Few More Days

Just few more days Ramadan will come to an end then Eid Al Fitr the celebration after a long fasting month will start. In Australia Eid Al Fitr is most possible going to be on Friday 10th September 2010. Not much of preparation though compare if I am in Malaysia. Think this year going to be my 5th Eid Al fitr in Melbourne. There is no public holiday though I might have an appointment with my supervisor or I might ask a favour from him to make it a miss this week. Will see how it goes.

Everything is just recycle. No new cloths, still have good one which I have bought a few, during sales last few years and last end of the year sales. No new Malay cloth for me too because I don't think I will use much here anyway (already have 2). Just for taking pictures maybe. :-) .

For me is just being simple and understanding the Essenes behind what Ramadan and Eid AL Fitr meant for rather than spending money too much just for those few days. I will missed giving 'token' to my family, freind, staff and kids for this Eid Al Fitr because it a financial crucial time for me here in Melbourne. After this I won't get any more monthly elauns from my scholarship only depend on my salary which is I doubt will be enough, anyhow will see how it goes.

I will cook good food though and invite few of my closest friends and bring food to my department. It will be more exciting talking with the staff and the head of the department when you have this kind of celebration in the department. It will be interesting coz I will be the center of the attention, :-). They will definitely enjoy and appreciate it especially the kind of food I always bring. :-)

Badak Berendam

Made a desert for breaking my fast today called Badak Berendam

Conservatory Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne

Blooming spring flowers in Conservatory Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne.

Colorful flowers in the conservatory including some insects. :-)

Mee Bandung Batu Pahat

Today from Nahar Kitchen Style cooking, I made a special delicacy from my home town famous noodle which called Mee Bandung Batu Pahat. I used my mom secret recipe and I kept the integrity of the recipe and didn't modified at all from my mom recipe.

If somebody ask me the recipe yes I will give them the recipe but the one secret ingredient I won't tell. :-) Because it is a secret.

At exactly 6.01 pm Melbourne time I break my fast with today's special menu Mee Bandung Batu Pahat.

Bonn a petite. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style "Kacang Pool"

I have decided to make "Kacang Pool" (It is a middle east style of curry using foul me-dames/Fava Bean/Broad Beans) for my breaking fast menu today.

It easy to get broad beans here, either the dry broad beans or fresh broad beans. Last time I got fresh broad beans from one of my patient. Today I went to groceries shop and bought 2 packets of dried broad beans. I boiled it but not over cooked it. Then I peel the skin and blend it but not too fine.

I made the sauce; blended onion and garlic, the spices includes; ground coriander, ground cumin and curry powder mix, and also chili paste). Cook all the ingredients then lastly put it in the blended broad beans.

The meal just ready on time for my breaking fast at 6.01 pm Melbourne time. Put on top of the curry fried egg (bull eyes) and serve it with bread. In this case I bought bread rolls from bakers delight. Mmmmmmmm yumm. Bonn a petite

Vegetarian Curry Laksa

Usual spot at Old Kopitiam to break our fast yesterday

And you know what, the staff already recognised us and smile. May be we are now one of the regular customer even though only once a week. :-)

Had vegetarian laksa

and a glass of 'Air Mata Kuching'

I am confused

Dumpling chicken and prawn, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Not sure what to have today. Hmmmmm (thinking)
It has been along day and been so bored even though busy with all this data from my research, made me more confused. For the first time I feel so awkward. Usually I will have patients coming for training and testing but now no more. I think it will take a while for me to get use to it.

Anyhow, hmmmm what cooking today. Not sure yet, but definitely I will have my breaking fast in the city after work. Tomorrow I will definitely make something interesting. Just wait and see. :-)

Don't you want to stay here?

Spring is coming, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

All most all my patients had asked me the same question. Do you like Melbourne? Don't you want to stay here in Melbourne? I told them no. I am not, I am going back to my country. I have obligation, I have service contract and I want to serve to my people and my country. "But why, here is much better than your country, you will get better pay bla bla bla bla............". Smile and I am consistent and persistent with my stand.

