Singapore Again :)

Alhamdulillah, we ended 2011 with a splendid getaway in Singapore…yes again. This is the third time we were here just in 2011. Can’t get enough with this “lion city”. To cut some cost we stayed in JB and drove to Singapore two days in a row. To be honest Singapore is an expensive city especially in food and parking :). But I must say, the system there is very sophisticated and centralized. Maneuvering here and there wasn’t that difficult as long as u know where to go. Thanks to GPS :) .

The best part in this holiday was the food. We blew out some money on the food there (and a wee bit indulging myself on a pair of new shoes ) yay !!!...ya back to the food,Murtabak Singapore, Beef Biryani, Sup Tulang Merah and etc :)
Welcoming 2012 with a great feeling. InsyaAllah.

Al-Falah Mosque

Things that catched my eyes while waiting hubby (Al-Falah Mosque, Orchard Rd)

Paragon (Orchard Rd)

Sultan MosqueZam-Zam Singapore
Sup tulang merah..

Not into my liking though...but worth to try :)

Oven Baked Cheese Pasta

Ingredients

2 cups of pasta (i'm using penne)

3 cups of milk

2 tbs of plain flour

1 0nion ,2 clove of garlic (finely chopped)
baby mushroom (approximately)
Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese (grated)
salt ,black-pepper.
italian herbs.
butter & olive oil

1.Boil the pasta until ala dente-drained

For the white sauce (Bechamel Sauce)

2.Heat up the pan,put the olive oil and butter, sauted the onion n garlic until golden brown
3.Put in the dice mushroom.Stir well
4.Add the plain flour.Stir until the flour form a dough
5.Add the milk.Stir well for a smooth mixture.
6.Put in salt, white pepper,black pepper and dry italian herbs

Next, combine the sauce with the pasta put in a baking dish.

Spread over on top with grated cheese.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 25-30 min.
Serve with mix salads.

Tasty DIM SUM

Asian flavors never fail me. The tangy taste, the aroma, the depiction are impeccable where it never stop me from craving more. I love Chinese food very much. In fact in my pantry, I have most of the basic ingredients for chine cuisine. U name it, sour plum sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil etc.
It is very difficult to get halal Dim Sum here so I’m thinking of trying one. This is when my husband been busy with his work and only came home late night and I’m obliged with my night classes for this semester. So you can count how many nights we have dinner together :(.
I chose to prepare something light for dinner just for me, myself and I for that fastidious night.
Yes a wee bit cheating here as I’m using frozen dim sum pastry where you can find it in the supermarket nearby.

Ingredients:
Dim Sum pastry
For the filling:
Minced beef.
Oil, Garlic, ginger, spring onion, white button mushroom, fresh red chili salt, black & white pepper and sesame oil

Method:
Heat up the wok and put a little bit vege oil.
Sauté the chopped garlic, ginger, fresh chilli and white button mushroom add the minced beef, stir until cooked.
Add the salt, black n white pepper for seasoning. Dash some sesame oil for the flavor and garnish with chopped spring onion.

Once cooked, put 1 tsp of the filling in the pastry.Fold it in any shape u want and steamed it for about 7-10 mins.

For the dipping:
Chopped garlic. chopped ginger
soy sauce, sesame oil and bird's eye chilli

Super easy and super yummy :).

The best carrot & pineapple cake :)

Assalamualaikum,

Eid Mubarak to all of you.I wonder if there any readers out there? :)
Well, I know this is such a long silent despite I have so many things to share here. By the way have u had enough with the yummy food last Eid? I'm going to share the best recipe i ever tried.

Carrot & pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting. Made this during last eid Adha and Alhamdulillah, I received just wonderful responses from family how good it taste :)

The recipe can be ladled from the show “barefoot contessa” with Ina Garten and wee changes were made to the recipe :)

For the cake
2 cups caster sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil (i'm using corn oil)
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2½ cups self raising flour
1 tablespoon 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda -omit this cause I'm using self rasing flour
1 teaspoons salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnut
2 stick of carrots, grated
½ cup diced fresh pineapple (can pineapple)-rinsed the liquid

For the frosting:
250 g cream cheese, at room temperature
100 g of butter , at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sieved


Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans. Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light yellow. Add the vanilla.


In another bowl, sift together 2½ cups flour, the cinnamon, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Toss the raisins and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour. Fold in the carrots and pineapple.

Add to the batter and mix well. Divide the batter equally between the two pans.

Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans set over a wire rack.


For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined.


Add the sugar and mix until smooth.


Place one layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.

Enjoy :)

Feeling good?

Eid Mubarak :)

I was sitting alone at home today…Doing some baking for raya and I realized, I had abandoned this little space for quite a while. I was avidly trying my very best to devote my time during this holy month of Ramadhan to alleviate my ibadah. To be acceptance is in the hand of Allah…I’ll pray for that.

Alhamdulillah, Ramadhan this year is the best Ramadhan ..at least for me..I felt calm and serene and rejuvenate.

So how about your eid preparation? I don’t really do fancy clothing this year, am trying to be modest if possible :). Alhamdulillah ‘rezeki” from Allah is always there. Mr N, being so generous handing me upfront “duit raya”…in cheque from by the way..”sigh!!!!. and all banks are closed for this festive season. I can’t really cash it out immediately…emmm..I know why he did that ;) No last minute shopping for me !..Utterly control freak hehe

I guess it is not to late to wish everyone

Eid Mubarak
Selamat Hari Raya..Min al Aidil Wal Faizin
Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

8th of Ramadhan :) Blessed!!!

Note for a husband...

8th August 2011, 8th of Ramadhan.

Alhamdulillah, we turn 3 today. With the blessing of Ramadhan, I wish for the beautiful years ahead with you

Thank you so much for everything...Yes everything !!!

You are the most kind hearted person I ever met. Always thinking of others rather than yourself.

Ya Allah, ampunkanlah dosa kami

Tempatkanlah kami dalam golongan orang-orang yang beriman

Jauhkanlah kami dari hasad dengki, riak, sombong dan angkuh.

Kau tunjukkanlah kami jalan yang benar.

Janganlah sesekali Kau palingkan rahmatMu dari kami,

Sesungguhnya kami hanyala hambaMu yang miskin lagi hina, yang sentiasa dahagakan rahmatMu Ya Allah.

Berkatilah ikatan pernikahan ini kekal hingga ke Jannah.

Ameen...

Thank u Allah for this pure love...