Ramadhan : 2011 & Food venture.

I had wanted to write on the above, few months ago... but i guess..the fatigue got over me.. but before long, this posting is sincerely me. I am not perfect nor trying to present the better of me.. basically for my kids to note that, if and if, we ought to, food business is easy...with proper planning, excellent time management, available resource..we cd do it!!

Last ramadhan saw me and kids, first time, engaged in a heavy food production business..
Do we have enough : resources? labour? capital? marketable place? business etiquete? customer handling? cashier?.. bla..bla...

I must admit, its going to be hectic..but we dont really have much choice, then!!!

I vividly remembered how i had helped my mum at her stall... pheww..that was yearsss ago... by hook or by crook..something have to be done.. we need cash!!! so we decided to sell kueh berbuka posa...   say what?

First: get some capital..tq to my big brother..eem..kemudian bayor le bang!..and My other brother for taking orders of kue raya..same to my sister, ieja too... (Again.. I wish I cd hug my mum...and my dad..Alfatihah...)
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Apa yang nak dijual?

1..main dish for the day - choose one :either lontong, laksa, mee kari, roti jala
2. side dish - either mee goreng, bihun goreng, kue teow goreng, nasi goreng, makaroni goreng
3. sambal tumis to accompany with side dish
4. agar2 gula melaka/ agar2 plangi
5. egg caramel/ cream puff
6. kue sagu/ lepat pisang/apam ayu/cekodok pisang
7. buah melaka/kue cara manis/kue ketayap
8. kue cara berlauk/cucur badak
9. karipap
10. donat/keria
11. sandwich sardin goreng/puff sardin gulung/donat pedas (burger malaysia)
12.popiah goreng/tahu sumbat/cucur udang
13.kue bom/seri muka/kueh kasturi/kue koleh kacang
14. Sandwich sardin/sandwich telor

Amboi...tingginya cita2...boleh buat dak?  wanna know how on earth cd I think of those list..my late mum used to do that.. the difference is, she cook better than me.. until now, saya tak pandai buat koleh kacang, kuh lapis, kue seri muka, kue bakar....oh my...
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Imagine, there'd be about 14 dishes to be ready by 430 every day before breaking fast..Ramadhan time......euuww...sapa nak tolong...?? in between, my little man wd certainly crave for attention.. Allah has helped us went through those moments.. We did..My day wd start as early as 5 am..prepared sahur, woke up my family members...did some ritualss...kids off to school..I did laundry, hanged clothes..prepare all sorts of jelly (agar/caramel  etc as they needed to be  refrigerated!!), prepare fillings:- for karipap, popiah, cucur badak & kue ketayap.... while waiting for those to cool down..I woke up M5.kasi dia mandi, kasi dia sus and.off we went to groceries shop to buy some other ingrredients.. oopss..sebelum pi kedai... uli kulit karipap, uli kulit cucur badak/keria, prepare tepung untuk: cucur pisang, kue cara, all put aside..
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Once balik kedai....kerja2 membuat kueh& main dish ermula...1000 am until 400. M2 shall helped me with angkat jemuran when she came back from school..m3&m4 wd iron their own clothes, m2 also helped me with tahu sumbat and sandwishes. While m5, wd entertaine himself with whatever toys, tv shows..or main tepung sekali ngan mama..
By 430, all kues must be readied..masuk dlm car boot. oopss..jgn lupa plastik kue, alas meja, payung, air basuh tangan, bekas duit shiling, buat susu utk m5. Solat asar..and drove ke tempat jualan/bazar ramadahn..

The challenges were actually in preparing the kues..to meet the time, i.e 430, to buka meja dan buka payung...and also..melayan kerenah pelanggan...pheww.. but we made it... At least by the end of the day, we have food on the table untuk buka puasa!!!..extra cash to buy m5 susu and pampers.. I had to do it for the sake of my kids..Hubby's office cash flow was terrible!!
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We had made it..some pictures:-

me and m2, religiously stood by me...

part of agar2 pelangi

agar2 bandung

Kue cara manis

left over : karipap, sandwich gulung goreng, cream puff

tahu sumbat

 A week before Aidil fitri, I had stopped the bazar ramadhan affair and started with biskut raya and kek lapis...  pulak..took orders...mula2 suke..sebab ade banyak demand...after few days...  macam nak menangis tak berlagu.. I cried to myself!

clockwise: biskut badam, mama cerries, cornflakes madu, kueh tat, biskut sapi, biskut makmur

kek lapis batik sarawak

my speciality : roll ketupat

my other speciality too: traditional tat

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Alhamdulillah... sememangnya penat..tapi berbaloi2..

And I shed 5 kilos....   Perasan slim dah!

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And lately, my kids keep asking: " Mama, lama dah mama tak masak2 buat kueh dan kek segala..."

