Lasagna

Ingredients:

For Red Sauce
~ 1 pack of ground beef, around 300 g
~ 1 medium onion, diced
~ 1 jar of pasta sauce
~ 3 tomatoes, boil to remove skin, chopped
~ 2 tbsp tomato puree
~ 1 tbsp black pepper
~ salt & sugar to taste
~ Olive oil

Methods
~ Heat olive oil, stir fry onion, put in meat, when the meat turns brown, add in chopped tomatoes, pasta sauce and tomato puree.
~ Sprinkle black pepper, salt & sugar
~ Taste for balance between sour, sweet & salty.


For Bechamel Sauce
~ 2 cups milk
~ 150 g butter
~ 1 slice of cheddar cheese
~ 1 tbsp flour

Methods
~ In a pot, all of ingredients. Stir until thick, withdraw from fire

Other Ingredients
~ Lasagna sheets. I pre-boiled the sheets for 2 minutes to make sure all cooked thoroughly.
~ Basil leaves
~ Mozarella

Methods for layering:
~ Prepare baking dish, first layer is the lasagna sheets, follow by red sauce, then bechamel sauce, then sprinkle mozarella cheese and basil leaves. Continue the layering process until the dish is full and sprinkle the top layer with lots of cheese.

~ Preheat oven 180C, bake for 15 minutes, when you see the top layer golden, reduce heat to 150C for another 15 minutes.

~ Serve hot for a melting effects ;-)

Instant Bubur Lambuk @ Bubur Asyura (Porridge) on 10 Muharram

Back at hometown, mum is cooking this special dish to take to mosque for asyura ceremony tonight. The porridge is specially cooked on 10 Muharram. I don't know the history of this dish but what I know is, I love bubur lambuk so much. I think we have different methods of cooking bubur lambuk. One time i ate Kedah style bubur lambuk which is brown color and texture like pudding. But the one I always eat is white..Whatever  it is, while my mouth drooling for this porridge, let me share the instant method to cook bubur lambuk, my way..This entry is special to my Indonesian friend, Nani who may try it at her lonely room at Aceh :-)

Ingredients:
~ Some meat, slice
~ A handful of rice
~ 1 cup coconut milk
~ 1 salted egg
~ 1 Cinnamon stick
~ 4 Shallots, slice
~ 4 garlic cloves, slice
~ 1/2 inch ginger, slice
~ Cilantro for garnish
~ Oil

Methods
~ Boil and simmer rice with meat until form a porridge texture and meat is tender
~ Add in some coconut milk
~ Crack in salted egg
~ In other pan, fry shallot, garlic, ginger and cinnamon stick and add to the porridge
~ Ready to be served with some fresh cilantro

Asam Pedas Ikan Kembung (Spicy & Sour Mackerel)

Asam pedas is a popular dish among Malays. We often eat this at least once in a week. You can use fish, chicken or beef. This time I used mackerel. So this is my way of cooking asam pedas..

Ingredients:
~ 1/2 kg mackerel
~ 10 dried chilles, remove seeds boil 5 minutes. This step is to make sure the chillies well cooked to prevent some type of  chillies' bad smell. Drained.*
~ 1 large onion*
~ 4 garlic cloves*
~ 1 inch ginger*
~ 1 cm turmeric*
~ 1 inch belacan (dried shrimp paste)*
~ 1/2 tsp black pepper*
~ 1 cup of tamarind juice
~ Salt & sugar to taste
~ A handful of laksa leaves

Methods
~ Grind all *. Heat pan with some oil. Fry the mixture until its cook. To know whether it's cooked already, make sure there is oil come out from the mixture. In this stage means all of the water has evaporated and the mixture is cooked.
~ Pour in tamarind juice, add some water to get concentration you want. Bring to boil.
~ Put in the fish, laksa leaves, salt & sugar to taste.
~ Turn off heat when the fish cooked, this may take about 3-4 minutes.

