. But then I lift up my shirt and saw my tummy move like something is bouncing inside! Couldn't be gas then. Hehe.

After that I am more alert as to when the baby moves. It was really exciting to feel the tiny fluttering or most of the time 'bouncing' in there. Sometimes I kind of get jolted in my seat because it's so ticklish and I feel like laughing out loud. And boy, laugh I did when I am in the privacy of our home. I love sharing it with hubby too. He will put his hand on my tummy and go 'Hah!' everytime this little one bounce. Remember how jealous I am of him during the first scan? Well now he is the one super jealous of me because I get to be with the bouncing baby 24/7. Ha!

Most of iftar and suhoor was spent at my mother's house or going back to in laws over the weekend. But last weekend was solely spent at our home. Thus, I get to be creative and in charge of the menu. I love weekend to try on new recipes coz it's more relaxing than to rush preparing meals after work. So few days ago, I stumble upon this blog with yummy recipes and decided to try one. The recipe was Mi Kari Nyonya and it was such a delightful success that I just had to share it here. So feel free to try it if you're a fan of curry mee. I sure am one. I have to say I made the decision to cook it just by looking at the yummy pictures. Heh.

I did tweak the recipe a bit in the condiments part. Instead of prawns and chicken, I put in cockles, fishball and fried tofu only. Also boiled egg and sawi celur (choy sum) (What's sawi called in english anyway?) Being a fan of curry mee, I seriously feel that cockles is still the best condiment to eat it with. Plus I pounded the onions instead of using blender coz I feel it will give the flavor more. This recipe makes enough for two person and if you like it spicy, just add 1 to 2 tablespoon more of blended chilli. The amount suggested in the recipe is barely spicy. At least for me. I'm obsessed with chillies! 

Mi kari nyonya anyone?

Express visit to Kuching

Some might already know by now but here's announcing a very good news for us and the family. Fazrul already got his posting transfer letter and we will start living together very soon. Aye, couldn't be more excited! Alhamdulillah.

Anyway, with him leaving Kuching there's shipping and cargo to transport his six year's worth of life there. So this calls for an unplan trip to Kuching. For a shopping spree! Wee~ It was a short trip. Really short trip. I went on saturday morning and came back on sunday evening which is yesterday. My colleague said, 'macam balik kampung sebelah je'. Ngeehee.  

Boy, given the time it was a really hectic shopping spree. Back and forth to various outlets in Kuching, and the process continued to Serikin. I must have exhausted the sole of my shoes.

In the midst of hecticness, we still didn't forget to fulfill our gastronomical voyage. After all, it might be a long time before we would set foot in Kuching again. Remember that last time I was disappointed because the best restaurant with mi kolok was closed for renovation? Well they're back in business again and it's the first place we head to immediately after I arrived. Slurrppp.

So very satisfying. The next is of course the mouth watering ayam penyet. But we were too late. Because they were totally sold out! It was only 9 pm though. Oh well, maybe that's a calling for a trip next time. Hehe.



While on the plane I keep myself busy with crocheting. It's been a while since I crochet and then I found this really nice, cute and easy peasy pattern of flower and heart. I need the crochet fix anyway. Just to ease my mind and keep me happy. It's weird how it affects me. Heh. Anyway, I don't fancy bringing a half done tablecloth or blanket on a trip so this one is really great. I can make plenty and these are really awesome to add as embellishment on handmade cards, frames, tablecloth or any other projects. I'm planning to buy more yarns and hooks soon to make it in different sizes.

If you're a crocheter as well, check it out. They're one of my favourite crafter on the net. I absolutely think the owner's a genius for creating all the stuff.

Ah well, I better get going if I want to get those yarns. Ciao!

The first meal

Oleh kerana saya dan Fazrul masih duduk berjauhan, saya belum pernah berpeluang betul-betul memasak sepenuhnya hidangan lengkap untuk santapan suami saya. Bila di rumah sendiri selalunya bekerjasama dengan mak. Bila di rumah mertua pula mestilah bukan tukang masak dominan juga. Bekerjasama dengan ibu mertuaku pula. Rasanya peringkat awal ini tidak sesuai pula kalau saya take over dapur kan. Tak senang duduk ibu mertuaku nanti menantu sorang-sorang kerjakan dapur dia. Haha.

