In Memories of Beloved Grandma (December 1928 - August 2011)

My beloved grandma (my mum's mother) had just passed away at around 1.30pm today at Serian Hospital, Kuching because of old age illness. Her name is Margaret Burak anak Likin. She's a Bidayuh Bukar Sadong and she's a Christian. We never see religion as an obstacle in our family relationship and in fact, we are very close to each other. Every week, we will chat on the phone and every Chinese New Year (her husband who is my grandpa, is a Chinese) or Hari Gawai, we will go back to Tebakang, Serian to visit her.

She doesn't like her photo to be taken

She'svery lovable and understanding grandma. She's very active, doing all sort of things including the common activity of the Bidayuh highlanders like harvesting hill paddy, harvesting black pepper and others. She doesn't have any illness due to her healthy lifestyle and eating. She had gone through a very hard life during her younger days because her husband died when my mom was about 5 or 6 years old. She had to raise 4 children by herself, by doing other people's laundry, rubber tapping, cooking for dormitory school and she even suffered during the Japanese war.

With her great grandchildren, my children

My grandma is so full of life and she shared so many stories to me. She loves us purely and unconditionally, never thinking about our different religion. She always remind me to take care of myself in order to be able to care for my children. Among my children, she loves Danish (my second child) the most because she can't forget how thin and small Danish was when he was a toddler. She thought Danish was constantly sick that resulted the thin features but when I explained to her that Danish is a very healthy boy but not with a big appetite, she was very relieved and every time she saw Danish, she will force him to eat and eat. But now, growing up, Danish has a really big appetite! Alhamdulillah.
I pray that her soul will rest in peace. I love you so much, my dearest grandma. Your advices, your guidance and our memories will always be kept in my heart.

GOOD INFO FOR MUSLIMS REGARDING ASSALAMUALAIKUM

This article is taken from kiemiftah (credits for this knowledge to him) regarding the misunderstanding regarding the salam Assalamualaikum. Please read it carefully and pass it to as many Muslims as you know. Sharing is caring!

Image from Google

Satu artikel ditulis dan disebarkan secara meluas di dalam laman sosial Facebook, bertajuk:

SIAPA YANG MENGGUNAKAN PERKATAAN “SALAM” & “A’KUM”? apakah maksud disebaliknya??

Maka berpalinglah (hai Muhammad) dari mereka dan katakanlah: “Salam (selamat tinggal)”. Kelak mereka akan mengetahui (nasib mereka yang buruk).

(QS. 43:89)

Baik gunakan ASSALAMUALAIKUM or ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH… Ilmu utk dikongsi bersama. Sekadar peringatan untuk semua rakan-rakan muslim yang lain.

Pagi semalam saya dengar radio ikim (91.50 fM). Ustaz Zawawi ada cerita tentang sunnah Rasulallah s.a.w. Antara yang dibincangkannya ialah tentang bab cara memberi salam.

Menurut ustaz Zawawi Yusof, Baginda SAW memberi salam dengan lafaz “Assalamualaikum” dan menjawab salam dari para sahabat baginda dengan salam yang lengkap iaitu “Waalaikumussalam warahmatulallahhi wabarakatuh”

Ringkasnya, baginda SAW akan; Beri salam dengan ucapan - “Assalamualaikum”

dan…Jawab salam - “Waalaikumussalam warahmatulallahi wabarakatuh”

Lagi satu, perlu diingatkan juga semasa menjawab salam, saya dengar ramai orang jawab salam dengan ucapan yang tidak tepat.

Jawab salam yang betul ialah ; “WAALAI KUMUS SALAM” dan bukannya yang selalu saya dengar iaitu ; “WAALAI KUM SALAM”

Apabila kita ingin berkirim salam pada orang lain, hendaklah kita berkata

“Kirim salam, assalamualaikum pada ASHREE ye” contoh lerr…

Dan bukannya : “Kirim salam kat ASHREE yer”. Dan jangan pula memandai-mandai tambah

perkataan seperti “Ko tolong kirim salam maut kat dia yer”.

Statement ini walaupun dalam nada bergurau, tapi ia adalah menyalahi syariat dan berdosa, walaupun sekadar gurauan!

Selain itu, janganlah kita menggantikan perkataan “Assalamualaikum” dengan “A’kum” dalam SMS atau apa sekalipun melalui tulisan. Jika perkataan “Assalamualaikum” itu panjang, maka hendaklah kita ganti dengan perkataan “As-Salam” yang membawa maksud sama dengan “Assalamualaikum”.

