Appointment .....

Left home at 6.15, to beat the jam to make for routine appointment at 9 am at Klinik Kesihatan Jinjang. 

Surprisingly the traffic flow was smooth and managed to reach by 7.45.  

At the registration  counter there was a 20 people waiting  line. On reaching the counter, the officer on duty tells me I have to wait because my appointment is at 9 am and they are attending to 8 am appointment . Oooookkkk....took my seat. Was dozing off because today had to wake up at  2.30am to send off sanggi. She was leaving for Temerloh about 3.30am. Ok I know it may sound ridiculous.....she rather drive off like this and spend an extra night with us at home.

Now back to my appointment, they call me at 8.45, while waiting met my old neighbour Mrs Xavier and had a chat with her. " Nageswarie Apana."....hear my name being called up registered at the counter my number for the  day 2072. Kalau minat 4 digit can try. 

Off to room 17, placed my  card and waited about 15 minutes. Called in by the nurse  to do the normal before seeing the doctor. That is take your weight and pressure and the nurse says...." Semua ok bp bagus 120/80, tunggu ya....nanti doktor panggil" off I go out with a terima kasih. So, tunggu another 10 to  15.  Nombor 2072 masuk....grab my bag and with a knock into room 16. 

Here I see a new person not my usual doctor. Goes through my blood test and says " Aunty your thyroid reading are better and briefs that it is a life  long medication and ..... next...Aunty your sugar is 6.2 fasting and 7.2 after sugar water drinking. According to him Malaysian standard ok but American it is slightly high because their reading should be 5.8 and below for normal. Will have to  do another test in 3 months. Bid him a thank you and off to collect my next appointment  date and prescription and to the pharmacy to collect my medication.

It's only 10.30am feeling happy,  still early and off to do my other chores before I go back home.

Ring....ring.....ring...

Ring......Ring.......hello......

You rush to the phone and still panting and you hear....in a soft tone....

Yes, the voice of your loved one expecially if they are not staying with you. Could be your parents, husband, wife, children, relatives or even friends.

My mum  is bed ridden and can't speak...but when my siblings or her brother calls her she responds....with an aaaahhhhh....sound or a blink.... That is how much it matters .......

So, guys don't wait to make a call or put it off..

Happy Fathers Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

15 june 2014,

Yes, its Father's Day today,  never was a huha....at home. Wishing my father, my father in law and the father to my kids was a sure thing....and also to all fathers.

For my kids, having the father at home on Father's Day was something because of his nature of job. Otherwise he would out flying. Today my hubby at home and my daughter rekha is with us...  My two other children are at work and away from Home. Of course, bed calls have come in to wish him.

His favorite breakfast.....mee goreng ,,, simple right already and served. Now getting ready for lunch...again his favorite .....vegetarian cod fish curry with brinjals, bean sprouts, bayam  and roasted potatoes.

His love and sacrifice and will always cherished we humbly wish him good health and happiness always...

It is not only today but everyday is Father's Day and we love you very much....

Thank you for everything...expecially we crazy gang.....

Once again Happy Father's Day to the 3 great man in my life, you will always have a place reserved in my heart

My dear father....always remembered fondly

My dear father in law....a strong man

My hero....

Pumpkin Thai Curry

Pumpkin is not a favorite vegetable in my house except for my daughter sangeetha. So, I do not have many receipes on this. Today, I wanted to try something different than the normal style of cooking. I came across this receipe , that is  Pumpkin Thai Curry. I made this curry vegetarian. If you want it to be non vegetarian, I think prawns would be fine. Definately want to make this again when sanggi is down for holidays.

 

It is quite simple and I had all the ingredients so this is it....

The ingredients....

Pumpkin                       -  2 cups

Cherry tomatoes.          - 4

A few daun limau perut or kafir leaves

Lime                              - 1 or more as you wish

Red chillies.                   - also as you wish

Curry paste

Onion paste                 - 2 teaspoon.  )

Garlic paste                 - 1 teaspoon.  )

Ginger paste                - 1 teaspoon.  ) 

Lengkuas/ galangal     -  1 teaspoon

Paste.                                                )

2 teaspoon coriander powder.           )

2 teaspoon curry powder.                  )

Half teaspoon turmeric powder.         )   Mix all these ingredients with about 1 cup of water

I cup of coconut milk

Salt to taste

Method

Pour the paste in a wok and let it come to a boil , add in the pumpkin and more water to allow the pumpkin to cook. Throw in the daun limau perut.  Once the pumpkin is cooked add in the cherry tomatoes. I used cherry tomates because of its sweet taste. You may use the normal tomates. Add the chopped red chillies and enough lime juice to give it a slight sourish taste. Lastly add the coconut milk and turn off. The curry is ready. 