And I smiled.....  entah phobia..entah ape...  rase mcm nak rehaaaaaattttt panjang....

If all these fit the theory of Economics, i.e Law of Diminishing utility...  than I have fallen into this category..

 ( one wd stop doing her norm, if one get bored.. for eg...hari2 makan telo goreng...masuk seminggu..emm..dah tak tertelan....lebih kurang cam tu lah!)

But if and if, situation permits again..or rather, i have  no other choice.then..I'll be back... Some neighbours already asking:" Eh maz, tak berniaga lagi?"...  

I just smile sheepishly...

taken last day of my bazar ramadhan affair... atas riba is M5..orang posa..dia sibuk nak makan...p/s: I think i look extremely exhausted..

On another note; saya cuba menyelami perassan arwah emak....  penat je berjualan di gerai... and I still remember mak advising me: Ta, tak payahlah nak berniaga gerai cam mak..penat!.....study smart..and get a job...  But I ended up as I am today....

Adios amigos.. After 2nd raya..Saya jatuh demam..dan habihkan masa, qada' tido...  mujurlah anak2 faham... I love you all my darlings!!

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message to my kids; life sometimes isn't easy...  life is a test..we must survive.. ade berani?

p/s: I had learnt cooking from my late mum..  wd my kids be able to grasp the skills?...

Those were the days..when I really cook...  and I think age factor shall slower me down...

I had lost the energy.. I remain. 

Of march '12 : kids happening and lively me..

Phew..time flies...

m5- getting ready for the event : Bawa pundi kacang atas kepala & bawa bola ping pong dlm sudu... ngeee...

We had fun at my little man's school sport's day....

mumy just disappeared few minutes : helping the back bencherss....  m5 wants to go back?...

celebrating  pieces girls : m4, m5..with m5 in the middle..he is just inseparable!

We celebrated the bday of my two 'not-so-little' angles....nothing much really..just 'nyanyi2'..and 'tiup lilin'..for the bday cakes..yummy!!!Happy Birthday Maisarah (12)..and maryam (10)...

ooii..m2 & m3..hang Pa suker yer...sorang  spm, sorang upsr...

Kngah ,Sarah & Iyam..are having their first school's test..wahh!!!...did theyy study?..ha.ah..ha..

Follow next is the school's first term holidays..yeay!!!

me with m1 ( with KF*'s suit..nak pi kerja lah tu!)..and m5..first few days at his pre-school...

Klong just got her 3rd pay from her cashiering at KF*...alhamdulillah..dpt duit poket dari anak..sape tak suka kan!!!(p/s:..moon..jgn lupa, duit instalment motor!!!!).

There shall be few activities coming up...in this month of march..

But most of all..i am having this creepy feeling..butterflies in my stomach..that the spm's result of my eldest..is going out soon..soonn..and she 'd made her remark in her fb status :

oh march, i'm waiting for you! auww! result! result! result !..

She even posted in her blog..here....  She is determined to do stpm..which is equivalent to A-level..and then , what next.. During my time..alhamdulillah..I dont have to choose...I just followed whatever A-Level program from my scholar, i.e JPA.

Oh..what ever will be ..will be....mama is wishing you, moon, all the best..result is one thing..but..what is more important now is, what is in the future...

And I just finished last dose of my prescription. ( the above)..perhaps I need to buy another bottle of this honey.....Cant believe but its true, I had a scan from an Islamic practtitioner.( rawatan terapi mengikut kaedah Nabi Sulaiman).."Anda telah terkena sihir.."..waaa..scary....does it still happen now days?... Allah Lebih Mengetahui.... skip..skip...unlike..unlike... I miss my mum!!and my dad!! 

Few letters from my late dad. when I was still studying.. inside contained some precious words..for e.g:...study hard!!!..study hard!!  jgn main chinta..ha..ha....jgn sampai tak boleh belajar....   ha ha

But I am still alive...much lively with many hopes and dreams... pretty busy contemplating many plans..at times, i sit and ponder..remembering if i could turn back the clock...to amend many mistakes.. i have few regrets..yes...but i have come to terms that everything has been destined to me..Allah has beautiful plans..dont you agree?.. Wishing the same to all of you too.. Lets move forward!!..lets pray that we cd be the best in whatever our undertakings...that Allah shall always guide and protect us all...

p/s: This morning..it rained heavily..while driving my kids to school..i am thinking of my frens..who're probably driving..beating the traffic jam...drive safe people!!!..and oopss!!..sorry to motorbike..I didnt see you....(same goes to you mr Hubby...)and sorry abut the water splashing... over the radio IKIM :

Dari Imam Tabrani, Baginda rasulullah saw sering berdoa : ya Rabbi, anugerahkanlah, berikan aku rezeki bagi sepasang mata yang bisa mengalirkan air mata tatkala muhasabah diri... 