Sesamalah kita memberitahu member-member yang selalu sangat guna short form “A’kum” dalam sms ataupun email. Perkataan ‘AKUM‘ adalah gelaran untuk orang-orang Yahudi kepada orang-orang bukan yahudi yang bermaksud ‘BINATANG’ dalam Bahasa Ibrani.

Ia singkatan daripada perkataan ‘Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalot’ yang bermaksud ‘HAMBA-HAMBA BINATANG DAN ORANG-ORANG SESAT’.

Jadi, mulai sekarang jika ada orang hantar shortform “A’kum“, kita ingatkan dia guna “As Salam” kerana salam ialah dari perkataan “Assalamualaikum“.

Jangan guna “Bye” kerana “Bye” adalah jarum sulit Kristian yang bermaksud “Di Bawah Naungan Pope.” Jangan guna “A’kum” kerana“A’kum” bermaksud “Binatang” dalam bahasa Yahudi. Jangan guna “Semekom” kerana “Semekom” bermaksud “Celaka Kamu.” Gunakan perkataan “As-Salam” sebagai singkatan bagi “Assalammualaikum.” Tolong forward kepada umat Islam yang lain , untuk elakkan diri daripada membuat dosa..

Sekian, semoga ada manfaatnya…

PANDANGAN/JAWAPAN KEPADA ARTIKEL DI ATAS

Pertama, perlu dijelaskan bahawa short form assalamu'alaikum ialah A'kum, selagi kita maksudkannya dgn lafaz Salaam atau Assalamu'alaikum, maka bagi pendapat ana, tidak menjadi kesalahan kerana tiada dalil atau bukti khas mengatakan pengharaman penggunaan perkataan tersebut. Tambahan pula, yg menghantar SMS atau yang menulis dan yg menerima atau yg membaca amat memahami short form tersebut bahawa lafaz asalnya ialah ASSALAMU’ALAIKUM...

Dalil dan sandaran ana, sebagaimana short form bagi Sollahu 'Alaihi Wassalam iaitu SAW dan Subhanahu Wa Taa'ala iaitu SWT dan byk lagi short forrm yg diguna pakai dan difahami oleh semua...

Namun, jika yg membaca dan yg menulis, tidak memahami maksud short form tersebut maka lainlah pula hukumnya..

Kedua, ana cukup setuju dgn saranan, menggunakan As-Salam lebih baik, namun perkataan “Salaam” juga tidak menjadi kesalahan untuk digunakan, bahkan kedua-duanya betul (rujuk dalil-dalil daripada ayat Al-Quran yang ana sediakan di bawah berkenaan penggunaan SALAM)..

tetapi ana sekali-kali tidak setuju dgn pandangn yg mengatakan tidak boleh mengatakan "Sampaikan/Kirim salam kepada si fulan" dan MESTI menggunakan “Kirim salam dengan lafaz “Assalamu’alaikum” sahaja yg sebetul/sepatutnya, sedangkan dalam bahasa Arab ada disebut..

بَلِّغْ تَحِيَّتِي إِلَى فُلَان

سَلِّمْ عَلى فُلَانٍ

Kedua-dua ayat ini jelas menunjukkan tiada lafaz Assalamu'alaikum, sedangkan penggunaan kedua-dua ayat ini adalah secara meluas oleh org arab dlm percakapan seharian mereka, dan tambahan pula makna ayat adalah sama dengan bahasa melayu kita iaitu “Sampaikan salam kepada si fulan”..

Sebagaimana dibolehkan menggantikan lafaz “Assalamu'alaikum” dengan “Salaam” kerana mempunyai makna yg lebih kurang sama..begitu juga dalam ucapan ini..difahami bahawa “sampaikan SALAM” adalah sama erti dgn “sampaikan ASSALAMU"ALAIKUM”..

BERIKUT ADALAH PENDAPAT/JAWAPAN YG MENARIK BERKENAAN HAL INI

1. Untuk setiap huruf jawi dan rumi, ada atau tidak perkataan buruk? Jika ada, maka tidak mustahil "A.L.L.A.H" dan "alif lam lam ha" dimaksudkan dengan buruk untuk setiap huruf. Jadi, ki...ta tidak boleh guna "Allah" dalam Jawi dan Rumi lah ye? Macam tu?