Raw mango rice and indian banana masala

My niece Sukania came over last week. She told that her friend's mum made a very delicious dish with raw mangoes and rice. Many of you would have tried or tasted this dish, for me it is new. So, this morning when I found a mango from my tree, thought might try out the  raw mango recipe. She said it is very similar to tamarind rice or lemon rice. So, here it is ...my version

The side dish for this I made curry banana masala. Having with papadam or even our Malaysian keropok will be fine. If you are non vegetarian , I assume ikan billis goreng or salted fish will be fine too.

Raw Mango Rice

    We can use left over rice or fresh cooked rice. Grate the mango. 

  

   Heat oil and add mustard seeds, green chillies, saffron, curry leaves.

   Add  cooked rice, dhall and salt to taste. Turn the fire off and add the grated mango and 

   Stir slowly and serve with the side dish.

    

   If you find the mango is not sour enough, I suggest you add some lime juice too.

   

    Curry banana masala

    

    Slice the curry banana, add turmeric powder, curry powder, ginger, garlic paste , besan

    flour (tepung kacang kuda) and salt.

    Heat oil, add some kumin seeds chopped onions, curry leaves. Fry till pink , add the mixed banana.

    Slow the flame and stir with sprinkling some water till the bananas become soft and slightly 

    brown. Lastly add some chopped coriander and roasted and powdered cumin powder.

   This dish, will along with dhall curry too.

   So, Selamat mencuba to all. With the fasting month not too far away... this will be definately an   

   appetizing dish too.

    

My Greens

After a year, this is how my garden is. I am definately not a green hand or finger person. Since I have the time and little space it all started. The pleasure of seeing the blooms is so nice. It's still a learning process. My sifu is my sister in law Lachme and also with the help of my maid, also Lachme. 

Now , let me take you for a walk  around my a premature garden. First the flower garden and followed by vegetable... So be patient and follow me...

My Tulasi Port. This is an auspious plant in most in hindu homes.

  

   This is Bunga sundal malam....ya nama pun pelik...but it's flower has got a sweet 

   fragrance.

    

    Now on my vegetables.

    Feeling happy, after the long wait.

    

    My spice, pudina, rosemary and thyme

    Yaaa....terung ( brinjal 

  

    My all time favorite maize. Planted them in poly bags. I think I have about 8. I think  

   If you look carefully, you will see a pot of curry leaves and some baby brinjal plants.   

   These are chili plants also in poly bags.

  

The lovely banana ......yes also fruiting too..

    Who can miss these......serai, pandan and daun kesum , which I think is blocked.

Seemantham,Lenggang Perut or Baby Showere

Baby showers or semantham, this is an indian tradition with some ritual carried out on the new mother to be. This tradition is called as baby shower by the Europeans . Even local Malays have this tradition as lenggang Perut. Likewise, we call it the seemantham or valaikaapu.

This is one of the samskara that is done for the well being of mother-to-be and the foetus, in spirit of celebrating motherhood. The brides parents, relatives and friends are invited.

Must be wondering why this .....

Yes, i just carried out this tradition for my daughter Rekha.  This tradition is done in the  7th or 9 the month of pregnancy.

The seemantham is carried out in the bridegrooms house .  Where after the ceremony the mother to be will be brought back to her parents house and she will stay on until her delivery and send back to her inlaws on the 1st or 3 rd month after her delivery.

The brides parents will bring gifts for their daughter  like a new saree, bangles , those who can afford May even get a gold bangle. Traditionally she will give a bangle made of 5 metals( I'm poon kappu) , a neem leaf bangle,  the other bangles should be glass bangles and preferably green and red colour. 

No ceremony without sweets , boo-rulu, arusulu, theepugaarulu ( telugu intti sweets),  laddu jelebbi, fruits and specially made rice dishes in odd numbers of  3, 5 or 9. They can be sweet ponggal, tamarind rice, curd rice, lemon rice, tomato rice, linseed rice, pudina rice and so on.

The pregnant mother is seated on a chair.  The ceremony carried out with a prayer for Lord Ganesha who is the remover of obstacles.

The mother to be's mother will start the ceremony by  sprinkling rose water and applying sandal wood paste and kungguman  on the hair partition of her daughter.  9 items will be put on her lap. That is 5 different fruits and 4 sweets or the other way round. Next, the 5 metal bangle, neem bangle, gold bangle and the other bangles. All ladies will come forward to apply the sandal wood paste, kungguman and put the bangles for the mother to be. The ladies in return will be given a tamboolam, with 2 betal leaves, a banana and bangles. The man will bless the mother to be will sprinkling yellow rice on her.

The mother to be is also fed with 3, 5 or 9 types of rice prepared with all the different flavors.

When all the invited guest have blessed the mother to be , she will now go to the alter in her house and  place all the sweets and fruits put in her lap. Aaarathi is done to the mother to be ward off all eveil eye.

The guest will now be served with a feast. 

This is my version. If there is anything that I have missed please share so the tradition will be carried on.

Here are some shots during rekha's seemantham.