 I am speechless... Good day you all .. c u!!

Welcome 2012..Ahlan Wa Sahlan...& AL-Ahqaf 46:15

Salam and pleasant day to everybody..

Yeap..and Oh yes, this blog of mine has been left 'idle' for quite some time...not that I have not enjoyed writing anymore nor does I want to quit writing...Many things..had happened...I would conclude the year of 2011 as a very much colourful year..but I feel blessed.

SO its 2012...past a week now..children are back to school...Eldest is doing some part time job while waiting for her spm, I have 2 kids' big exam, i.e SPM & UPSR..and my little man has just started his pre school.....Oh my..time really flies.....

I am keeping myself busy with the new schedule..and trying my best to live up with it....though I have many things at the back of my mind...amongst others: Should I consider joining the work force again..work hard..and safe..who knows....we shall be the 'guest of honour'...by Him, The Almighty..The Most Compassionate.Would u dream the same?..

I intended to write longer..of the hopes and plans..but I guess...this is just a beginning....and I wish , hope and pray this 2012 shall bring many good surprises to me and everybody else...to be better than yesterday...That's too general , yah?...

But I'll back...I want to be back..on my feet again...Insya'allah I will..same prayers to everybody else..if not more...

I want to finish this post by quoting one verse from The Holy Quran : Surah Al- Ahqaf (46:15).



وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ {15

Menanam sifat syukur kpd Allah spt dlm firmannya dlm surah 46 AhQaf ayat 15 http://quran.com/46/15 yg bermaksud "Dan Kami wajibkan manusia berbuat baik kepada kedua ibu bapanya; ibunya telah mengandungnya dengan menanggung susah payah dan telah melahirkannya dengan menanggung susah payah. Sedang tempoh mengandungnya beserta dengan tempoh menceraikan susunya ialah dalam masa tiga puluh bulan. Setelah ia besar sampai ke peringkat dewasa yang sempurna kekuatannya dan sampai ke peringkat umur empat puluh tahun, berdoalah ia dengan berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku, ilhamkanlah daku supaya tetap bersyukur akan nikmatmu yang engkau kurniakan kepadaku dan kepada ibu bapaku, dan supaya aku tetap mengerjakan amal soleh yang Engkau redai; dan jadikanlah sifat-sifat kebaikan meresap masuk ke dalam jiwa zuriat keturunanku. Sesungguhnya aku bertaubat kepadamu, dan sesungguhnya aku dari orang-orang Islam (yang tunduk patuh kepadamu)"

Sahih International

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."


Last but not least....all prayers to my late parents....Alfatihah..

The chaotic of school's exam..

I thought I do not want to fall into the category of a parent pushing her kids ..to excel..in their studies..

But I guess...I am me...And not to disqualify my Other half..but I think..I am a panicky type when it comes to exam..(I had my older post regarding this : kids'exam).

Lucky me, my eldest is in a boarding school..but that shd leave me with 1 growing up teenager , 2 little princesses and one very active toddler....

Do I look like a panicky?.Too much of Motherly?

Its just endless effort over here..not very sure if my effort is good enough to have tackled the syllabus of one secondary and two primary...again at the same time, try to calm my little boy!..( Oh Dear..Mr Mu*a...if you read this, I hope u'd care to at least 'love' to come back early..especially during exam week...because..I shall love u double if not triple if you could share this little burden..!).

Looking back at my schooling years...my mom wdn't have to prepare schedule..let alone sit and guide and look for sample exam questions..I just study..on my on..and I did!

Also, back then...there weren't so many motivational course..( which is indeed expensive nowdays!!!)..all of us..(at least for me and my siblings).. know.."..Oh..we've got to study...becoz tomorrow is exam day....we have to..we've got..to..."..eventhough there're only the text and exercises book..not much choice...and we ended up sleeping early...

I might not be the 'top scorer' for always..but Alhamdulillah, Allah has made it easier for me to excel..get noticed by the teachers...I did fail..a couple  of times ..but I just know, I must double my effort...In Malay...BELAJAR DENGAN TEKUN...and popularly now. we shall see jargons like  STUDY HARD.AND STUDY SMART!!..

On another note...I was careful with my stationeries too....But my two little ladies..always need few extra pencils..keep losing their eraser..and ruler..and colour pencil..Gosshh....Oh people...how many times must we remind!.This morning, while sweeping the floor, i saw some little erasers and one pencil..(very2 short but sharpened top and bottom!)..under their study table..when I asked..whose pencil is this?..and one wd say.."Ma, takkanlah kitorang ade pencil cam tu..tak baikkan...kata orang tua, pensil kerok depan belakang..nanti mak cepat mati!"..Only then I remember, I had scolded one of them and refuse to give them extra allowance for pencil..

