Making Glutinous Rice Tapai

Tapai is a Southeast Asia food that is made through fermentation process. Tapai can be made of glutinous rice or sweet potatoes. Ragi is used as a mould starter to ferment the carbohydrate. 

My maid and I are making glutinous rice tapai today. Here is how we made it. 

1) Wash and soak the glutinous rice overnight. 

2) Rise and put the rice on a tray. Steam the rice and let cool. 

3) Crush the mould and sprinkle the crumbs on the cooled rice. Sprinkle some coarse sugar too. 

4) Scoop a spoonful of rice and put it on the prepared banana leaf. Wrap it and secure with a skewer. 

Prepared banana leaves

5) Keep the ready tapai into a plastic bag or container. 

6) Wait for it to ferment (usually takes about three days in Malaysia weather). 

P/s: This batch of Tapai wasn't successful as I wet my hands while wrapping them. One should not wet the Tapai 

Grandma's Funeral

Today is the third day after grandma's passing away. It's the last day of the funeral. 

After some ritual ceremony, the cortège left the house at 2 pm sharp to Berapit Cemetery, where grandpa was buried. Now, grandma is buried right next to grandpa. 

Kevin and James drove our own cars to the site. We got lost in the cemetery at first and thank God we managed to see the coffin in the ground. 

Anyway, I am sad that grandma is gone and things might not feel the same especially when we come back to Penang next time. 

But at the same time, I am glad that grandma is now in a better place. 

Run! Yosef Run!

15th August 2015 was the school sports day. We were very excited as Yosef was taking part in one of the tele match items- running with a beanbag balanced on the head. 

While waiting for the game. Kids lined up in the hall. 

In action! 

My son's team came in second for that item. 

Both Kevin and I went to school to give support to our son. Of course I was requested to attend as I am working in the school, but Kevin's presence was a great support for him. It shows to our son that we love him so much and what matters him, matters us. We really want to involve in our son's activities. I hope, next time, when he looks back, he will remember that his parents were always with him through thick and thin. 

We love you, son! 

Salvation is here

Why is grandma in good hands? 

A week ago, we decided to visit my grandma in Penang. Just as we were almost reaching her house, I gave a call and was told by my uncle that they were leaving for Gleaneagles Hospital. So we shifted our destination at once. 

When we arrived at the hospital, grandma was sleeping quite soundly. I waited while chatting with aunt. After quite some time, we slowly woke her up. Grandma was too weak to talk. She was admitted because she couldn't eat or drink. 

Asking her if she knew who I was, she thought for a long time. Couldn't even say my name and was so blur too. 

Then I pulled a chair near her bed when I saw the opportunity arises when my aunt went out from the room. 

I prayed in my heart that God will keep them out from the room. To safe time, I quickly told her in her ears, "Ah mah, I know you remember the gospel I have shared with you. You heard from me in your dreams. I now ask you, do you wanna accept Jesus as your saviour?" No answer from her. I could see that she was thinking. 

I asked a couple of times. Then I realised that she was too weak to talk. No wonder she can't answer me. So I asked her again and said to her that if she agreed to accept Jesus, then blink her eyes. She blinked her eyes once. I got shocked and happy. So to make sure, I asked again (in fact a few more times) and she really blinked a few more times. So I told her if she really agrees with it, she could follow after me, to make the sinner's prayer in her heart. I guided her through the prayer and led her to Christ. 

I was delighted and I looked at her. She looked back at me. At that moment, just through her stare, I knew she recognised me. 

Here, I wanna thank God for the salvation and have taken us back to visit her last week. It was indeed a miracle to be back home last week and it was a surprise too that my aunt who was about to walk near her bed walked out from the room. 

Thank God for my maid and the maid who took care of grandma. They were beside grandma and I throughout the whole sharing. Thank God that they were also praying while I shared with grandma. Thank God for them too that they could be the witnesses about grandma's decision. 

Thank God for answering prayer for sa Christian maid. She told us that she also shared the Gospel with grandma, just as I have prayed for, to have a Christian maid to keep reminding her about the Gospel. 

Last but not least, thank you everyone who have prayed for grandma and us. 