2. Betul atau tidak, singkatan "A'kum" bermula sedikit lewat dari wujudnya internet dan sistem pesanan ringkas? Jika betul, adakah dan siapakah manusia bukan Melayu atau Yahudi pertama yang guna "A'kum"? Jika bukan Yahudi atau agen - agennya, siapa? Jika Melayu kita juga yang mula (sebab aku tak yakin American Muslim yang mula "A'kum"2 ni), adakah dia pandai bahasa Yahudi? Yahudi atau bukan Yahudi, SIAPA yang mula cipta singkatan A'kum? Sebut nama, kita selidik sama - sama siapa dia. Kalau tak sabit tuduhan email layang ni, fitnah melulu walaupun niat baik nak menegah adalah haram. Dosa tetap dosa. Siapa tukang forward sama je dosa dengan orang yang cipta penipuan ni.

3. Apa agaknya reaksi orang bukan Islam, terutamanya Yahudi yang kita benci-benci sangat ni, kalau mereka baca benda ni? Tak malu ke kalau korang sebenarnya paranoid dan takut dengan bayang - bayang sendiri?

INI ADALAH BUKTI KESALAHAN DALAM TERJEMAHAN "AKUM"

sila rujuk gambar tersebut..

Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalo atau KOKHAVIM atau AKUM adalah sebenarnya BUKAN SAMA SEKALI membawa maksud BINATANG tapi BINTANG...

Avde Kokhavim U Mazzalo membawa maksud HAMBA2 PENYEMBAH BINTANG & ORANG2 YANG SESAT.. Itulah maksud sebenarnya...

INI ADALAH JAWAPAN UST ZAHARUDDIN TTG HAL INI

Salam,

Terima kasih atas “teguran” atau “peringatan” yang diberi.

Bagaimanapun, saya tidak lah termasuk di kalangan orang yang bersetuju untuk mensyaratkan assalamualaikum di tulis penuh. Tidaklah saya ketahui apakah dalil khusus yang digunakan bagi mensyarat dan mewajibkannya.

Menurut Islam, yang lebih penting adalah “kefahaman intipati”. Jika anda faham ianya adalah lafaz penuh, maka tiada lagi masalah bagi menulis ringkasannya. Perlulah memahami Maqasid Shariah (objektif dari hukum Shariah) dalam hal ini. objektif shariah dalam hal memberi salam adalah sunnah dan mendoakan saudara seIslam. Ia dibuat dalam bentuk verbal biasanya. Apabila ditulis secara tulisan, jika benar formal, bolehlah anda menulisnya dengan lengkap, tetapi di kala tidak formal, yang penting maksud shariahnya sampai.

Tulisan “salam” atau “akum” atau “askum”, sudah tentulah bermaksud lafaz salam yang penuh, tiada siapa yang akan menulisnya kecuali bermaksud lafaz salam yang penuh. Maka adalah menjadi suatu kecacatan sendiri apabila si pembaca membacanya dengan lafaz singkat. Sebagaimana singkatan “utk”, “dsbg” dan difahami secara automatik ia adalah bermakna “untuk”, “dan sebagainya”.

Justeru, Islam adalah agama yang memudahkan dan bukan menyusahkan dengan perkara amat cabang dan kecil ini, bagi merasakan inidvidu yang menggunakannya adalah salah. Bagi saya, orang yang mengganggap salah itulah yang salah.

Adalah logik dan diterima Syara’ utk menggunakan singkatan bagi lafaz salam di sms, mahupun email danlain-lain tempat yang sesuai, kerana ia tetap bermaksud lafaz salam yang ditujukan.

Saya sebenarnya amat pelik, saya telah selalu membaca dan mendengar pertikaian seperti ini, tetapi ini yangpertama kali saya ditujukan secara peribadi, persoalannya mengapa isu yang sekecil ini juga terdapat perdebatan. amat membuang masa..

Wallahu'alam..

(SAMBUNGAN DARI A.Z.B.A)

Jika kita berterusan berpandangan cara ini dan menutup pemikiran, pasti satu hari nanti akan ada satu kes baru, bahawa memberi salam mestilah ditulis dalam tulisan Arab sahaja, kerana ejaan Assalamualaikum tidak tepat dari segi bacaan dan panjang pendeknya..

Na'uzubillah dari perbahasan yg hanya akan lebih menyusahkan org awam..

Berikut adalah sebahagian ayat-ayat Al-Quran, yg menggunakan “Salaam” dan membawa maksud yang baik, sama dengan lafaz “Assalamu’alaikum”..

Al-An’am, 54

وَإِذَا جَاءكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

Apabila orang-orang yang beriman kepada ayat-ayat Kami itu datang kepadamu, maka katakanlah: "Salaamun alaikum” (mudah-mudahan Allah melimpahkan kesejahteraan atas kamu).

