rendang tok

My colleague gave me a cookbook by the famous Chef Wan for my birthday. Last weekend I was feeling ambitious and decided to try the recipe for Rendang Tok. Rendang Tok is synonymous with the state of Perak in West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Rendang is a much sought after dish and is available throughout the year in Malaysia. There are many types but amazinly only one way to cook it. The main ingredient is either chicken or beef, chili paste, tumeric leaf, pounded fried coconut (kerisik), lemongrass, galaghal, ginger, shallots, garlic and tumeric. Some recipes have more of this and less of that or some additional ingredients here and there. For me, tumeric leaves are a MUST in rendang and I will add this ingredient even if the recipe does not have it. This is what I did...

RENDANG TOK

(Extended Version !)

1 Kg beef (Topside or rendang cubes)

1 Tsp powdered fennel

1 Tsp powdered cumin

1 cup kerisik

Milk from 2 coconuts

Ingredients A

4 Tsp chili paste

12 shallots

2 large onions

6 cloves garlic

6 stalks lemongrass

1" galaghal

1. Place ingredients A into a blender and blend to a fine paste. Transfer to wok/pot.

2. Add beef

3. Add water to coconut milk enought to make-up 1 litre of this mixture. Add to wok/pot.

4. Simmer on medium heat until liquid is reduced and meat is tender.

5. Add kerisik, powdered fennel, powdered cumin.

6. Add salt and sugar to taste

7. Continue to cook on low heat until dry.

Tips

If you cannot get gresh grated coconut, you can use desicated coconut as a substitute. Kerisik is very simple to make. It only needs patience and a lot of care. Over medium/low heat, slowly fry the freshly grated coconut until brown. You will have to constantly stir it so that it does not burn (and it easily will). Whe it's done, put it into the food processor and process until fine. You can make more of this and store it in the refrigerator. kerisik can also be used in fried rice.

Have fun.

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..what a bugger - malaysian income tax submission

30th April was the day all Malaysians were required to submit their taxes and many did this online. Many who submitted at the last hours experienced a website "time out" and became frustrated. It's not that we wanted to do it at the last minute but our wonderful government gtanted is tax exemptions that many of us could claim but (as expected), most of us were clueless. There were hardly any specifications or proper guidelines and many of us were running around looking for answers. Could we, could we not, how, how much, what if.......and the list went on and on. Even the professional tax agents such as Ernst & Young were at a lost. There were just too many grey areas that left taxpayers feeling insecure. Having no more time to spare, I submitted mine to the best of my understanding. Honestly, I hardly knew what I was doing and took the statements issued on the tax exemptions per say. Many of us were logging in and out of the website as if there was no tomorrow. Some unlucky taxpayers were on the verge of tears and insanity. This is something that our government needs to look into - preparing the agencies for public enquiries. Me ? I sent them an email and even called since their reply only led me back to what I did not understand. It was a "copy-paste" job that any fool could undertake. It's not uncommon nor was their reply unexpected. I can only hope that this act of foolishness, unpreparedness and ignorance will never be repeated. At least not at the taxpayers cost !

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please help the dogs

For pictures and the full article please go to http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue/

Where is our compassion for another living being ? I am saddened that this happened and will continue for centuries to come. Getting a pet is not a joke. It involves lots of TLC (tender loving care), money and time. There will be lots of frustration and times when you just wished you hadn't. Unexpected illness and trips to the vet may bust your pockets at times. Visits to the vet costs loads more than a trip to your family doctor. There is a lot to consider - not just having a nice cuddly pet in your arms to show-off. Think, think, think ! Pets are members of your family but will never demand nor ask for much. Their love and adoration is unconditional. So please, I beg of those wannabe pet owners to think if you can commit or not; otherwise don't. You don't have babies and decide later that you changed your mind do you ? If you think that having a pet is any different, think again please.

A pet deserves the respect that you would offer another family member. They are creatures of God too. Love and cherish them always - they are afterall MAN'S BEST FRIEND !