Sometimes I just feel like surrender..cdn't care less about their exam day..but could i?...Then, I shall be guilty as charged.....

Oh Kids..pls grow up..and listen...I love u all, darlings...And to Ms Elly...All the best for your SPM..its just 5 months ways...do not get stress up..not because mama expect too much of you..but I know you have  the potential..Insya'Allah sayang..:USAHA*DOA*TAWAKKAL*!!..

Red crescent/scout/puteri islam?

Apabila Kak Mary pulang dari sekolah dan berkata, dia telah terpilih memasuki persatuan bulan sabit merah sebagai pilihan kokurikulum, maka saya adalah orang yang paling tersenyum lebar.....

Yeay!!!....kerana, mama juga adalah ahli persatuan bulan sabit merah...siap ade sijil pertolongan cemas kelas ke2..

Hati mama berbunga..sambil menyoroti kenangan zaman sekolah menengah...

Cuma perbezaan pakaian, Dulu..kami pakai gaun putih, ala-ala juru rawat...Sekarang, seluar panjang putih, dan Tshirt lenganpanjang merah putih...

Seperti suatu legasi..kerana 3 kakaknya memilih' Persatuan Puteri Islam...kain/tudung serba merah jambu... Kak Moonelly ( sewaktu sekolah rendah lebih cenderung kpd persatuan pengakap dan pernah menjadi pelajar terbaik peserta perkhemahan unit berpasukan) suka kepada aktiviti lasak, tetapi sejurus keluar dari sekolah seni, hanya memilih persatuan puteri islam...lebih santai katanya...terlalu penat mungkin dgn pelbagai tugasan lasak semasa di skolah seni.

Kenapa suka Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah?..Nak jadi jururawat?..Nak jadi tuan Doktor?...Saje2 suka?..

Hi..hi...kalau bobi lebih memilih red crescent dari pengakap...err....ayah, u okey?

Nak jadi ahli yang komited?..Kena selalu pergi koko..kena ikut segala aktiviti...kalu nak jadi komanden...kena ade suara yang KUUUAAAAATT!.Mcm kak Moonelly!!.

Apa yang mama suka sebab belajar teknik pertolongan cemas..termasuk CPR..( mama berpeluh2 buat amali semata2 nak lulus ujian pertolongan kecemasan..siap wakil sekolah utk pertandingan..termasuk kawat kakai!!)lebih menarik, latihan kawat kaki...yaa...kawat kaki.....itu saje cukup memberi latihan kecekalan dan keyakinan tinggi..Selamat berjaya anak2...dan  usah risau kalu kulit terbakar di bawah pancaran terik matahari....kerana ianya sebahagian dari Arwah Tok Wan kalian......Seorang Pesara tentera Laut...Baju uniform...PUtih!!!!!

Double storey and how much cd one yell!!

Long has gone days when one could actually listen to the yells of one's neighbour unless he really is the 'peeping tom's species..Oh, Please..God, please forbid me from falling into that category!!

Nearly 100% of my childhood , for as long as I could remember, was I have to put up with the 'unease' feeling whenever my late mum screamed at us...out of her lungss...music to my ears..especially in the morning and evening..Err..sape suruh lambat siap!!..Nanti lori datang, tak payah pergi sekolah..siap korang!!!

But now, I strangely feel that history could not repeat by itself..by the design of my home, I find it extremely difficult to call out for my kids..either they shut the door behind them, pluging their ears with the stereo..or simply..I cannot yell out as loud as a lioness anymore...Or...I malu with the next jiran?....Hence, waking up my kids for 'sahur' is painstakingly tough..Tedious too, especially now when I have to repeatedly remind them: " Cepat!cepat!!!20mins before the school's van arrive!!Belum makan lagi ni!!!..How come, my favourite vocab these days are ...cepat..cepat!!!.

ANd I wonder If any of my kids would love to the orchestra I am playing..Well, girls...I am the lioness of the house..U know Ur daddy is the 'cool' type with lots of gold in his mouth.( ANd the malay proverb translate : Seperti ada emas dalam mulut!!!).Ooppss..sorry Abg!!..But again, I am sure, they shall miss my chaotic + panicky mum.. I am the twitter too!..and they know what it means when the bird stop singing, instead !!

I guess, MY dear Mr Land lord, would you like to consider, installing some kind of interface..or rather inter com!!!.. I am tired of yelling!!..Or Hello kids..I shall not yell anymore..and whomever are late...let them be..either u go to school by bus..or never at all..and stand my 'lioness' the whole day...and even during RAmadhan..pls let me suggest....everybody sleep downstair, Boleh tak!!!..Mummy is losing her voice..and also...please clean up the kitchen too..please!.please!!