Al-A’raf, 46

وَنَادَوْاْ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ

Dan mereka menyeru penduduk surga: "Salaamun 'alaikum” (mudah-mudahan Allah melimpahkan kesejahteraan atas kamu).

Yunus, 10

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلاَمٌ

Do'a mereka di dalamnya ialah: "Subhanakallahumma”, dan salam penghormatan mereka ialah: "Salam" (sejahtera dari segala bencana)

Hud, 69

وَلَقَدْ جَاءتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُـشْرَى قَالُواْ سَلاَماً قَالَ سَلاَمٌ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاء بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ

Dan sesungguhnya utusan-utusan Kami (malaikat-malaikat) telah datang kepada lbrahim dengan membawa kabar gembira, mereka mengucapkan: "Selamat." Ibrahim menjawab: "Selamatlah," maka tidak lama kemudian Ibrahim menyuguhkan daging anak sapi yang dipanggang.

Hasil daripada pencarian ana, ayat-ayat Al-Quran menggunakan "Salaam" untuk membawa maksud "kesejahteran, dan keselamatan"..

Justeru, bagi ana menggunakan "Salaam" adalah sama sekali tidak salah!~

Yang salah, jika menggunakan kalimah "As-saam", sebagaimana datangnya dalam satu hadis yg mana orang Yahudi pada zaman Nabi s.a.w apabila memberi salam menyebut as-samu ‘alaikum yang bermaksud: maut atau kemusnahan ke atas kamu. Mereka cuma mengelirukan pendengaran orang Islam. Justeru itulah Nabi s.a.w menyuruh dijawab dengan ungkapan ‘wa alaikum’ sahaja.

“Sesungguhnya Yahudi apabila memberi salam kepada kamu, sebenarnya dia menyebut: as-samu ‘alaika (maut atau kemusnahan). Maka kamu jawablah wa ‘alaika (ke atas kamu). (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

TAMBAHAN INFO:

Merujuk kepada Lisanul 'Arab (Salam):

والسُّنَّة لا تختلف في تحية الأَموات والأَحْياء ويشهد له الحديث الصحيح أَنه كان إِذا دخل القبور قال: ((سَلامٌ عليكم دارَ قَومٍ مُؤْمِنِين))

Dan sunnah tidak ada ikhtilaf dalam tahiyyah kpd org2 mati atau org2 hidup, dan berdalilkan hadis sahih: Sesghnya apabila dia (Rasulullah) masuk ke perkarangan kubur (melaluinya), maka baginda menyebut: "Salamun 'alaikum daara qawmin mu'minin (Keselamatan dan kesejahteraan kepada kamu semua, wahai kediaman kaum-kaum mukninin (penghuninya)"

ويقال السَّلامُ عليكم، سَلامٌ عليكم، سَلامٌ بحذف عليكم،

ولم يرد في القرآن غالباً إِلاَّ مُنَكَّراً

Dan disebut: Assalamu'alaikum, Salamun 'Alaikum, Salaam tanpa "alaikum, kebiasaannya (kebanyakannyan) tidak disebut dalam Al-Quran kecuali dalam bentuk nakirah..

Namun, jika disebut As-Salaam yg dimaksudkan dengannya satu Nama/sifat daripada Nama-nama/Sifat-sifat Allah yg Maha Mulia, maka mesti disebut dalam bentuk Ma'rifah..

(Rujukan Lisanul 'Arab)

Wallahu'alam..

One of The Many Faces of Famine in Somalia

Famine Seven month old Mihag Gedi Farah is held by his mother in a field hospital of the International Rescue Committee, IRC, in Dadaab, Kenya, July 26, 2011.

Schalk van Zuydam/The Associated Press

Look at the photo above. It makes me so sad that tears were streaming on my face last night after reading the news. It is so cruel to let this poor baby dying of starvation when we can easily eat anything and EVEN WASTE any food! I am looking forward towards Ramadhan, the month of fasting, next week because besides being one of the things that we should do in our Rukun Islam, it indoctrinates man in patience and selflessness, as through fasting, he feels the pains of deprivation but he endures them patiently. You can read more on fasting here. Lots of people sigh when they know that Ramadhan is coming and they tend to eat many foods before Ramadhan comes. I hate this kind of people because if they know what the children in Somalia (and other ill fated countries) are enduring, they should be grateful with everything that Allah had given them.

The news of the photo above:

DADAAB, KENYA Seven-month-old Mihag Gedi Farah is the frail face of famine in the Horn of Africa. He stares out wide-eyed almost in alarm, his skin pulled taut over his ribs and twiglike arms.

At only 3.2 kilograms, he weighs as much as a newborn but has the weathered look of an elderly man.

Mihag is just one of 800,000 children who officials warn could die across the region. Aid workers are rushing to bring help to dangerous and previously unreached regions of drought-ravaged Somalia.

Famine victims like Mihag bring new urgency to their efforts, raising concerns about how many hungry children still remain in Somalia, far away from the feeding tubes and doctors in the field hospital at this Kenyan refugee camp.

Mihag’s fragile skin crumples like thin leather under the pressure of his mother’s hands, as she touches the hollows where a baby’s chubby cheeks should be.

Sirat Amine, a nurse-nutritionist with the International Rescue Committee, puts Mihag’s odds for survival at only 50-50. A baby Mihag’s age should weigh about three times what he does.

His mother, Asiah Dagane, fans Mihag with the edge of her headscarf to keep flies away. He cries weakly, and when he does, she bounces him gently to try to soothe him and murmurs softly.

“In my mind, I’m not well,” she says softly. “My baby is sick. In my head, I am also sick.”

Mihag is the youngest of seven children in his family. Dagane told The Associated Press through a hospital translator that she brought him and four siblings from Kismayo to Kenya after all their sheep and cattle died.

Like the tens of thousands of other Somalis fleeing starvation, the family travelled sometimes by foot, other times catching rides with passing trucks, cars or buses.

Dagane keeps vigil for her son in the ward, which is painted with cheerful pictures of balloons and fruit, lit with fluorescent bulbs. Other mothers huddle on beds next to babies with IV tubes snaking from their heads or hands.

Some infants cry, others are listless. In the middle of the room hangs a woven basket from a scale — but it’s not needed to tell that many of the babies are dangerously malnourished.

Abdi Ibrahim Yara arrived 20 days ago with his four children, including 1-year-old twins. They are unable to drink the fortified milk and must be nourished by an IV.

He and his wife were on the road for 25 days, but she became sick from malnutrition and died. She was four months pregnant.

“We had a comfortable life there, but now there is no one left,” Yara says.

Nurse Abukar Abdule says all of those arriving at the field hospital complain of “severe malnutrition.” Most have walked from the middle of Somalia, between Kismayo and the capital of Mogadishu.

“We have to treat them for at least a week,” Abdule says. “They have no food, shelter or water. Some have diseases. Some died on the road and some were lost. Many mothers who come here have lost children.”

The United Nations estimates that more than 11 million people in East Africa are affected by the drought, with 3.7 million in Somalia among the worst-hit because of the ongoing civil war in the country.

Somalia’s prolonged drought became a famine in part because neither the Somali government nor many aid agencies can fully operate in areas controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants, and the United Nations is set to declare all of southern Somalia a famine zone as of Aug. 1.

Aid organizations including the UN World Food Program have not been able to access areas under the control of the al-Shabab militants, who have killed humanitarian workers and banned the WFP.

The UN has said it will airlift emergency rations later this week to try to reach at least 175,000 of the 2.2 million Somalis who have not been helped yet.

The new feeding efforts in the four districts of southern Somalia near the border with Kenya and Ethiopia could begin by Thursday, slowing the flow of tens of thousands of people who have fled their homes in hope of reaching aid.

But the WFP hasn’t operated there for more than two years and must find and rehire former employees to help with distribution. Transportation is also a substantial obstacle because landmines have severed key roads and a landing strip has fallen into disrepair.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said a co-ordination conference would be held Wednesday in the Kenyan capital.

Donations are also desperately needed to sustain the aid effort in the Horn of Africa: The UN wants to gather $1.6 billion in the next 12 months, with $300 million of that coming in the next three months.

At the Kenyan refugee camp, Mihag’s nurse takes his measurements and describes him as “severely, severely malnourished.”

“We never tell the mother, of course, that their baby might not make it,” the nurse says. “We try to give them hope.”

The Associated Press

Diva Popia Nestum

I made this for my kids while they play inside the inflatable pool. This is my first time making it and the outcome is awesome! I decide to make it for this coming Hari Raya.  Enjoy!

                     Diva Popia Nestum


1 packet of popia pastry, big size (the best brand is FIGO - give it a try and you will know why)
1 egg - beaten and set aside
2 cups nestum - blend
1/2 cup horlicks or milk powder
1/2 castor sugar
A straw
A pair of scissors 


1. Mix blended nestum, horlicks or milk powder and sugar inside a bowl and put aside.
2. Take one piece of popia pastry. Then, put a straw at the first end of the popia pastry. Make sure to leave the straw a little bit outside of the popia pastry.
3. Roll until it's about 5 cm of the end of the pastry. Use a pastry brush to brush egg at the end before you finish the roll of the pastry. Then take out the straw. Put aside.
4. Roll all of the sheets until finish. Then, use a pair of scissors to cut all of the pastry roll slanting.

5. Fry them just like you fry normal popia but be careful not to burn them.
6. Drain the oil with kitchen tissue paper.
7. Put the fried popia inside an air tight container (I use tupperware) and pour the mix of nestum, horlicks/milk powder and sugar on the popia.
8. Close the container and give it a shake but then shake them vigorously or you will break the popia.
9. Ready to be eaten. Yummy!!!

Children's Famine In Somalia: AN EYE OPENER!

I was reading the online news when my eyes caught the headline that read : Children Famine in Somalia. I cried looking at the pictures of small children, who where so malnourished that they don't look like a human at all. For photos, you can go to the UNICEF page. This is a message from UNICEF Executive Director, David Bull:

Dear Supporter,

I am writing to ask for your support in moving the news agenda on.

The story about phone hacking does matter, but there’s another, far bigger and vital story that’s going under-reported.

This morning, the United Nations formally declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia. 

Right now, today, children in East Africa are facing a desperate crisis caused by prolonged drought, soaring food prices and conflict.

This is the story that matters most. This crisis is getting worse and we need to act now, to save lives.

Children and women are the most vulnerable.

More than 2 million children under five in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are acutely malnourished, including almost 500,000 children who are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. 

UNICEF is the main provider of ready to use therapeutic food in all three countries, but we desperately need more funds in order to help us reach every child. 

If you agree that this is the story, help UNICEF to do more, right now. Please donate by visiting this page or clicking on the red donate icon on the top-right of this page. 

Whatever you do, please make saving children’s lives the story. 

Thank you.

David Bull is the Executive Director of UNICEF UK.

Feed the needy

As a mother, it hurts to see these children in Somalia, dying from hunger where as we are so lucky to eat at anytime we want. I couldn't imagine if my children had to go through this situation and I pray to Allah that nothing bad will ever happen to my children and I aslo pray for those children in Somalia. I hope that anyone who read this post will do anything that they can do to help those children in Somalia. Just like the tagline in UNICEF page : Denying child rights is wrong. Put it right. 

Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Diva

This is what we had for our lunch today. It's so yummy and delicious! This is my first attempt on making this kind of sambal for the grilled fish and it tasted superb!

                                Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Diva

4 ikan cencaru - cleaned then mix with a little bit of turmeric powder and grill with a little bit of oil


For the sambal:
2 stalk of serai - blend
1 bombay onion - blend
5 cm ginger - blend
1/2 tbsp turmeric powder
1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 cup water
Salt and sugar to taste


1. Cook everything in a pan.
2. Add more water if you want it to be more liquid-y.


To assemble:
1. Pour the sambal on the grilled fish.
2. Serve hot with rice.

Kuah Kacang Diva

I made this kuah kacang last night to be eaten with Nona's Ketupat Palas for our breakfast today. This is my very own version that is very simple yet so delicious you wouldn't even notice that it doesn't need any fancy ingredients! All of my kids really love to eat it and it's always been a hit to my hubby's palate! Enjoy!

Kuah kacang

Ingredients:

1 packet of Nona's Ketupat Palas - can be bought at any supermarket and cook as instructed at the packet
500gm peanuts - buy the peanuts that had been de-shell and bake it in the ovenn til brown at 190 degrees celsius then blend it coarsely
1 tbsp of chili powder
3 stalk of serai - cut into small pieces then blend it finely
1 bombay onion (big red onion) - blend finely
Salt, sugar - to taste (I use Maggi Cukup Rasa to substitue the salt and it's easier to get the exact taste that I want)
 2 - 3 cups water

1. Saute blended onion and serai til fragrant. Add in chili powder and stir again.
2. Add in peanuts and stir. Never leave the peanuts unattended or it will burn!
3. Add in water. Stir it continuously.
4. When it's boiled, add in salt and sugar to taste.
5. Stir it until it's thicken to your liking and turn the heat off.
6. Serve with ketupat palas or even bread.

Serve with ketupat palas