Mark the Season !!!

Is it summer now in your country? Or is it spring? Well, I never been to countries with 4 seasons yet. But who says Malaysia do not have season. Don't uolls know that Malaysia has seasons too. Let me tell you. Now, it's the rambutan, mangosteen and durian season. Don't heh, okay? It's also a season. right?

To all fruits' lovers, including me, now is the time to release your cravings. I think I eat a variety of fruits compare to vegetables. I love watermelon, mind you,  the yellow ones because they are sweeter and also papaya. To add to the list, I also enjoy mangosteen and also rambutan.

A nice white surrounded with purple

Hairy fruit

 

To satisfy my cravings, I bought 3 kilos of "pokok nyo" at the market yesterday

after searching for it high and low...

 

As far as I know, there's three types of rambutan here. There's "anak sekolah", "pokok nyo" and "gula batu". Mine favorite is the "pokok nyo" because the flesh is a little harder than "anak sekolah". Besides, it's harder to find too and is a little pricey compare to "anak sekolah". You'll know I don't lie when you tasted both rambutans.

 

Not forgetting, the King of all fruits, the DURIAN! Yeah, some may not love the smell but once you taste it, you'll crave for more.

 

 

There are many types of durians out there. There's the Musang King, D24, "Udang Merah" (Red Prawn) and many more. The price are also vary. Musang King, for now can be bought at RM 18 per kilo. A durian at least weighed 2 kg. Despite it's a little pricey, there's still lovers out there that are willing to pay for it. So I conclude there's something in there that keep that coming for it.

 

Even thou there's lots of durians out there, a result of biotechnology, the stinky smell of durians remains. Perhaps that is what make a durian unique. It's smell. For me, I love those creamy sweet one and avoid those bitter with hard flesh. The one thing that I have when buying is always smell. Use your sense of smell to smell out the yellowish creamy flesh!

 

This reminds me whenever I went back Popo's hometown. I love plucking the fruits fresh from the stalk! And during durian season, you can collect fresh durian under a durian tree. Feeling happy surrounded with fruits!

 

Honeydew and rock melon are also in the list together with banana. There are lots of different banana and I only prefer the 'lemak manis' which can only found in Terengganu and also Kelantan. There's the lemak (creamy) and sweet taste in it which make them special. Well in KL or other places, you can only find the big and thick banana. The total opposite.

 

My FAV <3

 

Those found in the supermarkets. Yucksss

 

This is the time where people can obtain cheap rambutans and mangosteens in the market. I do also notice that durian production is very good this year. Few days ago, I bought 3 durians for RM 5. Well, season pass fast so don't waste your time in front of the computer. Get change and go out to have some fruits!!

Last Day of August - Durian Kueh

I've always wanted to learn Popo's recipe from her. Little by little, I'm collecting all so one day I can pass it down to my daughter, perhaps. Since it is durian season here, now, there are durians everywhere selling as cheap as RM 1 for a durian. Mind you thou, those are only kampong durian. Nevertheless, they taste awesome too. Can't get the awesomeness enough.

Yesterday, I literally beg Popo to teach me how to cook durian kueh or durian cake. Actually it's not cake, it's more to kueh coz there's no batter involve. I just dunno how to explain. Just see and observed. Before starting, Popo already told me that lots of stirring needed. Frankly speaking, after doing durian kueh, what I gotta say is that you really need a tough hands to do this. No lies. I'm just gonna do this one time and never again. Or maybe one day in the future, passing this very unique recipe to my daughter.

Nowadays, I can rarely see anymore people selling durian kueh. Maybe the tiring process just not worth the amount of money you get from selling.

Durian Kueh's recipe

Ingredients:

• 400 g of durian (seedless)
• 200 g of coarse sugar

Mix all those cheap durians I bought

 

Popo said, "Take a blunt knife and scrape out all the flesh."

 

 

 

 

 

Using this type of wok

 

There's a purpose for the two durian seed being in there

 

Mix in both durian and sugar, start the fire.

 

Start stirring non stop.

