Black Beauty

Black it is. 17 out of 27 said black. That's the colour of the new ride with the darkest shade allowable for my window tint. Darkest shade. It came out, unplanned. I started to ask them while we were sitting under the tree at the park, while waiting for the authorities to do counts and distribute bottled water at last week's firedrill. "Black or Silver?"

The funniest (most concerned, most serious) came from one of our interns from Cambodia. He said "But, Black in my country is for the dignitory, the authority, and the policeman. And for guys. And can see the dirt easily. I think you should go with Silver!". The rest offered equally exciting response "Black, black. It's nice!" "Black, cun!"

A poll from my colleagues. I decided to go with the majority. I can't decide and really needed it. They don't have it all but they shared the excitement. Appreciate it, especially now. I am grateful to have these wonderful people around.

Banana Cake

This is my favourite recipe for the banana cake. Moist and not dry. Good to be eaten plain or with cream cheese frosting.

You need:
3/4 cup butter (6 oz)
1 cup white sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla essence
3/4 cup of sour milk/sour cream (evaporated milk mix with juice of 1 lemon)
1 1/2 cup mashed banana
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (if no baking soda, use 3 teaspoon baking powder)
2 teaspoon baking powder

How to:
1. Have all ingredients at room temp. Sift flour and raising ingredients twice
2. Heat oven to 350*F (175*C)
3. Grease and line 1 30cm load pans with parchment or baking paper
4. Beat butter and sugar till light and creamy
5. Add one 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Slowly beat in mashed bananas and vanilla. Mix till just combined
7. Fold in flour alternating with sour cream/sour milk
8. Bake for about 45 minutes. Leave in baking tin before turning into the wiring rack to cool
9. Serve plain or spread with cream cheese frosting.

Note: For cream cheese frosting, beat cream cheese with icing sugar and few drops of vanilla essence.

Fire Drill

Today we had the unexpected fire drill exercise at work. With def. squad, ambulance and the police. How fun! :) 9000 plus people evacuated the twin towers via the emergency stairwells, being one of the lower units, you could hear the steps thumping from the upper levels. The situation was made up but we had some who fainted when they reached the park (the emergency evacuation area).

Lamb Picnic

This a recipe for fried lamb cutlet. Got this from the goddess Nigella Lawson. Tried. Taste good and she said it is best for picnics. Had it with green salad.

You need:
8-12 lamb cutlets
Crush garlic
Salt and Pepper
Lea and Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
1-2 egg
Breadcrumbs
Shredded cheese (Romano or Parmesan)
Olive Oil (Regular, not Virgin)

How to:
1. Clean cutlet. Marinate in advance with salt, pepper and worchestershire sauce.
2. Heat oil on high. Beat egg.
3. Dip cutlet in egg, then cover it by dipping into breadcrumbs mix with cheese.
4. Mimimise heat to medium.
5. Fry each side for couple of minutes.
6. Drain cutlet.
7. Serve with your favorite sauce (eg: tomato, chilli, mustard, chutney etc)

***** Received Butterfly from Muz today. :)

Lemon Sour Cream Cake

Happy birthday Kakak :)

You need:
250 g butter
6 eggs
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup self raising flour
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon or more of lemon rind
3/4 cup light sour cream

Methods:
1. Have all ingredients at room temp. Sift flour 3-4 times
2. Heat oven to 350*F (175*C)
3. Grease and line 1 30cm load pans with parchment or baking paper
4. Beat butter and sugar till light and creamy
5. Add one 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Slowly beat in vanilla. Mix till just combined
7. Fold in flour alternating with sour cream
8. Bake for about 45-60 minutes.
9. Leave in baking tin before turning into the wiring rack to cool.
10. Serve plain or ice it with your vanilla or cream cheese frosting.

Note: For cream cheese frosting, beat cream cheese with icing sugar and few drops of vanilla essence.

Mexican Flan (Creme Caramel)

From Tyler Florence

Ingredients:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 cans vanilla flavored milk or 3 cans milk with 1 vanilla pod
2 lime (grated rind)
6 egg yolk

Caramel (Burnt Sugar):
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Method:
1. Make caramel. Heat sugar till dark brown. Slowly pour in hot water.
2. Pour caramel into mould. Set aside to cool.
3. Mix well milk and grated rind of 2 limes. Simmer.
4. Beat yolk. Pour simmered milk mix. Stir well.
5. Pour into mould on top of caramel.
6. Put mould into a deep tray filled with water
7. Bake for 1 hour. Set to cool.
8. Refrigerate. To serve, turn mold upside down on plate.

Note:
- Option to use single cups or muffin mould.
- Use condensed milk cans to measure milk

Team Aniston or Team Jolie

Did a bit of Hollywood reading. Team both. Brad Pitt is diabolique, insensitive and un-selfless. Other than that, family is in town this week. A lot of food but not a lot of movement this weekend. Hope car can hold the weekend trip to Semenyih.

A week after Katrina

Today marks a week following the devastating horrifying natural disaster brought about to the Gulf Region of the United States by Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing broken levees. From some 15,000 miles away, this incident is as devastating as the 26th Dec 2005 Tsunami.

Been one of those who had been glued to the news and webnews, it's heartbreaking to see the devastation faced by so many people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and some parts of Alabama. To look at people crying from loss of family and love ones, wives, mothers, fathers, the old folks at the Old Folks home, babies, children. And those who have lost everything they owned. It's heartbreaking.