Semasa bertandang ke Kuching tempoh hari, kami menetap di homestay yang boleh kata lengkap perkakas dapurnya. Saya akhirnya berpeluang mengerjakan dapur secara dominan demi suami dan sesuap nasi (Huh?). Pagi-pagi ahad pergi pasar pagi untuk beli barang mentah. Dari malam sebelumnya dah pening berangan nak masak apa. Mungkin terlebih excited juga. Tema ialah makanan laut. Seronok juga pasar Kuching ini. Boleh tengok apa produk kampung tempatan. Gamat mentah-mentah pun ada jual. Ikan terubuk jangan cakap la. Tomato pula pelik sikit. Agak kecil dan kurang bulat. Lagi ada sayur pelik apa namanya saya tidak ingat dah. Akhirnya beli udang galah 2 ekor, udang sederhana setengah kilo, ikan bawal 2 ekor, kubis bunga, batang saleri, cendawan tiram, sayur kailan dan ikan masin jeruk. Apa menunya?

Adakah sama besar tapak tangan saya?

                                        Udang galah sedang galak dibakar.

Saya seronok hendak cerita percubaan menu di bawah ini. Antara makanan kegemaran Fazrul. Seronok sangat sebab kali ini jadi. Pertama kali cuba di rumah emak tidak berapa jadi bentuk bebenangnya namun rasa sudah mantap. Kali ini cuba sampai jaya. Hehe. 

Nyum nyum butter prawn. Er, bahagian atas itu agak garing sedikit. Tapi apapun rasa dia memang best. Terima kasih kepada kawan saya Ayin. Saya belajar dari blog dia lah. Cuba la jenguk. Gambar-gambar makanan dia sentiasa menggugat jiwa. Hehe.

Dekorasi cili bagai itu oleh Fazrul. Rajin eh :) Suami saya boleh tahan juga bab memasak ni. Dia la tukang masak tak berbayar di rumah sewa dengan rakan-rakan bujangnya.

Menu: Butter prawn, ikan bawal goreng halia dan bawang putih, kailan ikan masin, udang galah bakar. Kami bersantap penuh selera.

Eh, tadi kata beli kubis bunga, saleri dan cendawan tiram? Oh, itu saya buat rencah nasi goreng tomyam. Sarapan keesokkan harinya. Marvellous!

Seronoknya masak untuk suami dan masak-masak bersama suami. Saya harap tidak lama lagi akan dapat berita gembira tentang pertukaran tempat kerja suami. Saya boleh saja ke Sarawak tapi tiada posting pula. Dilema penjawat awam. Huuu.

Of foods in Kuching

Among the things I love about Kuching is the local delicacies. Last time I had the yummiest mi kolok in town. It's at Kopi O Corner near Satok. I was really looking forward to another round of it on this trip but the restaurant was closed for renovation. Aiseh. So we search for the yummiest laksa sarawak in town instead.

Damn good! Definitely the most delicious I've tasted so far.

A bowl of 'laksa sarawak special' includes bigger prawn. Squeeze the lime and dip the sambal. Pergh, the taste is simply superb.

If you ever come to Kuching, head to Patingan. Just a small distance past Satok market, make a u-turn under the fly over and turn left at Petronas. Head on straight and find this home-based eatery on your right. Oh, JJCM has been here too.

With fully satisfied stomach, we head on to Digi Centre for an errand. Then we drive to Lundu for a programme that Fazrul and his housemates were organizing. To be specific it has something to do with extreme motor sports. But that story could wait later.

Later that night and I mean really-really late, we went to satisfy the craving for ayam penyet next. We got lost on the way back from Lundu and was simply starving.

Snap! Iphone 4, we love you ;)

Looking at this picture makes me salivating again. Yummeh. There's a few version of ayam penyet and last time I had the fried one at Raja Ayam Penyet. This time Fazrul brought me here where the chicken is grilled instead of fried and OMG! Perfectly grilled with perfect sauce and perfect sambal. Now I'm begging Fazrul to dine here again before I go home. Hee.

So, head on there! At My Village Barok, just across the river from Waterfront Kuching. You can either drive there or simply take the boat or sampan from waterfront. It's just a little walking distance from the jetty after that.

Now we've just arrived at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It's raining and we're stuck in the hotel. But that won't dampen my will to hunt for the yummiest food here next. Ciao!