Other condiments you may add in:
~ Pineapple
~ Pickle sawi (i don't know what sawi in english)
~ Ginger bud

Side dish to be eaten with asam pedas (my suggestion)
~ Kangkong goreng belacan (stir fried water spinach with dried shrimp paste)
~ Telur dadar (omelet malay way)
~ Kicap (sweet soya sauce)

Oh..writing this makes my stomach singing~~~~~

Salad Olivieh: A fast food in fridge

There is a newly open middle eastern groceries shop nearby and I am so happy because I can restock my khiarshu (pickle cucumber) whenever I want. No need to wait for next trip to KL anymore :-) Yes, there are many of pickle cucumber at Jusco or Cold Storage but it is not same like Yek-O-Yek brand (Iranian brand with slightly spicy taste). So, every time I have khiarshu in my fridge I will make salad olivieh. This salad can be my fast food whenever I am hungry in between meals. Normally I will make for dinner and the leftover will be in fridge for 1-2 days depends on my consumption. Let see how I make it! Previous post about salad olivieh.

Ingredients:

~ 2 large potatoes, boil and mashed

~ 2 size A eggs, hard boil and mash

~ 6 fillet of chicken, boil with 1 chopped medium onion, salt & 1 bay leaf until soft. Then mash with fingers to form a small slices of meat.

~ A handful of khiarshu, coarsely grated

~ 5 tbsp of mayonnaise

~ 1 tsp of olive oil

~ Juice of 1 lime

~ Salt & pepper to taste

Method

~ Mix everything in a bowl, chill in fridge, serve with any type of breads you like. 

Shish Kebab

Ingredients
~ 300 g beef or lamb, 2cm cubed
~ Green peeper, seeded and cut into squares
~ Onions
~ Tomato

For marinade
~ 3 tbsp olive oil
~ Garlic cloves, minced
~ 1 large onion, grated
~ 1 tbsp mix herbs
~ 1/2 tbsp ground black pepper
~ Juice of 1 lime

Methods
1. Blend meat with all ingredients for marinade. Cover and leave to marinade overnight in fridge. Meat will become tender by next day.
2. Thread the cubes of meat onto skewers, alternating with pieces of green pepper and onion. Tomato should be thread separately because it cooks faster.

3. Grill over charcoal or stove (like what i did because charcoal will takes time) for 10 minutes, basting with butter.

P/s: Bff really concern about the tenderness of meat (noticed all Iranians are like that btw). To make sure my kebab pass the ISO, what I did was slightly punch the meat with pestle before threading onto skewers. It's actually a way for another type of kebab called bargh kebab. Anyway, do anything to make people like your foods. Till then, bye...

Song without title by Ali Lohrasbi

Love..love..love..this song by Ali Lohrasbi. But I don't know the title. If I read it correctly its like titirap serial 3--5-2?? Is it a song for a TV serial title 3-5-2?? I tried to listen and write the lyrics. Anyone know the title and can translate the lyrics to English??

*boro har jaye in donya ke mikhay
to injayi tuyi ghalbam to khunam
kenaret ru zamin jayi nadaram
havadaret ke mitunam bemunam

man divonegim ro dustdaram
hamin ke eshghe to eyni azabe
jonun balatar az inke yeki hast
ke har shab ba lebaseto bekhabeh

jonun balatar az inke yeki hast
az har jayi to mibazi bebazeh
toro yek ruz dideh ke yek jayi
azat yek omr astureh besazeh

repeat*

ce khali mishi az inkeh donya
tamame sal paye to beshinan
az inke lahzeh ye gol kardanet ro
shabi sad bar ahesteh bebinan (2x)

ole....

ce khali mishi az inke ye ruzi
ye donya dar kenaret ziru rushan
az inke mardume yekshahr emruz
un ranggi ke mipushi bepushan

boro har jaye in donya ke mikhay
to injayi tuyi ghalbam to khunam
kenaret ru zamin jayi nadaram
havadaret ke mishe mimunam...

Banana Shortbread

A recipe by CMG. Delicious!

Ingredients:
~ 100 g brown sugar
~ 130 g  butter
~ 1 tsp soda bicarbonate
~ 1/3 tsp salt
~ 2 eggs
~ 300 g banana - mashed
~ 300 g flour*
~ 1/2 tsp baking powder*(*mix and sift)
~ 80 ml fresh milk
~ 1/3 cup walnut


Methods:

1. With a mixer, beat brown sugar, butter, soda bicarbonate and salt until creamy. Beat in the eggs one in a time until mixture turn fluffy.
2. Mix in the mashed banana, until mix well, add flour alternate with fresh milk until finish.
3. Add in the walnut, pour into a baking tin, bake for 50 minutes-1 hour, 180c.