I first heard about Katrina from the Weather webforecasts. I had a couple of cities logged and saved in my main page. Cardiff - because Muz is there, New York - being the place I like to go again and always, Boston - being that place I'd always want to go again and Northern California. The meteriologist had mentioned of the pending hurrincane, which once has lost its momentum two weeks ago, had gained all the right ingredients of warm water, wind and air temperature to recreate itself. It is now headed towards the Gulf States and not elsewhere as it was first predicted. The next day I saw a headlines, residents advised to evacuate cities next 48 hours.

From last couple of days,I saw reports on the evacuation announcement was made by the mayor of New Orleans, by the Emergency Management Unit Head (who last night has committed suicide), I saw reports of the aftermath from the hurricane to New Orleans, which mostly brought by flooding waters from the broken levees that separated the city from Lake Ponchartrain, I saw reports on how thousands of townfolks seeking refuge at New Orleans Superdome, and the Converntion Center, I saw reports of anarchy that broke out after that. I saw reports of attempted rapes at the Convention Center, of families who said when one of them had to go to the toilet, all will follow as it is just not safe to go alone; I saw reports of a double amputee who made his way up to the attic and 5days later saved by good samatarian who went on boats to rescue people; I saw reports of this man crying while holding his son - he lost his wife and a baby. They were stuck in drowning waters of their home; I saw reports of people looting; I saw reports of men who decided they do not want to leave despite rising waters; I saw reports of an Old Folks Home losing lives (about 3) from heat within a day, the caretaker, crying for help on the phone and to the streets only to be shot at by gangsters; I saw reports of policemen who has los everything and having to face the stress to defend the city; I saw reports on how one committed suicide upon learning that he has lost his wife to the devastation. Tired policemen with nothing left, helping others. I saw reports made by doctors who were there in the local hospitals. I saw reports of people stealing food from the local groceries because they had to (they ended up cooking for the remaining victim who were left homeless in downtown New Orleans); I also saw reports of how a casino which was uplifted my the hurricane and moved to its new location half a mile away! I saw reports of floating feces everywhere even in the lobby of a Marriott; I saw reports on ensuing danger of spreading tropical weather diseases like Mosquito Born diseases, ecoli, thypoid.

I also saw a lot of blaming on TV. Mostly by the able and those watching. Pure blame that came out from the devastation. Blaming that came as a counter attack from critisim. Critism which only came because of the slow reponse to the emergency situation. Of why buses, rescue workers, water and food were not sent. I saw a CNN reporter pressing hard on a UN officer why they are not there? The officer was trying very hard to explain that they have an inventory list of what they can do to help, but could not just flew in without proper green light from the American government. This could not be explained properly then maybe perhaps due to Language. The UN rep spoke out of Geneva. Perhaps it was easier to help when people cooperate. Much like what was received by the victims and the government of the Tsunami vistims. There also a lot of report on whether the help came late because of race. 70% of New Orleans are African American. They are mostly poor with per capita income of less than 17,000 USD. Then there are reports on those in Biloxi are mostly whites. Many, poor and rich has lost almost completely everything. There was also a lot of report of perhaps the slow reponse was due to major effort and concentration on National Security from terrorist attack. Apparently, budgets for Emergency for Natural Disasters were cut short due to the war in the Middle East as well as to cover the cost for all the bureuacracies needed to support these processes and systrems. I went to the office and some said this is god's wrath,a retribution to what America has done to the rest of the world. I heard similar remarks few weeks ago when KL was hit by the very bad haze. I find these remarks are just mean and unhealthy to me. It's scary to be in the company of. What good will this bring? I dont have an answer.

Today, it was reported that the authorities is now faced with the gruesome tasks to search and remove the dead, rescue those who may still be alive; street after street.

It's unbelieveable to see much of third world scenario and much worst behavior happening in US, especially New Orleans. I have been to New Orleans. My friends and I who went loved the place. We saw anarchy today but we felt safe when we were there. (There are still some parts in the US which you can just feel, that it is not so safe eg: Toursim Malaysia's office in LA; it is so closely located to South Central) Back to New Orleans, it's a place which is famously known as The Big Easy for its jazz, rythm and blues music and cajun food. It's pretty, easy-to-like place. I had fond memories of it.

I pray to the one and hope, yours and mine will safe its people and give them strength to move on.

Creme Brulee French Toast

Very rich French Toast. To be made ahead of time. Makes 6 servings.

YOU NEED:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablesppon corn syrup
6 (1 inch thick) slices French bread
5 eggs
1 1/2 cup half and half (or evaporated milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy-based orange liquer (Grand Marnier)
1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat
2. Mix in brown sugar and corn syrup, stirring until sugar is dissolved (9X13)
3. Remove crust from bread, arrange in baking dish in a single layer
4. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, orange brandy and salt
5. Pour over the bread. Cover, and chill at least 8 hours or overnight
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
7. Remove the dish from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature
8. Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven until puffed and lightly browned.

La Tahzan

Today at lunch, I went to the same shop. Kinokuniya Bookstore. I do this often. Sometimes I go there to check out the best sellers, sometimes to check out the newly release titles or sometimes just to read the magazines. Of fashion, fitness and movie stars. But today I didn't check the usual spots. I went to the Religion aisle. The intention was to find the best and easy to undertand books on Umrah and The Hajj rituals. The one that teaches you step-by-step process and the significant of each process. I found none. They recommeded that I go to Minerva Bookstore at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. As a kid, I used to go there with my dad often. On my way out, I came across this book written by Dr. Aidh Abdullah. The title simply reads Don't Be Sad. I bought the book. I am on the second chapter, and it has so far been quite inspiring. Uplifting. The book talks about Uslah. Or the need to be alone and reflect. I do that quite often, but my time spent alone seems void and has turned me into what I feel, quite a depressed person. I hope I can learn more on why I am feeling this way. Maybe I am not doing Uslah the best way it should be done. 281 chapters to go.