You will never know who will be praying for you. My 3rd uncle's wife told me that she and her sister have been praying for grandma's salvation too. That's why when she heard of the testimony I told her, she rejoiced and praised God for that. 

By the way, today, as I told my aunt Hiang about grandma accepted Christ, she got shocked too. 

But I just leave my family to God. 

May all honour, glory and praises be to our one and only true God who loves us and can save us fro Sheol. 

Goodbye Grandma

I was told by my aunt that grandma has discharged from the hospital today and her vital organs are seriously not well. Aunt asked us to go home. 

After some contemplating, I decided to go home with my whole family. So we went home after dinner. 

As we were on the way, I texted my aunt asking her to open door for me afterwards as we will be late. Her reply to me was quite slow and she told me that the door will be open till the next morning. I figured grandma could have gone. 

After a few hours, we were approaching grandma's house. I was truly scared, scared of receiving the bad news, even though I could have expected it. I did pray for myself and all that are in the car. Kevin prayed for me too. 

So we finally reached the house and I saw many strangers and a van with its back door open. I told Kev that grandma should have gone. Yes, she's gone. 

Surprisingly, the feeling of fear somehow dissipated when I got down from the car. I believe it was God who was working in protecting me and giving me peace. I think grandma should be in good hands. (Why? I will share about this in my next posting.) 

Thank You God. 

Bye ah mah ! 

Jade Mooncakes

Mid Autumn Festival is just around the corner. Hubby came back telling me about the dragonfruit jelly mooncake his colleague was treating them. This inspired me looking out for jelly mooncake recipe. 

As I looked through the sharings on the net, I found that the ingredients used are those used to make normal jelly. So I got myself some mooncake moulds and started making. 

Jade Goldfish Jelly Mooncake

Jade Flower Pendant Mooncake

When it's cut.

Do not let the first layer cool too much before you pour in the second layer of mixture as the layers will separate. Notice the line in the middle of the mooncake shown in the above photo. 

Ingredients

12g Jelly Powder

40ml Pandan Juice

1060ml Sweeten Soy Bean Milk

1tube Grass Jelly

Method

1) Put all ingredients except the grass jelly into a sauce pan. 

2) Stir over slow fire till mixture boils. 

3) Turn off the fire.

4) Pour mixture into mooncake moulds half full. 

5) Place a piece of grass jelly into the mixture. 

6) Pour the remaining jelly mixture into the mould until full and let cool. 

7) Unmould, cut and serve the mooncake. 

But it's best to serve when it's chilled beforehand. 

Enjoy 😋

Macarons

The other day, my eldest asked me to buy macarons. When I saw the price, I got shocked, and immediately I came out with a statement "Let me make those for you". 

"You can make them?"

"Yes, it's easy!"

"Then I want strawberry flavoured macarons."

Knowing well that he will keep reminding me about the promise until it is fulfilled, I quickly looked for the recipe on the web. 

I found one recipe which I think looks good to me, got the ingredients ready and started making my first ever macarons! 

I precisely measured all the ingredients except for the sugar. Carefully followed all the steps, except for the steps of letting the piped batter dry on the surface. I thought I would still yield beautiful and successful macarons but I was wrong. Totally wrong. 

Not only that my macarons didn't have feet, they just glued to the parchment paper underneath. My macarons were hollow too. Well, this first batch was a doom!

Then came my son's statement, "Mummy, I thought you said it's easy?"

Man, I tell ya, I got challenged real hard! 

I looked again on the web and I came across this YouTube channel called Kitchen Tigress. When I looked at the recipe, I knew in my heart that the recipe surely works and it really did. 

Not only that I watched her video for a few times, I also read her blog regarding the tips to get successful shells. 

Here is the link

http://kitchentigress.blogspot.com/2015/06/macarons.html?m=1

And here are a few photos of my macarons.

The freshly piped batter and the shell in the oven.

My freshly baked macarons in plain whipped cream.

Yes I know that my macarons do look brownish, very different from the pink batter. I am still so happy with the success. In fact, I did reduce the amount of colouring stated in her recipe.

I chilled the macarons in the fridge over night so that the cream can penetrate into the shell. This soften the inner side of the shell and makes the shell crust on the outside but soft on the inside. Perfect!

I think I will continue making macarons 😎