Destiny

Stepping my age to a bigger number really changed myself. I am no more a teenage who used to be cheerful and active. I can sense the difference on me. I am now more sensitive. I think more about life and future. Lately, I am seriously thinking about me and bff. Our relationship almost reach 4 years. Where it will go after this? Do we need to start thinking about seriousness of this relationship? We did not start to end right? But where is our destination after this? I admit that we are not like other couples. We are different. He is Persian, I am Malay. Anything will involve 2 different thoughts. I swear its damn hard. Me myself don't know how we gone through all these hardness until now. Somehow I asked Allah why You let us meet when You know its going to torture us? Why I am not born as Persian so we will not have conflict in our culture? Yes, we have to "give and take", but sometimes the power of man will make the condition unfair. 

This is my destiny and I have to take it as a duty to perform. Allah has put me under this condition and He will not test me unless I can solve it. In fact thank you Allah because you let me know bff. He is very good to me. I will always pray that we can face every problem with patience and faith to You.

Tavalodet Mobarak Azizam

Selamat Hari Jadi...

Selamat Hari Jadi...

Selamat Hari Jadi babayii..

Selamat Hari Jadi...

To my only azizam, happy birthday, you are 1 year older honey. Have a wonderful day. Love you gila-gila!

Wish could be there

Winter is coming

I wish could be there

To touch the whites

To sense the cold

If God will

One day..

Aidiladha.Hari raya korban

This is a late entry for Aidiladha. How was your eid? Mine was great. My faraway sis came back with 4 naughty-thunderstorm-children-who-make-my-blood-up-high. Sigh..We at down-south Malaysia do not celebrate Aidiladha like people at northern and east coast Malaysia. We celebrate it simpler than Aidilfitri and only for a day.

But still, there were lots of foods which turned my belly like panda's. :) Early morning (7 is early for me) I woke up  and cooked Rendang Ayam Kelantan (recipe from Kak Jee) which finished before 12 p.m (as my niece & nephew and brother & mom were starving after came back from mosque). It was very delicious and easy to prepare compare to normal rendang which I used to cook. Also I cooked sambal goreng jawa and ayam masak jawa. These 2 dishes are compulsory every Aidilfitri & Aidiladha in my house. Eating activity continued when my sisters and some neighbors brought foods from their houses. We called this as "munjung" in java language which means giving foods to other house during celebaration. When we receive food, we will give back our  food to that person. So, imagine how much foods in the kitchen and how I can control to not look at it? Then after Dzuhur, my mom decided to make pecal, her signature dish. Oh my god! again eat. For Aidiladha, we normally received meat from "Korban" at our area. So, at night my big nephew cooked sup tulang which turned the house on fire because it was hot and spicy!! See, how many food I've consumed in just one day. Once in a while Ok right??

So, apart from understanding the meaning of Aidiladha celebration, this day also become the day to unite families. Inshallah, my dream is to send my mom to Hajj so she can celebrate Aidiladha at Mecca as she really dream of it.

My mom's signature - Pecal

Persian Chicken Schnitzel

Unlike me, bff prefers boneless chicken meat. But, its ok for me if the meat is not too thick. So, this recipe really suit both of our liking with crispy texture.

Ingredients:

~ 4 chicken breasts, halve 

~ 2 garlic clove, mince*

~ juice of 1 lime*

~ 1 tspn turmeric powder*

~ 1/2 tspn black pepper*

~ salt*

~ 1 egg

~ bread brumbs

Methods:

~ Mix * to marinate the chicken. Leave for 10-20 minutes.

~ To fry, deep the chicken breast into egg and follow with bread crumbs.

~ Fry until golden brown.

~ Serve with berenj or noon.

Simple and yummy!

