...of simple things in life

When I was a young woman and naive in the ways of the world, all that I dream of was of luxuries and an easy life. I wanted big cars, big houses, ostentacious jewelery, dinners in luxury hotels...well, basically the life in the fast lane. As a young woman I thought when you have all that it means you would have accomplished a major part in your life.
But then I grew older and wiser... I have childeren... I went through a 'roller coaster' ride in my life... things happened that changed my perspective in life and I began to look at the reality of life in a different light. I began to find solace in the simpler things in life, especially in the beauty that the Al Mighty has lay out for us to enjoy. I began to love the joy of watching sunsets and sunrise with my better half, I enjoy spending time doing my gardening and watching my plants bloom. The sound of the windchimes is a beautiful sonate to my ears. The sound of the birds, the waves, the feel of the breeze are all never taken for granted...all these makes me glad that I am alive and well. We must all take time to enjoy such things lest we forget our purpose in this borrowed world...

...sacrifices in love

Life brings no easy path, but love brings much more complicated route that it sometimes need strength, faith, willpower and patience to endure and persevere the trials and tribulation of a love relationship. There is no such thing as a love relationship that is free of glitches and pinches. It is just a matter of how big and small the glitches and pinches are.

Sometimes we wonder how much are we willing to go through - through that dark and lonely tunnel for someone, how much pain are we willing to endure... If we are willing to go through that deepest and most painful hurt, willing to be lost in a thousand of uncertainties then you know that you have truly given your heart and soul to the person. It is not everyone that wants love in such a manner, most people want it the easy way, that is minus the waiting and love that is pain free. You would rather the other person feel the pain but not you.

For me I believe that if we are willing to bear such difficult moments then I would like to believe that the Al-Mighty will be there for you...

Recipe of the Day: Chicken Rice in a Pot

I'm sure that as mothers we are always on the go especially if we have young ones and that means time is of the utlost importance. If you are a stay home mum you would have tonnes of house chores to do, if you are a working mum time is never enough. Well waht ever type of mum you may be I have a graet recipe that is nutritious yet saves you loads of time in preparation. It is a recipe which I learned from a television cooking program. Its an easy recipe which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

The recipe is called Claypot Chicken Rice but because it's cooked in the rice cooker I called it Chicken Rice in a Pot. Here's how its done:

Ingredients:

(For 5-6 people)

1/2 a chicken - depending on the size you may cut it between 5 to 6 pieces

3 cups of rice - washed

71/2 cups water - for the rice

Fried salted fish (keep the oil) - tenggiri is nice but sometimes I use whatever I have available

in my fridge

Salted vegetable (lobak asin) - I like to use the mince type, but you can use whatever

kind you like

Carrots - peeled and cut them in chunks

1-2 Chicken cube - as suit your taste (you may make your own chicken stock if you like)

Margerine or butter - 3 tablesp

Soysauce - the lemak manis type is lovely,about 2 tablesp or amount of your preference

Oyster sauce - about 2 tablesp or amount of your preference
Salt to taste

Ingredients for slicing:

1 big onions

3 cloves of garlic

ginger

Method

Firstly , saute the sliced ingredients in either margerine or butter until a nice aromatic frangrant arises. This is done in the rice cooker. Then you put in the rice, stir it awhile until the melted margerine or butter has fully coated the rice. Now you put in the pieces of chicken, soysauce, oyster sauce, water, chicken cube/stock, the chunks of carrots and salt. Stir them up.

Let it cook awhile, when the rice is 3/4 cooked place the salted vegetable on top of the rice. And when the rice is almost done place the fried salted fish on top and pour a little of its oil for a nice flavor. If you are making this dish for children you may omit the salted vegetable and salted fish.

Then let it cook all the way. There you have it a simple but delicious dish cooked in a pot.

Enjoy your meal...