I hate Dengue

You know, it's kinda funny how dengue is becoming more and more common.  It's strange and downright freaky.  About 10 years ago, I still remember RTM used to air these Filem Negara shorts about DEMAM DENGGI and NYAMUK AEDES.

The magnified shot of the aedes larvae was forever spliced in my mind as a crossbreed between Jeff Goldblum's 'The Fly' and a regular-Joe prawn.  I have noo idea why.

So yea, it's weird how dengue is now almost commonplace - in fact, out of the 5 people in my immediate family, 2 have contracted this viral disease. I had it in year 2002 and it was arguably the worst days of my life. I remember the fevers, violent headaches, constant nausea, purging and heaving all too well. I remember losing my entire year-end holidays to this wretched disease! Argh!

Unfortunately, dengue had to rear its ugly head again this year – this time it was my Dad who got it. My dad, as most of you know, isn’t the fittest of creatures. In fact, he’s been having some minor problems with some of the major organs in his body. So, it was really devastating for him to be down with dengue.

In my layman’s term, I tend to equate the severity of the fever to how low the platelet count goes. At my lowest, I think I had a count of about 30+. My dad’s plummeted to 11 last week. He was on a variety of drugs, I was only given Panadol. I personally think it was much worse for Dad because he has such low immunity to begin with whereas I was as fit as a horse when I got it. It was really scary.

Initially I’d planned to only go back to Kajang during Christmas week. However, considering that my mom had to basically be with my Dad 24hrs (he was confined to the bed due to his double drips) when he was admitted, I made a last minute decision to go back last Tuesday. I relieved my mom while I was home and I’d like to think I made a difference – like my mom says, the caregiver is as much of a victim as the patient himself. Poor mom and bro had to take turns being by my dad’s side prior to my return.

But, speaking of turns, my Dad took a turn for the better on Wednesday! In fact, by Thursday morning, he was cleared to go home!! It was a real blessing because I had to be back in JB on Friday due to some commitments. Initially, I thought I’d be rushing up to Kajang on Friday night (tonight) but since Dad’s platelet count is now 165, my mom said I didn’t need to.

It was an eye-opening experience to have had been my dad’s caretaker – to say the least. I was frequently the only young female in the ward and it was intimidating when I had to sneak into the male (being the Male Medical Ward) toilet. At one point, a police officer (who was guarding a sick inmate) stood guard for me while I washed and cleaned.

I can’t say being a caregiver is a pleasant experience, but I think it jolted me awake to what lengths and what lows I’d do for someone I love. I still can’t believe some of the things that I had to do; it all seems so surreal now. But I’m proud of it and now I can truly say, as sappy as it is: Love conquers all doubts, vanquishes all hesitations and overcomes all difficulties….really.

I thank the Lord for my Dad's speedy recovery and I pray that He'd continue to look after the rest of us all; expecially my mom, for being the pillar of strength of my family.

 

TWIGHLIGHT

I just discovered that I'd gone through my entire life believing that twilight was spelled :

TWIGHLIGHT

Oh my gosh, the mortification! Lol, my spelling's always been atrocious. I need to have a pen and paper before me before I can spell anything! In fact, just the other day, I embarrassed myself in front of my student when I couldn't spell 'pencil' out aloud. Sigh.

Leaving the topic of my ineptness at spelling, let us wander instead over to the lush, pale views that is:

TWILIGHT

We watched it last Saturday down at Tebrau Jusco. The vibe of this place is very much similar to Jusco Cheras Selatan, albeit a lot bigger and better stocked (think MNG, Roxy, TNS and all other major street brands). The plus point of this place being its low low parking fee – RM1 flat rate – which is a rarity here in Johor Bahru.

Neways, due to the lack of blockbusters at the moment, seeing that it’s post-summer season, we managed to get pretty good seats for the movie; even though we arrived at peak hour. We thought that not many people would be watching Twilight, since there was hardly any promotion for it here (how bout KL, ppl?). It was only later that we discovered there were scores of Twilight fans here (they were the ones chattering excitedly during the movie – luckily at a civilised decibel).

I entered the Cineplex with some measure of trepidation. I consciously lowered my expectations (which had peaked due to the nice trailer) because I really didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. This line, in the trailer, intrigued me no end:

“What if I’m the bad guy?”

Me, being the ultimate aficionado of all bad-boys, just could not resist that line! Had to watch it.