Vabastat Shodam

Vayyyyyyyyy....love this music so much.
This is the lyrics and translation:

Enghadr chehrat por ehsase ke dardamo mibare - Your face is full of feeling and it takes away my pains
Hessi ke man daram be to az ye eshghe sade bishtare - The feeling that I have to you is more than a simple love
Enghadr zibast lab khandet ke akhmamo mishkane - Your smile is very beautiful and it removes my frown
Man khamoosham ama mot maenam ke ghalbe to roshane - I'm silent but I bet that your heart is bright
Vase ye bar beshin be paye harfam - For the first time listen to what i say
Az tahe ghalbam to ro mikham - I want you with all my love
Vabastat shodamo be to kardam adat - I have become dependent to you and I got accustomed to you
Divoonatam eshgham to bayad - I'm crazy of you. My love .You should
Male man bashi (2x) - Be mine (2x)
Vabastat shodamo be to kardam adat -  I have become dependent to you and I got accustomed to you
Divoonatam eshgham to bayad -  I'm crazy of you. My love .You should
Male man bashi (2x) - Be mine (2x)
Enghadr mehrabooni ke hishki nemikhad az to begzare - You're so kind and nobody wants to forbear from you
Hessi ke man daram be to az ye eshghe sade bishtare - The feeling that I have to you is more than a simple love
Enghadr del neshine khiyalet ke har lahzeyi ba mane - Dream of you is so agreeable and it's with me every minutes
Man zendamo nabzam faghat ba vojoode garme to mizane - I'm alive and my pulse beats when I'm beside you
Vase ye bar beshin be paye harfam - Listen to my speech for the first time
Az tahe ghalbam to ro mikham - I want you with all my love
Vabastat shodamo be to kardam adat -  I have become dependent to you and I got accustomed to you
Divoonatam eshgham to bayad - I'm crazy of you. My love .You should
Male man bashi (2x) - Be mine (2x)

Vabastat shodamo be to kardam adat -  I have become dependent to you and I got accustomed to you

Divoonatam eshgham to bayad - I'm crazy of you. My love .You should

Male man bashi (2x) - Be mine (2x)

Group discussion

Today I joined another group discussion for PhD students. From 11a.m. until 2.30 p.m. Wallaweyh!! my stomach got cramped! was very hungry. Note for me to eat lot breakfast for next 2 week meeting.

I presented my preliminary idea about my research. The supervisors responded good which clear my confusion. So, now I know better what I am going to do and my research scope. They advised me to read more and more to understand the situation well. My research is about service quality in airlines industry both in full service airlines and low cost carriers. Guys, if you have any opinion about this, you are very welcome to tell me. Because I am still in the early stage. Lots of works to do, I know.

I really don't understand with some of the group members, for your information most of them are international guys. They like to interrupt and give comment but sometimes its not related to the topic discussed. Is it me who do not understand? or is it me who have low understanding of their words? Another thing is, their english language is not so good. How the university look at this issue? To become a world class university, I think this should be count seriously.

I hope the next meeting won't be tiring like today. I hope the students learned something and will present better so that our group discussion will be interesting. That also a reminder to me.:)

Selamat tinggal

Today I sent 1 thing away from my life. A thing with lots of memories in 2 years. That shows me the world. In a heavy rain, it left me far from my sight. Thank you for your sacrifices. You will always in my mind. Forever. Hopefully she/he will take care of you better..

2 stage of khazanah scholarship

Despite of the 2 interviews i have to choose, i went for khazanah and leave miracle to happen for uni scholarship. Miracle because I well understood how is the management will mange my conflict. Really want khazanah to know how important for me that I chose for them.

So, what happened? It was at PNB Darby Park. Session 1 is interview with 2 execs responsible for scholarship. Questions like describe yourself and what are going to do for research. It lasted for about 15 minutes. Lunch at 39th restaurant. Food was amazing, but because I was alone so, it turned out to be not exciting. Then the next session was in the afternoon. We were grouped into 2 groups. Mine was pink. Did some tasks about MATRADE. The only curiosity in my mind was why the assessor did not ask me any questions while to others she asked like throwing bomb? All in all I think it was a great experience for me. Getting the chance until 2nd stage was good enough because I am the first candidate from my university that reached this stage until now. So, no need to be tension anymore, life goes on, aim for your dreams.

Meeting Discussion & Interview

In every 2 weeks, students under my supervisor's supervision will meet up to discuss everyone's progress.
It really benefit us because in a group, we can exchange ideas and commented to each one's project. Today was the first meeting I went. There were about 20+ students. Most of them guys and only me local girl. The other 3 girls are international students. Well, nothing I can review as I did not know that we should prepare a slide presentation, so my turn will be next 2 weeks. Plus, my research progress is not very good as now my brain is busy for 2 scholarship interviews.

