two sons' chili and cream clams!

I hate it when I see a recipe that I want to try and then the cook will say "agak-agak". Agak-agak my foot! But surprisingly this family favorite is relatively easy to cook - butter, cooking cream, garlic, paprika (but I ended up using cheyenne powder), curry leaves, chicken broth then agak2 lah the taste! *roll eyes* But I added cili padi for good measure.

Yum! Pair it with Roy's garlic bread, wallah! After this we don't need to go to Two Sons anymore - tbh I'm only gonna start eating at restaurants in 2021, I am that  paranoid. As I'm typing this I have chicken stew brewing in the oven. Trying to replicate the taste of Albanian chicken stew from uni days. Yeah let's not deny the fact that I hated uni but nobody forgets a good chicken stew. 

Selamat mencuba! 

stuff we bought during MCO

Oh man I should have documented stuff I bought during MCO (and still buying). Funny our apartment guards recognize us now because we are always buying things! Like, I don't even have them the number of our apartment anymore.

Yesterday my orders from Uniqlo arrived (Marimekko and Billie Eilish x Takashi Pom!) and today my new power bank came. Both of our existing power banks decided to die recently - together! - maybe they were underutilized?

Next up in the wish list is durian. Sweet savory durians. Hmm...

Today my husband brought home 3 whole chickens. "They're uncut", he said.

It's okay, I said.

It's really okay because during the beginning of MCO, I learned how to cut a whole chicken via YouTube (like everything else I learned these days).

But I'm also reminded of that time when my late dad bought me a whole chicken (I was in my teens) and told me to cut it myself. How else are you going to learn, he said. Of course after much struggling I butchered the poor chicken and he pretended to enjoy the fried chicken I made for him. My precious father, always in support of whatever I do.

MCO thoughts:

Missing the cafe scene, just enjoying freshly brewed coffee with colleagues, family or friends.

tanah dan langit

There is a Hamka quote that's been going around lately.

Manusia asalnya daripada tanah,

Makan hasil tanah, 

Berdiri di atas tanah, 

Akan kembali ke tanah.

Kenapa masih bersifat langit?

things we've lost in water

I’d like to believe that back in the 70s no home (in Kelantan at least) is complete without those scary mounted taxidermy. Say hello to me in 1977 in the loving arms of my late Baba and sitting upfront is my late Bak (grandfather).

We lost a lot of old photos over the years, mostly from some floods (not the ones in Kota Bharu, but in KL - Jalan Tun Razak was notorious with flash floods back then). So whenever my siblings dig out old photos I get chills. Bak’s house was a treasure trove for a kid like me - a wooden maze with countless windows and an open air patio INSIDE the house itself. Despite having an open air patio the house was never burglarised and flood season (musim bah) is the best because the house will be so cool and you’ll get a natural swimming pool outside your home for weeks! Ah good times. 

May Allah bless the souls of these magnificent men in my life for without them I would not be who I am now.

Note: Nobody died from bah, no toxic waste/diseases to fear from, not like now.

Shopping fiesta

Random photo lol

3rd day WFO and I headed to the pinggan mangkuk section of the mall. In a way I am grateful that the MCO has opened my eyes to many things - cookingware, housekeeping, etc. I still suck at them though.

Right now i'm just dying to head to kinokuniya or at laest Ikea. There are  few things in the house that desperately need to be changed -but one step at a time. But at 42, can I afford small steps?

tiny sacrifices

Today when i got home I could hear cops gently coaxing people to disperse. Not sure if it's a funeral or some event that people think they can get away with. Raya is coming and the more I hear about people wanting to break the rules and not follow SOP it breaks my heart a little you know? Because these days, selfishness kills.