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...dogs

Whenever I come across a TV series or movie that allows a dog in an apartment, I would wish that it was acceptable in Malaysia. Sadly, dogs especially are frowned upon. We are an Islamic country and in general dogs are not an acceptable pet. Recently, I met a Muslim couple staying at the same condo where I live and they have 2 pups ! I was sooooooo happy. This very nice gentleman told me that he loved dogs and he had no problem managing his religion, family and pets (in no particular order). He's a really responsible person; takes the pups out for morning walks with a plastic bag to pick the puppy poo. Later, I found out that some other owners have lodged complaints about him with the condo management. That's stupid and the excuse given was because the pups would drool in the lifts and he would step on puppy drool ! Absurd ya ? As I was told sometime back, dogs were frowned upon by the Muslims because they carried the rabies virus or some call it "mad dog disease". What ignorance not to realise that rabies can be transmitted by any warm-blooded animal !

Information extracted from Wikipedia
Any warm-blooded animal may become infected with the rabies virus and develop symptoms, including humans (though birds have only been known to be experimentally infected[5]). Indeed the virus has even been adapted to grow in cells of poikilothermic vertebrates[6][7]though natural transmission has only been documented among mammals.[citation needed] Most animals can be infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to humans. Infected bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, dogs, mongoose (normally yellow mongoose) or cats provide the greatest risk to humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels, bears and other wild carnivores. Rodents (mice, squirrels etc) are seldom infected.[8] The virus is usually present in the nerves and saliva of a symptomatic rabid animal.[9][10] The route of infection is usually, but not necessarily, by a bite. In many cases the infected animal is exceptionally aggressive, may attack without provocation, and exhibits otherwise uncharacteristic behavior.[11] Transmission between humans is extremely rare. A few cases have been recorded through transplant surgery.[12] After a typical human infection by bite, the virus enters the peripheral nervous system. It then travels along the nerves towards the central nervous system. During this phase, the virus cannot be easily detected within the host, and vaccination may still confer cell-mediated immunity to prevent symptomatic rabies. Once the virus reaches the brain, it rapidly causes encephalitis. This is called the “prodromal” phase. Once it reaches this point, there is no treatment. Then symptoms appear. Rabies may also inflame the spinal cord producing myelitis.[citation need]

So is it safer to have cats and hamsters as pets ? Dogs have been known to be man's best friend. Their love is unconditional and so long as you love them and treat them well, your love will always and unconditionally be returned a million times over. Their needs are simple and never demanding. They guard and protect you with their lives and would never intentionally cause harm. They have no voice but they speak to us through their eyes and their wagging tails. The very same wag and welcome that awaits us at the end of a hard day's work.
"My best friend, you give everything yet asks for nothing. The little that you ask, I give willingly from my heart. The love I see in your eyes make everything so worthwhile. What I see is far worth a million words. You ask for nothing yet you give me everything. You have a heart more worthy than gold, deeper than any ocean and higher than any mountain. It's no wonder that *all dogs go to heaven*."

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the 3-day weekend

Our achievements at work and as people who have succeeded in many ways are celebrated on the 1st day of May each year - Labour Day. Some countries celebrate it on a different day, but all the same, the hard work and achievements are honoured. Isn't it simply grand how we are honoured each year ? All the same, if you're an employer, employee, housewife, studen or kid, we all work to achieve different goals. Be it monetary gols or not, it's still work and more work. Even upon retirement, we "work" to make sure that we have the financial resources till we reach death's door. That's the reality. This year, Labour Day fell on a Friday and it was a 3-day weekend for us. I was absolutely lazy. Finally on Sunday, I decided that I would bake something easy for myself and my neighbours, so here's what I did...

SUPER EASY CHOCOLATE CUP CAKES !

This recipe is so simple and it only took 30 minutes including time needed for baking ! Here's what you need.

120 gm self-raising flour

120 gm butter

100 gm castor sugar

3 eggs

7 tsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

Chopped almonds

Just dump everything into a mix ! The consistency is rather thick. Makes about 6 regular size cup cakes. Spoon into cups and sprinkle some of the chopped almonds (or other nuts or just leave it) on top. Bake for 20 minutes at 170C.

Enjoy !

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