I did mentioned that I am waiting for another interview for scholarship under my university, they announced the shortlisted applicants today and alhamdulillah I am selected. But, the problem is both interviews will be on the same day. So, I can't go for the university interview as I have confirmed with Khazanah first. After contacting some Profs and officers, they will KIV my session and maybe will call me on early November for interview. What ?? maybe?? They nominated me for Khazanah scholarship and I should go for it and also the one I applied under university. It is really unfair if they ignore my chance. I hope they will call me later.

Oh life so stress!

Penang Laksa

Laksa is a type of noodle. This time I am sharing Penang laksa. I think every state in Malaysia has its own laksa. Among them, Penang laksa is the most popular. Sour and spicy gravy with refreshing condiments. Its recipe differ person to person, and here is my recipe.

Ingredients:

~ Laksa noodle. There are 2 types of noodle. If using dried noodle, you need to boil to soften it. Another type is ready to eat noodle.

For gravy:

~ 1 kg mackerel

~ 6 dried chillies*

~ 6 fresh red chillies*

~ fresh turmeric about 1 inch*

~ fresh galangal about 1 cm cube*

~ 20 shallots or 3 onions*

~ 2 cloves garlics*

~ 1 tbsp belacan*

~ 5 stalks laksa leaves

~ 2 ginger plant bud cut half

~ 5 lemon grass, bruise

~ 8 tamarind slice

~ 1 cup of tamarind juice

~ 2 liter water

Methods:

~ Boil fish with some salt. Remove from stock, flake, grind until smooth.

~ Grind * ingredients

~ Add *, fish, laksa leaves, ginger bud, lemon grass, tamarind slice, tamarind juice to the fish stock

~ Boil and then simmer with medium fire until the gravy a little thick. 

~ Salt, msg and sugar to taste. It should have all taste, sour, spicy, a little sweet.

Condiments:

~ Cucumber

~ Pineapple

~ Chillies

~ Onion

~ Bean sprouts

~ Lime

For serving, put noodles in  a bowl, garnish with the condiments, pour gravy, bliss!

Selected for 2nd Stage

Nervous for next Monday which I will attend the 2nd stage for Khazanah Watan Scholarship. Need to write 300 words essay to be submitted upon registration. Anyone want to help me? Its about why I deserve this scholarship and how I will contribute in the development of nation. At the same time, lots of articles to be read. Have meeting with supervisor this Thursday, what should I tell him about my research progress?

Oh life..oh life..

P/s: Bff went for minor surgery for his cyst. The pain ended finally. phew! recover soon dear.

Appetizer Torshi Vs Budu

Today I want to share 2 different so called appetizer because it make meals more delicious to eat with.

For Persian, I like home made torshi. 

Ingredients:

~ Coriander leaves

~ Tomato

~ Onion

~ Lime juice

~ Salt

~ Sugar

Method: Blend all together not too finely. 

Best to eat with kababs

For Malay, I like budu. Budu originates from Kelantan, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. But, nowadays budu has been commercialized and it has become one of Malaysia's popular foods. Budu is a fish extract liquid. Mix it with slice onion, chilli and lime juice. Good enough to fill my empty stomach. Best serve with grilled or fried fish.

Dilemma

Shall I go for it or no? Is this the right choice for me? What if I make a wrong decision? Will I regret later or better I lose now? Why in this life we have to face dilemma? It would be better if we have only one choice. No decision making process. How beautiful life before when mom was the one made choice for me. When I cry for toy, she will make decision for me, even if I do not get it, i wont blame myself.

Long term relationship is really challenging. Will we end up tying the knot or no? Putting effort to maintain it is stressful. Does he doing the same like me or no? Looking back the pasts without smile. Is smiling and looking future is guarantee of happy life? 

Again the bad sounds is here, next to my ear. Only God knows and keep me away of this hard time...when it will end..

Stir Fry Lady's Finger a.k.a okra - Bamieh (Persian)

In Malay cuisine, most of the time, we stir fry vegetables, which is contra with Persian where they stew or deep fry mostly. Bff hates okra but I love it. When choosing okra, make sure it is the "young" one for a soft texture.

