Aidilfitri

I've been keeping myself very busy over the last Ramadan month or so. I recently discovered that I do enjoy cooking although my patience for it need to be refined. It all started on the first day of Ramadan when we went to one of the many 'Malaysian' restaurants down town to buy Murtabak for break fast. I was drooling at the aromatic scent while eagerly waiting for the time to break my fast. When the time came and I took out a big chomp, I was crest fallen to find that the murtabak was very salty for my taste buds. I mean it was really salty ok. I was so dissappointed considering we paid $38 for 2 small murtabaks. Instantly I thought to myself "Right, I've got to master the art of making murtabak myself. Buying it is just not worth my good money". The next day, I started suring for a decent easy-to-follow murtabak recipe. I was complaining to my sister about my murtabak venture the night before on IM when she started to type in a roti recipe (we need to prepare the roti first). She was on the phone with my mum who was providing the wise instructions.

From there, things really started to snow ball into trying to perfect my murtbak and cheesecake baking skills, trying out new dishes and of course, preparing key dishes for Hari Raya. I'm quite happy with myself now that I've learned how to make Daging Kicap, Butter Chicken, Nasi Minyak, Beef Rendang, Nasi Goreng, Tart Nenas, Pandan Syrup, Bergedil and Baked Pacific Dory. Of course, the dishes aren't quite authentic (expecially my John Dory since it's nothing like the ones you get at Manhattan Fish Market) but it's good enough for self consumption. I still enjoy eating out though. In fact, eating out is becoming more of a 'tasting session' for me. I'd love to acquire more recipes.

Come Raya day (yesterday) I spent over 2 hours over the phone with my family and they seem proud that I've managed to pick up a habit in the kitchen. Poor Irma, her mum told her that she heard rumours that I've been busy over the stopve top instead of her. At least my would be mum-in-law would be at peace knowing that her daughter will be well looked after. Still, nothing beats Irma's onde-onde. You just got to try it I tell you...it's to die for.

Still nothing beats the cooking at home. Honestly, it's not so much the cooking but rather getting started that really hold me back. I'm still pretty poor at some of the basic stuff like cutting, chopping and dicing. Not very handy with the knife at all. At least not as handy as some people. And I hate chopping onions. How do we avoid getting teary eyed? I remember watching a cooking show some 10 odd years ago that one way to avoid it is to put the onions in the freezer for awhile before doing the deed. Of course, I'm a very cincai cook in most respects.

Raya for me is just like any other day - Afterall, I'm living in a country taht don't practice the celebrations. But this time around, I had a good time catching up with my family all 19 members of them (2 parents, 4 siblings, 2 brother-in-laws, 10 newphews and nieces, 1 nanny) and my uncle who happened to be at my parents'.

But I must say that my piece-de-resistance has to be my compilation of Hari Raya songs I made 2 weeks before raya. That really gives the raya mood a big boost. It was unfortunate that yesterday's weather was so horrible.

All in all, this year's ramadan and raya was rather fun for me personally. Funny how we learn to sharpen some of our hidden abilities when we're most desperate for something. Ironically, the one thing I crave for every now and then which I just seem to miserably fail at is a rather simple dish to make - Pete's Maggi Mee Goreng. I mean, how hard is it to make Maggi Mee Goreng? Every stalls in KL have them but I just can't seem to master the art. Well..maybe that should be my next culinary adventure.