Siapakah wanita cantik itu...?

Siapakah wanita cantik itu ?

dia melukis kekuatan melalui masalah

dia tersenyum saat tertekan

dia tertawa saat hati sedang menangis

dia tabah saat dihina

dia mengasihi tanpa balasan

dan...

dia bertambah kuat dalam doa dan pengharapan Ilahi...

Jadilah wanita cantik itu...

Salam Aidil Fitri buat semua

...sigh....

I am not feeling the raya mood this year... for whatever reasons (only I know and will keep to myself)... But for some, perhaps it is just too easy to get melancholic when you are older and amazingly at times it creeps in for no reasons at all. It isn't exactly melancholy but more of "syahdu" and unfortunately there is no English word equivalent to it.
I think when you get to that certain age, like my age, you become more reflective and pensive of practically everything. It bothers you and teases you at times you need it least.
Just imagine..., nak masak nasi...syahdu...
nak bawak kereta... tetiba syahdu...
nak lipat kain pun... syahdu...
nak basuh bilik air... harus syahdu (sigh..)
Sangat-sangatlah mengada...!
have to stay away from the radio with all the syahdu lagu Raya..!

Just thought of putting up a soothing picture of my cupcakes to ease the "syahdu" period.

Selamat Hari Raya (Eid Mubarak) to all....

Get Well Soon Cupcakes...

I was asked to deliver this giftbox of 20 Double Chocolate Cupcakes as a 'Get Well Soon' gift to a patient recovering from her illness and to wish her a speedy recovery. She was very pleased (and surprised) to receive them, and I heard that she really enjoyed them!
Thank you Lai Hong for the order...

What to do in Ramadhan....

Say to yourself that in Ramadan I will:

1. Recite every day from the Qur'an 20 pages, by the end of Ramadan you will complete the entire Quran. Or I will recite before Each Salat 4 pages from the Quran, you will have it complete by the end of Ramadan.

2. I will donate a charity every day, be it small amount or big amount, as long as the intention is clear for the sake of Allah s.w.t..

3. I will visit today so and so from people or I will contact them for the sake of Allah s.w.t.

4. I will make "Dhikir" mention Allah s.w.t.repeatedly 300 times every day using the Subha (chain of beads that we use for dhiker), at end of Ramadan you would have read 9,000 times.

5. I will advice others to do the good and to stay away from the bad for the sake of Allah s.wt., I will acquire a lesson in the Islamic Knowledge, I will give a lesson, even if just brief information, that will be of great benefit for you, for the one you learn from, and for the one you teach. And may Allah s.w.t. accept your good deeds.

Allah knows best... Salam..

Apam Polkadot...

Who doesn't love polkadots.... Ever since I tasted the Apam Polka-Dots that my Mak Angkat @ Umi made, I have been intrigued and wanted to try to make. So, I surfed the net for its recipe. Most sites displayed the same recipe so credit to all the sites that posted a recipe that works. But I still choose Umi's recipe.. No matter what the age of the recipients, these inspired creations will be such a hit, you'll need to make enough for seconds. Actually, make that thirds..!

Sharing the recipe:

3 cups All Purpose Flour.
2 cups Castor Sugar.
1 1/2 cups - Evaporated Milk (Ideal Milk)
3 teaspoons of baking powder.
1 teaspoon of ovalette.
Few drops of vanilla essence.
3 Eggs - Chilled

(Umi said the eggs should be chilled, the reason??? I have no idea...follow aje la..! LOL)

Filling: Of your choice - strawberry, nutella or it can just be plain apam
Colouring: Again, ofyour choice (I use Wilton Gel Food Colouring)

Method:

1) Mix flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, ovalette, milk and vanila essence in a bowl using a mixer, at maximum speed, until fluffy (Trust me, it will fluff alright..!)

2) Divide the batter into few portions (number of portions depend on the number of colours you have). In my case, two colours are fine - leceh nak buat banyak colour! . Add in a few drops of colour in the batter (fells like in an art class!)
3) Using a piping bag, pipe the batter into paper cups/mould until half full. Or, if you don't have piping bag, you can use normal clean drinking plastic bags nipped at one corner.

4) Fill the cups half way and put the filling in the center and top-up the cups with batter until 2/3 full. But if things got too messy, just spoon the batter into the paper cups/mould.

5) Then do the dots.

6) Finally, steam for 10-15 minutes.

Note:
The choice of what color to use for the apam and its dots is entirely up to you.
And of course, not necessarily dots. I saw pictures of apams with smiley faces and names written on them.

Some sites that I refer to gave these tips: When steaming the apam, use medium heat. Or else the apam will crack in the centre. .

Beloved Umi, here's the end product.
In terms of looks, tak berapa 'hensem'.. Ha ha... But in terms of taste, not bad... sedap!

Salam Ramadhan Al Mubarak...

The obligation of fasting on the believers is known from the Qur'an and the Hadith. It was explicitly stated in Verse #183 of Surah Al-Baqarah:

which means "O Belivers,Fasting is an obligation upon you as it was obligated upon the (Muslims) before you, so it would help you to reach piety"

Fasting was an obligation on the nations before the nation of Prophet Muhammad, however, fasting the month of Ramadan in particular is a specification only for the nation of Prophet Muhammad.

Fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligation and a great worship. It is among the best acts of obedience and greatest deeds, and one for which there is great reward. Imam al-Bukhariyy related the Qudsiyy hadith that the Prophet said Allah said: which means: "The reward of every good deed is multiplied ten up to seven-hundred times, except that of the Fasting; it is usually done in sincerity and will be multiplied by as many times as Allah wills."

One of the doors of Paradise, named ar-Rayyan, is specified for those Muslims who used to fast in this world. On the Day of Judgment, it will be opened, and those who used to fast in obedience to Allah enter through it, then it would be closed and no others will enter through it.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar year. It is the best month of the year, as is the night of al-Qadr in Ramadan the best night of the year. Fasting became an obligation on the Muslims in the second year after the emigration. Prophet Muhammed fasted nine years of Ramadan after which he died.

Moreover, Prophet Muhammad named Fasting (the month of Ramadan) as one of the five most important matters of Islam in the famous hadith known as Hadith Jibril related by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim. Angel Jibril came to the Prophet in the shape of a man with white clothes and asked him to inform him about Islam. In response, the Prophet said:

which means: "Islam is to bear witness that no one is God except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing Prayer, paying Zakat, performing Pilgrimage if you are able, and Fasting the month of Ramadan. "

Consequently, renouncing the obligation of fasting the month of Ramadan, for the one who has learned of its obligation, is blasphemy because it entails belying Allah and the Prophet. The one who believes it is an obligation, however, does not perform this obligation (without a valid excuse) does not blaspheme--rather he is an enormous sinner.

Allah knows best.