Ingredients:
~ Okra
~ Mince Garlic
~ Fried anchovies
~ 1 tbsp oyster sauce
~ oil

Methods:
~ Heat some oil, fry garlic until fragrant, add in okra, pour some water, add oyster sauce. Adjust salt to taste.
~ When okra soften, turn off heat, garnish with fried anchovies.
~ Done!

Jujeh Kabab - Chicken Kebab

I loveeeeeee my homemade jujeh kabab. I am very particular in eating jujeh kabab because outside restaurants jujeh kabab always torsh (sour) and they do not use much saffron to marinate it and sometimes substitute it with zardchubeh (turmeric). This is my recipe of juicy-delicious-jujeh kabab:

Ingredients:

~ 2 chicken breasts - cut into 3 cm cubes

~ 1 large onion - thinly slice

~ 2 cloves of garlic - mince

~ 1 tsp blackpepper

~ 1 tbsp salt

~ 3 tbsp of saffron liquid

~ 1 cup of yogurt

~ juice of 1 medium lime

Methods:

~ To marinate, mix all of the ingredients and marinate for 1 night

~ To grill: grill on small fire, rubbing with a mixture of butter, oil and the remaining marinate liquid, once in a while until the meat is cook.

~ Yummy. Oh, if you dont like boneless kabab, you can use this recipe for chicken wings or drumstick or any part of chicken you like.

Tas Kabab - Persian Meat Stew

I ever mentioned that Persian food is not easy to make. You must know when is the right time to put the ingredients, to use low or high heat, to make sure the meat is tender, to make sure the gravy have the right consistency etc..But, I found this recipe that is really simple. Let me share the recipe here.

Ingredients:

~ Meat - cut into 1 inch cube

~ 1 large onion - thinly slice

~ 2 potatoes - cut into 2 cm cube

~ 2 tomatoes - slice round

~ 2 tbsp tomato paste

~ 1 tsp black pepper

~ 1 tsp turmeric

~ 4 cups water

Methods:

~ Fry onion until golden, add meat, fry until all sides brown, add turmeric and black pepper.

~ Add water and tomato paste, bring to boil.

~ Lower the heat, simmer for an hour.

~ Add tomato and potato, simmer for another half an hour or until the meat is tender.

~ Serve with rice

Sabzi Polow ba Megoo (Vegetables Rice with Shrimp)

Ingredients:

For Rice:
~ 1 half cup of basmathi rice - soak 2-3 hours prior to cooking with 1 tbsp of salt
~ sliced potatoes for tahdig
~ half cup of dried vegetables for polow - soaked with luke warm water for 15 minutes
~ 5 garlic cloves
~ 1 medium onion
~ pepper
~ salt
~ oil
~ 2 tbsp saffron liquid

For Shrimp:
~ Shrimps
~ 1 tsp curry powder
~ half tsp italian dried mixed herbs
~ half tsp dried mint
~ salt
~ pepper

Methods:

Rice
1. Boil rice until al dante, rinse and drain
2. Fry sliced onion and garlic until yellow, set aside
3. Mix vegetables, fried onion and garlic, salt and pepper.
4. In a pot, sprinkle some oil, place sliced potatoes on bottow layer, follow by rice and mixture of vegetables. Repeat until finish.
5. On top, mix some rice with saffron liquid and srinkle on top layer.
6. Put the pot on gas with medium heat until steam come out, close the lid, lower heat and leave for another 30 minutes.

Shrimps:
1. Mix all of the ingredients and stir fry.

Khazanah Watan Scholarship Postgraduates 1st stage

As mentioned before, UTM kindly nominated me for this scholarship. I never dream to apply for the most prestigious scholarship in Malaysia. Maybe its my chance that  this time Khazanah asked university to nominate the candidates not through advertisement. If follow the normal selection process, candidates have to apply by themselves, which means there will be thousands of applications, and definitely most of them are best students from all over Malaysia. And if I applied by myself, I am sure i will not be selected :P

So, I grab this one in a lifetime opportunity and today I went to the first stage of the selection process.Took flight to LCCT, then skybus to KL Sentral. The venue was at Mercu UEM building, Level 7, Odyssey Hall. It was 5 minutes walk from KL Sentral. Supposedly it should started at 2.30 p.m., but a couples of candidates arrived late and it started around 3 p.m. Approximately 20 candidates took the test and actually they expected more than this. Will this means we get better chance to get the scholarship?? In the first stage, its all about IQ test. There are 6 sections. I can't remember what are the names but what I can say is, time is your main constraint! You can go to this link to find more about the sections. The last section need to answer 40 questions in 11 minutes! For me its crazy. So, after 1 and half hour, the test ended. After that they open for Q&A session. At 5, I headed to LCCT again by skybus that I ticket bought online from KL Sentral.

