On a beautiful gift

"I took him to the Universal Studio Singapore on his birthday, but for mine, he took me to the nucleus of the universe.For that I blessed. Alhamdulillah"

Assalamulaikum

I haven’t written a lot on my recent visit to Mecca and Medina, haven’t I? Well, it was a journey worth to remember. Thinking of that moment, really make my eyes waters. It was kind of soul retreat for me. I started see things in different perceptions, in a better way I must say. My husband said I changed, “cooler” than before :). Alhamdulillah

The journey supposed to be scheduled on the June 16th which falls on my birthday. We purposely chose that date. But being a Muslim we must believe things happen for a reason, “we plan, but Allah is the greatest planner”. Thus, it was rescheduled on the 17th, still in the birthday mood.
Before the plain take off there are so many things wandered in my mind; scared, nervous, restless of nothing. Not because of the flight, but because of the negative attitude embedded in my life since forever; all the sins, the wrongdoings. Many questions pondered; what if I?, what if…?, what if.

I keep recite this “Ya Allah please be easy with me, forgive all my sins whether I realized it or not”. I prayed that this ziarah/ umrah will be a worthy journey for me not merely just holiday escapade; maybe for some people. Wallahuallam.

Both Medina and Mecca have its own distinct values. Our ziarah started in Medina. I will try to convey my very best to depict my experiences and my memories there.

Medina (June 2011)

After we landed in Jeddah, we were greeted by the mutawwif (ustaz which will lead the ziarah, he is Indonesian btw). There was a bus taking us to Medina. It took about 5 hours to reach our hotel there. We stopped in between for our dinner. Alhamdulillah rice for dinner, (I only ate pasta in the flight).The journey continued and I had my zikir and a comfortable rest in the bus. Almost entering haram ( non muslims are forbid/haram to enter Medina and Mecca, ), the ustaz wake us up and this is what he said:

“Assalamulaikum, tuan puan tamu Allah tamu Rasulullah. Maafkan saya kerana mengejutkan tuan puan dari lena. Kita sememangnya, sudah hampir memasuki sempadan tanah haram. Oleh itu kita di sunatkan membaca doa memasuki tanah haram.”

what a pleasant thought, i just love here, whatever you do, whenever you go there are always dua' to recite to show how barakah the place was...Beautiful !!!

And after reciting the dua, Ustaz lead the selawat upon Muhammad (pbuh). At that moment I can’t hide my emotions anymore my tears burst the minute I recite the selawat and when the bus make a turn nearby the nabawi mosque. I can’t believe I’m here now, near to our prophet Muhammad. I heard some people moan quietly. Yes it was such an amazing feeling…to be close to someone you love, someone you adore and that someone is thinking of you when he is near to death. Subhanallah, How could you not love him? Thinking of him? Even Allah (s.w.t), pays His selawat upon him.

Basically, the selawat lead by the Ustaz came into two versions. You know the Arabic one, but here I’m going to share the Malay one which really put you into deep emotions, especially if u are in Medina. It is from Raihan. Listen to that carefully…you may need face towel after.
I shall continue this travelogue later :). InsyaAllah

Lemon Meringue Cheesecuppies

(Receipe from anna olson show)

Ingredients
Crust
1-1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (I'm using digestive biscuits)
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake
1 cup cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large eggs, room temperature

Meringue
1 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tsp cornstarch
I add 1/2 tsp vanilla essense to reduce to egg smell :)

Directions
Crust
1.Preheat oven to 350°F (depends on your oven) and line 6 mini muffin tins with paper cups.
2.To make crust, combine all ingredients until evenly blended and crumbly. Press into bottom of mini muffins cups. Bake for 8 minutes, then cool.

Cheesecake
1.To make cheesecake, reduce oven to 325°F. Beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy, then gradually add sugar while beating, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Beat in cornstarch, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, scraping well after each addition. Spoon or pipe cheesecake filling into cooled mini muffin tins and bake for about 18 minutes, until cheesecake still moves a little when pan is shaken gently. Let cheesecakes cool to room temperature. Meringue layer can be made once cheesecake have cooled and cheesecakes can be chilled overnight and then finished





Meringue
1.For meringue, preheat oven to 375?F. With an electric mixer, whip egg whites with lemon juice n vanilla extract until foamy. While whipping, gradually pour in sugar and whip on one speed less than highest until whites hold a stiff peak (the meringue stands upright when whisk is lifted). Whisk in cornstarch. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star or plain tip and pipe on top of each cheesecake. Bake pie for about 6 minutes, just until meringue browns lightly. Allow cheesecakes to chill for at least an hour and up to a day before serving.

Red Velvet Bread Pudding :)

This wasn't my intention at the first place you know, to combine these sweet tooth :). I baked red velvet cake last night and hubby keeps saying I haven’t bake a proper cake for him... (Haven’t I? you've got to be kidding me man!!!). He added, he only tastes the balance of the batter which I baked in a smaller ramekin.

Then I replied (If you want, you need to order and pay for it la)
He: “Duduk satu rumah pun kena bayar ke??? pffft”.

So while baking for the order, I realized we had halve of walnut bread that I bought few days back. So I’m thinking to bake bread pudding for him and yes, he was right, (not a proper red velvet for him).I have remnants of the red velvet batter so my inner creativity yielded the second I ripped my bread in the baking tin.

I should combine these two and see what happen?

err..yummilicious :)

Ok the Bread Pudding Recipe:
Halve of walnut bread *any bread will do*
2 cups of milk
1 egg
¼ cup of sugar, and 2-3 tbs condensed milk
Chocolate spread,
Vanilla essence
Fresh strawberries and raisins
*Red velvet batter”

1.Rip the bread in a tiny pieces
2.Spread the chocolate over the bread
3.Mix all milk, egg, condensed milk and vanilla essence together.
4. Thinly slice the strawberry.
5. Put in the bread in baking tin and pour the liquid mixture
6.Mix well and add the strawberry and raisins.
7.Spread the red velvet cake batter on top * just a thin layer” and bake for about 20-30 min.

Enjoy the pictures :)

WW: Pre Raya Mood :)

Tart Galore

Had a basic tart making class last weekend ranging from sweet to savory tart...I never had a proper class in baking so this is really great and easy. Wonderful team-mates i must say :).

Now I can take order for raya anyone ???

The Pastry

Cheese tart

Fruit tart

Coconut Tart

Chocolate tart

Egg tart

and the best part you could take some back home :) yeah

Back & Rejuvenated