Oh, oh, allow me to veer off track a lil. Before the movie started, we were treated with a trailer of an upcoming movie: Watchmen. I didn’t think much of the title – it sounded too X-Men-like for me. But the trailer…oh, the trailer….it’s awesome awesome awesome! Too good – made even more fabuloso with Smashing Pumpkin’s “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning”. It’s now on my “OMG-I-have-to-watch-it list.” Carrying themes of anti-superheroism and humankind survival, I’m sure (if executed well) it will appeal to my moviebuds greatly.

Ok, coming back on track:

TWILIGHT

Let me begin by saying that this isn’t a movie that I loved. It’s a lot more chick-flick than I thought it’d be; just with a darker setting. The plot basically, goes something like this: Cute girl meets cute guy. Initial hostility. Cute guy saves cute girl. More animosity due to misunderstanding. They fall in love. Family/Circumstantial obstacles. Forbidden love themes abound. Chick-flicky right?

However if there was going to be a reason for me watching this again, it would be this:

The Cullen Family (ie Edward Cullen *ahem)

I’m telling you now, there’s nothing HOTTER than badass H-O-T guys struggling to be good; while being extremely beautiful, cultured and rich! HAhaha. Oh oh, for me, the baseball scene was immensely captivating, I’m not sure why :p Maybe because I adore the family – especially Alice, Edward’s sister. Her stance while pitching - *whistles* damn yau yeng!

So, moving along, the protagonists are Bella Swan and Edwards Cullen. I’m not a big fan of Bella’s character; maybe I’ve been influenced by the book, but I find her kinda whiny, insecure and in her own words – pathetic. In the book, especially, she sounds like she’s 14 more than a 17 yr old. Of course, all’s not lost – I absolutely adore her hair! So dark, and lushhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I love the scene where she and Ed makes out – her hair stands out there.

But hey, who am I kidding – this post is all about Edward Cullen. He may be in high school still, but he looks, acts and sounds like he’s in his 20s; still well within my realm of fantasy-dom :p. Dark-featured, fair-faced, tall, beautiful, broad, strong arms, shoulders and back --> he makes me construct sentences with only adjectives and nouns! This character is like Mr Darcy for me – I love him in his fictional way – so it’s not the actor, it’s the character that counts, people.

You tell me, wouldn’t you want a guy who can save your life from runaway vans, evil guys and other supernatural beings? How about a guy who can hike up Mt Kinabalu while carrying you and who looks like he’s been dusted with pixie-crystal dust in the sunlight. Plus, your parents (and priest) will undoubtedly favour his anti-premarital sex stance (as long as you leave out the vampire bit, he’s more like an angel than anything else).

Also he has this smirking thing. (Even in the book) He tries to be cool and macho and unsmiling – but he simply can’t help himself! His mouth twitches ever so lightly ever so often and his blood-red lips curl upwards way too much. Very appealing – and dazzling. He dazzles. (Bella says he’s beautiful and dazzling a lot in the book).

Ok, so now I have another fictional crush in my ever-expanding black book of badboys. All I can say is, go watch

TWILIGHT

if you’re into dark fluff or am a crazy **fan-girl like me. I guarantee you’ll love the fresh meat in this meat market *bares fangs – I wished*.

**Fan-girl : one who obsesses over personalities (fictional/non-fictional, alive/dead, animated/flesh&blood) from various media for no apparent reason.

 

Yes, I cook.

I suppose if you consider the title of my post (especially the underscript), you're bound to find a hodge-podge of unrelated posts on my blog. The only relating factor here seems to be: IT'S ALL ABOUT ME :p

In the past year or so, I've come to assume various roles which I'd never envisioned myself in. One of the most challenging, unexpected and satisfying roles which I've had to play has got to be that of a : *drumroll please*

The Cook

I have never been that good in the kitchen. I still remember marveling at Sharon (the bride-to-be) when we were besties and desk-mates in Convent. She often had to cover her mom's cooking duties when Auntie went off for trips or balik kampung. Sharon could cook an entire dinner with soup (and make salt-bake chicken!)! To me, who had only ever made instant noodles - it was astonishing.

(soon to be married couple :)

Another episode which would stick to me greatly was watching Yusrina, Shereenor, Farehah and Zura whip up fantastic Malaysian fare with minimal local ingredients back in Sydney. I mean, I bore witness to their culinary talents when they managed to make SATAY in our very own MUV backyard! When Sunny (our Msian Std Prez) mentioned satay, I was like, "How is that even remotely possible??? U sure that it's not just ayam kunyit?"

The cookout scene.