Frankly speaking if I have the choice, I will definetely not going to stay and work here. The main issue is all I don't like the working environment here is not friendly and very teritorial. I don't feel comfortable at all. I only feel comfortable with my patients they were friendly and very comforting. They also knew the situation of this working environment especially in the hospital where I am doing my research project. Not all though. I like most of the staff with the department where I am at but the rest......... Sometime money doesn't mean anything if you don't like the place where you work.

Spring coming soon???

Today is actually supposed to be the first day of spring season. Flowers already started to bloom for the last 2 weeks. But the weather is still winter weather. Wet and chilly early morning till night time like today. They predict that the wintry weather will still continue for few more weeks.

Last Day Emotional Day

It not the time to say good bye yet, but it is time for the program to end. Last Monday, Nicholas one of my post grad student who help me out with the exercise program almost break into tears. So attached with everybody in this program. Just imagine some of them had been in the program for the last 2 years.

I am so pleased with what they had achieved. I cannot described how happy I am for them. From someone who had problem walking for such a distance even need to stop in between to catch a breath then they became much fitter and healthier and have to remember that other than having diabetes they also have heart disease or heart failure. Better blood pressure reading, better blood sugar results and so many more. Really really really am happy for them.

All of them will missed the gym where the program had been going on for 2 years and all of them said they will missed me, I felt so honoured and I will missed each one of them. Their characters , fun jokes and joy everything. I will cherish it all. Suddenly I feel so emotional, surely been trying to be macho in front of everybody not to cry. I almost though break into tears but as I said I will never cry. Gosh what a day. Anyhow I made a promise to everybody we will have a get together soon and I will give everybody a memento to remember. I wish everybody all the best and hope they will continue and maintain what they had achieved.

Proud of being Malaysian

31st August is Malaysia Independence day.

Always Proud of being a Malaysian

Felt it more when at overseas

Even people talk bad things or don't know much about Malaysia always patience and tell everything the truth about Malaysia

Has wonderful places to go and venture with it culture, foods and so much more

Proud of being Malaysian

Happy Independence day, Malaysia

Berbuka Puasa di Dandenong.

Diundang ke rumah Lajiman dan Su untuk berbuka puasa. Zainah sekeluarga dan Zul juga turut serta. Sampai sampai tengok depa sedang menyiapkan hidangan berbuka.

Zainah sedang menyiapkan apam balik, Caya lah. Boleh tahan, boleh buka kedai jual apam balik nanti. :-)

Cik Su lak dah menyiapkan kuih bakar. Memang best.

Rupa rupanya Cik Su kita ni jual kuih raya juga. Dia jual kuih kat bazar ramadan kat sini. Ok lah balik Mesia nanti boleh lah tolong tolong laki masa raya tambah duit raya kat Uni tuu. Banyak lagi sebenarnya depa buat, pecal (mentang mentang ada keturunan jawa depa buat pecal, my dad memang Jawa BEROLEH, Batu Pahat, Zul Jawa Parit Raja, Batu Pahat gak, Cik Su pun Jawa Johor gak dan suaminya juga Jawa dari Banting). Nasi dan lauk pauk dan macam macam lah lagi pun ada.

Tak leh nak makan banyak pun, perut ku semakin kecik sekarang. :-) Lah ni dah turun 2 kg lagi. Lepas ni dah boleh terbang sebab ringan. Tak paaa, boleh makan lebih.

"Batang Buruk" made in Melbourne

'Batang buruk' made in Melbourne, originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Finally I have the time to make my favorite Malay traditional cookies, 'Batang Buruk' yesterday. I still can remember when I was in primary school, every Ramadan helping my Mom make cookies for Eid celebration. And this is one of it.

Mee Rebus at Mamak Old Town QV

Day 17 Month of Ramadan

Breaking fast at Mamak Old Town Kopitiam again. This time I ordered Mee Rebus. Not bad

and had a mug of Cincau with soy milk.

Breaking fast with 'Kuih Keria'

A Malaysian version of doughnut. There are many version of making 'Kuih Keria' and I made my own version. Since I don't like sweet taste too much, I had cut down the use-sage of sugar.

