Photo Make Over - Once a while

Photos taken by Cosway program 16 Nov 2013.

Rukun Negara - A Declaration of The National Philosophy

They said the last one was screwed by the Generation Y voters.
They said they are the ones that have forgotten their roots.
Perhaps, history was taught too shallow,
and they have become unpatriotic,
and become ignorant of the nation's fore-fathers' sacrifices and contributions.
With a stroke of the pen, they have voted out the long-time popular guys.
That was 2008 as the political analysts reported after the GE12.

Today is 2013, we are going through GE13.
What has happened in the past five years ?
We have a Prime Minister who is determined to reach to the Generation Y.
He started a Facebook account.
He started talking to the people (Rakyat).
He set up Think-Tanks for education
and they advised him to make history a compulsory subject to pass in 2013.
History in SPM exam will be 3 papers and 6 hours 30 minutes long.
This is serious business, and his team believes this will work.
To turn the Generation Z around since we have lost the Generation Y.

To make the kids more patriotic,
kindergarten education was reformed
and the Prime Minister's wife got a PhD for promoting early childhood education.
The advisors are very serious,
that Rukun Negara (declaration of national philosophy) be taught from age 3 onwards.
The results are hilarious, some kids are still saying Malaysia has a lot of prawns.
They read : Kedaulatan "Udang-Udang" (Prawns) instead of "Undang-Undang" (Law).

GE13 will see the youngest of GenerationY starting to vote.
This is the third time that Gen Y will be voting.
In the coming GE14, Generation Z will start voting,
they are the ones that will be forced to sit for 3 papers of History.
I guess the kids will not forget.
They have good memory of what the government has been doing.

 National Philosophy that Malaysia is built upon

The Idealist's Malaysia

Its hard enough to memorise all five of the Rukun Negara, 

to say them with convincing conviction is harder.

https://www.facebook.com/najibrazak?fref=ts
The Prime Minister of Malaysia's personal Facebook Page.
Todate, he has 1.6 million Likes for his page.

Little Things

Little Things

By far the most pleasant things in life

Often comes in little packages

Bundled in simplicity novelty

Hidden as gems in the dark

It is not necessary  in the fine things of

Luxurious indulgence

It is often in the little things

That we have taken for granted

So close yet eyes could not see

So near yet ears could not hear

Then one day

The great enlightenment struck

As if we woke up from a deep sleep

Rested from a long journey

In a moment we understood

We can fathom the truths behind

Those little things

These moments are most precious by far

~ Doria, January 2013

This is one of the first few poems I wrote with the help of the mini Ipad, so handy that I could write anywhere when the inspirations strike. It is a simply reminder of the importance to appreciate the little things we do have in this life and we should treasure.

Just realise that One Direction has released the new song Little Things by One Direction. 

Confirmation Service for my boy Wallace and my gal Rhea

Pineapple Tarts Success Story 2012

Pineapple tarts are a special delicacy, especially during Chinese New Year. I do not really make these tarts at any other time of the year. So, it is like once a year affair. After few years of trying, I had a proper lesson from my friend's mum who makes famous Pineapple Tarts in Singapore for many years, she taught few of us how to make the pineapple jam from scratch. It is a lot of hard work. I only did that twice and decided to buy ready-made Pineapple jam from Thailand from Bake with me shop.

I found this pastry very good and has the melt-in-the-mouth feel.

250 gm Butter
70 gm Icing Sugar (sifted)
2 Egg Yolks lightly beaten
330 gm Plain Flour (preferably cake flour)
2 Tbsp Cornflour
2 Tbsp Custard Powder (optional)

1) Sift flours, custard powder.
2) Mix butter, icing sugar till creamy and fluffy.
3) Add the yolk, sifted flours and mix to form a  dough.
4) Put inside plastic bag or bowl, leave the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Note:- I usually make 4 portions of this recipe and store them in a plastic bag inside the fridge. This can use for 2 Kgs of Pineapples and make about 280 pieces of Pineapple tarts like these photos.

Oven temperature: 170 C (not too hot), bake 8-10 minutes depending on how hot the oven is. Have to watch them carefully. 

Ready to bake!

In the Oven

Final Touch

Lovely Tarts

Final Products

http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2011/01/pineapple-roll-tarts-for-chinese-new.html

There have been a desire to try new recipes, just to make things different ! Michael has been trying a few recipes for Christmas 2011 and also latey for his Dad's birthday !

Here is the Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls recipe that I am going to try this Chinese New Year !

Goi Cuon (Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls) with Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce Recipe

November 13th, 2008Recipes, Eating Light, Recipes, Recipes, Vietnamese Recipes39 Comments

printVietnamese Grilled Pork Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon Thit Heo Nuong) Recipe

Ingredients:
(Serves 4)

For the grilled pork:

1 lb pork chops, loin, butt or shoulder. Sliced thin.
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 Tbs fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1/4 cup peanut or vegetable oil

Hoisin Peanut Dipping Sauce Recipe

1 cup (8 oz) hoisin sauce (if sauce is thick, add about 1/4 cup warm water to reach desired consistency)
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 Tbs rice vinegar
2 garlic, crushed
1 minced thai chili, or more for desired spiciness

For spring roll rice paper assembly:

About 10 rice paper wrappers
Lettuce
Cucumber, cut into long slices
Fresh herbs: mint, cilantro, basil, vietnamese coriander, balm or perilla
Bean sprouts

Method:

1.In plastic bag, combine all ingredients for the grilled pork. Let marinade for about 20 minutes. Grill both sides of pork for about 2-3 minutes, or until desired texture.
2.In blender, combine all ingredients for the hoisin peanut dipping sauce. Blend until everything combines smoothly together. If it is too thick, continue adding warm water until desired consistency.
3.In bowl of warm water, dip each rice paper wrapper for about 3-5 seconds (depending on rice paper thickness). Do not over soak your rice paper wrapper! Place on work service and allow rice paper to soak up water and become gelatinous and pliable (about 30 seconds to 1 minute, again, depending on the thickness rice paper).
4.On top 1/3 side closest to you, lay lettuce on the bottom for added strength to the wrapper. Then place meat, herbs and other vegetables. Roll up spring roll about 1/3 way through, then fold in the sides. View step-by-step photographs of spring rolling here.
5.Serve with hoisin peanut dip.

The True Meaning of Christmas (by Santa)

The Meaning of Christmas

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing?" I started to ask him.

The words choked in my throat, as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know.  He then answered me with a simple statement, TEACH THE CHILDREN! I was puzzled: What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. 

As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-day Christmas has forgotten!

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the Children that the pure green color of the  stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind.  All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.   God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.

He then reached into the bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Once again he reached into his bag and then removed a WREATH and  placed it on the tree. Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the Children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His  unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men." 

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the shepherd's staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is, and I bow down and worship Him, our Lord, our God." 

~ Author Unknown

Source : http://www.annien.com/Holidays/Christmas/ChristmasStories/meaning_christmas.htm