Overall I think I did "good" to the test. I will not put high expectation to the result. They will announce it next week. By the way, I am also waiting for another scholarship that I have applied.

So, this is my journey in getting funding for my PhD studies. I will keep trying because when I believe I can, I will get it..

Call me student

I want to share my new journey in my way to become doctor of philosophy...

So, this blog will be my diary and I will update my PhD studies story besides my other stories in life..

The decision to apply for PhD did not come easily. Bff had been asking me to further my study after my Master study. But, knowing me, I always think that I cannot do it. After a year of nothing but being among PhD students that sometimes make me jealous, I decided to give it a try. Why they can, why I can't? So, I contacted several lecturers to find suitable project and finally I found a cool lecturer whom before this taught me one subject during Bachelor Degree. He proposed me a project regarding airline industry and what a surprise, I really interested to do it! Before this I hate so much research but now I have passion on it. So, in 2 days I prepared my proposal to get admission and submitted my documents. After 3 days, I got my PhD offer letter and on 22 September I registered as a PhD student. Here, I want to sat thank you so much to bff because he inspired me continue my study for the sake of my own life! In 3 years, Insyallah I will become a doctor.

On 28 September I had my first meeting with my supervisor. We discussed further for my project and I think my supervisor is really cool in his way.

Studying PhD means I will lose my source of income as I am doing it fulltime, so I applied for a scholarship under my university. It is still in process and I will update about it. Besides that, the university also contacted me and nominated me for Khazanah Watan Scholarship. Today I received an email for first stage selection. Also i will update about it later..Hopefully, I can get any one of that as I really need $$ now..I believe Allah will open way for me..Insyallah..

Milky Rice Pudding (Shir Berenj)

I want to share another Persian dessert that I like. Shir berenj, direct translation  is milk rice. It is like Sholeh Zard but substitute Saffron liquid with milk. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
~ half cup of rice : soak 2 hours prior cook
~ 500 ml milk
~ 5 cups water
~ half cup sugar
~ 1/4 cup rose water

Method:
~ In a non stick pan, boil rice until soft, lower down heat, let it simmer until all water absorbed.
~ Add milk and stir frequently to avoid crusty on bottom of the pan. While stirring, push your spoon to the edge of  pan to mash the rice. This is to get a smooth pudding mixture.
~ Add in rose water and keep on stirring until you get smooth and concentrated mixture.
~ Transfer to serving plate or cup. Let it cool.

Normally shir berenj will be serve with honey or jam with cinnamon powder. You can chill it in refrigerator, eat it during a hot day, what a bliss! But I love to eat it for breakfast. What is your style??

Facebook and reality

Dear Mark Zuckerberg,

Thank you so much for your brilliant ideas in developing your one and only social network which you named it Facebook, what a great name! You know what, why I never felt want to open book instead opening computer and sign in to my account, bleahh..

Such a phenomena, me too just like others abandoned my Friendster and switched to Facebook which until now has been 4 years stitched together. Thank you Mark, I met again my lost friends, teachers and families through Facebook while strengthening our relationship with each other (by which means we busy bodying each others :) )

Talking about busy body, many people now are trying to be CIA (yes, including me sometimes). There's no more privacy unless we do not show it. Facebook can become one of source to trace any betrays and lies. To look into sincerity. To find out something that hardly being told. There is time when we do not realize that actually we are digging our own grave. +.+

My opinion is, I have no problem with Facebook because as long as I know how to behave in cyber world, I am safe. I heard so many comments about the new changed in Facebook layout where one can read any activities of her/his friends on right side of page. For me its good, I no need to go to their profile to know about my friend's activities. But, maybe for those who normally did it secretly, its totally a big challenge. Serve you right mike! :P

Enough of rambling, my point of writing this is because I am  sick of my life being surrounded by Facebook"ing" things.