But no. I was there. I helped skewer the meat, I blew peanut skin off roasted ones to be made into Kuah Kacang and I stirred the sambal made with a variety of secret ingredients. When I tasted them, I got angry at all the supposedly Malaysian eateries in Sydney. I mean, if my friends could produce such authentic yummilicious Malaysian cuisine in our extremely small kitchen for a couple of hundred people - why couldn't they?

Of course, I have to mention Sawi. I've only had her food ONCE - but the image of babelicious Sawi slaving over the stove ('slaving' for the sake of alliteration only) is forever imprinted in my mind. Sawi - the fashion godsista, KL-bornNbred, patron of the Arts, write - somehow didn't occur to me that she could homecook stuff like Sweet-sour fried fish, Prawn in Eggs, Tom Yum (hahaha - Siamese mahhh). So yea - beauty, brains and a wok-efied cook.

Neways, I digress.

Today's post is about me as a cook. In the beginning of the year, when I was basically cooking only for myself - I tended to cook mostly one-pot-wonders - which weren't really wonderful to say the least *ahem* It was mostly pasta, noodles, bread-y stuff, couscous and always so random vege side. In retrospect, it was kinda healthy in a way (very little meat, lotsa fresh vege) but also kinda unhealthy (instant stuff with lotsa MSG). I also cooked very sporadically - only when I felt like it.

When I (had to) begin cooking for two, it was a whole new different ballgame. Suddenly, there was a demand for Rice! Meat! Two different dishes! Variety! And KG looked forward to his post-hourplus drive home dinner very much; so I really didn't want to disappoint.

As a result, I started cooking. Really cooking. I began buying all these stuff that I'd seen in my mom's kitchen :

- soy sauces (dark n lite, sweet n salty), cooking wine, fish sauce (I never like it before),

- spices, tumeric powder, five spice powder

- and the omnipresent CORN-FLOUR.

Recently, I also started reading a couple of how-t0-cook blogs. I am so hooked on them right now! Lol - besides the obvious drooling over pictures of food - I find myself actually attempting some of the dishes I see in these blogs!!! It's a really big deal for me when I say I can cook sweet sour fish now, albeit with vegetarian fish! Lol. So, the ambitious (and shopaholic) me has also decided to stock up on dried seafood produce. They're really great for many Chinese dishes and lend the extra oomph you need to take your food from ok to oolala. Anyway, they omit the need for chemical seasonings (think MSG) and so result in healthier meals.

So far, I have: large, peeled Pangkor- anchovies

I also have these extremely 'sweet' dried shrimp from Sabah (Grandma passed some to me)

And my current pride and joy: dried scallops (aka conpoy)!!!!! Seriously, scallops is probably my favourite sea produce and having shelled out (pun not intended) RM 13 for a measly 100g of these golden babies, I hope I'm able to use them well!!!


KG's mom also kindly gave us this bottle of XO sauce - which I love love love (read HERE to see why) but which KG stragely dislikes.

Look at our fridge! Hahaha - it's always stuffed to the brim :p
I experimented with really easy stuff at first - omelettes, soupy vege dishes, steamed tofu, bean curds with everything :p. As you'd notice - no meat. I didn't like handling raw meat; I still don't. However, I did try to after a while - or I'd have to go quasi-vegetarian. As a result, nowadays I can mostly produce some semblance of a home-cooked meal; a meat dish and a veg dish for every weekday dinner. (we eat out on weekends hehehe)

Anyway, I'd like to introduce you all to my other personality (besides educator, make-up buyer, wedding planner, policewoman wannabe etc) : the cook.

Today, the cook had to prepare lunch for herself as she is not on SPM duty and is alone at home. She decided to use up the extra linguine (only enough for one) and some of the brand-new but on-discount FETA she just got from Jusco (RM3.99 for a tray, ppl!!!!)



She began by cooking the pasta in salted boiling water (this eliminates the need for too much seasonings later on as the pasta would have soaked in some salted water). She then chopped up some tomatoes and threw them into a bowl with some cold garlic butter (1/2 tablespoon).

After the pasta had been cooked, she drains it and mixes it with the tomatoes and garlic butter - The heat from the pasta melts the butter and warms the tomato pieces - creating a very light coating of sauce for the pasta. She finishes with a dash of S&P, a sprinkling of Parmesan and several cubes of feta on the top.
(Gosh, so tired writing from 3rd POV). :D I loved this! It's very very simple, both in preparation and in taste. Nothing mind-blowing, but still tasty and I HEART FETA to the max!

Ps : The above picture was taken after I'd eaten about half of the meal; was hungry and forgot

Ps2: This is never going to be a food blog - but I'll just post whatever comes my way :p hehehe