Feel real swell today. Yet another year had passed and I had nothing much to complain about my life so far. Basically everything went smoothly though at times there were some minor hiccups but those times only showed me how blessed I am to have people around me who really love and care about me. I am really thankful for that and look forward to many more happy moments to hang on the wall of my memories as my journey in life goes on. I just love presents on this day. It's not so much about opening them excitedly but the feeling of not knowing what lies inside a present and the satisfaction of opening them slowly. Sometimes I may get presents that I didn't really need or want but each of them came with the heart of trying to please or make me happy. Most of all, those people actually remember my birthday ! Isn't that wonderful since I am just mere ordinary me ?
On a more somber mood, well, there are still so many things I want/need to do and experience but time is running out fast. Gosh, feel that time is real short for me now unlike before I used to feel that our orbit was turning a bit too slow for my liking. Anyway, thank you so much to all the people who care and love me for myself. Love you too!!!
Prescription : Feel young at heart
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO DADDY DEAREST !!!
DADDY IS A REAL SPORT,
ALWAYS FULL OF SUPPORT,
LUCKY TO BE FOREVER IN HIS TIME SLOT !!!
I simply love to eat especially hot and spicy food with a tinge of sweet and sour. As I can hardly resist the lure of food, it's difficult for me to control my waistline after giving birth to my third child. Thank God that I'm tall and still manage to maintain exactly on the line of normal BMI. I used to be able to eat enormous portion without feeling guilty or worrying about the kind of food that I took and still stayed lean. It's history now. Must remind myself not to pile up the plate, eat more veges, oh this is too high in calories, that contains too much fat/cholesterol or this is too meaty. Therefore I seldom cook my favourite food to avoid having to restrain myself from eating extra. Force to control your urge for your favourite food is definitely not satisfying. May as well don't cook it at all. So I'll give myself a break, just cook my favourite and eat my heart out once in a blue moon.
Ingredients : 1 pineapple (sweet and sour type e.g Morris pineapple- cut into triangle slices , 2 lemongrass (smashed) , 2 onions, 10 shallots, 1" galangal, 3 candlenuts, 3 pips garlic, little tumeric (pound) , 5 dried chillies and 5 fresh chillies ( pound/blend finely), 1 star anise , 2" cinnamon bark, 1 tbsp oyster sauce or tspn vegetarian belacan (optional-can omit if can't find this),1 cup thick coconut milk , salt and white sugar or brown sugar to taste ( I prefer the sweeter version) , oil for stir fry
1. Stir fry the pounded ingredients with oil, put in the lemongrass, star anise and cinnamon bark. Continue to stir fry until red chilli oil ooze out. Add oyster sauce and continue for 1 minute.
2. Put in the slices of pineapple. Mix well. Then add coconut milk. Cook for a while till bubbling. Add in salt and sugar. Cook for a few more minutes. Wait for a while before serving. Taste better if left for a few hours. If you prefer to eat while hot, you can reheat it.
** for non-vegetarian version, could add prawns and squids, and replace vegetarian belacan with non-vegetarian belacan (shrimp paste)
Prescription : No Food, No Life
Of late, earthquakes that happened in Sumatra, Indonesia (5.5- magnitude at 8.08 am & 5.6-magnitude at 11.01 am on 14.06.11) could be felt here in parts of Malaysia (Selangor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Perak & Putrajaya) which were unlikely many many years ago. Could be the shift of earth movements underground. Oh dear, wouldn't be surprise that stronger earthquake tremors would be felt in future and our buildings on the whole were not built to withstand that ! Without tremors, some of our newly built buildings already had big cracks before dwelling due to ....ehm..ehm..(guess whatever). How sad that it's usually some kind of calamity must happen before any action would be taken here. Even that, couldn't be too sure...So may we be blessed, whatever will be, will be.
Some of the students in my daughter's school felt some small swaying like the water in the bottle was swirling, the wall slightly shaking, the tables and chairs moving slightly. Some blamed their friends for pulling a prank until there was an announcement to ask all the students and teachers to evacuate the school buildings immediately. Even that, some teachers continued to teach a few more minutes to finish whatever teaching they had planned thinking very little about the announcement. So are we prepared for some bigger picture in the coming future ? It's the slack mentality in most of us ...uurgh...Me guilty too...but couldn't those big figures on the top with paid big fat pockets who are supposed to do something, really do a real good job for once... really do their work well because it's their job instead of cheap bickering on unimportant issues, giving third class comments and producing half cooked works ? Well, remain to be seen...wishful thinking...
Prescription : Be prepared - prepare your umbrella before it rains(Malay Proverb)
(16.01.11-Thursday)
When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry,
Show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.....
A TRUE LISTENER HEARS WITH THE EARS,HEAD AND HEART.
Truly listening to another person is a gift-the ultimate sign of respect for another's thoughts. But it's a difficult gift to give. Instead of listening, we may be wondering what we should do later in the day or what we should say next. The bottom line is that most of us are simply too self-absorbed to be good listeners.
Listening is a skill that requires practice and determination. To master it, you must be willing to close your mouth and consciously focus on the other person's words. Becoming a good listener is hard work, but giving the gift of being heard can make a great difference in the lives of those around you.
Prescription : Talk less, listen more.
(13.06.11-Monday)
A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together.
It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
- by Dave Meure
Fate controls who walks into your life but you decide who you let walk out, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go. It's not about being possessive but all about respect, effort, tolerance, loving and forgiving to maintain a wonderful relationship.
Prescription : Love is in the air
(12.06.11-Sunday)
Herbal blue rice is very easy to prepare. All the core ingredients are natural and contain medicinal value to boost our immune system. Furthermore, it's simply great to have it together with any dish especially hot and spicy food e.g. vegetarian pineapple sambal which I gave the recipe yesterday. 
A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together.