Coincidence or copycat??

From last 2 days, bff has been playing song from Ali Zaraei & Ayoub Alipoor titile Ham Otaghi which means my roomate. Yes, kinda funny title, lets laugh :-) Then I realize the music same with one nasyid song from Hijjaz title Cahaya Ilahi which means the light of God. Lets hear>>

Ham Otaghi

Min 1:32

Cahaya Ilahi

Min 1:02

Do you agree with me?? Are both the composers coincidently had same ideas? Or copycat? If copycat, who copied who? Or maybe they both copy other song? Anybody knows exactly when each of the song released? Or anybody want to share any other songs with the same rhythm? 

Nutmeg Roast Chicken

Original recipe from mummy Asmah Laili (famous Singaporean celebrity chef). After 4 times I watched the episode of "Masak Apa" for this recipe, I couldn't  resist anymore and tried it.

Ingredients:
A
~ 1 whole chicken
~ 1 nutmeg - finely crushed
~ 1 tbs black pepper powder
~ 2 tbs light soy sauce
~ 1 tbs dark soy sauce
~ juice from 1 lemon
~ 200g butter
~ Salt
B
~ Onion
~ Potato
~ Carrot
~ Tomato


Methods:
~ Mix all of ingredients A and rub all over chicken, inside and outside.
~ Place the chicken on a baking tray, ingredients B outside chicken and stuff some inside it.
~ Bake 1 hr 180'

It really delicious! Served it with white rice for Malay style, or with mashed potato or bread or french fries for Western style!

Its not because the money

maybe you have mistaken,
life is not all about money,
there is heart to be cares,

maybe you have mistaken,
when money is around,
ones who loves you is to accompany, not steal

maybe you have mistaken,
with money we have good life,
money will burn it

i aware where am i,
i need you to support,
i need no your money to alive,
i need to find money for me,
because i am still a human..

Sunday 11/9/2011, 6.17 p.m. while preparing phd proposal

Kamran Hooman new album 2011

My most favorite Iranian singer group, Kamran Hooman just released their new album - Shenasnameh.
Enjoy their new songs...

1. Behtarini

2. Fereshteye Nejat

3. Male To

4. Vaghti Kasi Ro Doost Dari

5. Age Donya Daste Man Bood

Trials is to test you

Coming back from Aidilfitri holiday. Really exhausted. Tired. But that did not stop the happiness of Aidilfitri. Alhamdulillah, met family and friends whom sometimes only see each other on Aidilfitri. After a year, many things changes. Hey, you've got baby! Wah, you've big boy already huh? What? You getting marry? Thats what I said. And what people said, Girl, when you want to marry? Again and again. And my safe answer is only, Not the right time yet..wait and see OK. bleahhhh...

Well, its reality that I have to face. Normal. Maybe when they got tired of the same answer, they will change the question like..hey, how come your skin look flawless? teehee..

People, life for everyone in this world is not same. Maybe your road is smooth, maybe not mine..I still aware of my responsibilities that I should fulfill before I make any decision. I don't want to jeopardize my life. I want to make sure my road is the right. I can't look at you and just follow. We are 2 different person!

Trials came to test me whether I can handle it or not. Trials make me an adult! Trials teach me patience. As long as I still holding the right faith, I believe the above is always be there as my guardian..

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfiri

I've lost the mood to blog especially during Ramadhan. My days always end up early on bed, exhausted of life..Sigh..But Alhamdulillah until today 27 Ramadhan I am still standing, performing ibadat to Allah. I've made some kuih raya as well and doing some house works to celebrate Aidilfitri. Tomorrow I'll go back kampung for a week. I hope this Hari Raya will bring joys and happiness to all of us. But, I'll be happier if bff can come and celebrate hari raya together...

Til then, these are some photos of last year hari raya...

 Ketupat in making

 Galons of water for zilion of guests

 Normal activity for a week of hari raya, picking tapioca leaves for pecal (my mum's signature dish)

 Decorating house

 Still waiting for others to arrive on the night of hari raya

 Happy girls to get duit raya

 pelita

marhaban

 Family portrait

 Visiting relatives

Playing fireworks

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin