DanielYKL

This week I was invited to join a Libyan friend and his family to “futur” with them. And in the same week, I had another futur with a group of Middle Eastern brothers of whom I have known for more than 4 years, and they are real “buddies.” They are all doing their PhD program here at USM.  (Oops! By the way, “futur” in Arabic simply means breaking fast.)

And also just in case not to confuse you, I’m not a Muslim. I’m a Christian, but I make it a point to breakfast with my Muslim brothers whenever I can during Ramadhan.

So this week Sunday Special will just feature Middle Eastern food. The Libyan meal is courtesy from my Libyan friend and the “Penang” Middle Eastern Food - well, all I can say is, I tried!

Me and my Libyan friend, Mukhtar - breaking fast.

My Middle Eastern brothers: (From left to right) Fatemi from Iran, Ghayth from Iraq, me, and Saba from Iraq.

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Libyan Food

(Prepared by Mukhtar’s wife)

1. Starter (Sesame sweets & dates)        2. Salad

 3. Sharba (Soup)                                        4. Tabahash (Side-dish)

 5. Couscous                                  6. Kebabs and Fried Chicken

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The “Penang” Middle Eastern Food

Dried Dates from Saudi & Banana and Orange Milkshake

Iraqi Chicken Consome’: Chicken slowly simmered with tumeric and onions & Arab bread (bought from an Arab bakery at Ivory Plaza)

Cucumber and Tomatoes Salad: Diced cucumber, tomotoes and Onions with Middle Eastern dressing (yogurt, dill, cumin and fennel seeds) & Saffron Rice with sliced almond and dates. (Yummy!!!)

Maraq (Arab Chicken Stew): Chicken pieces slowly simmered in fresh tomatoes sauce with potatoes and Fava beans. & Fresh Dates for dessert

Man, what a week! Three arrested under ISA in a day. Just hope that all these nonsense will stop. It just brings fear into the community rather than security. Feel like we are living in Myanmar or some third world country, where people are arrested without a fair trial or given a chance to challenge or defend the charges. Draconian law at work!

Anyway, we need to seek God and pray for our nation. Pray that justice will prevail, pray for those arrested under ISA and their families and pray for peace and unity.

And this week Sunday Special has a touch of India.

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Dhal Curry & Stir-fry “Kangkung”

Ingredients for dhal curry: Spices - mustard seed, cumin seed, fenugreek seed; Condiments - curry leaves, dried chilli, onions, garlic, fresh green chilli and coriander (for garnishing); Vegetables - potatoes, carrots, small eggplants (brinjals), bottlegourd Bhim (also known as bottlesquash) and tomatoes.

Dhal curry & Stir-fry “kangkung” with garlic. “Kangkung” is sometimes known as water spinach, water cabbage, water convolvulus or water morning-glory. Read the rest of this entry »

  Happy Ramadhan to all our Muslim friends.

This is the month of Ramadhan, and just can’t believe what I’ve been reading. Isn’t this a time where you seek God. Isn’t this a time to forgive those who has done you wrong. Isn’t this a good time to ask for forgiveness for your wrong doings?

But what do we have? We have Ahmad Ismail refusing to apologize for the remarks about the Chinese being squatters in Malaysia during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election campaign. And if that’s not enough, he is accusing the media for making false reports about his statements.

He even claimed that his decision not to apologise for his racially inflammatory remarks has received “tremendous support” from Malay-Muslim groups. “They were flabbergasted with the emerging threats against Malay rights and privileges,” he said.

“I am surprised with the unexpected overwhelming support I had received from Malay-Muslims across the country. It seems Malays have kept back their disgruntlement for far too long and my issue had evoked their sentiments. “It is going to be a major issue now.”

I’m sure the majority of Malays-Muslims don’t feel the way Ahmad feels. I think he has killed the spirit or reason of Ramadhan. He has lost the purpose of Ramadhan!

So if he wants to continue on to stir up racial sentiments, let him be. I like to leave him alone and wish all our Muslim friends a “Happy Ramadhan,” (including Ahmad) and not let it spoil my Sunday Special and my hope for a better Malaysia.

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Saudi Dates

I bought this Saudi Dates stuffed with cashew nuts, almond, walnuts, and dried peach. I thought this would be a good way to start my Sunday Special this week since it’s the month of Ramahdan.

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Spaghetti alle Vongole il Bianco

Or Spaghetti with Clams in a White Sauce. Vongole simply means clams and Bianco is white sauce. So we have spaghetti cooked just long enough to be still firm, and not too soft (al dente) with clams, shrimps, fresh abolone mushroom, julienned carrot in white sauce garnished with fresh basil.

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Stir-fry Thai Basil Chicken & Stir-fry Petula

Sliced deboned chicken fried with basil and chilli padi in soy sauce & Stir-fried Petula with carrots.

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Nasi Goreng Kampung Siam

Kampung Fried Rice with long beans and carrots, served with chilli padi, fried ikan bilis (small anchovies), sliced red onions and egg omelette.

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Dessert

Snow Skin Mooncake with red beans paste fillings, and dragon fruit served with Lavender tea

    A Happy Merdeka to all Malaysians. Ok, some may ask “What’s so happy about Merdeka?” Hmmm! A good question. Maybe it’s something for us to chew on. Is there really a “merdeka” in Malaysia? Yes, we did gain our independence from the British in 1957, but then we were hijacked by Umno/Bn. It’s just like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Which is worst! Until we see corruption, cronyism, nepotism being wiped out, eradication of  poverty, economy stability, the juridicial system restored, police and ACA working independently, no racial discrimination where everyonewill enjoy the same rights and privileges regardless of race or religion, then we can truly say we are independent or Merdeka! Then we can all passionately and proudly shout with one voice in unity, “MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!” Till then … Long live the people. Freedom to the people! RAKYAT MERDEKA!!!

Oh! By the way, I don’t know whether you noticed it or not. Not many people are flying the Malaysian flag this year. Wonder why?

Merdeka or no Merdeka, here are the specials for this Sunday:

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Pasembur

Pasembur or Rojak as some people on the mainland called it. But here in Penang, we called it “Pasembur!”

Crispy prawn fritters (Cucur Udang), fried bean curd (taukua), hard-boiled egg, julienned cucumber, mangkaung (sweet chinese turnips), with thick sweet potato and chilli sauce and topped with chilli cuttlefish and grounded peanut and lemon.

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Curry Chicken & Stir-fry Chinese Sprouts

Nyonya Curry chicken with potatoes & Stir-fry Chinese sprouts with anchovies.

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Ikan Pangang & Stir-fry Ong Teh Chai

Ikan Pangang - Mackerel marinated in fresh tumeric wrapped in banana leaves and baked over hot pan served with shallots, garlic and chilli sauce & Stir-fry Ong Teh Chai (Emepror’s veg) with egg.

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Dessert

Pulut Inti - Steamed glutinous rice coloured with natural flower color topped with grated coconut cooked with Gula Melaka.

Red Dragon Fruit

Sunday again. And two more days to the ‘mother of all elections.’ I’m talking about the Permatang Pauh By-Election. All eyes will be on Anwar, the hot favourite to win.  And this is my prediction: “Anwar will win by a 18,000 and above majority.” Impossible? We will know this Tuesday.

In the meantime, let’s see what’s on this Sunday Special.

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Sambal Hehbee and Steamed Taufu

Sambal Hehbee: Dried shrimps fried with dried chillies, shallots, belachan, lemongrass, and lime leaves & Steamed Taufu with sesame oil and soya sauce, topped with small fried anchovies, garnished with plenty of spring onions.

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Nyonya Kueh

Dessert: A variety of Nyonya Kueh (Local sweet cakes)

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Home-made Muesli Bar

Yep, Healthy Home-made Muesli bar: Cashew nuts, almond nuts, rolled oat, sesame seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, dried lemon peels, lemon rind, coated with lemon, honey and organic sugar caramel.

Hey, hey, good lookin’,
Whatcha got cookin’?
How’s about cookin’ somethin’ up with me?
Hey, sweet baby,
Don’t you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?

There is a saying that ‘ the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’ If that is true, ladies start cooking!

Wonder what is the way to a woman’s heart?

This week Specials:

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Fried Beetroot Vermicelli and Spaghetti

Organic Beetroot Vermicelli fried with spaghetti, prawns, sliced carrots and cabbage, garnished with fried shallots and tomatoes.

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Roasted Tomato & Carrot Soup

Hearty fresh creamy tomato and carrot soup served with Italian wholemeal loaf and a nice cup of brewed Swedish coffee.

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Teochew Porridge

Plain Porridge served with Crispy Ikan Bilis fried with garlic, dried chili and lime leaves &  Oil & Soya Sauce Spinach.

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Flavour Of Middle East

Fresh Garden Salad & Mixed Vegetables Pattie (Kubbe in Arabic)

Cranberries Saffron Rice & Baademjan (Eggplant and chicken pieces simmered in fresh tomatoes sauce with spices and herbs)

The Middle Eastern Dinner & Premium North-Western Cherries from USA for dessert!

Hi, hi, hi, beautiful Sunday
This is my, my, my, beautiful day
When you say, say, say, that you love me
Oh, my, my, my, it’s a beautiful day

Another week, another Sunday. And I hope a beautiful one for you too.  You may ask, what so beautiful about Sunday? Well, this could be the reason. These are what I dished up during the week and of course with little help from my friends. Enjoy!

Penang Fish Asam Pedas served with hot Basmati rice and stir-fried cabbage with carrots.

Koay Teow Th’ng with prawns, mushrooms and green lettuce garnished with spring onions and fried shallots accompanied with chili padi in lime and soya sauce.

Pita bread stuffed with light fluffy scrambled eggs and saute’ed fresh white mushroom with a generous serving of fresh vegetables and herbs salad (carrots, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, mint and basil)

Pan-fried Cajun Salmon: Fresh succulent salmon marinated with cajun spices, lightly pan-fried and served on a bed of Persian rice sprinkled with cummin, and fresh whole white Mushrooms saute’ed with garlic, onions and dried chili, and an assortment of roasted vegetables.

And finally the dessert. Good old crispy kampung Fried Cempedak.