 

Popo is stirring for me while I rest my hand for a while

 

Keep stirring...

 

It started to form a solid mould.

At this stage, you can see the seed is slowly being separated from the contents.

This indicated that it is almost cooked.

 

Took it out and place it on a plate.

Here is where you have to remove those uncooked impurities.

Caution hot!

 

After that, mould it into any shape you desired.

This is the easiest.

 

There you have it. A homemade durian kueh. I would say the hardest part is stirring when it gets more solid. Lots of energy and muscle needed. To cooked this, I only took almost 40 minutes which is far lesser than Popo said. Maybe it is because I'm cooking in a small amount.

  

Popo also added that this durian kueh is made because the durian fruit can't last long. So in order to eat durian after the season is over, people made this. If keep properly (refrigerate), it can last till a year.

 

So here's the very own Grandma's recipe. You may put lesser sugar if you does not prefer it to be sweet. Keep note that the color of the kueh may be vary as it depends on the color of the durian flesh.

 

Happy stirring. And hello to September!

 



Happy 56th Birthday, Malaysia

Selamat Hari Merdeka! Happy Independence Day! Me proud to be yours.

 

A 56th years of independence. Malaysia has come a long way to its glory today. The freedom was given by the blood that was taken. In harmony and peace, we lived together as one. I remember when I was small, Mum enthusiastically woke us up that very morning to go to the parade or watch it live from our rear projection TV. In front of the big screen, the three stupid little girls went on singing to their heart contents, feeling proud inside.

 

 

That was long gone. Today, the three girls have grown and prefer to sleep than going for the parade. Things have changed much. The girls no longer singing the national anthem or the Merdeka songs with a sense of proud.

 

When I was 10, I joined the parade with a bunch of my Girl Guides' friends. As early as 6.30 in the morning, we were lining up in the stadium thou the event started at 8. From there, we joined others from different school and various organizations. And from there, we walked almost 3 km to give respect to the Sultan and Sultanah. I do complain a lot at that time. Hot la. Tired la. But it's a good experience.

 

I don't see my two little brothers did that anymore. No joining the parade nor watch it live. This saddens me as we, Malaysians should be proud of who and what we are.

 

Popo (Grandma) often told part of her stories about merdeka celebration. She was only 10 at that time when freedom was given. She said that all races, no matter Malays, Chinese and Indians would all sit on boats to go to the stadium. On the way there, those on cars would honked and shouted "Merdeka". A spirit that was long gone. Spectators in the stadium shouted "Merdeka" with proud and joy. Youngsters these days shouted as if they were forced to. I love to hear her old stories and imagine myself in there.

 

As for myself, in school, we would have competition between classes to compete for Most Patriotic awards. We would clean and decorate the class. That very one year, we also painted murals on that class walls with the theme "Unity Is Us"

 

My favorite song would be the Tanggal 31 by Surdiman. Whenever I forget which year we first celebrated Merdeka, I would hummed "Tanggal 31 Bulan 8, 57." A very nice song that I believe is still being sing till today thou there are lots of other patriotic songs out there.

 

 

Saya Anak Malaysia is also my favorite. A music video that reflects us all. ^_^

 



 

Well, before I end this, here's our national anthem, beautifully sang by Janelle Arnelia.

 

 

Saya Anak Malaysia !!!

It's squeaky clean !!

I've used to have 6 bunnies at home but recently I had to give them all away as I'm studying abroad and do not have much time for them.

I kept all the bunnies in separate cages. One bunny in one cages. As bunnies poop and urine, it stains the plastic board beneath the cage.

In the past, I find it hard enough to scrub the stain off and it frustrates me. But then there's a friend sharing his magic on the internet and recently I decided to test it.

All you need is a very dirty plastic board, a bottle of vinegar and a washing dish scrub. Just pour a little amount of the vinegar on the board and start scrubbing. After a while, you'll notice that the magic works and the stain is removed. Rinse the board with water and there you go, a brand new sparkling plastic board!

 

Tadaa!!

 

It's that easy!!