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The basic main ingredients are sweet potatoes and plain flour. Boiled the sweet potatoes, then mashed it and mix with flour until forming a nice d'oh. Shouldn't use much of flour though, need to make sure the sweet potato not too soggy other wise you might using flour to much and it will become to hard. Pinch a little bit of salt while mixing the d'oh.

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Usually after frying the 'kuih keria' need to cover the 'kuih' with thickening caramelised sugar in a wok so you can have crystallized sugar sticking to it. Instead I used cinnamon powder and mix with a little bit of Crestor sugar or just Cinnamon powder already enough. For me the sweetness from the sweet potato is already give you enough taste of sweetness and good balance taste from the cinnamon. Taste yummy. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style A bowl of Laksa

Made Laksa Johor for breaking fast last night. Used my mom recipe, but I changed a little bit. Hope my mom does't mind. :-)

Nahar's Kitchen style Nasi Kerabu

My way of making nasi kerabu. Most of the main herbs of the original Nasi Kerabu I used. Frankly change slightly to suit my taste bud.

"Pengat Pumpkin"

Minggu ni, minggu 'pengat pumpkin'.

:-)

"Bergedel Kentang"

"Bergedel Kentang" purely potato. Kentang boleh direbus atau digoreng terlebih dahulu, tapi jangan lupa toskan agar jangan lembab dan dibiarkan kering. Nanti kalau tidak bila dilecek akan lembik dan tak akan melekat bila dibuat bentuk bebola. Itu yang akan menyebabkan dia lembik dan bila digoreng pecah. Macam sesetengah orang orang kat melbourne ni buat. For me, saya gunakan oven flavor wave, kalau pakai oven biasa pun boleh. Selepas dibakar dalam over, kentang masak just nice tak lembab sangat. Selepas dilecek, buat bentuk bebola kentang melekat dengan sempurna dan tak pecah. Ada orang tuu tanya tak tambah tepung kerr nak keras kan dia. Tak yah letak. Kalau buat seperti yang disebutkan kat atas insya allah jadi. Jangan lupa masukkan garam dan paper. Kalau suka boleh tambah mince beef/chicken. Ingat toskan dulu sebelum dicampurkan. Pastu gorengkan selepas dicelupkan kedalam telur. Hasilnya seperti dalam gambar. :-)

Fresh and Refreshing

After a brief of heavy rain with hail last night, came out from the house at 5 am was chilly but refreshing. Clear sky and a full moon. Nice refreshing morning and it turn out to be a nice morning so far.

Ramadan Again!!!!

Most of the staff in the department didn't realize now is the months of Ramadan until I told them. I met my supervisor, a senior cardiologist and the head of department of cardiology research with his secretary in their office. He ask me how I am, replied I am good and I am fasting today. Then both of them said at the same time. Ramadan again !!!!!!. I said yeah...It 2010 last Ramadan was 2009. Then he said good that the Ramadan is in Winter coz the time much shorter.Yes it will make much different but for me doesn't matter if the day much longer we will still fasting despite the longer day time.

Then the other staff always forgot, ask me if I already had my lunch. I told her I am fasting, then she said sorry she forgotten and already asked me many times. Anyhow. She said I look contained, active as usual. I told her I am getting leaner. :-) Then most of them said they should fast too :-). Typical questions most of them will ask. Aren't you thirsty at all. Nope...unless you keep on thinking of it. They were surprised while I am fasting I can be as active as usual. :-)

"Kuih Bom' , 'Kuih Bom'

Hari tuu masa buat buah rotan masa menggoreng tetiba teringatlah Kuih Bom, Sejibi hehe sebiji saling tak tumpah cuma saiz jerr besar dan ada inti kelapa. So buat lah enam ketul jerr tak banyak nak makan sorang lagi pun. Sorry lah tak bagi bagi nanti ada masa dan buat banyak kita bagilah yerr. Ok lah resepi harap cari sendiri. Senang jerr tak susah. Tapi saya tukar lah sikit, yang itu rahsia nak tau kena kasi pengeras. :-)

Tak ada perubahan langsung

Masuk hari ni, dah tak terkira berapa kali keretapi asyik kena kensel. Dah lah tuu cuma tuu yang terawal ke sepital. Sepatutnya sampai kul 6 pagi jadi sampai kul 7. Bangang betul. Kata bila dah tukar management baru perangai lama berubah tak lambat and tepat masa. Itu janji depa bila ambil alih masuk TV lagi bagi janji. Tapi sampai laaa niiiii haprak. Management lama lagi baguih. Bila kena komplain cakap lah macam macam alasan. Hang dah tau memang ada masalah napa tak anticipate. Nak tunggu ada masalah baru nak atasi. Terus teranglah pengurusan LRT/PUTRA and monorail kat Malaysia tuu lagi bagus. Ingat kat negara maju macam kat sini tak ada masalah. Malah teruk gak. Banyak sangat K-----si (sensitif tak nak tulis betul betul). Apa apalah. Terpaksa call patient kat sepital suruh tunggu. Nasib baiklah depa depa tuu maklum dengan perangai pengurusan keretapi yang baru nii. Memang laaa ni banyak sangat masalah. Payah payah.

Squid for dinner

On my way back from Uni today(Sunday,22/8/10), I stop by at Saigon market to get some fresh produce for the whole week or two. Usually Sunday eve (actually almost everyday they will sell in bulk with very cheap price) they will sell the fresh produce the cheapest in bulk.

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I got there just approximately an hour before breaking fast. I managed to buy a tray of big Squids for just 5 dollars. Then I bought Bok choy 7 bunches for 2 dollars then lastly more than 5 kilos of potatoes with 1 kg of broccoli for both only 2 dollars. What a saving. In total I only spent 9 dollars.

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I bought lots of potatoes for my 'bergedel' which I am going to make it soon. Then for my home made gnocchi, and also to pun into the curries. While the vegetable it will last for the whole week. I need the high intake of fibre in diet too though. :-)

Inspiration.

arcade walk , originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

Some time I felt so inspired
But most of the time I feel so so blank.
Up and down mood.
Refreshing my mind is what I need.
But cannot refreshing all the time.

Mamak lagi Mamak lagi

Hari ke 10 puasa , berbukalah lagi di Mamak Old Town Kopitiam, Melbourne.

Hari ni teringin nak makan makanan yang berkuah. Dalam menu tulis Pan mie alah macam kwee tiaw sop gitu. Berbuka dengan makanan yang hangat hangat dan berkuah sungguh menyelerakan. Seminggu sekali memang makan kat luar ubah selera.

Lepas tuu pergi beli donut lah pulak kat krispy kreme. Mula mula tak tergerak nak beli tapi bila tengok zul beli ehh teringin lah pulak. Belilah, lagi pun dah lama tak makan. Beli 1/2 dozen bekalan untuk buka 3 hari termasuklah hari ni. 2 donut untuk sehari. Kononlah entah entah malam ni langsai. LOL. Tak kut. Makan jangan ikut nafsu, biar berpada pada.

My 'Buah Rotan'

Immediately after came back from Hospital and breaking my fast yesterday, straight away I made the famous 'Buah Rotan' cookies, one of Malaysian traditional cookies during eid celebration or not even during the celebration too. It through out the year you can have it. It took me only half an hour to get it done from making the d'oh and until it ready to eat. :-) yumm...

Finally...........

It has been a while for me thinking of when I could get it done. Don't know why I am in a mood of making all the traditional food especially all traditional food from my own heritage. May be because the stressful work I have been through lately, and trying to divert all the stressful moment to something more beneficial and realaxing and I enjoyed most, cooking. :-)

I have found a lot of traditional 'kuih/cookies' online and I want to make it from scratch. Not interested at all with what ever instant mixture you can get from supermarket etc. Not challenging and not creative. (Sorry yerr kalau ada yang terasa). It not me at all if making something from any ready made mixture. I will definitely preserved it originality as far as possible but I will twist it a little bit by changing or reducing some of the ingredients to make it more healthier.

As for this 'Buah Rotan'. I didn't used coconut as per recipe but instead I used skim milk. Then cut down the amount of egg from 5 to 2 eggs and used the milk to adjust the d'oh. Still same amount of glutinous rice flour and I only used half of the amount of recommended sugar (used raw sugar instead).

More traditional 'kuih/cookies' coming out from my kitchen, Nahar Kitchen. :-)

Breaking Fast: 'Pengat Pisang'

Now going on for the second week of Ramadhan, if during the first week I had 'Bubur Kacang' as the desert for my breaking fast or as part of early morning meal. For the second week of Ramadhan, I have made enough amount of 'Pengat Pisang' for one whole week. Divided into a small container an keep it in the refrigerator as will take it as I need it.

As usual I modified the recipe, I cut down more than half the amount of Gula Malaka from the original recipe and used only 1/3 of light coconut milk while the other two third I used skim milk. Still give beautiful taste and not too sweet too.

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In Melbourne I don't have the luxury to buy food from any of the bazaar like in KL or other part in Malaysia. At least when I made my own desert, I can make sure the desert much 'healthier' (less calorie and less fat).

Time to Ponder

I felt a little bit irritated at times when somebody has not seen me for a while and said "Hey are you sick, you loosing weight?". Am I sick????? (I didn't say anything in reply of course just smile). But at the same time some of them who ask that question whom I never seen them for a while were bloated/fatter/put on weight, then I should ask them back 'how bout yourself, you put on weight, are you healthy?'.

Sometime people shouldn't jump into a conclusion that might upset others.

Time to ponder...

Do thin people much healthier than overweight/obese people?

People who lost weight is unhealthy? A thin person is unhealthy?

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For me, I will never generalised everybody with that kind statement even you have never seen them for a while. Just say hi how are you then start the conversation try to find and get further history/stories before jumping into a conclusion. Everybody and every cases are different.

Any how......... 'Selamat Berbuka Puasa' 5.45pm waktu Melbourne

Just two bananas

Purposely I didn't bring food to work today for breaking fast. I will moving around a lot today, from Uni then to Hospital.I don't want to carry so many things in my small bag. I knew I am going to stay back late and breaking my fast in the hospital since my last patient coming for my ultrasound examination only able to come after 6 pm. I only brought 2 bananas easy to fit in my small bag. So 2 bananas for breaking fast today which was enough.

Which one to choose first

Pink Chair , originally uploaded by mohdnaharazmi.

So many things to do today.

So so stressful.

Arghhh..

When I was doing one thing, then something else came up

Keep on thinking other things too and made me worried too much

Need to keep on focus one at the time !!!!!!!

Fried Carrot Cake Nahar's style

After I had my first fried carrot cake after such a long long time the day before, I have decided to make one myself. Thought it shouldn't be difficult. The important thing is to make the carrot cake.

(diced carrot cake)

Need a rice flour (2 cups), water (3 cups) and radish (1 big size and then shredded the radish). Stir all the ingredients and mix it well on a low heat stove until it become thicker. Then pour the mixture into a square baking tray. Steam the mixture until it become firm (approximately 30 minutes). Let it cool then cut into cube size (up to you how chunky you would like to have your carrot cake) :-)

Then from now on it up to you how you going to fried it but you have to friend the carrot cake separately until golden brown then put it a side. The original recipe used really basic frying ingredients but really nice. Oil for frying, garlic, fish sauce, preserved carrot and 2 or 3 eggs.

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For me I like to put lot and lot of things in it and I like it hot so I used blended chilli (12 dried red chilli) with garlic and shallot. Add marina mix, eggs as usual then finally lot and lot of bean sprout towards the end. Don't forget the seasoning. The end product is just slightly different touch from the original.

In searching for chocolate..........

Yummy... so many chocolates, one of the famous chocolate shop in Melbourne; Haigh's Chocolate. Looks tempting.

Finally found the chocolate I like, Dark Ginger chocolate contain at least 45% ginger in the chocolate. Nice. Had 3 after breaking my fast.

This is not a chocolate though, it is a candy. Saw candy making at the Arcade Walk.

GPO Building, Melbourne

GPO Building, Melbourne. Historic first GPO building Melbourne. A nice place to go for shopping, have a cup of coffee or just wondering around admiring the view in the building.

Cool place, a lot of shops and boutiques on the ground floor

Looks exclusive too

Two coffee shops and a flower shop along the aisle. Passing by on are way for breaking fast on the weekend.